Baked Turkey Riggies

4.4
(11)
10 Reviews
3 Photos

This Central New York dish is a perfect way to use up your Thanksgiving leftovers in a baked casserole version that includes turkey instead of the usual chicken.

By
John Mitzewich
Chef John
John Mitzewich
John Mitzewich — aka Chef John — has produced more than 1,500 cooking videos for Allrecipes. He's the actor, director, and screenwriter whose hands and voice confidently walk you through techniques.
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Updated on September 18, 2023
3
Baked turkey riggies in a white casserole dish.
3
3
Prep Time:
15 mins
Cook Time:
1 hr 10 mins
Stand Time:
10 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 35 mins
Servings:
8
Jump to Nutrition Facts

Turkey Riggies – Forget About It

If you like chicken riggies, I think you're going to love turkey riggies, especially if you're trying to disappear the last of the Thanksgiving leftovers. We cover this every year, but after a day of leftovers, and another day of sandwiches, we're usually in the mood for something a different, and this really fits the bill.

In case you're not familiar with "riggies," it's a Central New York specialty featuring rigatoni pasta tossed with chicken and peppers in a spicy tomato sauce. It's flavorful, comforting, regional Italian-American food at it's finest, and while not usually baked, this works very nicely presented as a crusty, cheesy casserole.

Besides the obvious advantages, this delicious leftover turkey delivery system should erase any and all memories of what may have been a dry, unremarkable bird. Hey, it happens to the best of us. But, simply mix that less than amazing meat into the rest of these ingredients, and all will be forgotten. By the way, this works even if your turkey was amazingly tender, and juicy. Either way, I really do hope you give this a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ pounds cooked, chopped turkey meat

  • ½ cup chopped pepperoncini peppers

  • ½ cup chopped, pitted kalamata olives

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil, or as needed

  • 6 ounces hot Italian sausage, casings removed

  • 1 cup diced onion

  • 1 cup sliced button mushrooms

  • salt to taste

  • ½ cup white wine

  • 2 cups chicken broth

  • 1 (28 ounce) jar prepared marinara sauce

  • 1 cup water

  • ½ cup heavy cream

  • 1 pound rigatoni pasta, cooked and drained

  • 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, cubed

  • ½ cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

  • chopped Italian flat leaf parsley

Directions

  1. Gather all ingredients.

    Various bowls filled with ingredients to make baked turkey riggies.

    ALLRECIPES / DIANA CHISTRUGA

  2. Chop leftover turkey and place in a mixing bowl. Add pepperoncini peppers and kalamata olives; set aside.

    Chopped turkey and olives in a glass bowl.

    ALLRECIPES / DIANA CHISTRUGA

  3. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add Italian sausage and cook until sausage is browned and crumbled, breaking it up into small pieces, about 5 minutes. Add diced onions, mushrooms, and salt. Cook until onions are soft and start to get translucent, 3 to 4 minutes.

    Italian sausage, mushrooms and onions cooking in a pan.

    ALLRECIPES / DIANA CHISTRUGA

  4. Deglaze the bottom of the pot with white wine and simmer until wine has evaporated, about 5 minutes. Add chicken broth, marinara sauce, water, and cream. Add turkey mixture and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer about 15 minutes.

    Marinara sauce heating in a sauce pan.

    ALLRECIPES / DIANA CHISTRUGA

  5. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook rigatoni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Drain. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

    Rigatoni in a colander.

    ALLRECIPES / DIANA CHISTRUGA

  6. Transfer the cooked rigatoni into the sauce pot and mix well. Transfer mixture to a large casserole dish. Dot surface with mozzarella cheese and push inside the pasta mixture. Sprinkle the top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

    Unbaked turkey riggies in a white casserole dish.

    ALLRECIPES / DIANA CHISTRUGA

  7. Bake in the preheated oven until sauce is bubbling around the edges, and the top is nicely browned, 40 to 45 minutes. Remove from oven and let sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley.

    Baked turkey riggies in a casserole pan.

    ALLRECIPES / DIANA CHISTRUGA

  8. Serve and enjoy.

    Baked turkey riggies in a white casserole dish.

    ALLRECIPES / DIANA CHISTRUGA

Cook's Notes:

The ideal casserole baking dish size is 9 x 13 inches.

Rigatoni should be cooked 2 minutes under package directions, since it's going to be baked in the sauce.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

730 Calories
32g Fat
61g Carbs
46g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Calories 730
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 32g 41%
Saturated Fat 14g 68%
Cholesterol 131mg 44%
Sodium 1467mg 64%
Total Carbohydrate 61g 22%
Dietary Fiber 5g 18%
Protein 46g 91%
Potassium 820mg 17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.

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