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Turkey Tetrazzini

For real comfort food, try this Turkey Tetrazzini Recipe. It’s a turkey casserole that’s so creamy and delicious, perfect for leftover turkey.

Do you have leftover Thanksgiving turkey and don’t know what to do with it? You absolutely MUST try making this Turkey Tetrazzini.

It is so cheesy and creamy saucy, and we absolutely love it! (If you love easy recipes made with spaghetti noodles – be sure to check out our Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti and our Quick Spaghetti and Meatballs recipes – both made FAST using the Instant Pot.)

This time of year life is too busy for complicated recipes. Fortunately, this pasta is not only perfect for using up all that leftover holiday turkey but is so simple to make – you’ll want to make it year-round.

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Cajun Turkey Breast

By Kleinworth & Co 1 Comment

Spice up your holiday with this easy-to-make Cajun Turkey Breast recipe roasted in the oven to juicy perfection. It’s positively delicious!

We make a lot of turkey in our house. That’s probably because we love recipes that make leftovers because I’m all about knocking out the cooking on one day and then keeping prep light for a few days after that.

This is why recipes like this super simple oven-roasted turkey breast that is flavored with Cajun seasonings is a favorite around here. When you want to jazz things up and make something different from the traditional turkey recipe – this is the one to make.

I also love this meal because it makes just enough for our reduced crowd. Now that the kids are out of the house and often can’t make it back for holidays – we don’t need to make a massive amount of food.

A small, 3-pound turkey breast is not only just perfect for a lovely dinner for two – but it gives us just enough leftovers that we can have the same meal again the next night or toss it into a soup or casserole if we want something different.

So good – I know you’ll love it!

Cajun Turkey

Here are some commonly asked questions

What temperature should a turkey be cooked to?

The best way for a turkey to be cooked is with high heat, which will kill all the bacteria in the turkey. The USDA recommends cooking a full-size turkey at 450 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes per pound of weight when using a conventional oven.

When cooking just a small turkey breast, it can be done at 350 degrees and until the internal temp reaches 165 degrees.

***NOTE: Due to some safety concerns with baking glass cookware at high temperatures, please use a Metal Baking Dish, Corningware or Enameled cast iron dish.

What to make with leftover turkey

We love to have leftover turkey because it makes for great soups and sandwiches. Here are a couple of our favorites.

Turkey Cranberry Sliders
Slow Cooker Turkey Chili (also can be made stovetop or in the Instant Pot)
Crockpot Turkey and Rice Soup

boneless turkey breast recipe

Can you tell me the concern about clear glass bakeware?

There have been countless reports of the glassware exploding – I even had one of my readers tell me that when she was pulling out the dish at the end of baking another recipe, the whole thing exploded, sending glass & all the hot juices all over her oven, kitchen & herself.

I don’t recommend using the glass baking dishes for baking over 350 degrees. Some say that it is because they set the hot dish on a cool countertop, but many people report that it happened when they were pulling it out before it left the oven, and in some cases, when it wasn’t even being touched with the door closed.

You can see more information here and there are many images on the internet if you search glass bakeware exploding.

How much turkey breast do you need per person?

First – if you know that those you are feeding like to go back for seconds – always keep that in mind. I almost always double what I think I will need because not only does my family love seconds – but we love leftovers too.

The rule of thumb is to buy one pound of turkey per person.

Something to also factor, that will change this is whether or not you will be providing side dishes. If you are making this for Thanksgiving – then you will most likely be serving side dishes too. So people may serve themselves a bit less turkey if they plan on loading up their plate with a lot of extras.

To make it easier to remove the netting after baking – wrap the turkey breast in foil while the breast rests after cooking.

How to Carve a Turkey Breast

The key here is to be patient so you get the best possible result.

First, start by allowing the turkey breast to rest after cooking. You want to make sure to give it at least 15 minutes. To keep it warm and allow the juices to distribute throughout the breast – tent it loosely with foil.
Make sure you are using a sharp knife.
Make your slice along the side of the breast bone – making smooth, long even strokes. You can saw back and forth if using a serrated knife.
When the knife reaches the edge the slice should fall. You can continue to follow this pattern until all of the turkey is removed from the breast.

bake a turkey breast

Ingredients for Cajun Turkey Breast

boneless turkey breast – approx 3 pounds
olive oil
paprika
granulated garlic
table salt
oregano
thyme
onion powder
cayenne pepper
crushed red pepper

Can leftover turkey be frozen?

You bet. We like to keep the leftovers in the fridge for a couple of days for quick and easy meals. But if it looks like we aren’t going to be able to eat it all within 3-4 days – then I toss the remaining leftovers in a zip-top bag and freeze it for up to 2 months.

