Make the Most of Leftover Turkey with Delicious Dumpling Soup

The holiday season is a time for gathering with friends and family, celebrating, and of course, eating copious amounts of delicious food For many, the centerpiece of holiday meals is a perfectly roasted turkey. But after the festivities are over, you’re often left wondering what to do with the leftovers Don’t let those leftovers go to waste – turkey dumpling soup is the perfect way to savor every last bit of your holiday bird!

An Easy and Delicious Way to Use Leftover Turkey

Turkey dumpling soup cleverly repurposes leftover turkey into a hearty, comforting meal It combines tender turkey meat with vegetables, broth, herbs, and fluffy dumplings for a satisfying dish that feels like a warm hug in a bowl

The beauty of turkey dumpling soup is that it comes together quickly by using ingredients you likely already have on hand after the holidays – turkey meat, carrots, celery, onion, broth, herbs, and flour or biscuit dough to make the dumplings. With just 20-40 minutes of active cooking time, you can transform leftovers into a soul-warming soup the whole family will love.

Choosing Your Main Ingredients

The first step in making turkey dumpling soup is choosing your main ingredients.

Turkey

When making this soup, don’t be shy about using both white and dark turkey meat. The dark meat provides more flavor. Leftover rotisserie chicken also works nicely. If you don’t have leftover cooked turkey or chicken on hand, you can quickly boil turkey pieces in broth as a substitute.

Vegetables

Carrots, celery, onion, and potatoes are classic additions, but you can toss in any other veggies you may have around like corn, peas, zucchini or spinach. The holiday season is a great time to use up any leftovers and scraps in your fridge!

Broth

You’ll want 10-12 cups of broth or stock. Making your own using the leftover turkey carcass boosts flavor. But store-bought chicken or turkey broth works as well.

Herbs

Fresh or dried herbs like thyme, rosemary, sage, and parsley are perfect in turkey dumpling soup. Alternatively, poultry seasoning blends these herbs beautifully. Use about 1-2 tablespoons.

Dumplings

Now let’s get to the best part – the dumplings! You can make them from scratch using flour, baking powder, milk, salt and butter. This does take a bit more effort but yields light, fluffy dumplings. For shortcut dumplings, use refrigerated biscuit dough cut into pieces.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, it’s time to make the magic happen. Follow these simple steps:

1. Sauté the vegetables: Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Sauté carrots, celery, onion and potatoes 5-10 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more.

2. Season the broth: Add 10-12 cups broth, turkey meat, herbs and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer.

3. Make the dumplings: Whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, milk, and butter. Use a spoon to scoop heaping tablespoonfuls of dough and drop into simmering soup.

4. Simmer: Cook uncovered 10 minutes then cover and simmer 10 minutes more until dumplings are cooked through.

5. Adjust seasonings and serve! Taste the soup and add more salt, pepper or herbs as desired. Ladle into bowls and enjoy!

That’s all there is to it! With just a few simple steps you can reinvent your holiday leftovers into a hearty, comfort food classic.

Handy Tips for Delicious Dumplings Every Time

Here are some helpful tips to ensure your turkey dumplings come out perfectly pillowy:

• Use ice cold butter and work quickly when mixing the dumpling dough. Over-mixing will make the dumplings tough.

• Add the milk slowly and mix just until the dough comes together. Lumps are ok!

• Allow plenty of space between dumplings so they can expand as they cook.

• Resist peeking! Keep the pot covered while simmering so the dumplings steam properly.

• Test doneness by cutting a dumpling in half – it should be cooked all the way through.

• If dumplings start falling apart, add a bit more flour to the dough.

Follow these tips and your dumplings will be light, fluffy clouds of joy in every bite.

Get Creative with Add-Ins and Toppings

One of the great things about soup is how customizable it is. Feel free to get creative with add-ins and toppings!

• Mix in corn, peas, green beans or any other vegetables you want to use up. The more the merrier!

• Add a can of cream of chicken or mushroom soup for extra richness.

• Swirl in leftover gravy or herb sauce from your holiday meal.

• Top with crispy fried onion strings, crushed crackers, or oyster crackers.

• Garnish with chopped fresh parsley, sage, rosemary, or thyme.

• Add a dash of hot sauce for a kick.

• Ladle into bread bowls for a hearty presentation.

• Serve with garlic bread or biscuits to round out the meal.

The possibilities are endless when it comes to personalizing this soup and making it your own.

Storage Tips and Reheating Suggestions

A batch of turkey dumpling soup will keep 4-5 days refrigerated. Allow it to cool completely before storing in an airtight container. Reheat individual portions in the microwave 1-2 minutes or on the stovetop over medium heat until piping hot, stirring occasionally.

You can also freeze any leftovers in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat on the stove or in the microwave.

With proper storage, you can enjoy bowls of leftover turkey dumpling soup for weeks after the holidays! It makes for quick, satisfying meals and brings back all the cozy, nostalgic feelings from your holiday gatherings.

Satisfying and Simple Leftover Turkey Recipes

In addition to dumpling soup, there are so many easy and delicious ways to breathe new life into your leftover turkey. Here are just a few ideas:

• Turkey Tetrazzini – turkey, pasta, mushrooms, cream sauce, cheese
• Turkey Pot Pie – turkey, veggies, creamy sauce, biscuit topping
• Turkey Cranberry Sliders – turkey, cheese, cranberry sauce on rolls
• Turkey Enchiladas – turkey, beans, salsa, cheese wrapped in tortillas
• Turkey Chili – ground turkey, beans, spices and toppings
• Turkey Casserole – turkey, stuffing, cheese, creamy sauce baked

With a little creativity, you can whip up quick leftover turkey meals for day after holiday. Enjoy the flavors you love without the intensive roasting and carving!

A New Holiday Tradition

As you can see, leftover turkey dumpling soup should become your new favorite holiday tradition! It allows you to stretch your holiday bird into multiple meals so none goes to waste. Better yet, it takes relatively little effort while delivering maximum comfort food flavor.

This soup brings together the best of the holidays – time with family, amazing food, and cozy memories that warm you from the inside out. So this year, don’t just gobble up the turkey; transform the leftovers into dumpling soup that will have everyone begging for seconds. From our table to yours, happy holidays!