Servings
Font
Back
0 from 30 votes

Leftover Turkey Lasagna (Thanksgiving Lasagna)

Make our delicious Thanksgiving lasagna with leftover turkey, vegetables, and a light cream cheese and cottage cheese white sauce.

Prep Time
40 mins
Cook Time
40 mins
Total Time
1 hr 20 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 611 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

Turkey sauce:
  • 3 cups leftover turkey 375 g/ 13 oz, Note 1
  • 1 onion
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 2 carrots medium to large
  • 1 large red bell pepper
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ⅓ cup water 75 ml
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • pinch of cayenne pepper
  • ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 lb pizza or tomato sauce 450 g, Note 2
White sauce:
  • 1 cup cottage cheese 225 g/ 8 oz, Note 3
  • ⅔ cup cream cheese 150 g/ 5.5 oz
  • ⅔ cup sour cream 150 g/ 5.5 oz
  • ½ cup milk 125 ml
Assemble lasagna:
  • 9 lasagna sheets no boil, oven ready Note 4
  • ⅔ cup cheddar or Gouda, 150 g/ 5.5 oz
  • ¼ cup parmesan freshly grated, 30 g/ 1 oz

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F/ 200°C.
Prepare ingredients:
    Cup of Yum
  1. Chop the cooked turkey into very small pieces (Note 1). Slice the onion into thin half rings. Chop the garlic finely. Dice carrots and pepper.3 cups/ 375 g + 1 onion + 2 garlic cloves + 2 carrots + 1 large red bell pepper
  2. Cook vegetables: Heat the olive oil and sauté the onion rings until translucent (about 2 minutes). Add garlic, carrots, and peppers and cook, stirring often, for about 4 minutes. Add water, oregano, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper to taste. Cover, leaving a crack open, and cook the vegetables for about 10 minutes or until slightly softer.1 tablespoon olive oil + ⅓ cup water + 1 teaspoon oregano + pinch of cayenne pepper + ½ teaspoon fine sea salt + ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  3. Add the sauce and the chopped turkey and stir for 2-3 minutes until they are hot. Stir in the cottage cheese.1 lb pizza or tomato sauce / 450 g
  4. Whisk cream cheese, milk, and sour cream in a bowl.1 cup cottage cheese / 200 g + ⅔ cup cream cheese / 150 g + ⅔ cup sour cream / 150 g + ½ cup milk / 125 ml
Assemble turkey lasagna:
  1. First layer: Place a few tablespoons of the tomato-vegetable-turkey sauce into the casserole dish. Arrange 3 lasagna sheets on top, cover with ⅓ of the cheese sauce, a sprinkle of the grated Gouda or Cheddar, and ⅓ of the tomato sauce.only 3 of 9 lasagna sheets + a sprinkle from a total of ⅔ cup Cheddar
  2. Second layer: Add the following 3 lasagna sheets, ⅓ of the cheese sauce, a sprinkle of cheese, and⅓ tomato sauce.only 3 of 9 lasagna sheets + a sprinkle from a total of ⅔ cup Cheddar
  3. Third layer: Place the last 3 lasagna sheets on top and finish with the remaining cheese sauce, followed by the remaining tomato sauce. Spread the remaining grated cheese and the Parmesan on top.only 3 of 9 lasagna sheets + ¼ cup Parmesan
  4. Bake for about 35-40 minutes or until the noodles are cooked through.
  5. Rest the lasagna for about 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • Turkey: I always prepare this Thanksgiving lasagna with leftover turkey. Alternatively, you can make it with fresh turkey, which requires a brief cooking step before incorporating it into the tomato sauce.
  • Sauce: Pizza, marinara, and tomato sauce are all fine. If you don’t have any ready-made sauce, mix 1 lb/ 450 g sieved tomatoes/ passata with some dried herbs like oregano, thyme, basil (or Italian seasoning), a pinch of sugar, salt, and pepper to taste.
  • Lasagna: I always use no-boil lasagna.
  • Low-fat version: Use low-fat cottage cheese (0,2% fat), low-fat cream cheese (4% fat), low-fat milk (1.8% fat), and low-fat cheese.
  • The nutrition is calculated considering the full-fat version of these products. 

Nutrition Information

Serving 1/6 of the dish Calories 611kcal (31%) Carbohydrates 47g (16%) Protein 39g (78%) Fat 30g (46%) Saturated Fat 14g (70%) Polyunsaturated Fat 3g Monounsaturated Fat 9g Trans Fat 0.1g Cholesterol 143mg (48%) Sodium 1006mg (42%) Potassium 795mg (23%) Fiber 4g (16%) Sugar 11g (22%) Vitamin A 5363IU (107%) Vitamin C 43mg (48%) Calcium 296mg (30%) Iron 3mg (17%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 611

% Daily Value*

Serving 1/6 of the dish
Calories 611kcal 31%
Carbohydrates 47g 16%
Protein 39g 78%
Fat 30g 46%
Saturated Fat 14g 70%
Polyunsaturated Fat 3g 18%
Monounsaturated Fat 9g 45%
Trans Fat 0.1g 5%
Cholesterol 143mg 48%
Sodium 1006mg 42%
Potassium 795mg 17%
Fiber 4g 16%
Sugar 11g 22%
Vitamin A 5363IU 107%
Vitamin C 43mg 48%
Calcium 296mg 30%
Iron 3mg 17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.