It’s great to add it to a last-minute dinner-like soup in the Instant Pot. I don’t even have to thaw it first.

Why don’t you rinse the turkey first?

I know there are people out there that are passionate about rinsing poultry before cooking it. However, most cooking schools these days don’t recommend the practice.

This just spreads salmonella to more parts of your kitchen – leaving more room for issues and more places to clean. Plus, anything that you may be trying to wash off isn’t going to come off without soap. You wouldn’t just rinse your hands after touching poultry, you would vigorously use soap.

Since you aren’t going to use soap on your poultry, rinsing doesn’t help. Anything that could be on there, will bake off /out as long as you are cooking the turkey to the right temperature.

seasoning a turkey breast

How to Make Cajun Turkey Breast

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
Spray a small casserole/baking dish with oil to coat the bottom.
Remove the turkey breast from the refrigerator and remove the wrapper. If it is already tied with a net, leave it on and place it in the prepared dish. If it is not tied, you will need to tie it first.
Brush the turkey breast with olive oil. Set aside.
In a small bowl, combine the paprika, granulated garlic, salt, oregano, thyme, onion powder, cayenne pepper and crushed red pepper. Stir until completely mixed.
Sprinkle the seasoning mixture over the top of the oiled turkey breast and then press in to help it adhere to the turkey.
Place in the oven and roast at 425 degrees for 15 minutes.
Reduce the temperature to 350 degrees and continue roasting for another 35-40 minutes OR UNTIL THE THICKEST PART OF THE TURKEY BREAST HAS REACHED 165 DEGREES. (see notes below)
Remove and let rest for about 15 minutes before removing the net or twine and slicing.

If cooking more than 1 turkey breast at a time – the total baking time will increase, but the exact time can vary depending on a multitude of factors. The estimated time is about 15 minutes per pound.

Because I was doing two – 3-pound turkey breasts at the same time – I cooked mine for about 90 minutes after the initial 15-minute high-heat period.

How long is cooked turkey good for?

Providing that the turkey didn’t sit out too long before it was transferred to an airtight container, it should last 3-4 days in the refrigerator and up to 3 months in the freezer.

As with most things, it is important to get food into the refrigerator within 1 hour after serving to prevent bacteria growth.

Cooking a Turkey Breast In Oven

How to store leftover turkey breast

If you happen to have any turkey leftovers after serving – just transfer the remaining turkey to an airtight container and keep refrigerated until ready to serve again.

To reheat – microwave for about 30-60 seconds or until hot again.

The key to reheating the turkey is to steam it. We like to place it in a microwave-safe container with a splash of water.

Then we lightly cover the container with either a paper towel, the lid to the container if it is also microwave-safe, or even an inverted paper plate.

Then we reheat and let the water steam the turkey. It comes out moist and delicious every single time.

What to serve with Cajun Turkey Breast

While the list is long as to what we like to pair with our turkey dinner – here are the recipes we make the most frequently for our family holidays.

Tips for the Best Cajun Turkey Breast

The overall time will depend on the size of the turkey breast you are cooking. Be sure to always guage doneness by measuring the internal temp and not only by the cooking time listed in the recipe.
Make sure you are starting with a fresh or fully thawed turkey.
Use fresh seasonings.
Don’t skip the olive oil. Not only does it help the seasonings stick but the key here is the fat and the flavor that comes with the oil. It is lighter and more “waistline-friendly” than using butter but it helps get that outside to the perfect texture.
You can brine the turkey overnight in a large bowl if desired.

Cajun Turkey Recipe

Products I love when making Cajun Turkey Breast…

This easy turkey recipe is SUPER delicious – and if you’re like me this time of year, then you maybe already have some of these items on hand OR maybe you have never made a homemade turkey before, & you might be a bit nervous – but you’re going to love it. I have made a list below of the things I absolutely can’t live without when it comes to making this holiday staple.

If you love this Easy Cajun Turkey Breast recipe, you’re going to love these other turkey recipes too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!

Applewood Smoked Turkey for Traeger

Make Thanksgiving EASY with this Applewood Smoked Turkey for Traeger! This practically effortless turkey recipe on a pellet grill is so juicy & delicious. You’ll never bake a turkey in the oven again.

Check out this recipe

Traeger recipe - Applewood Smoked Turkey - pellet grille

Turkey Panini

This Turkey Panini is made with leftover holiday turkey, apple butter, cheddar cheese, and apple slices on deliciously hearty bread. Super easy and a perfect meal for those lazy days following the holiday.

Check out this recipe

Instant Pot Turkey Breast

Instant Pot Turkey Breast will be your Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day go-to recipe for juicy, tender, and flavorful turkey breast.

