Looking for an easy leftover turkey idea? Turkey pasta bake is the answer! This Turkey Pasta has plenty of turkey, artichokes and sun-dried tomatoes. It’s generously topped with cheesy mozzarella and baked up until golden brown and bubbly. Sure to be a favourite in your home as it is ours.
Hi friends!
As some of you may know, we recently celebrated Thanksgiving here in Canada.
Aside from the big meal, I always get excited about turkey leftovers, especially when I make this turkey pasta bake.
Remember that scene from A Christmas Story when a bunch of dogs got into the house and ravaged their turkey? Ralphie starts to rhyme off all the delicious eats one could have after the main meal. Unfortunately, he didn’t get to have those leftovers, but hopefully you will!
I mean, what’s not to love about leftovers? And this turkey pasta? There’s turkey, carbs, melty cheese … say no more, am I right?
With all the holidays this time of year, there’s lots of leftover turkey going around and there’s no complaints from me!
What I love about pasta bake recipes is that they come together so quickly. And, if you don’t have exactly the same ingredients, you could use what you have on hand.
There’s a lot of flexibility here, which I love.
Ingredients Needed for this Pasta Bake Recipe
- Leftover cooked turkey (of course): I used a combo for white and dark meat (no skin). Use what you have or what you enjoy best.
- Pasta: Gemelli pasta was used, but you could use your favourite small pasta variety.
- Pasta sauce: Rosee pasta sauce works lovely here, but you could you another variety, like a simple tomato pasta sauce.
- Broth: Unsalted chicken broth was used, but if you have leftover turkey broth, all the better!
- Half-and-half: This adds to the richness of the dish. You could replace with more pasta sauce, broth or even heavy cream if you prefer.
- Artichokes: Marinated artichokes were used. They were removed from their liquid and roughly chopped.
- Sun-dried tomatoes: Sun-dried tomatoes in oil were used. Simply remove from oil and chop.
- Seasoning, like salt, pepper and crushed red pepper flakes (you could omit the crushed red pepper flakes (or use less), if you aren’t a big fan of spice
- Mozzarella cheese: This melts lovely, but you could use another variety of your favourite melting cheese.
- And, of course, olive oil and aromatics, like onion and garlic.
How to Make a Pasta Bake
This turkey pasta bake is super easy to whip up! Aside from cooking the onion and garlic, you simply add everything in the pot, generously top with cheese and bake. Couldn’t be simpler (or tastier)! Full details are in the recipe card below, but here are the basics:
- Heat a little oil in a pan and cook onion until softened.
- Add garlic and cook for just a minute.
- Stir in cooked leftover turkey, uncooked pasta, artichokes and sun-dried tomatoes
- Pour in pasta sauce, broth, half-and-half and seasonings. Give everything a little mix to combine. You can leave on the heat for just a few minutes to allow the liquid to warm through before baking.
- Top with shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Bake until golden brown and cooked through. Allow to cool for a little before digging in.
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Best Cheese to Use
I used a shredded mozzarella here (also known as “pizza mozzarella”), but you could use another cheese.
Just opt for a good melting cheese. Fontina, provolone, Swiss, young cheddar and Asiago also work great (or try a combo of your faves).
Pasta to Use
Gemelli pasta was used here, but you could easily substitute with your favourite similarly sized pasta.
Campanelle, cavatappi, rotini or penne would work too.
Do You Cook Pasta for Pasta Bake?
Nope! You just put the uncooked pasta in the pot, along with everything else, and bake until cooked through.
How Much Liquid Is Needed
To cook pasta (along with everything in this pasta bake recipe), you’ll want about 5.5 cups of liquid, which comprises pasta sauce, broth and half-and-half.
It looks like a lot of liquid at first, but will be absorbed or reduced as the pasta cooks. This is not an overly saucy pasta, but super tasty!
Tip: Want to use a little more pasta sauce? Just reduce the quantity of broth by the same amount.
Pasta Bake Add Ins
Not into sun-dried tomatoes or artichokes or don’t have on hand? No worries! Try any of these:
- Sliced mushrooms (if using fresh, give them a little cook before adding to the bake)
- Roasted red peppers, cut into bite-sized pieces
- Diced bell pepper
- Sliced black olives
- Crisped bacon, pancetta or prosciutto
- Baby spinach or kale
- Try throwing some fresh or dried herbs into the pasta itself (like basil, thyme or rosemary)
Size of Pan to Use
Use an oven-safe 12-inch pan that’s about 2.5 to 3 inches deep.
