Turkey Tater Tot Casserole gives leftover turkey a pot pie-style twist with tender turkey, mixed vegetables, and a creamy homemade gravy, all topped with a layer of crispy tater tots. The filling cooks right in an oven-safe skillet before the whole thing goes into the oven, keeping the cooking and cleanup to just one pan.
What Makes This Leftover Turkey Tater Tot Casserole So Good
- A great use for leftover turkey: Instead of another round of turkey sandwiches, leftover turkey gets a second life in a creamy, hearty casserole with vegetables and crispy tater tots.
- No canned soup needed: A homemade gravy made with butter, flour, chicken broth, and milk gives this casserole its creamy filling without relying on condensed soup.
- A complete meal in one skillet: With turkey, vegetables, and potatoes all included, this casserole has everything you need for a filling dinner without cooking separate side dishes.
I’ve never been a huge fan of reheating Thanksgiving leftovers, so I’m always finding new ways to turn them into something different. This Turkey Tater Tot Casserole is similar to my Turkey Pot Pie with Biscuits, but with the tater tot treatment from my Chicken Bacon Ranch Tater Tot Casserole. It’s a fun, easy way to give leftover Thanksgiving turkey a second life without feeling like you’re eating the same meal all over again.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Unsalted butter – Salted butter can be used, but the overall salt level may need adjusting.
- Yellow onion – White onion can be used instead.
- Garlic – Fresh garlic is best, but 2 teaspoons of jarred minced garlic can be used instead.
- All-purpose flour – No substitutions.
- Low-sodium chicken broth – Turkey broth or vegetable broth can be used instead.
- Whole milk – 2% milk can be used, although the gravy may be slightly less creamy.
- Leftover turkey – Cooked chicken can be used instead.
- Frozen mixed vegetables – Canned mixed vegetables or leftover Thanksgiving green beans can be used instead.
- Salt and pepper – No substitutions.
- Monterey Jack cheese – Mild cheddar or Colby Jack can be used instead.
- Frozen tater tots – No substitutions. Keep them frozen until they go on the pie, as they’ll crisp up better.
Mandy’s Top Tip
Let the homemade gravy thicken before adding the turkey and vegetables. It should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon so the casserole has a creamy filling rather than a runny one.
Tips for Success
No oven-safe skillet? Transfer the turkey and gravy mixture to a 9×13-inch baking dish before adding the cheese and tater tots, then bake as directed.
Add the broth slowly – Pour the chicken broth into the flour mixture a little at a time, stirring constantly to prevent lumps. Do the same with the milk for a smooth gravy.
Arrange the tater tots in a single layer – Keep the tater tots in an even layer across the filling rather than stacking them so they can crisp up in the oven.
Watch the salt – Leftover turkey may already be seasoned, especially if it was brined before roasting. Taste the gravy mixture before adding the full amount of salt and adjust if needed.
How to Make Turkey Casserole with Tater Tots
This Turkey Tater Tot Casserole is assembled entirely in one oven-safe skillet, starting with a homemade gravy filled with leftover turkey and vegetables. A layer of cheese and frozen tater tots goes on top before the whole skillet is baked until golden and crispy.
Sauté the onions.
Make the gravy.
Top with cheese.
Cook out the flour.
Add the turkey and veggies.
Top with tater tots.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! You can cook the turkey and gravy filling ahead of time and refrigerate it in an airtight container for up to 24 hours. When it’s time to bake, transfer the filling to the skillet or baking dish, add the cheese and frozen tater tots, and bake. Since the filling will be cold, it may need additional time in the oven to heat through.
No problem! Cook the turkey and gravy mixture in a regular skillet, then transfer it to a 9×13-inch baking dish. Top with the cheese and frozen tater tots, then bake as directed.
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More Easy Dinners with Tater Tots
Tater tots aren’t just for breakfast or a side dish. Check out these other easy casserole recipes that put them to good use.
Did you make this turkey casserole with tater tots? Let me know how it turned out by leaving a comment and ⭐ rating below!
Tater Tot Turkey Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1 medium yellow onion diced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
- 3 cups leftover cooked turkey diced or shredded
- 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 1/2 cups Monterey Jack cheese shredded (optional)
- 32 ounce bag frozen tater tots
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Melt the butter in a 12-inch oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook until softened. Stir in the minced garlic and cook until fragrant.
- Sprinkle the flour over the onions and garlic. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring continuously, until the raw flour smell is gone.
- Slowly pour in the chicken broth, stirring constantly to keep the gravy smooth. Gradually stir in the milk in the same way.
- Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the gravy has thickened.
- Stir in the leftover turkey, frozen mixed vegetables, salt, and black pepper until evenly combined.
- Sprinkle the Monterey Jack cheese evenly over the turkey mixture. Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer over the top.
- Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake at 400°F for 35-40 minutes, until the tater tots are golden and crispy and the filling is heated through.
Notes
- Refrigerate: Store leftover Turkey Tater Tot Casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Keep in mind that the storage time for the cooked turkey includes the days it was refrigerated before you use it in the casserole.
- Freeze: Allow the casserole to cool completely, then transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 2-3 months. The tater tots may lose some of their crispiness after freezing and thawing.
- Reheat: Reheat individual portions in the microwave until heated through. For crispier tater tots, reheat in a 350°F oven until warmed through, covering loosely with foil if the topping starts to brown too much.
Nutriton
Disclaimer: Nutrition information is estimated based on automated calculations and should be considered as an approximation. These estimates are provided as a courtesy. Please use your own brand’s nutritional values to verify accuracy.