One of my favorite memories of growing up in New Jersey was going out to eat at one of the many diners in the area. And Turkey Croquettes was always at the top of my list of dishes I would order when we stopped for dinner.
Although I wasn’t born in New Jersey, we moved here when I was pretty young and at the height of New Jersey’s love affair with Diners.
Turkey Croquettes was a dish that was rarely made at home. But at diner that serves turkey every day, it was the perfect way to use the leftover turkey.
It never fails that every time I roast a turkey, I always have more turkey than we can eat before we get tired of it. I re-use the leftovers just about every way you can think of, but a good portion always ends up in the freezer and never gets used.
That’s why I started making Turkey Croquettes, it’s a delicious way to use up the leftover turkey. And they freeze well too, that way you’ve got more ready to heat up for dinners for those days you don’t feel like cooking.
Turkey croquettes are a classic American comfort food that is perfect for using up leftover turkey after the holidays With a crispy exterior and a creamy, savory interior, these croquettes are sure to become a new family favorite I’m going to walk you through exactly how to make turkey croquettes at home with just a few simple ingredients and steps.
A Brief History of Turkey Croquettes
Turkey croquettes originated in diners and lunch counters across America in the early 20th century as a creative way to use up leftover turkey from holiday meals. The creamy mashed potato or bread cube-based interior provided a perfect way to stretch small bits of turkey into a new dish. Their popularity skyrocketed and they became a menu staple across the country.
Diner-style turkey croquettes are still found today in many retro diners and restaurants, often served with sides like mashed potatoes and gravy for a true comfort food meal. Making them at home allows you to customize your recipe and enjoy these crispy, savory bites any time of year.
How To Make Turkey Croquettes – Step By Step
Making turkey croquettes at home is easy to do. With just 10 core ingredients and a few simple preparation steps, you can make this comforting classic in your own kitchen.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to making perfect turkey croquettes:
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked, chopped turkey
- 2 cups prepared stuffing or mashed potatoes
- 1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup celery, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup carrot, finely chopped
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1-2 cups chicken or turkey broth
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- Oil for frying (vegetable, canola or peanut oil)
Instructions
-
Prepare your main ingredients: Chop your cooked turkey into small pieces. You want roughly diced, not minced. Prepare your stuffing or mash potatoes if starting from scratch. Finely chop the onion, celery and carrots.
-
Make your binder: In a saucepan, melt 2 tbsp butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour to make a roux. Slowly add chicken or turkey broth, whisking constantly, until a thick sauce forms. Remove from heat and let cool.
-
Combine your ingredients: In a large bowl, mix together the cooled roux, chopped turkey, stuffing or mashed potatoes, onions, celery, carrots. Season with salt, pepper and any additional herbs or spices.
-
Let the mixture chill: Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 2-3 hours to allow the ingredients to bind together.
-
Form into croquettes: Use your hands to roll and form tablespoon-sized portions of the chilled mixture into oval/cylindrical croquette shapes.
-
Bread them: Set up a breading station with flour, beaten egg and breadcrumbs. Coat each croquette in flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs.
-
Fry them: In a skillet, heat 1/2 inch of oil over medium-high heat. Fry croquettes in batches for 2-3 minutes per side until deeply golden brown.
-
Bake them: Transfer fried croquettes to a baking sheet and bake at 375°F for 15 minutes to ensure they are heated through.
-
Serve and enjoy! Serve your crispy, savory turkey croquettes while hot, with any desired sauces or sides.
And that’s it! With just a few simple steps you can now make diner-worthy turkey croquettes at home. The possibilities for experimenting are endless – try different herbs, swap in chicken, add cheese or veggies. Make a big batch and freeze extras to enjoy later. Let your creativity run wild!
Tips for Making Perfect Turkey Croquettes
Here are some helpful tips and tricks to ensure your homemade turkey croquettes come out perfectly crunchy, flavorful and delicious every time:
-
Use a combo of white and dark turkey meat for the best texture and moisture.
-
Make sure your binder (roux) has cooled completely before adding to the other ingredients.
-
Don’t over-mix when combining everything – you want the interior to stay chunky.
-
Chilling the croquette mixture thoroughly helps ensure they hold their shape for frying.
-
Bread them right before frying for ultimate crunch. Work in small batches.
-
Fry in small batches at 350-375°F to prevent crowding and uneven cooking.
-
Let fried croquettes drain on a paper towel-lined plate before baking to absorb excess grease.
-
Bake at 375°F on a lightly greased pan to reheat the centers without over-browning.
-
Freeze uncooked, breaded croquettes on a baking sheet then transfer to bags to fry later as needed.
Follow these tips and you’ll be guaranteed tender, creamy centers encased in a crisp, golden shell – turkey croquette perfection!
Get Creative With Turkey Croquettes
One of the best parts of making turkey croquettes at home is that you can play around with flavors, shapes and serving styles. Here are some fun ways to put your own spin on this classic:
-
Mix up the fillings: Try using chicken, ham, different vegetables or cheese for totally different flavors.
-
Spice it up: Mix in spices like sage, rosemary, cayenne, cumin or curry powder.
-
Shape them your way: Form balls, patties, cones or any other fun shape.
-
Coat with panko: For an extra crispy crunch, use panko breadcrumbs for coating.
-
Drizzle with sauce: Serve with gravy, marinara, ranch or other dipping sauces.
-
Go over-the-top: Bread and fry a second time for an insanely crispy crust.
