This hearty slow cooker turkey a la king features tender, juicy turkey nestled in a creamy sauce studded with colorful vegetables. Perfect for cozy weeknight dinners or family gatherings, it is a fabulous way to use leftover turkey!
If you’ve ever found yourself with a fridge full of leftover turkey after Thanksgiving and no idea what to do with it, this is the recipe for you! Making this classic dish in the slow cooker streamlines the process without sacrificing any of the flavors.
You can create a restaurant-quality meal with minimal hands-on time, making it perfect for busy weeknights. I especially want a hands-off dinner the day after a big holiday like Thanksgiving, when the last thing I want to do is spend more time in the kitchen!
This old-fashioned recipe was one of my Mom’s favorites. I remember her ladling the rich and creamy turkey into crispy puff pastry shells. I usually serve it over biscuits, but either way, it is perfect comfort food.
This comfort food dish is a surefire way to please a crowd and make the most of your leftover turkey. So go ahead, try it, and see why this recipe has been such a beloved classic for generations.
In this post, I’ll guide you through the simple steps to make this recipe and share creative serving ideas to keep things interesting. So bring the timeless comfort of turkey a la king to your table!
Looking for more recipes for using leftover Thanksgiving turkey? Try Instant Pot turkey rice soup, leftover Thanksgiving turkey handpies, or turkey pizza.
🥘Ingredient Notes
For exact amounts needed see the recipe card below
- Leftover cooked turkey: I love using my Thanksgiving turkey in this recipe – it’s a great way to give new life to those leftovers and create a whole new meal that my family loves.
- Onion
- Bell pepper
- Celery
- Chicken stock
- Cream of mushroom soup
- Garlic powder
- Butter
- Frozen peas
- Mushrooms
- Heavy whipping cream
- Biscuits
🥣How to Make Slow Cooker Turkey A La King
- First, grab your slow cooker and add in the leftover turkey, diced onion, celery, bell peppers, chicken stock, cream of mushroom soup, garlic powder, and butter. Stir to combine.
- Put the lid on your slow cooker and let it cook on low for 6 hours or high for 4 hours, depending on your timeline.
- About 30 minutes before serving, stir in the frozen peas, sliced mushrooms, and heavy whipping cream. This will give the peas and mushrooms a chance to heat through, and the cream will have time to blend in and thicken the sauce.
- Stir and let it cook for those last 30 minutes.
- When the time is up, your turkey a la king is ready to serve. Spoon it over some warm, flaky biscuits for the ultimate comfort food experience.
🍴Serving Ideas
This versatile turkey a la king is perfect for various occasions, from a cozy family dinner to a fancy brunch spread. The classic way to enjoy it is spooned over warm, flaky biscuits.
There’s just something about the combination of creamy turkey mixture and buttery biscuits that feels like a big, comforting hug. If you’re feeling extra fancy, you could even make your own homemade biscuits – they’re easier than you might think!
For a more elegant presentation, try serving it over puff pastry shells. You can find these pre-made shells in the frozen section of most grocery stores, and they bake up beautifully golden and crisp. Spoon the hot turkey mixture into the shells just before serving for a stunning and delicious meal.
For a low-carb twist, serve your Turkey A La King over zucchini noodles. The creamy sauce is delicious no matter what you pair it with!
💭How to Store
If you have leftovers, simply transfer the cooled turkey mixture to an airtight container and place it in the refrigerator. It will keep well for up to 3 days.
When you’re ready to enjoy your leftovers, there are a few ways to reheat them. You can heat it in the microwave or reheat it in a saucepan on the stove over medium-low heat.
If it has thickened up in the fridge, don’t worry—that’s normal. Simply add a splash of chicken stock or milk to the mixture as you reheat it to help loosen it up and restore that creamy consistency.
Biscuits or pastry shells don’t store quite as well as the turkey mixture itself. If you have leftover biscuits, I recommend storing them separately from the turkey mixture at room temperature in an airtight container or in the freezer for longer storage.
⭐Tips
Be sure to check out the step by step instructions
- Use leftover turkey that’s been stored properly. For best quality and safety, leftover turkey should be used within 3-4 days.
- If you have other veggies in your fridge to use up, toss them in. Carrots, asparagus, or even some diced potatoes would be delicious additions.
- If you prefer a thicker, creamier sauce, you can thicken it with a cornstarch slurry. Mix equal parts cornstarch and cold water, then stir it into the slow cooker and let it cook for a few more minutes until the sauce thickens.
- On the other hand, if you like a thinner sauce, you can add a splash of chicken stock to loosen it up.
- If you don’t have leftover turkey on hand, feel free to substitute cooked, shredded chicken instead. You can use rotisserie chicken, leftover grilled chicken, or even canned chicken in a pinch.
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Slow Cooker Turkey A La King Recipe
Ingredients
- 3-4 cups leftover cooked turkey
- 1 small onion diced
- 1 small green bell pepper diced
- 1 small red bell pepper diced
- 1 stalk celery diced
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup 10.5 ounces
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 ½ cup frozen peas
- 8 ounces sliced mushrooms
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- Biscuits to serve over
Instructions
- Add the turkey, onion, celery, peppers, chicken stock, cream of mushroom soup, garlic powder, and butter to the slow cooker.3-4 cups leftover cooked turkey, 1 small onion, 1 small green bell pepper, 1 stalk celery, 1 cup chicken stock, 1 can cream of mushroom soup, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 4 tablespoons butter, 1 small red bell pepper
- Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or high for 4 hours.
- Thirty minutes before serving, add the peas, mushrooms, and cream.1 ½ cup frozen peas, 8 ounces sliced mushrooms, 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- Serve this over biscuits.Biscuits to serve over
Notes
- Use leftover turkey that’s been stored properly. For best quality and safety, leftover turkey should be used within 3-4 days.
- If you have other veggies in your fridge to use up, toss them in. Carrots, asparagus, or even some diced potatoes would be delicious additions.
- If you prefer a thicker, creamier sauce, you can thicken it with a cornstarch slurry. Mix equal parts cornstarch and cold water, then stir it into the slow cooker and let it cook for a few more minutes until the sauce thickens.
- On the other hand, if you like a thinner sauce, you can add a splash of chicken stock to loosen it up.
- If you don’t have leftover turkey on hand, feel free to substitute cooked, shredded chicken instead.
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Nutrition Information
Nutrition facts are estimates.