• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Savor the Flavour

  • Recipe Index
  • About Us
  • Services
  • Contact
    • Privacy Policy/Disclaimer
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Memorial Day Recipes
  • Recipe Index
  • About Us
  • Our Shop
  • Services
  • Contact
×
Home » Recipes » Turkey Recipes

Easy Turkey à la King

Published: Oct 13, 2023 · Modified: Dec 5, 2024 by Brooke Fajcz · As an Amazon Influencer, we earn from qualifying purchases.

957 shares
  • 6
Jump to Recipe

Classic turkey à la king is a popular comfort food that combines soft, creamy textures with salty, savory flavors.  This recipe is a fantastic way to use up Thanksgiving turkey leftovers, and is fast and easy to make.

Want other Thanksgiving leftover ideas? Try these turkey pasties and this turkey stroganoff.

closeup of a bowl of turkey a la king
Jump to:
  • About
  • Why This Recipe Works
  • Ingredients
  • Variations
  • How to Make Turkey à la King
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Serve
  • Expert Tips
  • Other Turkey Recipes You'll Love
  • Recipe
  • Comments

About

This turkey à la king recipe is an easy dinner idea that uses up leftover turkey. The base is a creamy sauce thickened by a roux, and includes veggies like onion, carrot, celery, mushrooms, and peas. It is traditionally served over rice or toast points.

This dish was originally invented in the 1890s by a hotel chef who most likely was Chef George Greenwald of Brighton Beach Hotel in Brighton Beach, New York. The exact origins of the name aren't known, but it's thought that it is named after the Brighton Beach Hotel owner, E. Clark King II.

Why This Recipe Works

  • Sweat the vegetables. This method will slowly extract the mellow sweetness from the mirepoix because they will gradually soften.
  • The spices are bloomed. Adding them to the mirepoix after it has cooked allows the spices to release their flavors and aromas before the remaining ingredients are added.
  • It has the perfect texture. The roux thickens the sauce so it's moist and thick but not dry or gluey.
  • It uses a white gravy. The white sauce adds flavor, moisture, and a creamy texture to the turkey à la king.

Ingredients

glass bowls of ingredients for turkey a la king

Turkey à la king is a recipe that uses pantry staple ingredients, so it's easy to get this on the table for dinner quickly. Let's talk about some of the key ingredients.

  • Vegetables: We used peas and roasted red peppers.
  • Seasonings: We used thyme, rosemary, sage, paprika, curry, cayenne pepper and salt and freshly ground black pepper.
  • Liquids: We used chicken stock and wine or sherry
  • Meat: We used leftover roasted turkey.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Variations

  • Swap the Vegetables: Use mushrooms or pimentos.
  • Swap the Meat: Use leftover roasted chicken, duck or goose.

How to Make Turkey à la King

person stirring veggies and adding spices
  1. To sweat the mirepoix, melt the butter until foamy, add the mirepoix along with a pinch of salt. Reduce the heat to medium low and sweat the vegetables until soft, then add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant. (image 1)
  2. Increase the heat to medium high and add the dry spices and cook 1 minute while stirring to bloom the spices. (image 2)
person adding flour to skillet and whisking it into veggies
  1. Sprinkle the flour. (image 3)
  2. Whisk it into the vegetable mixture and cook it for a 3 minutes to get rid of the raw flour taste. (image 4)
person pouring chicken broth and milk into the skillet
  1. Slowly pour in the chicken stock and whisk it in so there are no lumps. (image 5)
  2. Pour in the whole milk and whisk it in, so the sauce is smooth. (image 6)
person whisking the sauce and adding the veggies
  1. Continue whisking until the sauce thickens. (image 7)
  2. Add in the meat, roasted red peppers, and frozen peas. (image 8)
turkey a la king in a skillet with a wooden spoon
  1. Stir until well combined, then cook until it's heated through. (image 9)
person holding a spoonful of turkey a la king
  1. Enjoy warm over freshly made rice or toast points. (image 10)

Recipe FAQs

How many calories are in turkey à la king?

