Description
This Leftover Turkey Pasta Bake is a comforting and delicious way to transform your cooked turkey into a hearty family meal. Combining sautéed leeks and mushrooms with tender pasta, fresh spinach, creamy cheese, and rich turkey stock, this baked pasta dish is easy to prepare and perfect for using up leftovers. Finished with a golden, cheesy crust, it’s a crowd-pleasing dinner that warms the soul.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 leek, roughly chopped
- 1 cup sliced mushrooms
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- 2 big handfuls fresh baby spinach leaves
Dry Ingredients
- 250 grams dry shells or macaroni pasta
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper
Liquids
- 1 cup chicken or turkey stock
- 1 1/4 cups water (plus up to 1/2 cup extra if needed)
- 1 cup thickened cream
Protein and Cheese
- 3 cups cooked turkey, roughly chopped
- 1 cup shredded Gruyère cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 190°C (170°C fan forced) or 375°F to prepare for baking the pasta later.
- Sauté vegetables: Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe pan over medium-high heat. Add chopped leek and sliced mushrooms, cooking for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add crushed garlic and sauté for an additional minute to release its aroma.
- Cook pasta in liquid: To the pan, add dry pasta, chicken or turkey stock, water, salt, and cracked black pepper. Stir to combine and cook for about 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is nearly cooked but still firm to the bite. Add up to 1/2 cup more water if needed to prevent drying out.
- Add spinach, turkey, and cheese: Stir fresh spinach leaves and chopped leftover turkey into the pasta mixture. Then mix in two-thirds of the combined shredded Gruyère and mozzarella cheeses, stirring until the cheese melts through and everything is well combined.
- Bake the pasta: Sprinkle the remaining cheese evenly over the top of the pasta dish. Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake uncovered for 15-20 minutes until the top is golden brown and bubbling.
- Serve and enjoy: Remove the bake from the oven and serve warm. This makes a perfect comforting meal that cleverly uses leftover turkey.
Notes
- You can substitute Gruyère cheese with another melty cheese like cheddar if preferred.
- If you don’t have an oven-safe pan, transfer the mixture to a baking dish before adding the cheese topping and baking.
- Adjust water amount as needed during cooking depending on the pasta type and pan size.
- For extra flavor, sprinkle some fresh herbs like parsley over the baked pasta before serving.
- This dish freezes well – cool completely before freezing and reheat thoroughly before serving.
