Turkey a la King is the ultimate easy and satisfying meal, perfect for busy weeknights or utilizing leftover turkey. This creamy, flavorful dish comes together in just about 20 minutes, making it a go-to recipe that you’ll want to enjoy throughout the year, not just after Thanksgiving. If you’re searching for a delicious and simple way to transform leftover turkey, look no further than this incredibly versatile recipe.
Top-down photo of a gray plate filled with Turkey a la King sitting on a blue striped napkin over a wooden background.
This Turkey a la King recipe is a fantastic one-pot wonder, ideal for using up leftover turkey or even chicken. Its beauty lies in its adaptability – you can serve it in so many ways! It’s a family-friendly favorite that answers the age-old question, “What’s for dinner?” with a resounding “Deliciousness!”
For many, including those raised on classic American fare, Turkey a la King might sound a bit fancy or foreign. But don’t let the name fool you! It’s pure comfort food, reminiscent of a deconstructed pot pie, without the fuss of a crust. In essence, it’s creamy, dreamy, and utterly satisfying.
Side angle photo of a spoonful of Turkey a la King hovering over the dish. The title
Decoding “A la King”: What Does It Really Mean?
The term “à la king” simply means “served in a cream sauce with mushrooms and pimiento or green peppers.” Think of it as a flavorful blueprint for creamy goodness. But beyond the basic definition, for home cooks, “à la king” translates to easy comfort food. It’s that warm, satisfying dish that feels like a hug on a plate.
This Pioneer Woman inspired Turkey a la King recipe (even if not directly from her kitchen, it embodies her style of approachable, family-friendly cooking) is a winner for several reasons:
- Pantry-Friendly Ingredients: You likely have most, if not all, of the ingredients in your kitchen already.
- Unbelievably Versatile: The ingredients are adaptable, making it a recipe your family will request again and again.
- Leftover Champion: The ultimate solution for transforming leftover turkey or chicken into something new and exciting.
- Delicious Day After Day: It tastes just as amazing, if not better, the next day, making it perfect for meal prepping.
- One-Pot Cleanup: Minimal dishes are always a win!
- Ready in a Flash: From start to finish, you’re looking at less than 20 minutes of cooking time.
This recipe is a lifesaver during those post-Thanksgiving weeks when you’re searching for creative leftover turkey recipes beyond the standard sandwich. It’s a fantastic way to repurpose turkey and give it a brand new flavor profile. Plus, if your turkey tends to be a bit dry, the creamy sauce in Turkey a la King magically transforms it into a moist and delectable dish that everyone will love.
Making Turkey a la King: Simplicity at its Best
Creating this easy Turkey a la King recipe is incredibly straightforward, breaking down into just three simple steps:
- Sauté the Aromatics: Start by chopping and sautéing your vegetables – this builds the flavor base of the dish.
- Whip Up the Cream Sauce: Create a luscious cream sauce using flour and stock or broth, followed by a touch of cream for richness.
- Stir in the Turkey: Finally, add your cooked turkey and let it all come together in creamy harmony.
See? Easy peasy! This recipe is truly designed for simplicity and speed, perfect for even the busiest cooks.
Top down photo of a gray plate filled with Turkey a la King. The title
Turkey a la King: Endless Variations to Explore
While the classic definition of Turkey a la King includes mushrooms and pimentos, don’t feel limited! This recipe is incredibly flexible and forgiving.
Veggies Galore: Feel free to load up on vegetables! Beyond the traditional mushrooms and peppers, consider adding celery, onions, carrots, or even red peppers for a touch of sweetness. This is a fantastic “clean out the fridge” recipe – use what you have on hand!
Butter Swaps: Unsalted butter is used in the base recipe, but salted butter works just as well. If using salted butter, simply taste and adjust the salt seasoning at the end. For a dairy-free option, cooking oil can be substituted for the butter.
Turkey Takes Center Stage (or Chicken!): While this recipe shines with leftover turkey, don’t forget about chicken! Rotisserie chicken from the grocery store makes for an incredibly quick and easy Chicken a la King dinner – perfect for weeknights.
Stock Stars: Elevate the flavor by using leftover turkey stock or even thinned turkey gravy in place of chicken broth. This adds an extra layer of rich, savory turkey flavor.
Creamy Dreaminess: A touch of cream adds a beautiful richness and velvety texture. If you don’t have cream, half-and-half or even milk can be used as substitutes. Any of these options will provide that essential creamy element.
This adaptability makes Turkey a la King perfect for any time of year. It’s comforting and warm in the winter, yet quick enough to prepare in the summer without overheating your kitchen.
Serving Suggestions: What to Serve with Turkey a la King
The possibilities are endless when it comes to serving Turkey a la King! Here are some delicious and popular options:
- Comfort Food Classics: Spoon it generously over leftover mashed potatoes, stuffing, or dressing for a truly comforting and satisfying meal.
- Puff Pastry Perfection: Serve it over baked puff pastry shells or even refrigerator biscuits for a semi-homemade pot pie vibe.
- Rice is Right: Rice, especially white or brown rice, is a fantastic base and adds a healthy whole grain element to your meal.
- Noodles for the Win: Noodles, particularly wide egg noodles, are a kid-friendly favorite and hold up beautifully to the creamy sauce.
More Leftover Turkey Inspiration
If you have even more leftover turkey to use up, here are a few other delicious recipes to explore: Consider classics like Chicken Pot Pie (easily adaptable to turkey!), Turkey and Cheese Rolls, or a hearty Turkey Stew. The options are truly limitless when it comes to transforming leftover turkey into exciting new meals!
We hope you love this Pioneer Woman inspired Turkey a la King recipe as much as we do! Leave a comment below and don’t forget to give it a star rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. Your feedback helps other home cooks discover and enjoy this recipe too!
Top down photo of a gray plate filled with Turkey a la King. The title
Turkey a la King Recipe
Author: Julie Menghini
This Turkey a la King recipe is a quick one-pot meal ready in under 20 minutes. It’s a wonderfully creamy leftover turkey dish that you’ll want to make all year round.
4.73 from 18 votes
Print Recipe
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Leftovers, Turkey a la King, Turkey recipe
Servings: 8
Equipment
- Large Skillet
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter, salted or unsalted
- ¼ cup red pepper, green or other colors work too
- ¼ cup green onions, may substitute other variety
- 1 cup mushrooms, portobella or any variety
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 2 cups chicken broth, 14.5 oz can works
- ½ cup cream, half-n-half or milk will work
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 2 ½ cups turkey, cooked, shredded or diced
Instructions
- Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add red pepper, green onions, and mushrooms. Sauté until vegetables are slightly softened, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly until smooth. Gradually whisk in chicken broth.
- Slowly drizzle in cream, stirring with a spatula until the mixture begins to thicken.
- Add cooked turkey and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve immediately over your choice of noodles, potatoes, rice, or biscuits.
Recipe Notes
This Turkey a la King is delicious served over noodles, potatoes, rice, or dressing. Customize it with your favorite vegetables or whatever you have on hand.
Nutrition
Calories: 215kcal
Carbohydrates: 4g
Protein: 8g
Fat: 19g
Saturated Fat: 11g
Cholesterol: 73mg
Sodium: 503mg
Potassium: 184mg
Fiber: 1g
Sugar: 1g
Vitamin A: 768IU
Vitamin C: 11mg
Calcium: 22mg
Iron: 1mg
Nutritional Disclaimer: Nutritional information is calculated using estimated values and may vary based on specific ingredients and brands used.
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