The best thing about Thanksgiving is leftover turkey for days. Although I’ll be sharing recipes from turkey leftovers over the next few days I wanted to start with this creamy, low carb scalloped turkey recipe. I’ve adapted it from a vintage recipe I pulled out of one of my vintage cookbooks and it’s very simple in the ingredients but the flavor is amazing. You can substitute cooked leftover chicken if you prefer. Give it a try, I know you’ll love it.
For this recipe you’ll need: cooked turkey, celery, butter, onion, Herbes de Provence, grated Parmesan cheese (the kind in the green canister), almond flour, chicken or turkey stock, and heavy cream.
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Table of Contents
Low Carb Scalloped Turkey Backstory
I know I’ve said before that my parents were teens during the Depression. They both learned to make do with what they had and I promise you my mom could make leftovers stretch for weeks.
Case in point? Turkey.
I used to hate Thanksgiving because it meant that Mom would use the meat for leftovers until it was gone and then add water and vegetables to the carcass and make Turkey Soup. We’d eat that dang turkey soup for a month because she’s just add more water and more vegetables to it until either Dad or I would “accidentally” drop it on the floor or throw it out or SOMETHING to get rid of the evil stuff.
For years I shied away from anything remotely like turkey soup.
This turkey recipe, however, is nothing like that. It’s quick and easy – AND you can use it as part of your meal prep – just keep the crumbs separate until you’re ready to heat it up.
Leftover Turkey FAQs
This recipe is rated: quick and easy.
How long is leftover turkey good for in the fridge?
Leftover turkey is fine in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. Vacuum seal it and the turkey will be good up to 7 days in the fridge. You can also freeze it for about 3 to 4 months.
Can I freeze leftover cooked turkey?
You can definitely freeze leftover cooked turkey. Be sure to remove it from the bones before freezing in a tightly sealed container – a vacuum sealed bag is best.
How can you tell if cooked turkey is bad?
Look at the turkey and smell it. A sour smell and slimy texture to cooked turkey means that it’s not good. If in doubt? – THROW IT OUT! Don’t taste it first.
How do you store leftover turkey?
Always remove the turkey meat from the bones before storing in the refrigerator or freezer. Dice, slice,? or shred the leftover turkey for use in recipes. Freeze with a little turkey stock over the meat to keep it moist.
You’ll find more information on serving and storing leftover turkey on the USDA website.
Tips and Variations for Scalloped Turkey
This is such an easy recipe for turkey leftovers and it has infinite variations. You can substitute cooked chicken for turkey in just about any recipe!
- Thin the sauce down and make it into a creamy, comforting turkey soup
- Use poultry seasoning instead of the Herbes de Provence
- Add a little diced carrot and cauliflower and turn it into turkey pot pie
- Serve it over my low carb egg noodles or biscuits
- Use pork rind crumbs in place of the almond flour in the crumb topping
- Stir in a smoked provolone or gouda cheese
- Serve it over waffles
- Add broccoli or spinach
- If the sauce seems to thin let it simmer a little longer
- If the sauce is still to thin add about a teaspoon of soft cream cheese stir until smooth
- Be sure to salt to taste
- You can add more celery without really adding more carbs if you’d like a little more substance
- This doesn’t freeze well
- You can make this scalloped turkey recipe ahead and store in the fridge for several days but don’t add the crumb topping until you’re ready to bake
- Hover over the serving size and scroll up to increase the number of servings – you can make this in a casserole dish for more servings
More Low Carb Comfort Food Recipes
I am big into comfort food, if you haven’t noticed. Here are some of my favorites! Remember, you can substitute turkey for chicken in almost any recipe!
- Creamy Chicken and “Rice” Soup
- Chicken Spaghetti
- Chicken Tetrazzini
- Creamy Chipotle Chicken Chowder
- Chicken Pot Pie Soup
- Chicken Pot Pie
Keto Scalloped Turkey Recipe
This is one of my favorite ways to use leftover turkey! It’s creamy and soothing – definitely not a dish that will leave you hungry an hour later! If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars.
Print Pin Recipe
Low Carb Scalloped Turkey
A delicious way to use up turkey leftovers! Diced turkey, onion, and celery baked in a rich sauce and topped with golden, buttery crumbs – absolutely addicting!
Course Main
Cuisine American Classic
Keyword creamy, herby, leftovers
Prep Time 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes minutes
Total Time 35 minutes minutes
Servings 1
Calories 574kcal
Author Katherine Peters
Ingredients
- 1 cup turkey , cooked and diced
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/4 cup celery ,chopped
- 2 tablespoons onion chopped
- 1/4 cup chicken stock
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon Herbes de Provence
- 3 tablespoons almond flour , divided use
- 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese , grated – the kind in the green canister
- 1 teaspoon butter
US Customary – Metric
Instructions
Melt the butter in a heavy saucepan.
Add the celery and onion; saute for about 2minutes or until the vegetables begin to soften.
Add the Herbes de Provence and chicken stock; cover and simmer on low for 3 minutes.
Add the turkey and cream.
Stir in 1 1/2 tablespoons of the almond flour.
Simmer for 5 minutes, or until the mixture reduces and thickens, stirring often.
Spoon into buttered cocotte.
Rub the Parmesan and the remaining almond flour into 1 teaspoon of butter until it makes crumbs.
Sprinkle crumbs on top of the scalloped turkey and bake uncovered for 20 minutes.
Let sit a few minutes after removing from oven.
Nutrition
Calories: 574kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 45g | Saturated Fat: 20g | Cholesterol: 162mg | Sodium: 525mg | Potassium: 351mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1165IU | Vitamin C: 1.5mg | Calcium: 222mg | Iron: 2.9mg
