Description
This Slow Cooker Turkey and Dumplings recipe transforms leftover turkey into a comforting, hearty meal perfect for chilly days. Tender turkey simmers with fresh vegetables and herbs in a flavorful broth, topped with fluffy, homemade dumplings cooked right in the slow cooker. The hands-off cooking method allows the flavors to meld beautifully, delivering a warm and satisfying dish with minimal effort.
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, 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
Dumpling Ingredients
- 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
- If using turkey drippings for broth, be sure to degrease to avoid excess fat.
- The dumpling dough should be slightly sticky but not overly wet — adjust milk quantity if necessary.
- You can substitute dried herbs if fresh herbs are unavailable; adjust quantities accordingly as dried herbs are more concentrated.
- Keep the slow cooker lid closed tightly during dumpling cooking to ensure they cook properly and stay fluffy.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and can be reheated gently on the stovetop or microwave.
- For a lower fat version, use low-fat milk and reduce butter to 2 tablespoons.
- Feel free to add other vegetables such as peas or green beans during the last hour of slow cooking for added color and nutrition.
