Have you ever removed the neck and giblets from a turkey and wondered what in the world to do with them? Most often they get thrown away.
My mom, who could never let anything go to waste, always used the turkey neck and giblets to make a quick pot of broth to use for making gravy or moistening stuffing. And, thats what I do. This broth is so much more flavorful than anything that comes out of a can or box. You can simmer a pot of it while the turkey is in the oven, and it will be ready to use long before the turkey is finished cooking.
I always think of this broth as being virtually free, because I use turkey parts that would otherwise be discarded. And, I normally have leftover herbs, onions, and celery, since those often come in larger quantities than I need for my other recipes for the meal.
Turkey giblets – the heart, liver, gizzard and neck – are often included with a whole turkey. While many home cooks aren’t quite sure what to do with them, these turkey parts can add great flavor to your Thanksgiving meal. Here are 10 delicious ways to use turkey giblets.
1. Make giblet gravy
Giblet gravy is a classic Thanksgiving accompaniment. To make it, simmer the turkey neck, heart and gizzard in water with some onions, carrots and celery to create a flavorful giblet broth. Strain the broth and use it as the base for your gravy, along with pan drippings from the roasted turkey. Chop up the cooked giblets and mix them into the finished gravy for extra texture and flavor. The liver is often left out since boiling makes it bitter – instead, quickly sauté the liver and mix it in at the end.
2. Stuff your stuffing
Chopped giblets can be mixed into stuffing or dressing to add moisture and richness. Sauté the heart gizzard and liver then fold them into your favorite stuffing recipe. For extra turkey flavor, simmer the neck in broth and use that broth to moisten the stuffing.
3. Make a savory pie
Ground giblets are excellent in savory pies like chicken pot pie. Cook the giblets chop or grind them, then mix into your favorite pot pie filling along with cooked turkey meat, vegetables and gravy. The organs add great umami flavor and nutrition. Bake with a flaky pie crust for a rustic comforting dish.
4. Whip up dirty rice
Dirty rice is a Cajun specialty of ground meat and aromatics like onion and celery cooked into rice. Cooked giblets can play the role of the meat. Sauté the chopped giblets, mix with rice, broth and Creole seasoning, then bake until the rice is tender. The rich, meaty giblets give the rice tons of flavor.
5. Cook a hearty soup
Add cooked turkey giblets to your soup pot for an easy nutrition and flavor boost. Try a turkey noodle soup with chopped giblets and egg noodles or a creamy turkey and wild rice chowder loaded with bite-size giblet pieces. Giblet broth makes an excellent base for hearty winter soups
6. Make dog treats
Our canine companions will appreciate turkey giblets as a special Thanksgiving treat. Simmer the giblets until fully cooked, then chop or process them finely. Mix into homemade dog biscuit dough or wet food. The meaty organs provide dogs with nutrients they crave.
7. Prepare a deeply savory sandwich spread
If you don’t mind the texture, finely chopped giblets make an excellent sandwich filling along with salt, pepper and mayo. The rich flavors pair wonderfully with sliced bread or crackers. For a smoother spread, finely mince the cooked giblets in a food processor or blender.
8. Craft creamy giblet mousse
For an upscale holiday appetizer, whip your cooked giblets in the blender or food processor until pureed, then fold into softened cream cheese or sour cream along with lemon juice, herbs and other flavorings of your choice. Chill this smooth mousse and serve with crackers or crudités.
9. Make indulgent giblet pâté
Chopped cooked giblets give traditional French pâté a very authentic, rustic flavor. Sauté the giblets with shallots, mix into a food processor along with cream and brandy, then chill until firm. Enjoy this rich spread on crusty bread for a refined appetizer.
10. Create a unique turkey burger
Take your turkey burgers to the next level by mixing in a few chopped giblets. Cook and mince the giblets, then combine with ground turkey, spices and other burger mix-ins. The giblets ramp up the flavor and nutrition compared to plain turkey burgers. Grill up these distinctive patties for a juicy, carnivorous treat.
While turkey giblets might seem intimidating, they’re easy to cook and add amazing depth of flavor to gravies, soups, stuffings and more. This Thanksgiving, embrace these under-appreciated turkey parts to take your holiday food to the next level! With a little creativity, you can transform humble giblets into something truly special.
While the turkey cooks, make this for use in gravy, stuffing, or soup.
- neck & giblets from 1 turkey
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary
- 1-2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 sprig fresh sage
- 1 medium onion, quartered
- 1-2 celery stocks, cut in 2″ chunks
- 1 teaspoon peppercorns (optional)
- 4 cups (32 oz) chicken broth or water (or a combination of the two)
Directions Add all ingredients to a 1-1/2 to 2 quart saucepan. Bring to boil, reduce to a simmer, cover, and simmer on low heat for at least 1 hour. Pour through a mesh metal strainer to remove solids. Broth may be combined with turkey pan drippings to make gravy. Or, use the broth to moisten stuffing. It also may be used in soup. Broth may be stored in the fridge for 3 days or frozen for several months.
Have you ever removed the neck and giblets from a turkey and wondered what in the world to do with them? Most often they get thrown away.
My mom, who could never let anything go to waste, always used the turkey neck and giblets to make a quick pot of broth to use for making gravy or moistening stuffing. And, thats what I do. This broth is so much more flavorful than anything that comes out of a can or box. You can simmer a pot of it while the turkey is in the oven, and it will be ready to use long before the turkey is finished cooking.
- For a detailed photo tutorial on how to roast a turkey, check out my post: Step-By-Step Guide To The Best Roast Turkey
I always think of this broth as being virtually free, because I use turkey parts that would otherwise be discarded. And, I normally have leftover herbs, onions, and celery, since those often come in larger quantities than I need for my other recipes for the meal.
How To Make The Best Giblet Gravy | Dear Test Kitchen
FAQ
What do people do with turkey giblets?
What do you use the neck and giblets for?
Do you throw away giblets?
Can you cook a Turkey with giblets?
First, whether you’re using the giblets or not, remember to take them out of the turkey. They are usually packaged in a paper or plastic bag placed inside the cavity of the bird, so you definitely don’t want to cook your turkey with the bag still in there. Turkey giblets are most commonly used to make a giblet gravy.
How to cook Turkey giblets in a crock pot?
To simmer turkey giblets, you will need: Instructions: 1. In a large pot or Dutch oven, combine the water, salt, peppercorns, bay leaf, onion, garlic, thyme, oregano, paprika, cayenne pepper, black pepper, and salt. Bring to a boil over high heat. 2. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 1 hour. 3. Remove the giblets from the pot and let cool.
How to fry Turkey giblets?
To fry turkey giblets, you will need: Instructions: 1. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. 2. Add the turkey giblets, salt, black pepper, onion, garlic, thyme, oregano, paprika, cayenne pepper, black pepper, and salt. Cook for 5-7 minutes, or until the giblets are browned on all sides.
How do you make Turkey giblets gravy?
Turkey giblets are most commonly used to make a giblet gravy. The parts (besides the liver, which becomes bitter when boiled) are simmered with herbs and vegetables to make a flavorful giblet stock. Then, the turkey pan drippings, stock, flour and cream combine to form a thick gravy, and the chopped giblets are stirred back in at the end.