This Turkey Ranch Mac-n-Cheese is sure to be a hit in your household. Who doesn’t love mac-n-cheese? This recipe completely transforms those holiday leftovers into something new. With three types of cheese, ranch dressing, and bacon added to the mix, who could resist?
Holiday Turkey Recipe
Let’s face it. When the holidays roll around it’s so hard not to over do it. There are so many great recipes that your family requests year after year. And, of course, you have those new recipes you just have to try this year. The only problem is that you’re usually left with a lot of turkey leftovers and there are only so many turkey sandwiches a person can eat before they snap. This year, why not try something different like the turkey ranch mac and cheese?
Whether you’re having turkey for Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, or any family meals, chances are you’re going to have leftovers. Leftover turkey is great for sandwiches and soups, but wouldn’t it be nice to try something different? More importantly, wouldn’t it be great to make something that tastes completely different? After all, you can only enjoy those flavours so many times before you need a break.
In all honesty, this recipe is one that your family will ask for again and again. You can also freeze some of your leftover turkey to ensure you have enough to make this recipe again.
Turkey Ranch Mac-n-Cheese Recipe
If you’re looking for a great way to reuse that leftover turkey, you’re going to love this recipe. It’s perfect during the cold weather seasons. If you like spice, you could also add a touch of cayenne to this recipe to spice things up a bit.
Ingredients:
- 3 cups of uncooked elbow macaroni pasta
- 5 Tbsp of butter (divided into 3 Tbsp and 2 Tbsp)
- 2 Tbsp of all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp of salt
- ¼ tsp of pepper
- 3 cups of milk (divided into 2 cups and 1 cup)
- 1 ½ cups of cheddar cheese (shredded)
- ½ cup of Parmesan cheese (grated)
- ½ cup of Swiss cheese (shredded)
- 2 cups of cooked turkey (shredded or diced)
- ¾ cups of ranch salad dressing
- 1/3 cup of bread crumbs
- 8 slices of bacon (cooked and crumbled)
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large pot, boil the elbow macaroni pasta for 5 minutes. Then drain and return the pasta to the pot. Set aside.
- In a large saucepan, melt 3 Tbsp of butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour, salt, pepper, and slowly add 2 cups of milk. Once combined, stir in all the cheeses – cheddar, Parmesan, Swiss.
- Add the turkey, ranch dressing, cheese mixture, and remaining cup of milk to the pot of macaroni pasta. Mix well and transfer to a large greased baking dish.
- Melt the remaining 2 Tbsp of butter. In a medium bowl, mix the bread crumbs and melted butter. Sprinkle it over the macaroni and top with the crumbled bacon.
- Bake uncovered for 30 minutes.
- Let cool and enjoy!
How do you like to use leftover turkey? Do you do sandwiches, casseroles, soups? Share your favourites below.
Turkey Ranch Mac-n-Cheese
Ingredients
- 3 cups of uncooked elbow macaroni pasta
- 5 Tbsp of butter divided into 3 Tbsp and 2 Tbsp
- 2 Tbsp of all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp of salt
- ¼ tsp of pepper
- 3 cups of milk divided into 2 cups and 1 cup
- 1 ½ cups of cheddar cheese shredded
- ½ cup of Parmesan cheese grated
- ½ cup of Swiss cheese shredded
- 2 cups of cooked turkey shredded or diced
- ¾ cups of ranch salad dressing
- 1/3 cup of bread crumbs
- 8 slices of bacon cooked and crumbled
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large pot, boil the elbow macaroni pasta for 5 minutes. Then drain and return the pasta to the pot. Set aside.
- In a large saucepan, melt 3 Tbsp of butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour, salt, pepper, and slowly add 2 cups of milk. Once combined, stir in all the cheeses – cheddar, Parmesan, Swiss.
- Add the turkey, ranch dressing, cheese mixture, and remaining cup of milk to the pot of macaroni pasta. Mix well and transfer to a large greased baking dish.
- Melt the remaining 2 Tbsp of butter. In a medium bowl, mix the bread crumbs and melted butter. Sprinkle it over the macaroni and top with the crumbled bacon.
- Bake uncovered for 30 minutes.
- Let cool and enjoy!
I hope you enjoyed the Turkey Ranch Mac-n-Cheese Recipe! If you make it, make sure to share with us on Facebook or Twitter! Also, check out all of our other Recipes.
WOW does that ever look good! and what a fabulous way to use that leftover turkey!
Thank you and Happy New Year!
I know what we are having for dinner tonight! There’s so much leftover turkey in my fridge and I think I have all the necessary ingredients. Thanks for this!
If you make it, let me know how you liked it!
This sounds really good, a great way to use up those leftovers, and something that the kids would love as well!!
This recipe sounds amazing. What a fabulous way to use those turkey leftovers.
It’s delicious!
Oh gosh – this looks great. I’m happy with turkey sandwiches for days but apparently the other people in the house don’t agree!
What a great use for leftovers. Soup and sammies gets old quick!
This would be a perfect comfort food meal, I love using turkey!
This looks amazing! Mac and cheese is my ultimate favourite comfort food and this looks like a yummy twist to the classic! Thanks so much 🙂
It’s very good! I have been trying to incorporate turkey into classic meals!
This looks good could probably substitute ham and it would be tasty
I think that would make a good substitution!
I used to make something similar but was made with tuna, will have to try this recipe.
Me too! You can definitely substitute the turkey for tuna!
This looks very delicious a nice way to use left overs
This recipe looks so delicious and there’s so much cheese that its got to be really creamy
This will be a great recipe to use for the turkey leftovers after Christmas dinner.
This looks and sounds delicious and I always need ideas for the leftovers and the kids would love this.
This is a great way to use up my leftover turkey
We made turkey sandwiches and turkey salad with our leftover turkey. The rest we put in the freezer. After seeing your recipe I’m going to make Turkey Ranch Mac-n-Cheese because it does look so good.
Those are great leftovers! We also made a turkey tetrazzini this year.
I made this with the kids (again!) last night with our turkey leftovers. This is by far our favourite (and most used) recipe on your blog. I love how easy it is to make and the kids love melting all the cheese together. So yummy!
~Kristy R
Awesome! So glad you liked it! Happy Holidays!