Turkey Croquettes

These crispy Turkey Croquettes reinvent leftovers in a most delicious way. Serve them with a dollop of sour cream and a drizzle of cranberry sauce for a scrumptious post holiday meal.

Ingredients to Make Leftover Turkey Croquettes Recipe

If you’re fortunate enough to have leftover Thanksgiving turkey, it’s the ideal opportunity to transform them into something really delicious for a round two meal. Enter turkey croquettes. The word “croquettes” rolls off the tongue a little more smoothly than leftover Thanksgiving turkey cakes, doesn’t it? That being said, this downhome transformation is bound to hit your hungry spot. Ingredients to make easy Turkey Croquettes Recipe: (Scroll down for the full printable recipe card.)

• Turkey: Three cups finely chopped leftover turkey.
• Potatoes: Two 2 cups cold mashed potatoes.
• Cheese: One cup shredded sharp white cheddar cheese.
• Onion: Green onion for a mild onion flavor, plus butter for cooking.
• Herbs: One tablespoon chopped fresh sage and two teaspoons chopped fresh thyme.
• Flour: All purpose flour helps hold the filling ingredients together.
• Seasonings: Garlic salt, Cajun or Creole seasoning, lemon pepper.
• Eggs: Two large eggs add richness and binds the filling keeping it from falling apart.
• Breading: Panko bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese.
• Oil: Vegetable or olive oil for frying.
• Garnish: Cranberry sauce and sour cream for serving.

How to Make the Best Turkey Croquettes Recipe

• Chop Turkey – Use a sharp knife to finely chop the turkey. Add to a bowl with mashed potatoes and cheese.
• Sauté Onion – Melt butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté green onion, sage and thyme just until softened.
• Combine with Turkey – Remove from heat and add to mixing bowl with flour, garlic salt, Cajun seasoning lemon pepper and eggs. Stir until fully combined and the ingredients are evenly distributed.
• Prepare the Breading – In a shallow bowl, sift together panko and Parmesan cheese.
• Scoop the Turkey Mixture – Drop into breadcrumbs. Repeat, pressing the crumbs onto each croquette.
• Cook – Cook croquettes over medium-high heat in batches per the cook time in the recipe until golden brown.
• Serve – Serve immediately topped with sour cream and cranberry sauce.

Tips for Making Leftover Turkey Croquettes

• Kitchen Tools You’ll Need: Medium size bowl, measuring cups and spoons, cheese grater, a large skillet, plates or shallow bowls for the coating, a sharp knife and chopping board, a medium size scoop, a turning spatula and a rubber spatula or spoon for mixing everything together.
• Finely Chopped Turkey Works Beat: The turkey needs to be fairly finely chopped to combine with the remaining ingredients. You can use white meat and dark meat.
• Adjust the Seasonings: Since only you know the seasonings that were used for making the roasted turkey and mashed potatoes, you may need to adjust the amounts of seasonings called for in this croquettes recipe. For example, you may need to pull back on the salt or add less Cajun seasoning.
• Use Cold Mashed Potatoes: These turkey croquettes work best and hold together better when using cold mashed potatoes.
• Make-Ahead Tip: You can make and shape these turkey croquettes and freeze them for a future meal. Gently cook from frozen, adding time as needed to heat all the way through.
• How to Serve Turkey Croquettes: Serve these turkey cakes with leftover dressing or stuffing, green beans, macaroni and cheese, broccoli casserole or any of your favorite comfort food side dishes.

Recipe Variations

• Garlic: If you don’t have garlic salt, use table salt to your taste and add granulated garlic or garlic powder, instead.
• Breadcrumbs: I prefer the crunch of panko breadcrumbs for this recipe. You could adapt using fresh breadcrumbs or Italian seasoned bread crumbs, if that’s what you have on hand.
• Cheese: Sharp white cheddar cheese not only helps bind the filling along with the eggs, but expands the flavor profile. I’ve used Gruyere, Swiss and other robust flavors of cheese with spectacular results. If you have good old cheddar cheese or Colby cheese on hand rest assured, it will work fine.
• Cajun Seasoning: You can use an alternate seasoning such as Italian seasoning or herbes de provence.

Storage and Leftovers

• Leftovers: Store leftover Turkey Croquettes in an airtight container chilled in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Reheating: Reheat in a nonstick skillet over medium heat or in a preheated 325°F air fryer in a single layer in the air-fryer basket. Bake them on a baking sheet in a preheated 350°F oven. You can also reheat in the microwave in single serving portions.
• Freezer: Freeze Turkey Croquettes for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge and reheat just before serving.

More Turkey Recipes to Make

Leftover turkey can be stretched into another complete meal for the family, as well it should be for this frugal cook. A few other leftover turkey recipes you may like to add to the menu:

• Turkey Broccoli Rice Divan can be made with leftover chicken or turkey.
• Cajun 15 Bean Soup with Turkey and Andouille Sausage is rich and hearty.
• Turkey Bacon Spinach Casserole is creamy and full flavored.
• Slow Cooked Turkey Breast for smaller gatherings.
• Make ahead Turkey Gravy is a must make for Thanksgiving.
• Poppy Seed Cheddar Turkey Sliders are impossible to resist drizzled with cranberry sauce.
• The kiddos will love these Turkey Meatloaf Muffins frosted with mashed potatoes.
• The family will flip for this Turkey Cranberry Crescent Ring.
• Leftover Turkey Chili from Food Network.

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

• Skillet
• Cutting Boards
• Scoops
• Mixing Bowls