20 Creative Ways to Use Up Leftover Turkey Stock

Thanks to Fall Line Farms’ Sallie Godwin

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, meaning that TURKEYS are in season! Yay! I love turkey stock. It is more robust in flavor than chicken stock, but not quite as intense as beef stock. It is perfect for drinking! Any time. Any meal. Any weather. 🙂 This recipe is easy to change to use any kind of chicken, duck, turkey, or a mix of the three. All of it would be delicious! You really cant go wrong.

Don’t throw away your turkey carcass after Thanksgiving! I might have a panic attack if someone does that. ;).

For many people, turkey stock is one of the best parts of Thanksgiving. Simmering the turkey carcass with vegetables and herbs produces a rich, golden broth perfect for making soups, stews, gravies and more. But once the holiday is over, you may be wondering what to do with quarts of leftover turkey stock filling your freezer.

Luckily, this versatile ingredient can be used in a variety of delicious recipes Here are 20 creative ways to use up every last drop of your treasured turkey stock

Soups and Stews

  1. Turkey Noodle Soup – The classic! Simmer egg noodles, carrots, celery and cubed turkey meat in the stock Finish with fresh parsley

  2. Turkey and Wild Rice Soup – SautĂ© onions, carrots and celery, then add wild rice and shredded turkey. The stock provides a deeply savory base.

  3. Turkey Chili – Transform your stock into a hearty chili by cooking poblanos, kidney beans and ground turkey in it. Top with sharp cheddar and scallions.

  4. Southwest Turkey and Vegetable Soup – Black beans, corn, zucchini and spiced turkey meat make this soup fun and flavorful. Stir in some cream cheese or crema for richness.

  5. Turkey Posole – Shredded turkey, hominy and bold spices turn the stock into hearty posole. Top with cabbage, radishes, lime and fresh cilantro.

Gravies and Sauces

  1. Classic Turkey Gravy – Make a simple gravy by simmering minced aromatics in the stock and whisking in a flour slurry. Fantastic over stuffing or mashed potatoes.

  2. Turkey Pot Pie Gravy – Use the stock, flour and cream to make an indulgent gravy for turkey pot pies and casseroles. Season with parsley and thyme.

  3. Cider Turkey Gravy – Deglaze the pan with apple cider, then whisk in turkey stock and cream. Simmer until thickened. Also great with chicken or pork.

  4. Turkey Bolognese Sauce – SautĂ© ground turkey and aromatics, then let simmer in the stock with tomatoes for a hearty, meaty sauce. Toss with pasta.

  5. Asian Turkey Stir-Fry Sauce – Whisk together stock, soy sauce, rice vinegar and cornstarch. Toss with stir-fried turkey strips and vegetables.

Risottos and Pilafs

  1. Turkey Stock Risotto – For incredible creamy risotto, simmer arborio rice in turkey stock plus wine or vermouth. Stir in Parmesan at the end.

  2. Thanksgiving Leftover Risotto – Jazz up risotto by folding in leftover stuffing, turkey, squash, Brussels sprouts and cranberries.

  3. Turkey Broth Rice Pilaf – SautĂ© shallots and aromatics in butter, then add rice and turkey stock. Finish with parsley for a simple pilaf.

  4. Turkey Congee – For Asian congee, simmer rice slowly in the stock until completely broken down. Top with scallions, shrimp and soy sauce.

  5. Turkey Jambalaya – Cook chorizo, vegetables and white rice in the stock for a hearty, flavorful jambalaya.

Bake with Turkey Stock

  1. Turkey Stock Cornbread – Use turkey broth instead of milk when mixing up cornbread batter for incredible moistness and savoriness.

  2. Turkey Pot Pie with Stock – Braise vegetables in seasoned stock, then use it to make a luscious gravy. Fill a pie crust with the veggies, turkey and gravy.

  3. Leek and Turkey Quiche – For incredible depth of flavor in the custard, whisk together eggs, cream and turkey stock. Add Gruyère cheese and sautĂ©ed leeks.

  4. Turkey Sage Stuffing Muffins – Shape leftover stuffing into muffins, drizzle turkey stock on top and bake until crispy.

  5. Cheddar Turkey Stock Biscuits – Stir sharp cheddar into biscuit dough and use turkey stock instead of milk for delicious flavor.

