Instant Pot Leftover Turkey Wild Rice Casserole Recipe
This comforting Instant Pot Leftover Turkey Wild Rice Casserole combines tender turkey with a savory blend of wild rice, lentils, vegetables, and aromatic herbs. Perfect for using up leftovers, this hearty casserole is creamy, flavorful, and easy to prepare in one pot.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 23 minutes
- Total Time: 33 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Instant Pot
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Lactose
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 white onion diced
- 1/2 cup celery diced
- 1/2 cup carrots diced
Liquids and Fats
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
Grains and Legumes
- 1 cup wild rice
- 1/2 cup long grain rice wild rice blend
- 1/2 cup red lentils
Other Ingredients
- 1/2 cup corn
- 1 cup sage stuffing (Stove Top or homemade leftovers)
- 2 cups leftover or freshly cooked turkey, shredded
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 teaspoon dried sage
- 2 bay leaves
- Fresh thyme for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the aromatics: Set the Instant Pot to sauté mode. Once heated, add the butter and let it melt. Stir in the minced garlic, diced onions, celery, and carrots, sautéing for 2 minutes until softened. Then, turn off the Instant Pot.
- Add grains and liquids: Pour in the chicken broth and deglaze the Instant Pot by scraping any browned bits from the bottom. Add wild rice, long grain rice blend, red lentils, corn, and sage stuffing to the pot. Stir thoroughly to combine the ingredients.
- Layer turkey and seasonings: Place shredded turkey on top of the rice mixture. Sprinkle with salt, black pepper, dried thyme, rosemary, sage, and add the bay leaves on top.
- Pressure cook: Seal the Instant Pot lid and set it to manual high pressure cooking for 20 minutes.
- Natural release and finishing: When cooking completes, allow the Instant Pot to naturally release pressure for 10 minutes before carefully releasing any remaining pressure.
- Final steps: Open the lid, remove, and discard the bay leaves. Stir in the heavy cream to add richness. Transfer the casserole to a serving bowl and garnish with fresh thyme before serving.
Notes
- If you prefer a dairy-free version, substitute heavy cream with coconut cream or a plant-based alternative.
- For extra flavor, toast the wild rice and lentils in the butter before adding broth.
- You can add additional vegetables such as mushrooms or peas based on preference.
- Make sure to deglaze the pot thoroughly to prevent burning and ensure even cooking.
- Leftover turkey can be swapped with cooked chicken if preferred.