-
Make mini versions: Use a teaspoon to create bite-sized croquettes perfect for passing at parties.
-
Take it upscale: Stuff with fancy fillings like lobster or prosciutto – elegant yet homey.
Let your imagination run wild and make these comforting turkey croquettes your own!
Enjoy Turkey Croquettes as an Appetizer, Side or Main
The nice thing about turkey croquettes is that they work perfectly as an appetizer, side dish or even a main course. Here are some ideas for how to serve them:
-
As an appetizer, serve bite-sized turkey croquettes with a creamy dipping sauce for an indulgent starter.
-
For a holiday side dish, serve a heaping platter of full-sized turkey croquettes with all the classic fixings.
-
As a weeknight dinner, enjoy turkey croquettes with a crisp salad or roasted veggies for an easy meal.
-
For a hearty lunch, pair turkey croquettes with homemade coleslaw and French fries.
-
As a party snack, set out a tray of mini turkey croquettes alongside other finger foods.
-
For a game day spread, serve turkey croquettes with creamy cheese dips for dipping.
However you choose to enjoy them, turkey croquettes are sure to be a big hit. Their crispy exterior and velvety interior make them irresistible any time.
Make Ahead and Freezing Tips
One of the bonuses of whipping up a batch of turkey croquettes is that they freeze beautifully. Here are some tips for make-ahead and freezing success:
-
Freeze uncooked, breaded croquettes in a single layer on a baking sheet before transferring to a freezer bag. This prevents sticking.
-
For longer storage, flash freeze croquettes on the baking sheet then vacuum seal bags. This prevents freezer burn.
-
Cooked croquettes can also be frozen by arranging in a single layer on a sheet and freezing until firm. Transfer to bags. Reheat straight from frozen in a 375°F oven.
-
Write the freeze date on bags so you know how long they’ve been stored. Eat within 2-3 months for best quality.
-
Thaw frozen croquettes overnight in the fridge before frying or baking as directed. Do not thaw at room temperature.
-
Avoid freezing croquettes stuffed with ingredients like cheese or seafood that don’t freeze well. Keep these fresh.
With a batch of croquettes in the freezer, you can enjoy piping hot, crispy turkey happiness anytime!
Top Turkey Croquette Recipes To Try
Now that you know the basics, here are some top-rated turkey croquette recipes to try from around the web:
Classic Diner-Style Turkey Croquettes – Chef Dennis’ homemade version of the retro diner classic.
[Baked Turkey Croquettes](
Set up a Breading Station
- Dredge the croquettes in flour seasoned with salt and pepper.
- Then dip the floured croquette into the egg wash (egg and milk).
- Finally, coat the egged croquette with seasoned bread crumbs.
How do I make Turkey Croquettes?
Not only does setting your ingredients up ahead of time speed up the cooking process, it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.
Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make Turkey Croquettes. In Chef Speak this is called the “Mise en Place” which translates to “Everything in its Place”.
In your food processor, add celery, carrots and onion and pulse till finely minced. Repeat the process with the turkey.
*You can pulse the veggies to a finer consistency if you’d rather not see the bigger pieces in the croquette.
In a saute pan, melt butter and add finely minced celery, carrots, and onion. Saute until softened (3-5 minutes) Allow the mixture to cool.
- In a large mixing bowl, add turkey, stuffing cubes, sauteed celery, onions, carrots, and poultry seasoning. Mix all the ingredients together.
- Add 1 cup of chicken stock and two lightly beaten eggs and mix together. Gradually add more chicken stock as needed. You want the mixture to resemble a stuffing consistency. **Don’t let it get too wet. It will continue to absorb the liquid as it sits in your refrigerator setting up but it still needs to be shaped, so it needs to have a formable consistency.
- Season to taste with sea salt and black pepper.
- After mixing all ingredients together fully, refrigerate for 2-3 hours to allow mix to set up.
After the mix has set up, form the mixture into cone-shaped croquettes.
*If you prefer another shape, go for it. Traditionally croquettes were cone-shaped.
If you like using your Instant Pot, this is a delicious Instant Pot Ground Turkey Recipe.
Turkey Croquettes From Leftovers – Vintage Recipe
FAQ
How do you keep croquettes from falling apart?
How do you stop croquettes from bursting when frying?
What are croquettes made of?
How do you make turkey burgers stick together?
How to make turkey croquettes?
Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make Turkey Croquettes. In Chef Speak this is called the “Mise en Place” which translates to “Everything in its Place”. In your food processor, add celery, carrots and onion and pulse till finely minced. Repeat the process with the turkey.
How do you cook a Turkey Egged croquette?
Dredge the croquettes in flour seasoned with salt and pepper. Then dip the floured croquette into the egg wash (egg and milk). Finally, coat the egged croquette with seasoned bread crumbs. Saute the turkey croquettes in olive oil (or your choice of oil), turning until all sides have been lightly browned.
How do you make cranberry Croquettes for Thanksgiving?
These croquettes are formed from turkey and mashed potatoes and served with cranberry sauce on the side. It’s the perfect Thanksgiving appetizer . Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, 1 teaspoons salt, and teaspoon pepper. Cook for 3 minutes. Stir in sage and savory or thyme, and cook for 1 minute.
How long do you bake turkey croquettes?
Place the bread crumb-coated turkey croquettes onto an ungreased baking sheet, leaving a little space between each one. Bake the croquettes at 350°F. for 28-30 minutes (mine usually take 30 minutes!) Please note that the baked croquettes will not brown a lot, so don’t expect that!