I like to use my enameled cast-iron pan.
How Long the Leftover Pasta Bake Lasts
Find yourself with leftovers? The length of time this pasta bake lasts really depends on how fresh your leftover turkey was in the first place.
If your turkey is freshly made, this pasta bake will keep for about 2 to 4 days properly stored in the fridge.
If your leftover turkey was 3 days old when you make this pasta bake, enjoy right away.
How to Reheat Pasta Bake
Like most pasta bakes, this turkey pasta is best enjoyed when freshly made, but you can reheat. I love to reheat this pasta bake on the stovetop.
Simply place your portions into a skillet with a little splash of water (about a ¼ cup or so, depending on how much you are reheating), cover and heat over medium heat until heated through.
Alternatively, you can bake in the oven (with oven temperature set to 350 degrees Fahrenheit). Place portions into an oven-safe dish, add a little water (again, about ¼ cup), cover with aluminum foil and cook until heated through, about 20 minutes or so. Time may vary, depending on how big of a portion you are reheating.
What to Serve with this Turkey Pasta
- Green salad
- Caesar salad
- Garlic bread
- Green beans
- Roasted broccoli or broccolini
More Leftover Turkey Recipes
If you make this leftover turkey pasta bake, be sure to leave a comment below!
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Turkey Pasta Bake (delicious leftover turkey idea)
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (or avocado oil)
- 1 yellow onion , peeled and minced
- 3 cloves garlic , minced
- 3 cups cooked turkey , roughly chopped (about ¾ pound)
- 12 ounces uncooked gemelli pasta (about 3 cups)
- ½ cup marinated artichokes (removed from liquid and chopped)
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes (removed from their oil and chopped)
- 2 cups pasta sauce (I used 'rosee'. Use your favourite variety)
- 3 cups unsalted chicken broth , divided
- ½ cup half-and-half (or pasta sauce or unsalted chicken broth)
- ½ to 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (or to taste)
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt (optional)
- 10 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese (or about 2.5 cups)
- Freshly chopped parsley (garnish to taste, optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a 12-inch oven-safe pan (like a sauté pan or one that's about 2.5 to 3 inches deep) over medium heat on the stovetop, then add onion and cook, stirring often, for 3 to 5 minutes or until softened. Add garlic, stir, and cook 1 minute. Stir in cooked turkey, uncooked pasta, artichokes and sun-dried tomatoes.
- Next, pour in pasta sauce (take ½ cup of the broth and rinse out jar of pasta sauce to get every last bit and pour that in too), remaining 2.5 cups of broth, half-and-half, crushed red pepper flakes, black pepper and salt (if using). Stir to combine everything, ensuring pasta is submerged in the liquid. Keep the pot over the heat for 3 to 4 minutes just to let the liquid start to warm before placing into the oven.
- Top with shredded mozzarella cheese and bake (uncovered) for about 45 to 50 minutes (check on at the 45 minute mark). Note: Ovens vary. If your cheese browns too quickly, you can loosely cover with aluminum foil (ensuring the aluminum foil isn't touching the cheese).
- Once done, carefully remove from the oven and let cool for about 10 to 15 minutes (don't skip this step) before garnishing with parsley (if using) and serving. Enjoy!
Notes
- If you don’t have gemelli pasta, use a similar sized-variety, like campanelle, cavatappi, rotini or penne.
- You can use another melting cheese, if you prefer, instead of mozzarella, like fontina, provolone, Swiss, young cheddar and asiago (or a combo of your faves).
- More recipe tips in body of post above.
Nutrition estimate (if provided) is based on 1 Serving.
Nutrition information (if provided) is provided as a courtesy and should be considered an estimate only. Ingredients can vary and Girl Heart Food makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
A note on times provided: appliances vary, any prep and/or cook times provided are guidelines only.
CAG
Can you sub 2% milk for the 1/2 and 1/2 OR better to just use extra stock or extra sauce??
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
I haven’t tried with regular milk, but should work out just fine. Hope you enjoy and thanks for stopping by!!
Kim - The Puffy Biscuit
This is brilliant, Dawn! How easy and delicious; the kind of meal that makes leftovers THE BEST THING EVER. (I used to hate leftovers, but I have gotten wiser over the years! 🙂 ) And leftover turkey is the best of the best. Love the addition of the sun-dried tomatoes and artichokes – they must add such great flavour.
