In this post I will be sharing and easy canned turkey stuffing casserole Thanksgiving dinner recipe. You could of course have it anytime of the year too.

Well, y’all, can you believe it’s that time of year again? Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and I can already smell the wonderful aromas of a traditional feast filling my kitchen.

But you know what, darlin’? Sometimes life gets a little crazy, and we don’t always have the time or energy to cook up a big ole turkey with all the fixins.

Perhaps it is just you, two, or a few mouths to feed this year. Or, maybe the budget is really tight right now. I’ve got you friend!

That is where my canned turkey, gravy, and stuffing Thanksgiving dinner casserole comes to the rescue!

It is a down-home, comforting dish that will have your family and friends raving, and you won’t believe how easy it is to put together.

So, grab your apron, and let’s whip up a taste of Thanksgiving goodness that’ll have you saying, “Bless your heart, Julia!“

Easy Thanksgiving Dinner for Two

brown and white Thanksgiving china plate with turkey casserole with a crunchy topping

What to Serve with Canned Turkey Stuffing Casserole?

Oh, honey, I’ve got some budget-friendly and fuss-free side options that’ll pair perfectly with your turkey and stuffing casserole! Let’s keep it simple and delicious (cost friendly too):

Sautéed Fresh Green Beans: It’s a lovely, crunchy side that adds a pop of color to your plate.
Mashed Potatoes: Creamy mashed potatoes are always a crowd-pleaser. You can make them with a few basic ingredients like potatoes, butter, milk, salt, and pepper. If nothing else, just use instant.
Cranberry Sauce: A can of cranberry sauce or homemade cranberry relish is a must for Thanksgiving.
Mixed Salad: A simple salad with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, and a basic vinaigrette dressing is both refreshing and light.
Cornbread: Bake up a batch of cornbread muffins or a skillet of cornbread. It’s a classic Southern side that complements the flavors of your Thanksgiving casserole beautifully.
Roasted Vegetables: Toss some root vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, and parsnips with olive oil, salt, and your favorite herbs. Roast them in the oven until they’re caramelized and tender for a hearty side dish. The frozen steam fresh veggies are also a great option.
Dinner Rolls: Warm, soft dinner rolls or biscuits are a comforting addition to any Thanksgiving meal. You can serve them with a little butter or honey for an extra treat.
Canned Vegetable Sides: a can of something, like corn or peas, is a quick and easy side option to any meal.

And don’t overlook the humble and delicious boxed macaroni and cheese as an option.

These sides are not only budget-friendly but also easy to prepare, leaving you with more time to enjoy the company of your loved ones and savor that delicious turkey and stuffing casserole.

Alternative Thanksgiving Meals

fork with a bite of canned turkey stuffing casserole

The moist turkey with the gravy and stuffing topping deliver the perfect bite for a taste of Thanksgiving on turkey day or any day throughout the year.

This is seriously so simple that is sure to become a favorite when you’re craving a taste of the holidays and the whole family will love it.

Cheap and Easy Thanksgiving Dinner in Under 1 Hour

Ingredients for Thanksgiving casserole dinner made with canned turkey meat, jarred gravy, and Stove Top stuffing mix

Here are the simple ingredients that you’ll need to prepare this delicious turkey stuffing casserole:

Canned Turkey: I used the Keystone brand, all natural canned turkey breast because that is what was available at my local grocery store. There are other brands that may be available depending on where you live. You could also easily use canned chicken if you don’t have turkey meat on hand.
Salt and Black Pepper: seasoning, to taste.
Jar of Roasted Turkey Gravy: adds flavor and keep the turkey meat moist.
Stove Top Stuffing: any flavor that you want. I went with “turkey”. The stuffing provides the topping for the casserole and keeps the meal super easy. If you prefer, you could certainly make your own cornbread stuffing, either to top the casserole, or serve on the side with the turkey served on top.
Melted Butter: to moisten the stuffing mix and add flavor.
Chicken Stock: to moisten the stuffing mix.

Keystone All Natural Canned Turkey Breast Meat

canned turkey meat in a square baking dish

The first thing to do is preheat your oven. Next, drain the canned turkey meat and add it to a casserole dish. I used a square baking dish.

Use a fork or spoon and break up the turkey breast meat so that it is evenly spread over the bottom of the casserole dish.

Easy Turkey Casserole

A jar of turkey gravy poured over turkey meat for a casserole meal

Next, pour the jar of turkey gravy over the meat. Gently stir to ensure that all of the turkey is coated with some of the gravy.

Stuffing Casserole Recipe

The next step is to add the package contents of the Stove Top stuffing to a small mixing bowl. Do not prepare the stuffing mix according to the package directions.

All the Flavors of Thanksgiving Dinner

pouring melted butter to combine with stuffing mix

Pour some melted butter over the stuffing mix and gently stir.

New Favorite Casserole for Super Easy Thanksgiving Dinner

moistened stuffing mixture in a mixing bowl

Next, add some chicken stock, or broth, and stir until the stuffing mixture is moistened.