A ½ cup serving size has 151 calories and 9.3 grams of carbohydrates. It is also a good source of vitamins A and C. For more nutritional information, scroll to the bottom of the recipe card.

Is turkey à la king Chinese?

No, it's definitely an American dish. It was invented in the 1890s in Brighton, New York.

Can I make turkey à la king ahead of time?

You sure can.  Make it on the stovetop or in the slow cooker.  Allow it to cool completely, then put it in an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to use. 

Can I freeze turkey à la king?

Yes, you can.  Make sure the dish has cooled completely before freezing in an airtight container or zip-top freezer bag.  It keeps in the freezer for up to one month.

Serve

Turkey à la king tastes amazing when served over freshly cooked rice or hot toast points. If you are watching your carbs, serve it over cauliflower rice, zucchini noodles, or spaghetti squash.

Other dinner suggestions are sour cream mashed potatoes, buttermilk biscuits, green beans and potatoes, Chick-fil-A coleslaw, Chick-fil-A side salad, and spiced cranberry applesauce.

holding a white bowl of turkey à la king.

Expert Tips

  • Don't have leftover turkey?  Use deli turkey cut ⅝-inch thick, then shred it.
  • Low carb serving suggestions? Serve it over cauliflower rice, zucchini noodles, or spaghetti squash.
  • Want to add pastry?  Use the filling for a savory family pie, or serve over puff pastry squares.
  • Unique serving ideas: Serve it over skillet cornbread wedges, waffles, crepes, or flat bread.
  • Garnishes: Use flat leaf parsley or toasted slivered almonds.

Other Turkey Recipes You'll Love

  • large bowl of Panera turkey chili with a wooden spoon and bowls of toppings
    Panera Turkey Chili Copycat
  • roasted turkey in a pan of greenery
    Perfect Roast Turkey
  • plate of turkey waldorf salad
    Waldorf Salad Recipe
  • collage of seven leftover turkey recipes
    7 Thanksgiving Leftover Turkey Recipes

If you liked this recipe and found it helpful, give it some love by sharing!

Follow us on Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube, Threads, and Facebook for more crave-worthy recipes!

The pleasure of a 5-star review would be greatly appreciated!

Recipe

bowl of turkey a la king with two forks

Easy Turkey à la King

Classic turkey à la king is a great way to use up Thanksgiving leftovers.  This from scratch recipe is an easy, quick and cheap weeknight dinner idea to serve your family.  Make it on the stove top or in the crock pot and your kids will be asking for seconds.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin FavoriteSaved! Rate
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 35 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes
Total Time: 1 hour hour
Servings: 4 cups
Calories: 274kcal
Author: Brooke & Emma

Ingredients
 

  • 2 tablespoons salted butter
  • ¾ cup yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 cup celery, diced
  • ¾ cup carrot, diced
  • 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
  • ⅛ teaspoon dried thyme leaves
  • ⅛ teaspoon dried rosemary
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground sage
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup reduced-sodium chicken stock
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 3 cups cooked turkey, shredded
  • ½ cup frozen peas
  • ¼ canned red roasted peppers, diced
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • sprinkle of white pepper
  • 1 tablespoon flatleaf parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Keep your screen on while you work!

Instructions

Stovetop Instructions

  • Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium high heat.  When it begins to foam, add the onion, celery, and carrots.  Add a pinch of salt then reduce heat to medium low. Stir and cook until soft.  Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
  • Sprinkle the thyme, rosemary, and sage onto the veggies.  Let the spices bloom by stirring constantly for a minute.
  • Increase the heat to medium, then sprinkle on the flour.  Whisk until the flour seems cooked, about 3 minutes. 
  • Whisk in the chicken stock first, and then the whole milk.  Increase the temperature a tiny bit and let the milk heat up.  Whisk constantly for a couple of minutes, until the sauce has thickened.
  • Lower the heat to medium low, add the diced roasted red peppers, shredded meat, frozen peas, salt, and white pepper to taste.  Stir and cook until heated through, roughly 5 minutes.
  • Serve warm over cooked rice or the carb of your choice with chopped parsley as a garnish.

