Do something different with your Thanksgiving leftovers this year. Creamy Turkey Stew over mashed potatoes (or stuffing!) is comfort food at its finest. You heard correctly—leftover gravy is used to season the broth in this recipe for incredibly flavorful and rich leftover turkey soup.
I know plenty of people who look forward more to Thanksgiving leftovers than they do the actual meal. Who could blame them? The pressure is off, there’s no need to plan ahead or prepare, and cold leftover roast turkey sandwiches 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. Although I didn’t realize I needed it until I had to battle Black Friday shoppers and host Thanksgiving on Thursday, this stuff was more effective than a cocktail.
I’m not sure what’s more important to tell you: (1) that there is gravy in this Thanksgiving turkey stew, or (2) that making it was so quick and simple that I started crying with happiness. 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 suggesting that you forgo the second leftover Thanksgiving turkey sandwich; rather, I’m suggesting that you give it some thought and use your resources to make this golden, creamy goodness instead.
Click to see the web story for this recipe for a streamlined post that includes “just the recipe” along with some helpful hints.
Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends, and of course, delicious food. But what happens to all the leftovers? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! This Leftover Turkey Soup with Gravy recipe is the perfect way to use up all those leftover turkey, gravy, and vegetables. It’s a hearty, flavorful soup that’s sure to warm you up from the inside out.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy to make: This soup is super easy to throw together, even if you’re not a seasoned cook. Just follow the simple steps and you’ll have a delicious meal in no time.
- Budget-friendly: This recipe is a great way to save money. It uses up leftovers that you already have on hand, so you don’t have to buy any extra ingredients.
- Delicious: This soup is packed with flavor. The turkey, gravy, and vegetables all come together to create a truly delicious and satisfying meal.
- Versatile: This soup is versatile and can be easily customized to your liking. Add in your favorite vegetables, spices, or herbs to make it your own.
Ingredients
- 1 cup Minute® White Rice
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 ribs celery, diced
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp ground sage
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 4 cups turkey or chicken broth
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 1/2 cups chopped turkey
- 1 cup turkey gravy
- 1/2 cup frozen peas
- baguette slices, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare rice according to package directions.
- Meanwhile, melt butter in a large saucepan set over medium heat. Sauté carrots, celery, onion, garlic, sage, salt, and pepper for 3-5 minutes, or until softened.
- Stir in broth and bay leaves and bring to a boil. Stir in turkey and gravy. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until veggies are tender.
- Stir in rice and peas. Cook for 3-5 minutes, or until rice is heated through and peas are cooked.
- Remove bay leaves. Serve soup with baguette slices, if using.
Tips
- For a fancier presentation, garnish the soup with finely chopped fresh parsley or chives.
- If you don’t have any leftover turkey gravy, you can use store-bought gravy or make your own.
- This soup is also a great way to use up leftover mashed potatoes. Simply add them to the soup along with the rice and peas.
- Don’t be afraid to experiment with different vegetables. Other great additions include green beans, corn, and spinach.
- This soup can be easily made ahead of time and reheated when you’re ready to serve.
Additional Resources
- Leftover Thanksgiving Soup Recipe: https://www.food.com/recipe/leftover-thanksgiving-soup-197805
- Leftover Turkey Soup with Veggies and Gravy: https://minuterice.com/recipes/leftover-turkey-soup/
This Leftover Turkey Soup with Gravy is a delicious and easy way to use up your Thanksgiving leftovers. It’s a hearty, flavorful soup that’s sure to please everyone at the table. So next time you’re looking for a way to use up those leftover turkey, gravy, and vegetables, give this recipe a try. You won’t be disappointed!
Leftover Turkey Soup with Gravy: FAQs
What kind of rice should I use?
You can use any type of rice you like for this recipe but I recommend using Minute® White Rice. It’s quick and easy to cook and it has a nice neutral flavor that won’t overpower the other ingredients in the soup.
Can I use store-bought gravy?
Yes, you can use store-bought gravy for this recipe Just make sure to choose a gravy that you like the taste of
Can I make this soup ahead of time?
Yes, you can make this soup ahead of time and reheat it when you’re ready to serve. Just store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Can I freeze this soup?
Yes, you can freeze this soup for up to 3 months. Just thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
What are some other ways to use leftover turkey?
There are endless possibilities when it comes to using leftover turkey. Here are a few ideas:
- Turkey sandwiches
- Turkey salad
- Turkey pot pie
- Turkey enchiladas
- Turkey soup
- Turkey chili
- Turkey stir-fry
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. However, this Dutch Oven Turkey Stem recipe is so delicious that it’s worth roasting a fresh turkey or preparing an Instant Pot Turkey Breast just to make it! Don’t just save it for leftovers!
- 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. Using a spoon, mix in the flour and 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, simmer, and cook for 20 minutes.
- 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 elevate the leftover bliss of the broth situation to a whole new level.
- If you don’t have any wine or don’t want to use it, use one more half cup of broth in its place.
- Gravy can be extremely salty, so save the salt and pepper for last.
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.
Freezer: Possibly the best thing about this recipe for leftovers is that you can definitely prepare a large amount of the stew and freeze it for a comforting dinner at a later time. 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.
