Delicious Cheesy Potato Casserole Recipe with Leftover Turkey

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Cheesy Potato Casserole - Layers of thinly sliced potatoes, cooked juicy turkey, and Colby cheese smothered in a rich cream sauce! This creamy cheesy casserole is so easy to make and the best way to feed a crowd on a budget, especially when you’re using leftover turkey! Serve with a simple tossed salad on the side and you’ve got a complete hearty meal for everyone to enjoy!

When YOU make this Potato Casserole Recipe please tag us @munchkintimeblog on Instagram, we would LOVE to see your creation!

If you couldn’t tell by the number of casseroles I have published on my site, let me be the first to admit, I’m in love with casseroles!

From creamy chicken casserole and chicken bacon potato casserole to potato mushroom casserole and sausage potato cheese casserole, I love them all.

Casseroles have been a long standing comfort food, and the cheesier the better! This cheesy potato casserole recipe is the latest and greatest casserole perfect for feeding a family or large crowds on a dime. Most of the ingredients are probably already in your kitchen and it’s especially convenient to be able to use leftover turkey!

It’s made with a handful of simple ingredients and delivers a cream, rich, and flavorful dish that will fill the bellies of all of your loved ones.

Whether you’re looking for an easy way to use up your holiday turkey or just a quick and easy way to prepare dinner during the week, you’re going to love this turkey potato casserole!

Ingredients for Creamy Potato Casserole

Butter: You’ll need some to grease the baking dish and the rest will be used to sauté the onion and to create a roux.
Diced Onion: Cooking onions and butter is always a great way to bring out their flavor.
Flour: Using all-purpose flour will help to thicken the sauce so it’s not too runny when added to the casserole.
Milk & Heavy Whipping Cream: Both add richness to the sauce and once added to the flour and butter roux, it is what thins it out just a bit.
Potatoes: Peeled and sliced. Use a mandolin for even slices if you have one.
Cooked Turkey: This is a great opportunity to use leftover holiday turkey from Thanksgiving or Christmas! You can use diced or shredded turkey breast, it’s up to you.
Colby Jack Cheese: Freshly grated Colby Jack adds a cheesy element that also provides a mild and mellow flavor.
Salt & Pepper: To taste
Greens: For garnish. Fresh parsley or chives are always nice with a creamy dish.

How to Make Cheesy Potato Casserole

Step 1: Sauté the onion in melted butter over medium heat. If you’re using a cast-iron skillet, feel free to use it as your baking dish and put it right in the oven!

Step 2: Once the onions are golden, whisk in the flour and cook for 2 more minutes until the flour also turns golden.

Step 3: Slowly pour in the milk and heavy whipping cream, whisking continuously for 3-4 minutes. Add the salt and pepper to the thickened sauce, and reduce the heat to low.

Step 4: Grab your prepared baking dish and add ½ of the sliced potatoes to the bottom of the pan. Top that with ½ of the turkey, ½ the cheese, and then ½ the sauce mixture. Repeat with remaining ingredients.

Step 5: Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 40 minutes. Then, remove the foil and finish baking for another 20 minutes until the potatoes are tender and cooked through and the top is golden brown.

Allow it to rest for 15 minutes then garnish with your favorite greens or fresh herbs and enjoy!

Recipe Tips

Use any type of potatoes. Yukon Golds, red potatoes, or Russet potatoes. With Russets, you’re going to want to peel them for sure, but potatoes with thinner, more delicate skin are perfectly fine to leave on if you prefer.
Swap the Colby Jack with whatever cheese you have on hand. Cheddar cheese, mozzarella, and Gouda would all work.
Freshly grated cheese melts better. Try and shred your own from a block if you can, rather than the pre-shredded package.
Make sure to bake it covered at first. Since the potatoes are raw we want to contain the heat inside the dish so the potatoes have a chance to cook through and become nice and tender.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can also freeze leftovers in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 1 month.

Recipe FAQs

Do I have to cook potatoes first?

You don’t! This recipe is super easy and basically effortless. With that said, you can parboil them if you want to cut down on time spent in the oven. It’s an extra step that may save you a bit of time.

Can I use a different type of protein?

Sure thing. If you don’t have cooked turkey breast on hand, maybe you’ve got leftover shredded or diced chicken. Picking up a cooked rotisserie chicken from Costco is one of my go-to moves on busy weeknights!

You can also use cooked ham, bacon, or ground beef instead. Ground chicken and turkey are also options, as is Italian sausage.

Is this cheesy potato casserole gluten-free?

We use regular all-purpose flour for the roux to thicken the sauce so the recipe as written is not gluten-free. It’s an easy swap if you want to use gluten-free all-purpose flour.

How to cook a turkey breast for this turkey potato casserole?

For an easy method, I boiled the turkey breast in salt water and then used the water as broth in other recipes!