Colleen
Good bye Turkey Sandwhiches, THIS is were my tukey leftovers are going! So delicious, Dawn!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Woo hoo! Thanks Colleen 🙂
Elaine Nessman
Fabulous idea! And there’s no reason I couldn’t use my favourite gluten-free pasta in this dish, either! Thanks Dawn!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Totally! Thank you Elaine 🙂
STEFANIE
AT WHAT TEMP IS THE OVEN PUT AT???
THANK YOU
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Hi Stefanie! Bake at 350 F 🙂 Enjoy!
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I can honestly say I would have never have thought of this, and I am SO glad you did!! Wow! Truly…Wow! My mouth is watering…I already can’t wait for Thanksgiving leftovers! 😉 🙂 Have a great week, my friend! xoxo
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Yay! Thanks, my friend 🙂 You too! XOXO
Kim Lange
Saw this on instagram Dawn and I’m here checking it out! I’m drooling and pinning because I have to make this! I’m a sucker for sun-dried tomatoes and pasta!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Yay! Thank you Kim! I am too 🙂
Kevin
Absolutely one of the best ways to use up some leftover turkey! That is if you have any after Thanksgiving! Love the ooey, gooey, sauciness of this pasta bake! Will have to remember this one!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Thank you Kevin! Enjoy 🙂
Valentina
Love that you’re posting all of this now for us American’s who will be totally ready when our Thanksgiving hits. This dish looks SO comforting. I might not even wait for the leftovers to try it! Hope you have a great weekend, Dawn. 🙂 ~Valentina
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Thank you so much, Valentina! Hope you had a great weekend too 🙂
Ben|Havocinthekitchen
Pasta, turkey, cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, tomatoe sauce…say no more, Dawn! The only problem is that Thanksgiving is over and we don’t have any turkey leftovers. Well that’s a good reason to celebrate American Thanksgiving as well 🙂 Delicious idea!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Thank you very much, Ben 🙂
Kelly | Foodtasia
Dawn, the Canadian Thanksgiving always sneaks up and surprises me! I’ll be looking forward to this baked pasta dish as much as the Thanksgiving turkey itself! Love all the cheesy tomato-y goodness. And I can’t believe how simple it is to make!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Super simple! Thank you Kelly 🙂
Katherine | Love In My Oven
I love having recipes like this for leftover turkey!!! I stole some of my Mom’s turkey after dinner at her house this weekend and ended up making a soup with it, but I’m pinning this one for the next turkey that we have!! That bubbly cheese on top gets me every time! Happy weekend Dawn! XO
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Thank you Katherine! Cheese gets me too 😉 XO
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
I’m still dealing with leftover turkey, so I will definitely add this to the menu this weekend 🙂 Looks lovely!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Woo hoo! Enjoy 🙂
Alexandra @ It's Not Complicated Recipes
So delicious, Dawn! An incredibly yummy idea – I feel like I can almost smell it cooking right now. Comfort food at the very best!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Thank you so much, Alexandra!
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen
This is brilliant! People can only eat so many turkey sandwiches after Thanksgiving right? And I love how easy it is to prepare! Have a great weekend, Dawn!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
For sure! Thank you Kelsie 🙂
Leanne
I’m all about the turkey leftovers, and love your reference to A Christmas Story! One of our favourite Christmas movies! This pasta bake is such a great way to use up leftover turkey, and so hearty and comforting for fall. It has all the things we love, including sundried tomatoes and artichokes. So delish! Pinning! Happy almost weekend Dawn!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
I know, right? Such a classic! Thank you Leanne!
David @ Spiced
I’m with ya on the leftovers, Dawn. In fact, leftovers are one of my favorite things about Thanksgiving. However, even I get bored of the same leftovers after a while. This is a great way to mix things up! I love a good pasta bake, so the addition of leftover turkey here is a great idea!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Totally!! Thank you David 🙂
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen
What a delicious idea for leftover turkey Dawn. I’m simply drooling over here! I also love the list of extra add ins you’ve suggested. In a few weeks we’ll be up to our ears in extra turkey too, so I’m bookmarking this one! Thanks!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Thank you so much, Mary Ann! Hope you enjoy 🙂
Katerina | Once a Foodie
Gosh and golly, this looks absolutely delightful, Dawn! I hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Thank you Katerina 🙂 We sure did!