Turkey giblets – which include the neck heart, gizzard and liver – are often overlooked parts of the bird that get discarded. But these offal tidbits can add great flavor and nutrition to your Thanksgiving dishes with very little effort.
As a long-time food blogger and home cook, I’ve experimented with many ways to transform turkey giblets into tasty additions to holiday meals over the years. If you’re wondering what to do with turkey giblets besides tossing them out, read on for my top 10 ideas to make the most of these under-appreciated turkey parts.
Make Deeply Flavored Giblet Gravy
One of the most classic and delicious ways to use up turkey giblets is in gravy. Start by simmering the neck, heart and gizzard in water or broth to extract maximum flavor. Strain the giblet stock and use it as the base for your gravy. For even more giblet goodness, finely dice the cooked gizzard and heart and stir them into the finished gravy. The cooked liver can also be diced and added but I find its mineral-y flavor works better in other dishes. This small extra step yields a gravy with incredible depth and savory umami flavor.
Fold into Your Favorite Stuffing Recipe
Another traditional use for turkey giblets is incorporating them into stuffing or dressing. First braise the neck, heart and gizzard in broth until fully cooked and tender. Then finely chop and mix into your stuffing along with the classic aromatics like onion, celery and herbs. The giblets impart a wonderful richness and meaty quality. I don’t recommend adding the liver to stuffing though as it can create a slightly unpleasant metallic taste.
Make Quick Giblet Snacks
For an easy appetizer or cook’s treat quickly sauté the heart and liver in butter to enjoy as finger food. Soak them in buttermilk or a flavorful brine first to impart extra flavor. Then cook over medium-high heat just until lightly browned on the outside but still pink inside – they cook fast so watch closely. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and serve straight from the pan while hot.
Use as a Flavor Boost for Green Bean Casserole
Another great way to repurpose cooked giblets is mixing them into green bean casserole. Dice up the cooked heart, gizzard and neck meat and sauté briefly with the mushrooms and onion. Then stir the giblet mixture into the casserole along with the green beans, cream of mushroom soup and fried onions. The giblets provide a savory, meaty note that perfectly complements the other ingredients.
Fold Into Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are another excellent way to sneak in some extra turkey flavor. Cook the giblets in broth, then finely mince the heart, gizzard and neck meat. Fold the minced giblets into the hot mashed potatoes after draining and mashing. For extra richness, use the giblet broth to boil the potatoes. The giblets practically melt into the creamy spuds.
Make Unique Giblet Pot Pie
If you have giblets leftover after Thanksgiving, get creative and whip up a giblet pot pie. First braise the neck, heart and gizzard with aromatic veggies like onion, celery and carrot until very tender. Dice the cooked giblets and mix into your favorite pot pie filling recipe along with other leftover turkey meat, vegetables and gravy. Top with a flaky crust and bake until golden.
Blend Into Creamy Turkey Soup
Another stellar way to use up extra cooked giblets is blending them into creamy soups like turkey and rice or corn chowder. Puree the diced cooked giblets in a blender or food processor until completely smooth. Then stir the puree into the simmering soup – it adds wonderful savory depth with no discernible texture. The neck, heart and gizzard all work well here.
DIY Dog Treats
While turkey giblets may not seem appealing to humans, they make nutritious, protein-packed treats for dogs. Simmer giblets in water until fully cooked, finely chop, then mix into turkey or chicken baby food along with whole wheat flour and egg. Scoop spoonfuls onto a baking sheet and bake at 300°F until firm. Store any unused portions in the fridge or freezer.
Make Unique Turkey Giblet Burgers
Grind leftover cooked giblets in a food processor along with ground turkey and mix with your favorite burger ingredients like Worcestershire sauce, mustard, breadcrumbs and an egg. Form into patties and grill, pan fry or broil the unique giblet turkey burgers. Top with cheese, lettuce, tomato and condiments for a deliciously different turkey burger.
Craft Homemade Pet Food Topper
Cook excess giblets into a chunky wet food topper to enrich your pet’s kibble. Simmer giblets and turkey scraps in water until fall-apart tender. Puree half the mixture in a food processor along with turkey broth for a gravy-like texture. Mix the chopped giblets and pureed broth together. Pour over dry pet food to add flavor and moisture.
So as you can see, there are many delicious ways to transform turkey giblets into flavorful additions to holiday meals and leftovers. With a little creativity, you can take these humble off-cuts from mildly unappealing to sublime. This Thanksgiving, embrace the whole bird and make the most of the giblets! Your gravy, stuffing, soups and other dishes will be all the better for it.
What Are Giblets?
Giblets are comprised of the heart, gizzard, liver, and neck of the chicken or turkey. They are often found in a small bundle inside the cavity of the whole bird.
You can make gravy from the giblets of either a turkey or a chicken, though I think its more usual with a roast turkey. The giblets are bigger, and theres more meat to put in the gravy.
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Make Ahead Tips for Giblet Gravy
You can make this gravy ahead of time, but unless you also cook the turkey or chicken ahead of time, you wont have the drippings from the turkey to add to it. As a workaround, try one of these two things.
- To fully make the gravy ahead of time, youll need to use a different type of fat. Remove the giblets from the uncooked bird, and make the gravy as directed. In Step 5, instead of using the drippings from the turkey or chicken, use two tablespoons of bacon fat or two tablespoons of butter and continue.
- To simply make the stock ahead of time, remove the giblets from the uncooked bird complete Steps 1 to 4 of the recipe. Cool and refrigerate the stock and the minced giblet meat for up to 2 days. Getting this far will save you a lot of time the day of cooking.
How To Make The Best Giblet Gravy | Dear Test Kitchen
FAQ
What is the best thing to do with giblets?
The giblets can also be used to make a gravy. You essentially use the giblets as a base for stock, then strain it and thicken with flour and turkey drippings. Or you can use the giblets to make turkey stock along with the turkey carcass when the meal is done.
What part of the turkey giblets do you not use?
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LiverThe liver can make stock taste bitter, so you can leave it out if you want. However, you can roast the liver instead of simmering it and add it to gravy. You can also mix it into stuffing.
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NeckThe neck has bones and not much usable meat, so it’s best to use it for flavoring stock or gravy. You can chop it and add it to stuffing.
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GizzardThe gizzard is a chewy organ that’s high in protein and low in fat. You can clean and prep it to remove sediment and the tough lining before cooking.
Is it OK to eat turkey giblets?
If the giblets were wrapped with paper, there’s no concern. They’re safe if you fully cooked your turkey to 165 °F. as measured with a food thermometer.
What are Turkey giblets used for?
In addition to gravy, stuffing, and pâté, turkey giblets can be used in meat pies, casseroles, or even sautéed and served as a side dish. 10. Are turkey giblets commonly used in culinary traditions?
What to do with Turkey giblets?
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.
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 do you make the most of Turkey giblets?
Here are some fantastic ideas for making the most of your turkey giblets: 1. Make a flavorful stock or broth: Simmer the giblets (except the liver) with water, onions, carrots, celery, and herbs to create a rich turkey stock that forms the base for delectable gravies, soups, and sauces. 2. Cook a delicious gravy:
Can you cook giblets with Turkey Neck?
“When cooking giblets for gravy or stuffing, you can simply roast them in the pan with your turkey or simmer them in water with some celery and onions to make a giblet stock. Then, chop the giblets and use in your gravy or stuffing,” Nolan said. What to do with the turkey neck and giblets besides gravy?
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.