Check out this recipe

Slow Cooker Turkey Chili

Slow Cooker Turkey Chili is a simple dump & go crockpot recipe that is perfect for those Thanksgiving leftovers. It’s the best comfort food recipe for fall.

Check out this recipe

Air Fryer Turkey Breast

This season, ditch the oven and the mess. Feed your family a juicy and flavorful holiday turkey with this air fryer turkey breast recipe.

Check out this recipe

Crock Pot Turkey & Rice Soup

Crock Pot Turkey and Rice Soup is the perfect recipe to make with all those Thanksgiving leftovers. This also makes for an easy dinner on those super cold days when you just want to curl up by the fire.

Check out this recipe

Crock Pot Turkey Rice Soup for thanksgiving leftovers

Perfect Roast Turkey

Easy, simple & delicious recipe for How to Roast a Turkey will have your guests swooning.

Check out this recipe

If you love this recipe for Cajun Turkey Breast as much as I do, please write a five-star review, and be sure to help me share on Facebook and Pinterest!

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5 from 1 vote

Cajun Turkey Breast

Spice up your holiday with this easy-to-make Cajun Turkey Breast recipe roasted in the oven to juicy perfection. It’s positively delicious!

Prep Time10

Cook Time50

Total Time1

Course: dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: breast, Cajun, thanksgiving, turkey

Servings:

Ingredients

1 boneless turkey breast – approx 3 pounds
2 tbsp olive oil
2½ tsp paprika
2 tsp granulated garlic
1½ tsp table salt
1¼ tsp oregano
1¼ tsp thyme
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp cayenne pepper
½ tsp crushed red pepper

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
Spray a small casserole/baking dish with oil to coat the bottom.
Remove the turkey breast from the refrigerator and remove the wrapper. If it is already tied with a net, leave it on and place it in the prepared dish. If it is not tied, you will need to tie it first.
Brush the turkey breast with olive oil. Set aside.
In a small bowl, combine the paprika, granulated garlic, salt, oregano, thyme, onion powder, cayenne pepper and crushed red pepper. Stir until completely mixed.
Sprinkle the seasoning mixture over the top of the oiled turkey breast and then press in to help it adhere to the turkey.
Place in the oven and roast at 425 degrees for 15 minutes.
Reduce the temperature to 350 degrees and continue roasting for another 35-40 minutes OR UNTIL THE THICKEST PART OF THE TURKEY BREAST HAS REACHED 165 DEGREES. (see notes below)
Remove and let rest for about 15 minutes before removing the net or twine and slicing.

Notes

***NOTE: Due to some safety concerns with baking glass cookware, please use a metal, Corningware or Enameled Cast Iron baking dish.

****If cooking more than 1 turkey breast at a time – the total baking time will increase, but the exact time can vary depending on a multitude of factors. The estimated time is about 15 minutes per pound. Because I was doing two – 3-pound turkey breasts at the same time – I cooked mine for about 90 minutes after the initial 15-minute high-heat period.

****To make it easier to remove the netting after baking – wrap the turkey breast in foil while the breast rests after cooking.

Turkey Panini

By Kleinworth & Co Leave a Comment

Grilled sandwich recipes are seasonal favorites during winter/holiday time. It makes sense because you typically have a lot of leftovers from the holiday feast.

So why not pile all those ingredients into one delicious sandwich. But then take it up a couple of notches and grill that sandwich on a panini maker or in the skillet.

The buttery grilled bread with the melted cheese blends so perfectly with the warm apple butter and turkey. It’s the perfect way to enjoy those leftovers -SO GOOD!

What I love about this recipe is that you can really take any of your favorite sandwich ingredients or your favorite leftovers and stuff them all in there to make an awesome lunch.

We love to do apple butter – because we have a ton of it around here with our harvest this season. But you can add your favorite jam or leftover cranberry sauce too.

easy panini recipes

Here are some commonly asked questions

Can this recipe be doubled?

You can, and we do it often. Definitely a good idea to double the recipe if you are making leftovers as your meal the next night for the whole family.

What can I add to this sandwich?

This sandwich is so versatile – you can add all your favorites on there. Cranberry sauce, a little bit of stuffing, some sliced veggies and so much more.

You can definitely make this on any hearty bread you prefer. You can even give it a try with a hoagie style, chewy french bread. Some other options are pickle slices, Havarti cheese &/or mustard.

best panini recipes

Can I Make This Without a Panini Maker?

Yes – if you don’t have a panini maker – you can use a George Foreman grill (which is quite similar to a panini maker) or you can use a skillet with the help of a meat press.

If you don’t have a meat press – you can try wrapping a brick or some other non-flammable item in foil before placing it on top of your sandwich to press it down as it cooks. It isn’t the best option – but will work in a pinch.