So there you have it – 20 mouthwatering ways to use up every last drop of your treasured Thanksgiving turkey stock. With a little creativity, you can transform this liquid gold into incredible soups, stews, gravies, risottos and baked goods that your family will love. Get ready to enjoy Turkey Day leftovers for weeks to come!

what can i use turkey stock for

Step 5: Add the veggies and herbs.

Add the peppercorns, herbs of your choice, onions, and Celtic sea salt. You can also add this to taste at the end. Carrots and celery can also be added, but don’t do so until the last 6 to 12 hours of cooking. If you do, they will taste funny. For the last 15 minutes of cooking, adding a big bunch of parsley is also a nice touch! These days I like to keep things simple: a bulb of crushed garlic, some big sprigs of fresh rosemary and thyme, and some Celtic salt tastes great! Don’t worry about cutting things too precisely; you can just cut the onion into quarters and the garlic bulb in half, leaving the skins on. They don’t need to be chopped up at all; the rosemary and thyme sprigs and carrot and celery sticks can just be thrown in!

what can i use turkey stock for

10 steps for awesome turkey stock:

Put the turkey or chicken carcasses, chicken feet, turkey or chicken necks, and—if you want—beef bones into the stock pot. It is totally fine if they are still totally frozen solid – I do that all the time!!.

**I also save any beef bones from the food we eat, like the bone from a chuck roast, steak bones, or marrow bones that are empty. I put them in a bag and freeze them. Then I like to add them to my chicken stock because the bones add extra minerals and calcium, but they don’t taste strongly of beef because they’ve already been cooked!

what can i use turkey stock for

How To Make Turkey Stock – Turkey Broth Recipe

FAQ

What is turkey broth good for?

Turkey broth, specifically bone broth, contains collagen, which is loved for its benefit to our joints as well as skin, hair, and nails. But turkey broth is also rich in minerals from the bones and connective fibers, which helps our own bone health.

Can I use turkey stock in place of chicken stock?

You can use roasted turkey stock in most any recipe that calls for chicken stock. Cooked with the same aromatics, it’s a simple one-to-one swap that’ll work beautifully. Here are a few of our favorite recipes to make when we’ve got homemade stock in the fridge or freezer: Cream of Mushroom Soup.

How long does turkey stock last in the fridge?

Turkey stock can be refrigerated for up to 4 days, or frozen for up to 4 months. Note: If your turkey was brined or heavily salted, you may need less salt. Taste the broth when it is close to done. You can always add more salt towards the end!

What’s the difference between turkey broth and turkey stock?

Ingredients: Stock is usually made from meat trimmings and bones. Broth is the liquid leftover from simmering meat in water. So, if you boil the turkey wings and bones left over from a roast turkey in water, that’s turkey stock; If you boil an entire turkey or a turkey breast, the leftover liquid is turkey broth.

What can I make with Turkey stock?

Making Turkey Stock is easy and a delicious base for homemade soups, sauces, stews and more. Making turkey stock is a great way to use all of a turkey. Lemony Turkey Stock is an easy recipe perfect as a base for homemade soups, sauces or braising.

What are the health benefits of ground turkey?

Ground turkey has multiple benefits. It is a good source of minerals, and B vitamins, rich in proteins, low in fat and it is lower in calories than common turkey.

Can you make Turkey stock from a roasted turkey?

Cooked turkey carcass: When it comes to making turkey stock, the best turkey to use is from a roasted turkey. Because turkeys are a larger bird, the leftover bones and bits of meat from one are plenty enough for making stock. When preparing your bird for roasting, remember to save the neck bone for stock-making too.

Can you use Turkey stock instead of chicken stock?

The most common use for turkey stock is turkey gravy. I use this homemade stock in both my classic turkey gravy and my flourless gravy. It’s also a wonderful flavor booster for any homemade soup, like this Leftover Turkey Noodle Soup, or Turkey Meatball Vegetable Soup. You could use turkey stock in place of chicken stock in most other recipes too.

Can you make Turkey stock every year?

Once you taste it you are going to want to make it every year, so from now on just remember to over-buy a little bit on all your celery, carrots, onions, and herbs, and you are all set to go for your turkey stock! Heat your turkey carcass with any turkey parts you have: neck, giblets, any skin, or leftover turkey drippings.

Can you make Turkey stock from turkey bones?

Learn how easy it is to make Turkey Stock from the bones of your Thanksgiving turkey! All you need is a picked over turkey carcass and some vegetables and herbs that you probably already have on hand from cooking your turkey. You are going to love using this flavorful turkey stock in your next soup! Originally posted November 21, 2012.

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