Description
This Slow Cooker Turkey and Dumplings recipe is a comforting and hearty dish perfect for using leftover turkey. Tender vegetables and flavorful herbs cooked slowly in broth create a rich soup base, while fluffy dumplings cooked atop add a delightful texture. With simple ingredients and an easy slow cooker method, this meal offers a warm and satisfying way to enjoy turkey any time of year.
Ingredients
Scale
Soup Ingredients
- 2 lbs. leftover turkey, shredded or cubed (about 3–4 cups)
- 6 cups turkey or chicken broth (can use leftover turkey drippings that have been degreased)
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped
- 3 carrots, peeled and sliced
- 3 celery ribs, sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 Tbsp. fresh thyme leaves, or 1 teaspoon dried
- 1 tbsp. fresh sage chopped, or ½ teaspoon dried (can substitute with oregano)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Dumplings
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 Tbsp. baking powder
- ½ tsp. salt
- 1 cup whole milk
- 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: In a slow cooker, add the shredded or cubed leftover turkey, broth, chopped onion, sliced carrots, sliced celery, minced garlic, thyme, sage, salt, and pepper. Stir well to evenly mix all ingredients.
- Slow Cook the Soup: Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours. This slow cooking process will allow the flavors to meld and the vegetables to become tender and flavorful.
- Prepare Dumpling Dough: About 30 minutes before the soup has finished cooking, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Pour in the milk and melted butter, stirring gently until just combined to form a slightly sticky dough.
- Add Dumplings: Drop spoonfuls of the dumpling dough evenly onto the surface of the soup in the slow cooker. Gently push the dumplings down so they are covered by the broth.
- Cook Dumplings: Cover the slow cooker again and cook on HIGH for an additional hour, keeping the lid closed the entire time. The dumplings will puff up and cook through during this time.
- Finish Soup: Once the dumplings are fully cooked, gently stir the soup to incorporate the dumplings and distribute them evenly throughout.
- Serve: Ladle the turkey and dumpling soup into bowls and garnish with fresh herbs like parsley or thyme if desired. Serve hot and enjoy a comforting bowl of homemade goodness.
Notes
- Use leftover turkey from a previous meal or a roasted turkey carcass for a rich flavor.
- If you don’t have fresh herbs, dried thyme and sage work well as substitutions.
- You can replace whole milk with a lactose-free or plant-based milk if preferred, but the texture may slightly vary.
- Make sure the dumplings are just mixed and not overworked to keep them light and fluffy.
- Keep the slow cooker covered while the dumplings cook to help them rise properly.
- This recipe can be easily doubled for larger gatherings.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (approximately 1.5 cups)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: Thirty-eight g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 27g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
