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This Thanksgiving Leftovers Stew is perfect for the weekend after the big meal – when you have plenty of different leftovers waiting in the fridge!
What’s to love
- Uses different leftovers. You can use leftover turkey, turkey gravy, roasted vegetables, any fresh herbs and even stuffing or dinner rolls for this recipe!
- Easy to make. This is simple comfort food, so it’s the perfect “quiet Saturday after chaos” meal.
- Delicious flavor. Layered flavor (broth + white wine + gravy + herbs) make this taste so good and intentional. No boring leftovers here!
This Leftover Turkey Stew turns Thanksgiving leftovers into such a cozy meal – a delicious way to spend your post-holiday weekend!
Printable Recipe Card
Ingredients
Leftovers:
- cooked turkey (~3 cups, shredded or chopped)
- roasted vegetables (about 3-4 cups; carrots, parsnips, sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, green beans, etc.)
- turkey gravy (up to 1 cup – optional but magical)
- fresh herbs (thyme, rosemary, sage)
Fresh/Pantry:
- 1 tbsp olive oil or butter
- 1 medium onion (diced (about 1 cup))
- 2 carrots (diced (optional if not enough roasted vegetables; about 1 cup))
- 2 sticks celery (diced (about 1 cup))
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- ½ cup dry sherry or white wine (optional, but lovely)
- 4-6 cups turkey or chicken broth (or more if needed)
- 1 cup uncooked wild rice (or a wild rice blend)
- ½ cup heavy cream whisked together with 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prep:This recipe works best in a 5-6 quart Dutch oven or soup pot. Get your ingredients ready.
- Sauté aromatics:In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter. Sauté onion, carrot (if using), and celery with a pinch of salt until soft (6–8 min). Add garlic and herbs (fresh or dried), cook 1 more minute.1 tbsp olive oil or butter, 1 medium onion, 2 carrots, 2 sticks celery, 2 cloves garlic, fresh herbs
- Deglaze:Pour in sherry or white wine. Let it bubble 1–2 minutes to cook off alcohol and lift up flavor.½ cup dry sherry or white wine
- Add wild rice + broth:Stir in broth and wild rice. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer 35–45 min, until rice is tender.4-6 cups turkey or chicken broth, 1 cup uncooked wild rice
- Add turkey + roasted veggies:Stir in leftover turkey and roasted vegetables. Add leftover gravy if you have it. Let everything gently simmer and heat together 5–10 min.cooked turkey, roasted vegetables, turkey gravy
- Adjust texture:Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the cream and cornstarch slurry, do not boil at this point – only let warm through until thickened.Taste and adjust salt, pepper, more herbs if needed. Ladle into bowls. Add leftover stuffing like croutons, toasted leftover dinner rolls or bread, herbs, or nothing at all – it’s wonderful either way.½ cup heavy cream whisked together with 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Day After Thanksgiving Stew
make your kitchen smell like home?Thanksgiving Leftovers Stew FAQs
You can roast 2 seasoned chicken breasts or 3-4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs in the oven until done. Rest on a cutting board for 15 minutes, then shred.
OR simmer 2 large chicken breasts directly in the stew while the wild rice is cooking. Once done, remove and rest – then shred and use in the recipe as directed.
The rice considerably thickens the stew, so if you skip it, the stew will be very liquidy.
Sure! Leftover green bean casserole is also tasty, and so are sautéed mushrooms.
For an extra-thick stew, you can stir in ½ cup leftover mashed potatoes.
For an extra-delicious finish, dice up your leftover dinner rolls and roast them in a little butter in a skillet over medium heat until fluffy and golden brown.
Perfect to serve with
More leftover recipes
Leftovers are possibly the best part of any holiday dinner, and these recipes are here to help make the most of them! From leftover turkey to cranberry sauce, find your favorite post-holiday meals here.
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