Make this Creamy Turkey and Dumplings Soup with any turkey and herbs you have left over from Thanksgiving. Made with juicy turkey, veggies, and homemade tender dumplings.
This turkey and dumplings recipe is pure comfort food, in my opinion. It’s hearty, full of vegetables, and easy to make.
This recipe calls for onion, celery, carrots, potatoes, and celery. You can add corn and peas if you’d like.
And the best part of the creamy turkey soup…. the dumplings. The dumplings are basically drop biscuits, and they cook up so light and fluffy. Don’t worry, they are easy to make, I promise!.
We also love making Turkey Tetrazzini, putting Thanksgiving leftovers in a pot pie, or these Green Chile Turkey Quesadillas.
Leftover turkey dumpling soup is the perfect way to use up leftovers after Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner This hearty and creamy soup is packed with flavorful turkey meat, vegetables, and fluffy homemade dumplings. It’s easy to make, family-friendly, and so satisfying on a chilly day
Why Make Leftover Turkey Dumpling Soup?
There are so many great reasons to make this soup
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It’s a delicious way to use up leftover roasted turkey. Both white and dark meat work well to add lots of rich turkey flavor.
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The soup is creamy but lighter than a casserole. The half and half or milk adds a lovely velvety texture without being too heavy or rich.
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It’s packed with vegetables like carrots, celery, onions, and potatoes. An easy way to use up any leftover veggies from your holiday meals.
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The star of the show is definitely the fluffy dumplings. They are tender and pillowy soft. So comforting!
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You can put this soup together in just about 45 minutes. Quick enough for a busy weeknight.
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It’s budget friendly and can easily be doubled for a crowd.
Tips for Making The Best Turkey Dumpling Soup
Follow these tips for leftover turkey dumpling soup success:
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Use homemade turkey broth for the most flavor. Simmer the turkey carcass with some celery, carrots, and onions to extract all the goodness.
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Cook the veggies (onion, celery, carrots, potatoes) until softened before adding the flour. This helps the flour incorporate evenly.
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Whisk the flour into the hot broth well before adding the milk or half and half. This prevents lumps.
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Use both white and dark turkey meat. The dark meat adds so much extra flavor.
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Fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, and sage add a wonderful seasoning. But poultry seasoning works great too, if you don’t have fresh herbs on hand.
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Make sure not to peek at the dumplings while they simmer. Keeping the lid on ensures they cook up light and fluffy.
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Add a bit of cornstarch slurry at the end to thicken the broth if desired.
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Garnish with extra fresh herbs. Thyme and sage offer such lovely fresh notes.
How to Make Homemade Turkey Dumplings
The dumplings really make this soup special. Here are a few easy ways to make them:
Flour Dumplings
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Whisk together flour, baking powder, herbs, salt, and pepper.
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Stir in milk and eggs just until a soft dough forms.
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Drop spoonfuls of dough on top of the simmering soup.
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Cook covered for 15 minutes.
Stuffing Dumplings
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Whisk eggs with flour until smooth.
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Fold in leftover stuffing.
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Shape into balls and add to soup.
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Simmer covered for 10 minutes.
Canned Biscuits
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Separate biscuits and cut into quarters.
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Add to hot soup and simmer covered for 15 minutes.
Any of these dumpling methods work wonderfully! The stuffing dumplings are especially delicious and a great way to use up leftovers.
Ingredients Needed for Leftover Turkey Dumpling Soup
For the soup:
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Butter: For cooking the vegetables. Can use oil instead.
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Carrots, celery, onion, potatoes: Standard soup veggies. Use any leftovers you have.
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Flour: To thicken the base. All-purpose flour works great.
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Chicken or turkey broth: Homemade is best for flavor.
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Milk or half and half: Adds creaminess. Can omit for lighter soup.
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Leftover turkey: Rotisserie chicken can be subbed.
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Herbs: Fresh or poultry seasoning.
For the dumplings:
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Flour, baking powder, salt: Creates the dumpling dough.
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Milk and egg: Bind together the dough.
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Herbs: Extra flavor.
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Stuffing or canned biscuits: Alternative dumpling options.
Step-By-Step Instructions for Making Leftover Turkey Dumpling Soup
Follow these simple steps:
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Cook the vegetables (carrots, celery, onion, potatoes) in butter until the onions soften.
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Stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute.
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Gradually whisk in the broth. Bring to a simmer.
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Add the turkey, milk or half and half, herbs, and season with salt and pepper.
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In a bowl, stir together the dumpling ingredients until a wet dough forms.
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Drop spoonfuls of dough on top of the simmering soup.
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Cover and cook for 15 minutes until dumplings are cooked through.
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Ladle the turkey dumpling soup into bowls and garnish with extra herbs. Enjoy!
And that’s it! Nice and easy. The dumplings can be made a few ways, but the simple drop biscuit version is foolproof.
Serving Suggestions for Leftover Turkey Soup
This comforting turkey and dumpling soup pairs well with:
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Dinner rolls or biscuits – great for dipping in the creamy broth.
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A crisp green salad – something fresh and light.
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Leftover cranberry sauce or relish. The tartness pairs nicely.
