Do you have guests staying with you during Thanksgiving? If you are like me and have leftover turkey, you are looking for recipes to use.

Often, turkey is a hard one to have for leftovers…right?

What do you do with leftover turkey?

Leftover meals after Thanksgiving often just resemble the same leftovers with the turkey. And, that’s fine. I’ve used leftover turkey for soups, pot pies, sandwiches, and salads.

But, after talking with a friend about chicken and dumplings? My sister suggested what a perfect thing to make with leftover turkey.

YES! Genius!

Why didn’t I think of that? And can I tell you?

We have a smaller than needed turkey in the freezer that needed to be cooked.

Since my husband always brines and grills our turkey, why not roast the smaller one to use for the dumplings?

That way, regardless of leftovers or not, meals are planned ahead, right?

This is the EASIEST recipe for turkey and dumplings ever!

Ready in a few short minutes.

pot of gluten free chicken and dumplings

Easy when you have guests.

Here’s the recipe!

gluten free chicken and dumplings in a bowl with a spoon

Turkey and Dumplings

A favorite recipe for leftover turkey that gives it new life and flavor.

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 15

Cook Time 20

Total Time 35

Course Entree

Cuisine American

Servings 6 servings

Equipment

1 cutting board
1 knife
1 measuring cup/spoons
1 dutch oven
1 Stove
1 rolling pin or pastry roller

Ingredients

5 C chicken broth
1 T Better than Bouillon chicken stock
4 C boneless, skinless turkey, cut into bite sized pieces
2 T butter
1 stalk celery, finely diced
1/2 C onion, diced
1 whole carrot, peeled and grated optional
1 t salt
1/2 t pepper
1/2 t other herbs of your choice, optional

Dumplings

2 C all purpose flour if you use self rising, omit salt and baking powder
1 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
1/3 C shortening, butter, coconut oil, OR chicken broth
3/4 C milk

Instructions

Cut turkey into bite sized pieces and set aside.
NOTE: Make dumplings before beginning to heat broth so that they are ready when broth is heated.
Dice onions, celery and grate carrots and add to Dutch oven or pot with 2 T butter and saute until softened.
Add chicken broth to the pot with vegetables.
Add spices and Better than Bouillon and bring to a boil.

Dumplings

If using all purpose flour, mix flour in a bowl with the salt and baking powder.
If using self rising flour, omit adding salt and baking powder and add flour to a mixing bowl.
Cut in the shortening, butter, or coconut oil with a pastry blender or two knives until it looks like coarse crumbs.
**If using chicken broth as your "fat", stir into flour.
Make a "well" in the center of the dough in the bowl and add the milk. Stir until the dough clings together.
Add dough to a lightly floured parchment paper and with make sure that the dough is not overly sticky.
Roll out dough with a lightly floured rolling pin or pastry roller to about 1/4-1/2" thickness.
TIP: Don't overwork so that dumplings will stay light and not dense.
Cut out in strips about one inch wide and long.
When broth is boiling, drop prepared dumplings one at a time and stir to keep dumplings separated.
When all dumplings have been added, add turkey into the pot and stir until heated, just a few minutes.
Dumplings are ready when they are puffy and the broth has thickened a bit.
Ladle and enjoy!

Notes

A GREAT recipe to use leftover turkey after Thanksgiving. I promise guests will love this one!

Keyword quick and easy turkey and dumplings, turkey and dumplings, turkey and dumplings recipe

Now, can I stretch this a bit farther?

If you have more leftover turkey? Add 4 C in foodsaver bags, label, and add to the freezer so that during the cold winter days, you can repeat this recipe.

How easy does it get?

This is a family favorite of ours anytime of the year. It truly doesn’t have to be cold to enjoy!

It you have those who need gluten free dumplings, here’s the recipe.

Not enough turkey leftover? Use rotisserie chicken.

Hope I’ve given you a great idea to use that leftover turkey in a different way. It also eliminates the problem of turkey drying out with other after Thanksgiving uses.

I’d love to know if you try this in the comments!

Here’s some of my favorite things to use to prepare this recipe. Same cost for you. As an affiliate, any commission just helps cover the costs of sharing more with you.

If you still need Thanksgiving recipes for your gathering? Here you go!

Happy Thanksgiving, friends! May your gathering be filled with lots of feet under your table, lots of great food, and laughter with those gathered.

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A New Favorite Recipe With Leftover Turkey

What do you do with leftover turkey?

This is the EASIEST recipe for turkey and dumplings ever!