Can these sandwiches be enjoyed cold?

Generally, yes. If you want to just assemble these & enjoy them right away without grilling them, that is fine too.

leftover turkey sandwich

Ingredients for Turkey Panini

hearty bread
butter – softened
apple butter
sharp cheddar cheese – thinly sliced
apple – thinly sliced
sliced deli turkey – or thin pieces of turkey leftovers
fresh sage – opt

Is turkey bland tasting?

Turkey is a protein and proteins typically don’t have strong flavors on their own. Turkey meat has a mild savory flavor with slightly sweet poultry notes when cooked properly. It absorbs flavors from its surrounding marinade/condiments – which is why your seasonings while cooking the turkey are so important.

turkey panini recipes

How to Make a Turkey Panini

Pre-heat the panini maker.
Get all of the ingredients ready as you will need to assemble the sandwich once the first slice of bread is placed on the hot panini maker – working quickly.
Spread the butter evenly on one side of each slice of the bread.
Place one slice of the bread on the preheated panini maker, buttered side of bread down.
Working quickly, spread apple butter evenly on that piece of bread.
Add the cheese, then the apples.
Layer the turkey evenly, followed by the sage.
Top with more apples and then cheese.
Add apple butter to the other side of the remaining piece of buttered bread.
Place that piece of bread on top of the sandwich.
Close the panini lid and press the sandwiches together.
Cook for 3-5 minutes until the bread is crispy and browned. Serve warm.

Thanksgiving Sandwich

breads for panini

The key to choosing a bread is that you want it to not have an overpowering taste – so the inside flavors are the star. But you also need to consider the structure of the bread – anything too soft and light will fall apart.

It needs to be hearty and a bit dense to stand up to the structure of a panini. Here are some of our favorite options.

mild sourdough
flatbread
pita
rye
multigrain
baguette
ciabatta
focaccia

How to Make Sure the Leftover Turkey Isn’t Dry the Following Day

The key to reheating the turkey is to steam it. We like to place it in a microwave-safe container with a splash of water.

Then we lightly cover the container with either a paper towel, the lid to the container if it is also microwave-safe, or even an inverted paper plate.

Then we reheat and let the water steam the turkey. It comes out moist and delicious every single time.

Thanksgiving Leftover Sandwich

What is the best way to store leftover turkey sandwiches?

Place any leftover sandwiches in an airtight container or zip-top bag and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

What to serve with a Turkey Panini

Turkey goes with so many things. You can serve it with cucumber, pickle, or fresh pickled cucumber on the side.

Also pair it with salad mix, coleslaw, potato chips, pasta salad, red cabbage that is marinated or pickled, potato salad, or onion rings. We like to add these recipes with this sandwich…

panini ideas

Products I love when making paninis…

This grilled sandwich recipe is SUPER EASY and delicious – and if you’re like me this time of year, then you maybe already have some of these items on hand OR maybe you have never made a grilled sandwich before, & you might be a bit nervous – but you’re going to love it. I have made a list below of the things I absolutely can’t live without when it comes to making this delicious snack recipe.

If you love this Easy Turkey Panini recipe, you’re going to love these other snacks too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!

Grilled Hot Pastrami Sandwich

Summer grilling just got better with this Grilled Hot Pastrami Sandwich. Combining foil grilling & the love for a pastrami sandwich, it’s delicious & easy!

Check out this recipe

Oven-Baked Meatball Sandwiches

These Oven-Baked Meatball Sandwiches are so incredibly easy to make. Loaded with melted cheese & marinara making these perfect for your game day crowd.

Check out this recipe

How to make Oven Baked Meatball Sandwiches

Chicken Parmesan Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Chicken Parmesan Grilled Cheese Sandwich is loaded with breaded chicken, marinara, mozzarella & spinach & grilled to perfection. It’s the BEST grilled cheese you’ll ever eat!

Check out this recipe

Chicken & Spinach Grilled Goat Cheese Sandwich

Chicken & Spinach Grilled Goat Cheese Sandwich is a quick & easy dinner idea that is ready in 10 minutes. Perfect for busy families on the go. YUM!

Check out this recipe

Prosciutto & French Onion Tea Sandwiches {Summer Refreshments}

Prosciutto & French Onion Tea Sandwiches are perfect for bridal or baby showers, Mother's day celebrations, or backyard pool parties. Super easy & delicious.

Check out this recipe

If you love this Turkey Panini as much as I do, please write a five-star review, and be sure to help me share on Facebook and Pinterest!

CONNECT WITH YUMMI HAUS!

Be sure to follow me on my social media, so you never miss a post!

FB, Pinterest, IG, Email Subscription

Print Recipe