This hearty turkey and dumplings soup filled with turkey, vegetables, and fluffy buttermilk dumplings cooked right on top is a great way to use leftover turkey! Chicken is a great option too.

turkey dumplings soup in bowl

One of the best things about Thanksgiving is the leftovers, am I right? But even I can only eat so many turkey sandwiches before enough is enough. These turkey and dumplings are the perfect solution, turning leftovers into a completely new and different (and delicious!) meal. My family loves it! And I know yours will too.

Loaded up with carrots, potatoes, onions and turkey in a rich broth, the soup is fabulous enough on its own. But the dumplings on top are what really sends this dish to the next level. It’s cozy and satisfying, and exactly the kind of meal you’ll want on a chilly fall or winter day. 

turkey dumplings soup in bowl with spoons

“I discovered this recipe last Thanksgiving looking for leftover ideas. I LOVE this soup — and who would have imagined apple juice would be so wonderful in turkey soup? I’m actually roasting turkey now (in February) just to make this soup. Thank you for such an amazing recipe!⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐” —from Elena

Table of Contents

What are dumplings?

Dumplings can mean a lot of different things, but in this context it’s a simple dough that’s either rolled out and cut, or portioned with a spoon and dropped right into a simmering soup to cook.

Dumplings are soft, tender, with lots of great flavor from both the dumpling itself and the broth it’s cooked in. No need to serve bread or rolls alongside this soup, it’s built right in!

Ingredients you’ll need

Turkey dumpling ingredients including all-purpose flour, turkey broth, milk, cornmeal, baking powder, cooked turkey, carrots, butter, salt & pepper, buttermilk, potatoes, thyme, onion, garlic, and apple cider
  • Cooked turkey— White or dark meat, whatever thanksgiving leftovers you have. (This recipe can also be made with chicken.)
  • Vegetables— Onions, carrots, potatoes, garlic, and fresh thyme.
  • Turkey broth— Either homemade or store-bought.
  • Apple cider— The secret ingredient! It adds flavor and a hint of sweetness. (NOT apple cider vinegar, I’ve had a few readers make that mistake.)
  • Buttermilk dumplings— Made with flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda, kosher salt and buttermilk.

Make homemade turkey broth, if you want

This is a completely optional step, but if you have any bones leftover from your Thanksgiving turkey, this is an easy way to infuse your soup with so much rich flavor. And thankfully, homemade broth isn’t hard at all to make! All you need is a bit of time.

  1. Prepare turkey bones. Remove any fat, skin, and turkey you hope to use for the soup. adding stock ingredients to pot
  2. Add boned to a pot with vegetables and cover with cold water. Use onions, carrots, celery and herbs, and cover everything with cold water.
  3. Simmer for 2 hours. Stock needs a lot of time to extract the flavor from the bones and veggies. If you are short on time you can simmer for 30-60 minutes and add 1 Tbsp bouillon paste. 
  4. Strain the broth. Remove bones and veggies with tongs and pass the broth through a fine mesh strainer to catch everything else.Strained turkey broth in a glass measuring cup
  5. Use immediately or store in the fridge. It’ll keep in the fridge for 5-7 days.

How to make turkey dumpling soup

  1. Cook onions, carrots and garlic. Add them to a large pot or dutch oven with butter and cook about 5 minutes. Add flour and cook for 1-2 minutes more. Sautéing veggies for turkey dumplings and adding it to a pot of turkey broth
  2. Add broth, apple cider, potatoes, s&p and thyme. Pour in the broth while whisking so it absorbs the flour, then add other ingredients. Simmer for about 10 minutes until the potatoes start to soften.Mixing and making dumpling dough
  3. Mix dumpling dough. Combine the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl, then add the buttermilk and stir just until no dry streaks remain. 
  4. Add turkey and spoon dumplings onto soup. Once turkey has been added, use a spoon or spring-loaded cookie scoop to evenly drop dumplings on top of the soup.adding turkey and dumplings to soup
  5. Cover with a lid and cook till dumplings are done. Top with lid so there’s a 1-inch opening to let some steam escape. Simmer for about 10-15 minutes until dumplings appear dry on top (time will depend on size of dumplings).closeup of turkey dumplings in pot

FAQs

Can I make this soup with chicken instead of turkey?

Yes, this recipe can be made with chicken and chicken broth instead of turkey.

What can I use instead of apple cider in this recipe?

You can use any high quality apple cider or apple juice in this recipe. I like to use Simply Apple juice. If you don’t have any, you can substitute for more broth. (DO NOT use apple cider vinegar!).

How do I know when the dumplings are done cooking?

The dumplings are cooked from the bottom up, so once the tops appear dry they are cooked through and ready to eat.

