Leftover Turkey Casserole Recipe for Kids

A fun Thanksgiving leftovers cooking activity for children!

Do you have leftover turkey after Thanksgiving? Turn it into a fun family cooking activity with this kid-friendly leftover turkey casserole recipe! This easy dish is perfect for little chefs to help make dinner while learning valuable kitchen skills.

It’s turkey time at cooking class! The girls have been learning to many skills in the past 8 weeks that they were ready to create a dish all by themselves!

The Littlest Pilgrim by Brandi Dougherty

A Thanksgiving Story to Start With

Before we got started in our kids’ cooking class, we read The Littlest Pilgrim by Brandi Dougherty.
This sweet story follows a little Pilgrim girl who wants to help her village but keeps hearing that she’s “too small.” In the end, she discovers that friendship is the best way she can contribute — a perfect message for young children learning independence and teamwork in the kitchen!

After reading, we talked about all the ways kids can help during mealtime — from mixing and measuring to setting the table — and how they were going to make dinner all by themselves that day.

Easy Leftover Turkey Casserole Recipe

This leftover turkey casserole is simple, delicious, and perfect for kids to make with minimal supervision. It’s a great way to use up Thanksgiving leftovers while teaching cooking confidence.

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked leftover turkey, shredded or chopped
• 1 can cream of chicken (or mushroom) soup
• 1 cup cooked rice or pasta
• 1 cup mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, or corn)
• ½ cup shredded cheese (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Bread crumbs or crushed crackers for topping

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a large bowl, combine turkey, soup, rice or pasta, and vegetables.
3. Season with salt and pepper and mix well.
4. Spoon the mixture into a greased baking dish.
5. Sprinkle cheese and bread crumbs on top.
6. Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until bubbly and golden on top.
7. Let cool slightly before serving.

Tip: This recipe works well with leftover chicken, too!

Here’s a printable version…

A Creative Pilgrim Craft

While the casseroles baked, we made a Pilgrim craft to go along with the story. The kids traced, cut, and assembled their own Pilgrims and then wrote what they were thankful for in the center.
I loved seeing each child’s creativity shine through — every Pilgrim looked different and full of personality!

We made a Pilgrim inspired from Here.

Cooking, Learning, and Thankfulness

Cooking with kids is about more than just making food — it’s about confidence, creativity, and connection. I’m so thankful for my little cooking Pilgrims and all they’ve learned this season.

I hope your family enjoys this Leftover Turkey Casserole Recipe for Kids and that it helps make your Thanksgiving leftovers a little more fun and meaningful.

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