Leftover Turkey Sweet Potato (Printer-Friendly)

Hearty casserole combining turkey, sweet potatoes, apples, and Gruyère cheese with sage, thyme, and a touch of maple syrup.

# List of Ingredients:

→ Protein

01 - 3 cups cooked shredded turkey

→ Vegetables and Fruit

02 - 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed (approximately 3 cups)
03 - 2 Gala apples, peeled and diced
04 - 1 small onion, diced

→ Dairy

05 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
06 - ½ cup heavy cream
07 - 1 cup shredded Gruyère cheese

→ Pantry

08 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
09 - 1 tablespoon chicken bouillon powder
10 - 1½ cups chicken broth
11 - 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
12 - ½ teaspoon rubbed sage
13 - ½ teaspoon dried thyme
14 - ½ teaspoon salt
15 - ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

# Preparation Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F and lightly grease a large casserole dish.
02 - Peel and cube sweet potatoes into ½-inch chunks. Peel and dice Gala apples into similarly sized pieces. Dice the onion finely.
03 - Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onions and cook 3–4 minutes until translucent. Add sweet potato cubes and sauté for 6–8 minutes until edges soften but centers remain firm.
04 - Sprinkle flour over the mixture and stir briskly for 1–2 minutes. Dissolve chicken bouillon in chicken broth, then gradually add broth to skillet, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Bring to a simmer, then add heavy cream, maple syrup, sage, thyme, salt, and pepper. Cook 3–4 minutes until sauce thickens.
05 - Add diced apples to the sauce and stir to coat evenly, preventing browning and beginning tenderizing process.
06 - Evenly spread shredded turkey in prepared casserole dish. Pour sweet potato, apple, and sauce mixture over turkey, leveling surface gently without mashing.
07 - Sprinkle shredded Gruyère cheese evenly over the top. Bake uncovered for 30–35 minutes until cheese is golden and bubbling, and sweet potatoes are fork-tender. Tent loosely with foil if cheese browns too quickly in final 10 minutes.
08 - Allow casserole to rest for at least 10 minutes to thicken sauce and facilitate cleaner slicing.

# Additional Suggestions:

01 - Roasting sweet potatoes prior to assembly intensifies flavor and enhances texture; roast at 425°F for 20 minutes with oil, salt, and pepper.
02 - Using fresh herbs in place of dried will provide brighter, more aromatic notes; triple the dried amount for fresh.
03 - For added crunch, sprinkle panko breadcrumbs mixed with melted butter over cheese during the last 10 minutes of baking.
04 - This dish benefits from resting post-bake to allow flavors to meld and sauce to thicken.

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