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Fresh fruit like grapes, orange slices, or apple wedges.
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Pie for dessert – pumpkin, pecan, or apple pair nicely.
Any leftover sides like roasted veggies or mashed potatoes also complement the soup beautifully. And don’t forget the wine! A nice white wine or beer makes this simple supper complete.
Storing and Freezing Leftover Turkey Dumpling Soup
Since this soup makes a large batch, you’ll likely have leftovers. Here are some storage tips:
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Let soup cool completely before storing. Divide into shallow containers.
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Fridge: Store covered in fridge up to 4-5 days.
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Freezer: Allow soup to cool before freezing for up to 3 months.
The dumplings will hold up well for a day or two in the fridge but may turn mushy when frozen and reheated. For just the broth, freeze turkey soup flat in a gallon size freezer bag for easy thawing and reheating.
More Recipes Using Leftover Turkey
If you have turkey leftover, try these delicious recipes:
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Turkey Tetrazzini – turkey mixed with pasta, mushrooms, and creamy sauce.
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Turkey Pot Pie – tender turkey with veggies in a flakey crust.
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Turkey Enchiladas – stuffed tortillas smothered in enchilada sauce and cheese.
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Turkey Sliders – ground turkey patties with all the fixings.
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Curried Turkey Salad – flavorful spinach salad with apple and curry.
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Turkey Noodle Soup – classic noodle soup made with turkey.
Leftover turkey is very versatile for soups, casseroles, salads, and sandwiches. Get creative with the leftovers!
FAQs About Making Leftover Turkey Dumpling Soup
What can I use instead of leftover turkey?
Rotisserie chicken works very well instead of turkey. Or quickly cook some bone-in chicken pieces in broth and use that turkey-flavored broth and chicken meat.
Can I make it ahead of time?
Yes! The soup can be made 1-2 days in advance. Just cook the dumplings right before serving.
What kind of flour works best?
All-purpose flour is the best choice for thickening the broth and making the dumplings.
How do I thicken the broth?
If it seems too thin after simmering, whisk together 1 Tbsp cornstarch + 1 Tbsp water. Stir into soup and simmer until desired consistency.
Can I freeze the leftover soup?
Yes, it freezes very well! Let cool completely before freezing for up to 3 months. The dumplings may get mushy though after reheating.
Can I use canned biscuits instead?
Absolutely! Just cut each biscuit into quarters and add to the soup to bake instead of making homemade dumplings.
EnjoyFlavorful Leftover Turkey Dumpling Soup
Leftover turkey dumpling soup makes great use of holiday leftovers for a delicious hearty meal. The simple yet flavorful soup comes together quickly and the fluffy dumplings make it extra comforting. Adjust herbs, vegetables, and dumpling style to suit your taste. This soup will surely become a new family favorite tradition after your holiday meals.
How to make Turkey and Dumplings Soup
Step 1: Prepare the vegetables
Start by sauteing the carrots, celery, potatoes, and onions in a large stockpot over medium heat. As soon as the onions start to soften, add the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds to a minute.
Step 2: Add flour
Mix in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Then, pour in the broth and milk. Add the turkey, poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper. Bring turkey and dumplings soup to a simmer.
Step 3: Prepare the dumplings
Combine the dry ingredients in a medium sized bowl. Then, pour in the milk and add the egg. Mix until combined and there aren’t any dry clumps.
Step 4: Add dumplings
Add the dumplings by the spoonful to the creamy turkey soup. Add a lid and simmer for 15 minutes. Serve and enjoy!.
But you don’t have to use leftover turkey. If you want a great way to use up Thanksgiving leftovers, this turkey soup dumpling recipe is perfect. This turkey and dumplings recipe can also be made with leftover cooked chicken or rotisserie chicken.
This turkey soup dumpling recipe will last 4-5 days in the fridge. Just make sure to let it cool down before storing in an airtight container. After 4-5 days, the turkey and dumplings will begin to lose texture and start to go bad.
Ingredients for This Turkey Soup Dumpling Recipe
Chicken stock or broth: You can use the turkey carcass to make your own stock, or you can buy broth or stock from the store.
Leftover turkey: Use both the white and dark meat if you have it. It will provide more flavor that way. Also, a great substitute is rotisserie chicken. Don’t have either of those? You can boil some chicken pieces in broth and use that instead. Just don’t forget to use that broth you cooked the chicken in!.
Foods: After Thanksgiving, there is often extra potatoes, celery, onions, and maybe even carrots that need to be used up. In fact, you might have other vegetables that you want to use up. Feel free to add them to the creamy turkey soup too!
Sometimes people like to cook with fresh herbs and sometimes with poultry seasoning. I’ll give you the amounts for both, and you can choose which to use.
Milk or half and half: This adds a nice touch to make it a little more luxurious. However, feel free to leave it out if you prefer.
Dumplings: I am making from scratch dumplings, and I PROMISE they are not hard to make. But if you would rather, you can use a can of biscuits. Cut each biscuit into fourths and drop it into the soup. Cover and cook according to the recipe. There is also an option to use leftover stuffing to make dumplings.