Crock Pot Instructions

  • Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium high heat, then whisk in the flour.  Cook the flour, whisking constantly, for at least 3 minutes.
  • Pour in the chicken stock and whisk it in, then do the same for the milk.  Whisk for a few minutes until the sauce has thickened, then remove from the heat.
  • Add the onion, carrots, celery, garlic, spices, meat, and white sauce to a crock pot.  Cover and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours.
  • During the last 30 minutes, turn the heat up to high, then add the frozen peas and the chopped roasted red peppers.  Stir, cover, and cook for 30 minutes.

Video

Notes

  • If you don't have leftover turkey, use deli turkey cut ⅝-inch thick, then shred it.
  • Serve it over cauliflower rice, zucchini noodle, or spaghetti squash if you want low carb options.
  • Use the filling for a savory family pie, or serve over puff pastry squares.
  • Serve it over skillet cornbread wedges, waffles, crepes, or flatbread for some unique serving ideas.
  • Use flatleaf parsley or toasted slivered almonds for your garnishes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 274kcal (14%)Carbohydrates: 19g (6%)Protein: 22g (44%)Fat: 13g (20%)Saturated Fat: 6g (38%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 76mg (25%)Sodium: 537mg (23%)Potassium: 567mg (16%)Fiber: 3g (13%)Sugar: 7g (8%)Vitamin A: 4679IU (94%)Vitamin C: 15mg (18%)Calcium: 125mg (13%)Iron: 2mg (11%)

Serving sizes and nutritional information are only an estimate and may vary from your results.

Tried this Recipe? Tag us Today!Mention @savortheflavourblog or tag #savortheflavour!

« Scottish Steak Pie
How to Brew French Press Coffee »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Alex

    September 27, 2019 at 8:02 pm

    5 stars
    The leftover turkey tastes really good with the carrots, the peas, and the roasted red peppers. 🥕🦃 I like the turkey a la king; it is very flavorful! It is very delicious!🍲😍😋😀 Yum, yum!

    Reply
    • Emma

      September 27, 2019 at 8:06 pm

      Thank you, Alex! Turkey a la king is such a delicious recipe for turkey leftovers!

      Reply
  2. Beth

    September 27, 2019 at 7:42 pm

    5 stars
    The tender turkey, carrots, red peppers, and peas are great together. This tastes good on rice. It reminds me of other delicious turkey recipes like turkey stroganoff.

    Reply
    • Emma

      September 27, 2019 at 8:05 pm

      Thank you, Beth! I love all the tasty meals one can make with leftover turkey!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

two ladies with brown hair smiling in a kitchen.

Welcome to our kitchen!

We're Brooke & Emma Fajcz, the mother-daughter team behind Savor the Flavour. Increase your kitchen confidence with our recipes, instructional photos, and helpful tips and facts. Our recipes have been featured in Oprah Magazine, The Guardian, Parade, Insider, Delish, and BuzzFeed.

More about us →
logos of newspapers and companies that featured Savor the Flavour.

Celebrate Memorial Day with Sour Cream Pound Cake!

slice of sour cream pound cake on a white plate

Memorial Day Recipes

  • two blue lagoon mocktails with lemon slices
    Blue Lagoon Mocktail
  • bowl of sweet corn chowder with a wooden spoon
    Panera Summer Corn Chowder Copycat
  • a cup of hot chocolate with a plate of manteconchas
    Manteconchas Recipe
  • Chick-fil-A fruit tray in a white bowl
    Chick-fil-A Fruit Cup Copycat Recipe

Popular Posts

  • baked Cuban bread on a wire cooling rack.
    Homemade Cuban Bread (Pan Cubano)
  • glass bottle filled with Caesar dressing
    Caesar Salad Dressing
  • person holding a spoonful of black bean soup
    Panera Black Bean Soup (Copycat Recipe)
  • slices of tomato basil bread on a cutting board
    Panera Tomato Basil Bread

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Shop Our Store
  • Work with Us
  • Press
  • Services

Follow Us

  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook

Connect

  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility

As an Amazon associate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2017-2025 Savor the Flavour