Y’all this Turkey and Dumplings recipe is the ultimate comfort food boos. If you have leftover Thanksgiving turkey, throw that into this super cozy dish with a creamy and savory broth, cooked veggies and fluffy Southern biscuit-style dumplings. That rich flavor is popping, and I promise you won’t be able to get enough of this.
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They’re Lovin’ It! Here’s what They’re Sayin’:
“This is the BEST recipe for turkey leftovers! It beats out the usual turkey sandwiches I usually make haha!”
—CAM
Listen y’all, we all know about chicken and dumplings but this turkey and dumplings recipe is so legit to use when you have a ton of roasted turkey leftovers. The flavor is everything. The broth comes together very quickly and has so much texture and warm essence. But once topped with these beyond fluffy and light biscuits, the whole thing goes to new heights.
The Lowdown of This Turkey and Dumplings recipe
Cuisine Inspiration: Southern Comfort with a Modern Twist
Primary Cooking Method: Simmering and Stewing
Dietary Info: Can be made gluten-free with ingredient swaps
Key Flavor: Rich, Creamy, Savory, Meaty Broth with Tender Fluffy Dumplings
Skill Level: Easy y’all (No Sweat Fam!)
Turkey Leftover Perfection
Got turkey leftover from your holiday feast? This is the ultimate way to repurpose it into a warm, hearty and super addictive dish you’ll want to make year-round.
Comfort on a Cool Night
One bite of this and you’ll be all cozied up on the couch, feeling like you’re wrapped in a blanket of pure deliciousness. It’s a serious soul-satisfying win y’all.
Beyond Easy
We use super simple ingredients to pull this crowd-pleasing meal together boos. Minimal prep and straightforward steps result in the recipe of your dreams.
Ingredients You’ll Need to Make Turkey with Dumplings
- Butter: This adds so much richness and bomb flavor into this richness.
- Onion, Celery and Carrots: These aromatics add so much depth and texture to the mix.
- Chicken Stock: I also like to add additional chicken bouillon if I don’t make homemade stock to ensure that the flavor is beyond popping.
- Turkey: This is a great way to use leftover turkey from Thanksgiving or another holiday.
- Buttermilk: I love to use this in my dumplings to give that rich flavor.
- Flour: This will act as the foundation for the dumplings and the thickener for the sauce.
- Baking Powder: This gives our dumplings that fluffy lightness so they almost taste like pillows.
How to Make Turkey and Dumplings
What to serve with this Turkey and Dumplings recipe?
- Simple Vibes: This is legit an easy one pot meal. Serve with this simple harvest salad and enjoy.
- Comfort Meal: Make a pot of these sour cream mashed potatoes along with this creamed spinach.
- The Ultimate Southern Feast: This turkey and dumplings recipe is perfect served along with turnip greens, candied yams and some hot water cornbread. And don’t forget the sweet tea.
Recipe Substitutions
- Turkey: Feel free to replace the roasted turkey with shredded rotisserie chicken.
- Butter: I use salted butter through the recipe but you can swap with unsalted and add in salt until it tastes as good as you like it!
- Buttermilk: If you don’t have any around, make your own boos. Add 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice to each cup of milk. Let it curdle and thicken before using in the recipe.
Recipe Variations and Additions
- Gluten-Free: Replace the flour in the broth and the dumplings with your fave 1:1 ratio all-purpose gluten-free flour. The texture of the dumplings may change but they will still taste amazing.
- Vegan: Replace the chicken stock with a veggie stock and just go with just veggies or replace the turkey with mushrooms for a meaty texture.
- Cheese Up the Dumplings: Add some grated cheese to the dumpling mixture to add creamy melty texture.
Expert Tips and Tricks
- Don’t Overmix the Dumpling Dough: Just mix the dough ingredients just until combined. This will prevent them from being tough and chewy.
- Save Those Turkey Drippings: If you want to add even more flavor to your broth, save those Thanksgiving turkey drippings to add more depth and richness to the mix.