Turkey and Gravy Casserole with Crunchy Stuffing Topping

spreading the stuffing mixture over the turkey and gravy before baking

Transfer the Stove Top mixture into the casserole dish on top of the turkey and gravy layer and spread evenly over top.

Then it is into the hot oven to bake until golden brown and the casserole is hot and bubbly.

Into the Oven to Bake

Canned Turkey Stuffing Casserole hot and bubbling in the oven

Below you will find the printable recipe card for this canned turkey stuffing Thanksgiving dinner recipe.

One last thought, friend, is that I’ve seen plenty of recipes on the web to create a casserole out of Thanksgiving leftovers. You can certainly do that.

This recipe however is to create a meal that is not expensive and is easy to accommodate an intimate group of people for Thanksgiving dinner.

It is an easy meal that is absolutely delicious and leftover can easily be re-heated and enjoyed the next day too.

Yield: 1 Casserole

Easy Canned Turkey Stuffing Casserole Recipe for Thanksgiving Dinner

Name: Easy Canned Turkey Stuffing Casserole Recipe for Thanksgiving Dinner
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 1
Cuisine: Southern United States
Ingredients: 2 - 28 ounce Canned Turkey Meat (I used Keystone brand); Salt and Black Pepper, to taste; 18 ounce Jar Roasted Turkey Gravy; 6 ounce Package Stove Top Stuffing (do not follow package directions); 4 tablespoons Butter, melted; ½ cup Chicken Stock, or broth

Get ready to savor the flavors of the holidays with this super easy turkey and stuffing casserole that is made with canned turkey meat. This simple Thanksgiving dinner recipe is perfect for one, two, three, or four people. It is also budget friendly giving you a holiday dinner for less than $20.00. Perhaps, best of all, it is ready in under an hour. Serve this tasty casserole with a side or two and you've got yourself a delicious dinner.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes

Total Time 55 minutes

Ingredients

2 - 28 ounce Canned Turkey Meat (I used Keystone brand)
Salt and Black Pepper, to taste
18 ounce Jar Roasted Turkey Gravy
6 ounce Package Stove Top Stuffing (do not follow package directions)
4 tablespoons Butter, melted
½ cup Chicken Stock, or broth

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C)
Drain the canned turkey meat and transfer the turkey to a deep square baking dish, or smaller rectangle casserole dish.
Use a fork or spoon to gently break apart the turkey breast.
Next, add the jar of roasted turkey gravy, pouring it over the turkey meat. Gently stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper, if desired to suit personal tastes.
Add the Stove Top stuffing mix to a small mixing bowl then pour the melted butter over the mix and gently stir. Next, add the chicken stock and stir until the stuffing mix is moistened. Transfer the stuffing mixture into the casserole dish and spread to top the turkey layer.
Place the casserole into the pre-heated oven and bake for 45 minutes until golden brown and hot and bubbly.

Notes

If preferred, canned chicken may be used instead of the canned turkey meat.

If preparing for one, use one can of the turkey meat and follow the rest of the recipe.

See full post for side suggestions for this easy Thanksgiving dinner casserole.

Recommended Products

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 549Total Fat: 21gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 287mgSodium: 578mgCarbohydrates: 6gFiber: 0gSugar: 1gProtein: 78g

Number of servings depend on appetize and portion size, so may vary.

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Canned Turkey Stuffing Casserole Thanksgiving Dinner Recipe

Well, there you have it, y’all! With these simple and wallet-friendly side options, your Thanksgiving feast is sure to be a hit, even if you’re serving up that canned turkey, gravy, and stuffing casserole.

Remember, Thanksgiving is all about coming together with loved ones and giving thanks for the blessings in our lives, and you can do that with a delicious meal, no matter how simple.

So, gather around the table, share stories, and savor every bite of this special holiday.

Before you take off, be sure to sign up for my e-newsletter. Subscribers get a weekly email from me with all of the latest recipes and news here on the blog so you never miss a thing.

From my holiday kitchen to yours, I wish you a very happy Thanksgiving!

Meet Julia

Author of Julia's Simply Southern

About Julia

Hey Y'all! I'm Julia, the cook and writer behind the recipes here at Julia's Simply Southern. I began my website so that I could share easy to follow recipes that anyone can use to put a home cooked meal on the dinner table. Thanks so much for stopping by!

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Terry

Sunday 19th of November 2023

I have an old church cookbook from years and years ago. Recipe is for putting leftover turkey and dressing together and making a sauce to go over, bake. It says you can start with your gravy as base, but who has gravy leftover? I've made this a lot without using leftovers. I've made it with chicken that I roast or boil and get stock from to make the gravy. It requires a lot, so it's not the gravy you'd ever serve! I've been able to purchase half a turkey breast and do the same. Making everything from scratch if budget allows. It's absolutely delicious. It's only the 3 of this year. It's really weird how I talk about something and I get an email...lol