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.
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
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
- 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)
- Increase the heat to medium high and add the dry spices and cook 1 minute while stirring to bloom the spices. (image 2)
- Sprinkle the flour. (image 3)
- Whisk it into the vegetable mixture and cook it for a 3 minutes to get rid of the raw flour taste. (image 4)
- Slowly pour in the chicken stock and whisk it in so there are no lumps. (image 5)
- Pour in the whole milk and whisk it in, so the sauce is smooth. (image 6)
- Continue whisking until the sauce thickens. (image 7)
- Add in the meat, roasted red peppers, and frozen peas. (image 8)
- Stir until well combined, then cook until it's heated through. (image 9)
- Enjoy warm over freshly made rice or toast points. (image 10)
Recipe FAQs
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.
No, it's definitely an American dish. It was invented in the 1890s in Brighton, New York.
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.
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.
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
Recipe
Easy Turkey à la King
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)
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.
- 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 sizes and nutritional information are only an estimate and may vary from your results.
Alex
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!
Emma
Thank you, Alex! Turkey a la king is such a delicious recipe for turkey leftovers!
Beth
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.
Emma
Thank you, Beth! I love all the tasty meals one can make with leftover turkey!