Smoked Turkey and Dumplings
Smoked Turkey and Dumplings is the perfect comfort food recipe. Made with delicious smoked turkey or chicken and creamy vegetable soup base with and easy homemade dumplings. A tried and true recipe that you will make again and again.
Smoked Turkey and Dumplings
Smoked turkey is a great addition to any holiday dinner and perfect for feeding a hungry crowd. If you end up having some leftovers, homemade dumplings are a must try!
My kids love my mom’s homemade chicken and dumplings so we were pretty sure that adding some our leftover Cajun Smoked Turkey would be delicious. I made a few changes to my mom’s amazing recipe and really these dumplings were the best ever. If you are looking for a quick version, try our Easy Chicken and Dumplings.
Just take me to the Smoked Chicken and Dumplings Recipe!
Scroll all the way down to the bottom for the printable recipe card. Otherwise, keep reading for the step by step photos, tips and tricks to making the best homemade dumplings.
How to Make Smoked Turkey and Dumplings:
- Chop smoked turkey or chicken into bite sized pieces and set aside.
- Dice celery, onion and carrots and cook in olive oil in a skillet until onions just start to caramelize.
- Add broth to a large dutch oven or soup pot and place on medium heat.
- For the dumplings, add all purpose flour, baking powder and salt to a large bowl and stir together.
- Add an egg, melted butter and chicken broth, stirring until dough comes together.
- Pour onto a floured surface and roll to about 1/4 inch thickness.
- Use a small round cookie cutter or a large pastry tip (use the large end) to cut dumpling dough into circles.
- Raise pan of broth temperature to high. Add dumplings to boiling broth, stirring to separate. Cook for 20 minutes.
- Add in chopped smoked turkey, cooked vegetables, cream, milk and black pepper. Stir to mix well and lower to medium heat. Cook for 20 minutes.
- Turn off the heat and cover dumplings, allow to stand for 30 minutes.
- Stir well and serve immediately.
To make this recipe even more flavorful, you can use your smoked turkey or chicken carcass to make an amazing turkey stock for your dumplings.
How to Make Smoked Turkey Broth (or Smoked Chicken Broth)
- Remove skin and meat from smoked turkey.
- Place turkey bones into a large stock pot and cover with water, about 12 cups.
- Add a whole onion, cut in half, 2 celery sticks, 1 carrot, 2 garlic cloves, about 1 teaspoon of kosher salt and 1 teaspoon pepper corns.
- Bring mixture to a boil then reduce to simmer, cook 1 hour. Remove from heat to cool slightly. Strain broth into an airtight container and refrigerate or freeze until ready to use.
This method for making broth works with an oven baked turkey or chicken also.
If you don’t have time to make homemade broth, store bought will still be delicious. I’ve made it both ways.
Making dumplings from scratch is really quite simple but it does take a good chunk of time. I generally only make them on the weekends. If by chance there’s any leftover, it’s one of those dishes that just gets better the next day.
I have to give credit for this recipe idea to my youngest son. After we made this Easy Smoked Turkey for Thanksgiving, he’s been talking about it ever since. One of his best ideas, ever!
More Recipes for Leftover Turkey:
Turkey Salad is a great way to use up the dark meat from your leftover turkey.
Smoked Turkey Sandwich with Cajun Mayo is always a quick and easy lunch or dinner.
Easy Chicken Noodle Soup is fabulous with smoked turkey or chicken and a huge favorite of my kids.
Crock Pot Black Eyed Peas are amazing comfort food. Don’t wait for the traditional New Year’s dinner to enjoy these! They are out of this world delicious.
If you love this Recipe as much as I do, please leave a comment and a five star review, and be sure to help me share on Pinterest!
Smoked Turkey and Dumplings
Ingredients
- 11 cups turkey or chicken broth divided use
- 6 cups diced smoked turkey
- 1 cup diced celery
- 1 large onion diced
- 1 large carrot diced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cups all purpose flour plus more for rolling dumplings
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup melted butter
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon coarse black pepper
Instructions
- Add broth to a large dutch oven or soup pot and place on medium heat.
- In a large skillet, add olive oil, celery, onion and carrots. Cook over medium heat until onions just start to caramelize.
- Mix the dumplings together by adding all purpose flour, baking powder and salt to a large bowl.
- Add an egg, melted butter and 1 cup chicken broth, stirring until dough comes together.
- Sprinkle flour over a clean surface and roll dumpling dough to about 1/4 inch thickness.
- Use a small round cookie cutter or a large pastry tip (use the large end) to cut dumpling dough into circles.
- Raise pan of broth temperature to high. Add dumplings to boiling broth, stirring to separate. Cook for 20 minutes.
- Stir in chopped smoked turkey, cooked vegetables, cream, milk and black pepper. Stir to mix well and lower to medium heat. Cook for 20 minutes.
- Turn off the heat and cover dumplings, allow to stand for 30 minutes.
- Stir well and serve immediately.
This recipe sounds and looks mighty tasty. Instead of making the dough…I’m going to use Tortillia’s . You can cut in small strips or round pieces as shown in this recipe. The tortillia will swell and make fine dumplings.
USMC66′-
Hi Ed,
What a great idea! I will have to try that as well. I always love your ideas.
~Milisa
This recipe is absolutely delicious. I. simply cut the dumplings into short strips and chopped the veggies while the dumplings cooked, but that was the only thing I did differently. Highly recommend!
Hi Rae,
I am so glad you enjoyed them!
~ Milisa
Just finished making this and it is absolutely delicious! I don’t usually write comments for recipes but I am putting this recipe in my recipe book to make again and again!
Hi Dustie,
That makes my day and thank you so much for taking the time to comment. So glad you enjoyed them.
~ Milisa
I don’t see anywhere that says how much broth to use for the dumplings.
Hi Paula,
It is in the recipe card, which is at the very bottom of the post. It’s 11 cups of broth.
~ Milisa
Milisa, I think what Paula is asking (and what I’m struggling to figure out as well) is how much broth should be added to the dumpling dough. The recipe simply indicates that one needs 11 cups of broth, divided, but doesn’t specify how it should be divided. What amount of broth is needed to make the dumpling dough? This recipe looks delicious and simple, and I plan to make it tonight! 😊
Hi Michelle,
Gotcha! I will make that more clear in the recipe card. It is 1 cup of broth for the dumplings. Thanks for taking the time to comment and ask the question. I hope you enjoy the dumplings.
~ Milisa
I just pulled out the left over smoked turkey from Thanksgiving and want to try this – looks and reads amazing. I have dried potpie noodles from our Amish grocer and was wondering how much to use dried vs. fresh. Thanks and cant wait to try.
Hi Karen,
I would say about a pound of dried noodles would work. I hope you enjoy it.
~ Milisa
Is it possible to make the dumplings a day ahead of time? And if I do how should I store them in the freezer or the refrigerator?
Hi Rachel,
I have not tried to make the dumplings ahead but I think you could and store them in an airtight container or zip top bag.
~ Milisa
Hi Melissa, I made this last night with 2-1/2 c dried egg noodles which is about a lb. Because of the difference of dried vs fresh, not as much broth is needed. So I will cut it back to 8 cups. I also added salt, pepper, rosemary and some dried thyme to it. Fabulous!! Thanks so much for a great recipe.
Hi Karen,
So glad you enjoyed it, love the extra herbs.
~ Milisa