- Go Homemade: If you have leftover turkey bones or carcass, simmer those bad boys with veggies, herbs and water to make something super rich and flavorful.
How to Store and Reheat
Make sure you cool down your turkey with dumplings completely then pop in an airtight container and pop in the fridge.
You can gently reheat your portions in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until everything is warmed through and the dumplings are soft again. You can also quickly reheat in the microwave by transferring individual servings to a microwave-safe dish and microwave for about 2 minutes stopping and stirring around the dumplings and stew in 30 second intervals until reheated. Easy peasy y’all.
How long will turkey and dumplings last in the fridge?
It should stay all good in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Can I freeze?
Absolutely boos! Add to a heavy-duty freezer bag or add to an airtight container and don’t forget to add the date. It should last about 3 months in the freezer. Just let it thaw in the fridge overnight before heating again.
Frequently Asked Questions
After about 20 minutes simmering in the soup broth, cut one open. The inside should not be raw. As long as the dumplings are cooked, you’re ready to serve.
You’ll want to cook turkey and dumplings with the lid on in order to steam the dumplings. This will allow you to cook the dumplings from all sides and not risk over cooking them or reducing the soup during the cooking process.
I would make the dumpling dough ahead of time and just store in the fridge. You can also cook the stew ahead and reheat and assemble before you are ready to eat.
Turkey and Dumplings
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Equipment
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 1/2 cup salted butter
- 1 large onion finely diced
- 3 celery stalks finely diced
- 5 medium carrots peeled and finely chopped
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 cups turkey stock make sure you use a flavorful one or add chicken bouillon cube to yours for additional flavor
- 2 cups cooked turkey shredded
For the Dumplings
- 1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 3/4 cup buttermilk
- 1 large egg
- 2 1/2 tbsp salted butter melted
- 1/3 cup chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
For the Chicken
- Add ¼ cup of the butter to large pot over medium heat until melted.
- Add onion, celery and carrots and season with salt and pepper. Cook until veggies get somewhat tender and soft, about 5-6 minutes then remove and set aside until later.
- Melt remaining ¼ cup of butter over medium-low heat. Sprinkle in flour and whisk, allowing it to brown somewhat until it becomes golden brown, about 8-12 minutes.
- Whisk in stock (make sure you are getting the bits of roux stuck to the bottom of the pan too), turn heat back up to medium and allow it to get smooth then bring to a boil.
- Add the shredded turkey and cooked vegetables to the pot and allow sauce to somewhat thicken. Taste for seasoning and add final salt and pepper to taste.
For the Dumplings
- In a medium bowl, add flour, baking powder, pepper and whisk together.
- Next add in buttermilk, egg and melted butter until just combined. The mixture should be thick.
- Using a spoon, drop dollops of dough into the pot spacing out somewhat. They will stay on top and won’t sink. Cover the pot and reduce heat to low.
- Allow dumplings to cook and puff up without lifting the cover for about 20 minutes, then test dumpling by cutting in half. The dough shouldn’t be raw. If it needs more time, cover with lid and allow to cook a bit longer.
- Scoop into bowls and sprinkle with parsley to serve.
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I made this with chicken instead of turkey and it was fabulous. I was so excited to see a recipe that didn’t rely on garlic for flavor that I made it right away! I can’t have garlic and I really appreciate that. Also, the close up of how a properly cooked dumpling should look is very helpful. Mmmm! (I can’t get this to type right, all caps is happening without my consent.)
I am so glad you liked it! Chicken sounds great in this!
This is the BEST recipe for turkey leftovers! It beats out the usual turkey sandwiches I usually make haha!
Wow, this looks so hearty and comforting.!
The perfect soup to use up my leftover turkey from my holiday gathering! Love this turkey and dumplings idea and will definitely make it.
Love the combination of ingredients here. This would be perfect for Thanksgiving. Thanks for sharing.
great recipe, and yes sourcing turkey all year round is fine with me, but the sourcing is sometimes hard outside of November! Thank you