If roasting turkey is labor then making Turkey Bone Broth is the glorious afterbirth. Shall we get into it?
Turkey bone broth is the magical elixir that comes from simmering the leftover bones and scraps from your holiday turkey dinner. This simple yet powerful ingredient can transform your cooking, adding nourishing depth of flavor to many dishes.
After spending time preparing your centerpiece turkey, it seems like a shame to just throw out the carcass and bones. Transforming them into broth lets you get the most out of your bird, while creating a versatile base for future recipes.
In this article, I’ll share 18 delicious ways to use up your homemade turkey broth. From soups to gravies to risottos, these recipes allow you to enjoy every last bit of holiday goodness.
Soups and Stews
Rich, aromatic soups and stews are my favorite way to use up turkey broth. The savory flavor adds warmth and complexity, taking classic dishes to the next level.
1. Turkey Noodle Soup
A bowl of turkey noodle soup with tender egg noodles or rice noodles swimming in the broth is pure comfort. Dice carrots celery, onion and shred leftover turkey meat for a hearty soup.
2. Turkey and Wild Rice Soup
Simmer the broth with wild rice to infuse it with nutty flavor. Cook diced turkey, vegetables like carrots and celery, and a splash of cream for a creamy, robust soup
3. Turkey Tortilla Soup
Transform your broth into a fiesta of flavors with classic tortilla soup fixings like sautéed onions, tomatoes, corn, black beans, sautéed chicken, and lime juice. Top with crunchy tortilla strips.
4. Turkey Chili
Ground turkey, beans, onions, tomatoes, and chili powder make a protein-packed turkey chili. Ladle the savory chili over rice and top with shredded cheese and sliced avocado.
5. Turkey Vegetable Stew
Build a hearty vegetable stew with potatoes, peas, corn, and carrots simmered in the broth. Add cubed turkey in the last 5 minutes so it doesn’t overcook. Serve piping hot.
6. Turkey and Dumplings
For ultimate comfort, drop fluffy spoonfuls of dough into your simmering pot of turkey-vegetable broth to make doughy dumplings. Cover and steam until cooked through.
Gravies and Sauces
From holiday gravy to easy homemade pan sauces, turkey broth adds rich flavor. These recipes turn simple ingredients into luxurious toppings.
7. Classic Turkey Gravy
Melt butter in the turkey pan and whisk in flour to form a roux. Slowly pour in turkey broth while whisking constantly until thickened. Finish with herbs.
8. Mushroom Gravy
Sauté mushrooms, make a roux, and slowly stir in broth. Finish with garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper for an earthy, savory gravy that’s great over chicken.
9. Pot Pie Gravy
Use broth to make a tender, flavorful gravy full of the vegetables and seasonings you’ll find in a pot pie – onion, carrots, celery, garlic, and herbs.
10. Pan Sauce for Chicken
Pan-sear chicken breasts or thighs, then whisk broth into the browned bits in the skillet to deglaze. Reduce to thicken and add lemon and capers.
Risottos
The starch from Arborio rice gives turkey broth a velvety richness in these comforting risottos.
11. Butternut Squash Risotto
Puree roasted squash with broth for a creamy orange base. Sauté onions and rice, add broth mixture, then finish with spinach, sage, and Parmesan.
12. Turkey Risotto
Sauté mushrooms and onions, add rice, then gradually stir in warm turkey broth until al dente. Fold in turkey, lemon zest, parsley, and cheese.
13. Shrimp and Asparagus Risotto
Sauté shrimp and asparagus, then make risotto with turkey broth. Top with more asparagus and fresh lemon juice.
Savory Braises
Braised dishes become fall-off-the-bone tender when simmered low and slow in flavorful turkey broth.
14. Red Wine Pot Roast
Braise a beef chuck roast with onion, garlic, carrots, broth, and red wine until knife-tender. Serve sliced with mashed potatoes.
15. Chicken Cacciatore
Braise chicken thighs in broth with onions, peppers, mushrooms, and tomatoes. Serve over rice or pasta.
16. Vegetarian Lentil Stew
Warm spices like cumin complement the earthy lentils braised with veggies in broth. Finish with lemon and cilantro.
17. White Chicken Chili
Braise chicken with onions, broth, white beans, and green chiles for a hearty chili. Top with Monterey jack and cilantro.
18. Turkey and Chickpea Stew
Simmer cubed turkey, chickpeas, tomatoes, and spices in broth for a Middle Eastern-inspired stew. Ladle over rice.
As you can see, the possibilities are endless when it comes to using turkey broth. A little batch of liquid gold can add functionality and flavor to many dishes.
I hope these recipes have inspired you to make and creatively use your own homemade turkey bone broth. You’ll look forward to leftovers in a whole new way.
Instructions for How to Make Turkey Bone Broth
I wasnt kidding when I said if you can boil water, you can make Turkey Bone Broth. Literally put everything in a large pot, bring to boil, then simmer for hours. Once the broth has simmered out, there are just a few additional steps to filter and cool.
Here are the high-level steps to make a glorious golden Roast Turkey bone Broth:
1. Place bones and apple cider vinegar in large pot, fill with water to cover bones by an inch, then simmer 8-12 hours. Add vegetables in last hour, herbs in last 20 minutes.
2. Strain broth into a large bowl fit inside a larger bowl filled with ice water to turbo-cool the broth before putting in refrigerator.
3. Chill the bone broth in the refrigerator overnight to let any fat rise to the top and solidify.
4. Scrape off solidified fat from surface of broth, and transfer the gelled broth to storage containers to future enjoyment!
Ingredients Notes and Resources
- Turkey Leftover Carcass. The ingredients and directions here are for making Roasted Turkey Stock, assuming you are using the leftover bones from a 12- to 18-pound whole roast turkey.
- Wings, neck, and back. All the little bits of bones that you might normally throw away before roasting a turkey, dont. Save them, then throw them into the pot (its ok if theyre not roasted) with the roasted leftover bones. Wings and backbone actually contribute quite a bit of collagen.
- Water. Normally not listed as an ingredient in recipes, water gets a special highlight here because the kind of water matters for the best bone broth. Obviously use filtered water, and make sure it is COLD water.
- Apple Cider Vinegar. I use this brand of apple cider vinegar.
- All other vegetables, herbs and produce I get from the the regular grocery store.
How to Make Roast Turkey Bone Broth on the Stove Top – Turkey Bone Broth Recipe
FAQ
What is turkey bone broth used for?
Consider freezing the broth and using it to make turkey gravy. You can also use it in place of water when cooking rice, beans, or braising vegetables.Oct 2, 2023
What to do with my turkey broth?
Seriously, it can be used in just about any way you use chicken or vegetable stock. From turkey noodle soup to turkey pot pie, there are so many ways to use it. Turkey stock freezes wonderfully well.
What do you do with bone broth?
Use your broth as a base for soups, stews and chilis. Anywhere a recipe calls for water or broth, use bone broth! I use bone broth instead of water to make quinoa and rice. I’ll also freeze some broth in ice cube trays so I can just toss a bit in to deglaze a pan or thin out mashed sweet potatoes or cauliflower.
What to do with turkey bones after making bone broth?
“Don’t throw away the turkey bones after you’ve demolished your bird! Save them to make a fantastic turkey stock, which you can then use to flavor all sorts of soups and gravies. After you strain the stock you can freeze it in small Tupperware tubs, or even in ice cube trays, very handy to have in the kitchen!”