Can I use different vegetables in the soup? 

Green beans, peas and corn are other vegetables you can add to this soup if you like. You can also use another herb like rosemary or sage, or a combination. I prefer fresh herbs for the best flavor (and I usually have them around at Thanksgiving time too).

Can I make this soup in advance and reheat it later?

You can prepare this soup and store in the pot it’s cooked in (if it’s oven proof). When ready to enjoy, warm in a 350°F oven for 30 minutes. A lot of the broth will get soaked up by the dumplings as it sits so it will be a lot less soup-like. But still tasty!

turkey dumplings soup in bowl

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turkey dumplings soup in bowl
4.82 from 16 reviews

Turkey and Dumplings Soup

Servings: 8 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Broth Cook Time:: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
Hearty turkey and vegetable soup with fluffy buttermilk dumplings cooked right on top. A great way to use leftover turkey! I’ve also included a recipe to make your own turkey broth for the soup, but you may substitute with store-bought if you prefer.
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Ingredients
 

Homemade Turkey Broth (optional):

  • Leftover turkey bones
  • 1 small onion , quartered
  • 2 carrots , chopped into large chunks
  • 1 stalk celery , chopped into large chunks
  • 1 small bunch of herbs like rosemary, thyme, sage and parsley
  • Water , as needed

Soup:

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • ½ cup (70 grams) chopped carrots
  • 1 small onion , chopped
  • 1 clove garlic , minced
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 4 cups (1 liter) turkey or chicken broth , homemade or store-bought
  • 1 cup (220 grams) quality apple juice or cider (see Note)
  • 1 ½ cups (150 grams) chopped potatoes
  • 1 teaspoon coarse salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme
  • 2-3 cups (200-300 grams) cooked shredded turkey
  • ½ cup (112 grams) milk or cream

Dumplings:

  • 1 ½ cups (180 grams) all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup (70 grams) cornmeal
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon coarse salt
  • 1 cup (227 grams) buttermilk

Instructions
 

To make the stock:

  • Remove any excess skin and fat from the bones. Make sure to remove any turkey meat you hope to use for another purpose; any meat left on the bone will be very tough by the time the stock is done.
  • Place the turkey bones in a large stock pot and add vegetables and herbs. Add enough cold water to cover all of the bones.
  • Place over high heat and bring to a boil. Simmer for about 2 hours, adding more water as needed to keep the bones covered. Occasionally skim the surface of the stock with a spoon to remove any "scum" that may develop as it cooks.
  • Pour stock through a fine mesh strainer. If desired, you can further strain out impurities by passing stock through a coffee filter.
  • Pour into quart-sized containers and store in the fridge for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to several months. Or use right away!

To Make the Soup:

  • In a large pot melt the butter over medium heat. Add the carrots, onion and garlic and stir until soft and onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Add flour and stir until vegetables are coated.
  • Slowly pour in the turkey stock while whisking until it's all incorporated. Add the apple cider, potatoes, salt, pepper and thyme.
  • Bring to a boil and simmer for about 10 minutes, or until potatoes are just starting to tenderize.
  • Stir in the turkey and milk/cream.

To Make the Dumplings:

  • While the soup is simmering, prepare the dumplings. Mix the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl.
  • Add the buttermilk and stir just until no streaks of dry ingredients remain, do not over mix.
  • Drop the dumpling batter by 1/4 cupfuls on top of the soup. Try to evenly space them, but it doesn't need to be perfect.
  • Cover the pot with the lid so that there's a 1-inch opening for steam to escape and simmer for 15 minutes until dumplings appear dry on top and are cooked all the way through.
  • Serve soup immediately, store leftovers in the fridge for up to 1 week.

Video

Notes

  • Several readers have misread the recipe and used apple cider vinegar in place of apple juice or cider, do not make that mistake! I use Simply Apple juice.
  • If you’re short on time while making the homemade broth, you can simmer for only 30-60 minutes and add 1 Tbsp of bouillon paste.
  • This recipe can also be made with chicken instead of turkey.
  • To make ahead: You can prepare this soup and store in the pot it’s cooked in (if it’s oven proof). When ready to enjoy, warm in a 350°F oven for 30 minutes. A lot of the broth will get soaked up by the dumplings as it sits so it will be a lot less soup-like. But still tasty!
Calories: 326kcal, Carbohydrates: 47g, Protein: 15g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 35mg, Sodium: 800mg, Potassium: 768mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 10g, Vitamin A: 4084IU, Vitamin C: 9mg, Calcium: 163mg, Iron: 4mg
Cuisine: American
Course: Soup
Author: Annalise Sandberg
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This recipe was originally published November 2019.