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Turkey and Buttermilk Dumplings

Turkey and Buttermilk Dumplings ~ Fluffy buttermilk dumplings in a rich, creamy broth of carrots, celery, leeks, mushrooms, herbs, and leftover turkey.

Fluffy buttermilk dumplings with turkey soup in a blue bowl.

I love Thanksgiving dinner.

There is no doubt it is one of the best food holidays we have here in the States.

Yes, every holiday has its own set of foods associated with it, but there is something particularly gluttonous about Thanksgiving dinner.

Enameled Dutch oven full of creamy herbed broth with turkey, mushrooms, carrots, and celery and fluffy flour dumplings.

The classic Chicken and Dumplings recipe is a personal favorite, but turkey is always an acceptable substitute.

Close up side view of turkey and dumplings in a blue bowl.

How to use up Thanksgiving leftovers

My holiday meals are pretty much the only recipes I don’t mess around with. I enjoy the tastes of my childhood on these special days.

Usually I always make my grandma’s my grandma’s green bean casserole and her cranberry sauce (both of which are here on the blog.)

Like most everyone else, leftovers were aplenty. Leftovers NEVER go to waste in my house. I can pretty much eat the holiday meal over and over again until it’s gone, but most people get bored and want something new.

Here’s a post I did awhile back with a bunch of ideas from myself and others. Leftover Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas

Turkey and Buttermilk dumplings are easy to make and provide that comfort food feeling you’re looking for around the holidays.

Leftover Pumpkin Recipe Ideas

If you still have some left over pumpkin from making pies, not pie filling, just the pureed pumpkin, you can try these:

Turkey and Buttermilk Dumplings ~ Fluffy buttermilk dumplings in a rich, creamy broth made fragrant by carrots, celery, leeks, mushrooms, herbs, and leftover turkey ~ The Complete Savorist

Holiday Leftover Recipe Ideas

Turkey and Buttermilk Dumplings ~ Fluffy buttermilk dumplings in a rich, creamy broth made fragrant by carrots, celery, leeks, mushrooms, herbs, and leftover turkey ~ The Complete Savorist
Turkey and Buttermilk Dumplings ~ Fluffy buttermilk dumplings in a rich, creamy broth made fragrant by carrots, celery, leeks, mushrooms, herbs, and leftover turkey ~ The Complete Savorist

Turkey and Buttermilk Dumplings

Course: Soups & Stews
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Turkey and Dumplings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 8
Calories: 348 kcal
Author: Michelle De La Cerda

Buttermilk dumplings, chunks of leftover holiday turkey and aromatic vegetables make a delicious bowl of comfort food.

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Ingredients

  • cups turkey cooked; cubed or shredded (4-5 cups will do)
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 cup carrots chopped
  • 1 cup celery chopped
  • ½ onion chopped
  • 1 large leek cleaned and sliced
  • 8 oz mushrooms sliced
  • ¼ tsp dried rosemary crushed
  • ¼ tsp ground sage
  • ½ tsp thyme
  • ¼ tsp salt +/-, to taste
  • ¼ tsp pepper +/-, to taste
  • 5 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • ½ heavy cream milk or half and half works too

Roux

  • 3 tbsp butter
  • 3 tbsp flour
  • 2 cups hot broth from cooking ladle-ful at at time

Buttermilk Dumplings

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 eggs room temp
  • ¾ cup buttermilk up to 1 cup
  • tsp sugar just a pinch really
  • ½ tsp fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions

  1. Measure out and cube the turkey; set aside.

  2. In a large, heavy bottom pot or dutch oven, heat oil and butter over medium high heat.
  3. Add the carrots, celery, and onions to the pot and cook for 3 minutes.
  4. Add the leeks and mushrooms, cook an additional 5 minutes.
  5. Add the herbs, salt, and pepper, stir until fragrant.
  6. Pour in the broth and bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium and allow to simmer for 20 minutes.

Roux

  1. While the soup is simmering, melt the butter in a pan, and once melted, whisk in the flour until it forms a paste-like consistency.
  2. Using a deep ladle, pour in the hot broth a bit at a time, taking care to fully whisk it in and not allow it to burn.

