Turkey a la king is leftover turkey in a creamy sauce, usually with peas and a little pepper or mushroom, served over toast or rice. Use leftover turkey that was refrigerated within 2 hours and is still within 3 to 4 days, or that was frozen and thawed in the refrigerator. How long leftovers last explains that window. The turkey in the finished dish should reach 165°F, per USDA leftover reheating guidance. It uses leftover meat in a different way from reheating leftover gravy or from turkey pot pie, though the comfort-food mood is similar.
Make the sauce
In a skillet, melt a few tablespoons of butter and cook a little diced onion, celery, or bell pepper until soft. You can also add sliced mushrooms if you have them. Sprinkle in a few tablespoons of flour and cook that paste for a minute, then whisk in about 2 cups of broth and 1 cup of milk or half-and-half. Simmer, whisking, until the sauce thickens enough to coat a spoon. Season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of leftover herbs or paprika.
Add the turkey
Stir in 2 to 3 cups of leftover turkey pieces and a cup of peas, frozen is fine, until everything is hot. The leftover turkey needs to reach 165°F. If the sauce gets too thick, whisk in a little more broth. If you have leftover gravy, you can whisk a small amount into the sauce, but do not treat this as a shortcut that skips heating the leftover turkey thoroughly.
What to serve it on
Spoon the creamed turkey over toast, leftover dinner rolls, rice, or biscuits. See what to do with leftover dinner rolls if you have a bag of rolls left. Refrigerate extras in a shallow container within 2 hours, and reheat leftover a la king until the turkey is at 165°F and the sauce is bubbling. For more leftover recipes, use the leftovers guide.
Helpful kitchen tools
- OXO Good Grips 11-Inch Balloon Whisk — A balloon whisk keeps the sauce smooth as it thickens.
- OXO Good Grips 2-Cup and 4-Cup Glass Measuring Cup Set — For measuring broth and milk.
- TempPro TP19H 1-Second Digital Meat Thermometer — Confirm that leftover turkey in the sauce reaches 165°F.
- Pyrex Deep 9×13-Inch Glass Baking Dish with Lid — A lidded dish holds leftover a la king in the refrigerator.
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Frequently asked questions
Is turkey a la king the same as leftover gravy over turkey?
No. It is a creamy sauce built in the pan, usually with vegetables, then leftover turkey is heated in that sauce to 165°F.
Can I use leftover mashed potatoes as the base?
Toast, rice, biscuits, or leftover rolls are the usual bases. Leftover mashed potatoes can sit on the side; reheat them to 165°F as well.
Does the sauce have to boil?
The leftover turkey must reach 165°F, and leftover gravy or a gravy-like sauce should be bubbling hot throughout when you reheat extras.