Grandma’s Easy Turkey A La King
There is something so wonderfully cozy about a rich, creamy turkey sauce spooned hot over golden, crisp toast on a chilly evening. While many people struggle to find exciting ways to use up leftover roast turkey or chicken, Grandma always had the ultimate solution in her recipe box: her quick and easy Turkey À La King! It turns classic holiday leftovers into a luxurious, vintage-style meal over toast in under 20 minutes.
This nostalgic recipe features tender bites of roasted turkey simmered in a silky, savory cream sauce seasoned to perfection. Served over thick slices of toasted bread, it’s an effortless, budget-friendly meal that delivers pure comfort without any extra fuss, making it a go-to favorite for post-holiday dinners, quick weeknight meals, or cozy comfort food cravings.
Why You’ll Love Grandma’s Easy Turkey À La King
If you are looking for an easy, family-approved weeknight meal that breathes fresh life into leftover turkey or chicken, this simple vintage classic is guaranteed to be a hit.
- Fast 20-Minute Meal: Quick to throw together on busy evenings, getting a hot, satisfying dinner on the table in no time.
- The Ultimate Leftover Solution: The absolute best way to transform extra Thanksgiving or Christmas turkey (or leftover rotisserie chicken) into a completely fresh, delicious dish.
- Simple & Unfussy: Uses simple, wholesome ingredients to let the rich cream sauce and tender turkey take center stage.
- Classic Comfort Over Toast: Pouring that velvety sauce over warm, crunchy toast creates the perfect bite every single time.
Grandma’s Tips for the Best Turkey À La King
Making a silky, perfectly balanced À La King sauce comes down to a few simple vintage tricks Grandma always used:
- Use Thick-Cut Toast: Choose a sturdy bread like Texas toast, French bread, or sourdough and toast it until it’s deeply golden. A good, thick slice holds up beautifully under the rich cream sauce without getting soggy.
- Don’t Overcook the Turkey: Since your cooked turkey or chicken is already tender, add it toward the very end just long enough to warm through. This keeps the meat juicy and tender without getting dry.
- Control the Sauce Consistency: If you prefer a thicker, richer sauce, let it simmer gently for a few extra minutes before serving. If it gets too thick, simply splash in a little extra turkey broth or milk until it reaches your favorite velvety texture.
- Season Season Season: Taste the sauce right before spooning it over your toast! A extra pinch of black pepper, salt, or garlic powder makes all the flavors pop.
Grandma’s Easy Turkey A La King
Equipment
- 1 large spoon
- 1 knife
- 1 toaster
- 1 drainer
Ingredients
- ¾ cup sliced celery
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- ¼ cup butter, cubed
- 1 tsp sugar
- ¼ cup green pepper, diced
- 1 ½ cups chicken broth
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup half and half cream
- 1 can (4 oz) sliced mushrooms, drained
- 3 ¼ cups cubed cooked turkey or chicken
- 6 slices of bread, toasted
Instructions
- In a large skillet saute the onions, green pepper, and celery in butter until tender.
- Stir in the flour and sugar until a paste forms. Gradually stir in the broth.
- Bring to a boil and boil until thickened for about 1 minute. Reduce the heat.
- Add the cream, mushrooms, and cream and allow to heat through.
- Serve with the toasted bread.
Nutrition
Share Your Cooking!
Bring back the sweet nostalgia of classic retro comfort food with this easy turkey dinner! I would love to see how your Turkey À La King turns out!
- Rate and Comment: Scroll down to the recipe card to leave a 5-star rating and a review. Your comments mean the world to me and help other readers discover my site!
- Tag on Social: Snap a picture of your creamy dish served over crisp toast and tag @KaleandCroutons or use #kaleandcroutons on Instagram so I can feature your creation!
- Pin for Later: Save this vintage comfort food to your favorite leftover turkey recipes, quick weeknight dinners, or retro recipe boards on Pinterest so you always have it ready!
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