Do something different with your Thanksgiving leftovers this year. Creamy Turkey Stew over mashed potatoes (or stuffing!) is comfort food at its finest. You read that right: leftover gravy is added to the broth to make a really rich and flavorful recipe for leftover turkey soup.
I know plenty of people who look forward more to Thanksgiving leftovers than they do the actual meal. They have nothing to worry about because they don’t have to plan or cook. Plus, cold turkey sandwiches made from leftover Thanksgiving roast are the sandwich world’s unicorns.
But conditions have to be absolutely right for them to be perfect. If Aunt Helen squirreled away the remaining sweet potatoes, or your partner woke up at 3 a. m. and ate the rest of the white meat, you’re screwed. So now you’ve come full circle and you’re back to needing a plan.
Leftover Turkey Stew, on the other hand…now here’s a day-after dish you don’t need to fret about. It takes the Thanksgiving bowl concept to a new level of comfort you didn’t know you needed. I didn’t know I needed it until I had to host Thanksgiving on Thursday and fight Black Friday shoppers, but this stuff hit me like a cocktail.
This Thanksgiving turkey stew HAS GRAVY IN IT. Or maybe it’s more important to tell you that I cried tears of joy because it was so quick and easy to make. So there, take both those nuggets and do with them what you will.
This creamy turkey soup doesn’t discriminate – it is simultaneously velvety and chunky. You can use either light or dark meat or both, and you don’t need carver-quality slices. You can pour it over either stuffing or mashed potatoes (or both!), whatever you’ve got plenty of.
I’m not telling you to skip the Thanksgiving leftover sandwiches, but I am telling you to think twice about having that second turkey sandwich and put your money and time into this pot of golden creamy goodness instead.
Just the recipe (plus a few tips!) in a short post? Click here to see the web story for this recipe.
The day after Thanksgiving many families have plenty of tasty leftovers. Turkey soup made with leftover gravy and vegetables is a comforting hearty way to use up those extra ingredients. This soup captures all the delicious flavors of Thanksgiving in one bowl!
Why Make Turkey Soup
Leftover turkey soup is a tradition for good reason Here’s why it’s so popular
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It puts leftover turkey gravy, veggies and more to good use. No waste!
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The flavors meld into a rich, savory broth.
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It’s warm and comforting, perfect for chilly late fall days.
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Adding leftover stuffing, mashed potatoes or rice bulks up the soup.
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The ingredients likely are already on hand post-Thanksgiving.
Key Ingredients
Turkey soup made with leftover Thanksgiving fixings contains a few key ingredients:
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Turkey – Diced or shredded leftover meat adds protein and flavor. Both white and dark meat work.
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Gravy – Leftover gravy adds richness and seasoning to the broth.
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Vegetables – Onion, celery, carrots and mushrooms enhance the flavor.
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Broth – Chicken or turkey broth provides the base. Homemade is best but store-bought works too.
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Starch – Rice, small pasta or leftover stuffing gives the soup more heft.
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Herbs – Savory herbs like sage, thyme or rosemary accent the soup.
With these components, you have a comforting and delicious soup packed with holiday flavor. Try adding other leftovers too!
Gravy Tips
When making turkey soup with leftover gravy, keep these tips in mind:
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The more gravy, the better! Add as much as you have leftover.
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Whisk the gravy into the hot broth to evenly distribute flavor.
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If gravy is too thick, thin it with water, broth or milk before adding.
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For a very smooth soup, strain out gravy lumps using a mesh strainer.
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If you don’t have gravy, stir in 2-3 tbsp butter after cooking veggies to add richness.
Leftover Add-Ins
In addition to staple ingredients, stir in other leftovers to bulk up the soup:
- Diced bread or cornbread stuffing
- Mashed potatoes
- Cooked greens like spinach, kale or green beans
- Roasted vegetables like Brussels sprouts, squash or sweet potatoes
- Fresh herbs like parsley, thyme or sage
- Cranberries or cranberry sauce
Get creative with leftovers on hand to make the soup even more hearty and delicious.
Turkey Soup Recipe
Follow this easy recipe for leftover turkey soup with gravy:
Ingredients:
- 3 tbsp butter
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 8 oz mushrooms, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups turkey or chicken broth
- Leftover turkey gravy
- 3 cups cooked turkey, chopped
- 1⁄2 cup rice or small pasta
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
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In a large pot, melt butter over medium heat. Cook onion, carrots and celery for 5 minutes.
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Add mushrooms and garlic and cook 5 more minutes.
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Stir in broth and gravy. Bring to a boil.
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Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes.
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Add turkey, rice/pasta and any other leftovers. Cook 5 more minutes.
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Season with salt and pepper. Enjoy!
Serves: 4-6
Total time: 30 minutes
More Tips for the Best Soup
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For maximum flavor, use homemade turkey broth. Simmer the carcass with onions, carrots, celery and herbs.
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If omitting gravy, stir in a splash of milk or cream to add richness.
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Cook vegetables until tender but not mushy before adding broth.
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Let soup sit for 5-10 minutes after cooking so flavors blend.
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Garnish bowls with fresh thyme or sage.
With leftover gravy, turkey and veggies, you can easily whip up this savory, satisfying soup. Enjoy the delicious flavors of Thanksgiving in hearty bowlfuls!
Serving Suggestions for Turkey Stew
Keep the holiday spirit alive! This leftover turkey stew is amazing served over your other Thanksgiving leftovers. None left? Make more:
How to Make Creamy Turkey Stew
Comforting and creamy Turkey Stew over mashed potatoes takes day-after dining to a delicious new level. But don’t wait for leftovers! This Dutch oven turkey stew recipe is so good that you should roast a new turkey (or make an Instant Pot Turkey Breast) just to make it.
- Heat pot over medium high heat. Melt butter until it foams. Toss onion, celery, and carrots in the fat to coat. Saute, stirring occasionally, until vegetables soften, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring continuously, 1 minute more.
- Sprinkle flour over vegetables. Take a spoon and mix the flour in. Cook for two to three minutes.
- Deglaze pot with dry white white. Scrape up any browned bits and dissolve flour.
- Add broth and leftover gravy, then add leftover turkey. Stir to combine. Add herb bundle to pot.
- Turn up the heat, let it simmer for 20 minutes, and then
- Remove soup from heat and remove herbs. Stir in the heavy cream. Taste for seasoning and adjust as needed.
- Ladle over mashed potatoes or stuffing and enjoy!
- Gravy. In. The. Soup. This is not a typo. This is not a suggestion. It will bring leftover broth to a whole new level of happiness.
- You can use an extra half cup of broth instead of the wine if you don’t have any or don’t want to use it.
- Don’t add salt and pepper until the very end; gravy can be very salty.
Fridge: store the leftover leftovers (ha!) in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 4 days. Gently reheat in the microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in between, or the stove over medium heat.
You can make a lot of this stew and freeze it for a cozy meal later on. This is one of the best things about this leftovers recipe. Omit the cream, then freeze in a sealed container for up to 3 months. Defrost, reheat in a soup pot over medium heat, and then add the cream just before serving.
Creamy Leftover Turkey Stew
FAQ
Can you use leftover gravy in soup?
What to do with leftover Thanksgiving gravy?
How long are leftover turkey and gravy good for?