Buttermilk Dumplings

  1. To prepare the dumplings: sift dry ingredients together in a large bowl.
  2. In a small bowl, lightly beat the eggs and milk together; pour the liquid in the dry ingredients and gently fold.
  3. Mix just until the dough comes together, the batter should be thick and cake-like.

Finishing the soup

  1. Incorporate the roux into the soup pot; mix well.
  2. Once the roux has been incorporated, add the cooked turkey and dairy, stir well.
  3. Using 2 spoons, carefully drop heaping tablespoonfuls of the dumpling batter into the hot mixture.
  4. The dumplings should cover the top of the sauce, but should not be touching or crowded.
  5. Cover and let the dumplings poach for 10 to 15 minutes until they are firm and puffy, test with a toothpick.

  6. Garnish with fresh parsley; serve, and enjoy.

Recipe Notes

Dumpling recipe is Tyler Florence’s, I only added a pinch of sugar to his recipe.

Nutrition Facts
Turkey and Buttermilk Dumplings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 348 Calories from Fat 126
% Daily Value*
Fat 14g22%
Saturated Fat 6g38%
Cholesterol 99mg33%
Sodium 587mg26%
Potassium 687mg20%
Carbohydrates 35g12%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 22g44%
Vitamin A 3218IU64%
Vitamin C 4mg5%
Calcium 133mg13%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This post has been updated from its original December 3, 2015 publishing with new content, clarified recipe card, and links to additional relevant content.

Thank you for sharing!

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25 Comments

  • Reply
    Derek @ Dad With A Pan
    December 4, 2015 at 1:08 pm

    Great way to get rid of all the freaking turkey left in my fridge! perfect too for this “cold” so cal weather too! lol

  • Reply
    Heather | All Roads Lead to the Kitchen
    December 4, 2015 at 4:26 pm

    Thanksgiving actually IS my favorite food holiday – I look forward to it all year long! 😉 Let me tell you, I would also look forward to this dish – that’s pure comfort food right there. Now I want to make more turkey just so I’ll have leftovers.

    • Reply
      Michelle De La Cerda
      December 5, 2015 at 10:46 pm

      I hear ya, I am going to make another turkey. It’s too good to just eat once a year.

  • Reply
    Elizabeth
    December 5, 2015 at 1:29 am

    Oh goodness me this sounds like the ultimate comfort food! Pass us a plateful, will you? 🙂

  • Reply
    Amy Stafford
    December 5, 2015 at 6:09 am

    Thanksgiving is the best food holiday! This dish I would be looking forward to it too! Those dumplings look perfect perched ontop of all that warm savory goodness.

  • Reply
    Serene @ House of Yumm
    December 5, 2015 at 1:52 pm

    I am a sucker for dumplings! And these look like the perfect comfort food!

  • Reply
    Gwen @simplyhealthyfamily
    December 5, 2015 at 5:38 pm

    This looks incredible!!! Saving, sharing & DROOLING!

  • Reply
    Julie @ Texan New Yorker
    December 5, 2015 at 7:07 pm

    What a great way to use up leftover turkey from Thanksgiving!

  • Reply
    Kathy Hester
    December 5, 2015 at 8:39 pm

    Dumplings are my favorite way to dress up leftovers. Yours look great!

  • Reply
    Susan | LunaCafe
    December 5, 2015 at 9:28 pm

    This looks soooo delicious. I adore dumplings. Now I just have to score some leftover turkey. 🙂

  • Reply
    Katie @ Recipe for Perfection
    December 6, 2015 at 8:48 am

    Those dumplings… wow, what can I say? I just ate, and now I’m hungry again. 🙂

  • Reply
    Des @ Life's Ambrosia
    December 6, 2015 at 12:12 pm

    What a great comforting meal!

  • Reply
    Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious
    December 7, 2015 at 1:00 pm

    I haven’t had dumplings in 100 years and after looking at your recipe, I want them NOW!

  • Reply
    Sherri @ Watch Learn Eat
    December 7, 2015 at 8:47 pm

    I absolutely loooove dumplings! This dish looks amazing! Great way to use up leftover turkey. I also really love the addition of the mushrooms! Yum! Delicious 🙂

  • Reply
    Leftover Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas - The Complete Savorist
    December 4, 2019 at 1:49 pm

    […] Turkey and Buttermilk Dumplings from The Complete Savorist […]

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