Turkey Stew

Last updated on February 23rd, 2026

After Thanksgiving or Christmas, you’ll probably have a whole bunch of leftover turkey to do all sorts of stuff with! As a mama, wasting is my least favorite thing to do! I’m always looking for creative ways to refresh ingredients and keep my family excited at the dinner table! This Turkey Stew was so vibrant, lemony, and hearty! That homemade broth brought so much depth! This was very easy to make and since we already had everything on hand, it truly made things hassle free! Along with the homemade broth, this stew is also freezer friendly! You just can’t beat a bowl of soul warming stew this time of year!

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What’s the backstory on stew recipes? Where did they come from?

Humans have been making stew for around 5,000 YEARS! It’s actually one of the oldest cooking methods in the history of humans cooking! There’s evidence to show that prehistoric cooks would simmer their food in large pits that were lined with leaves and hot stones, way before pottery was even thought of! Talk about innovation! Eventually people developed clay pots, which made stewing even more practical! They would combine vegetables, meats, and liquid to make large meals that would nourish many people! Today, stews are still loved by many because they’re usually simple to make and a great way to stretch and repurpose ingredients!

Did you know?

The word stew comes from the Middle English word “stewen” which means “to bathe in liquid!” This gentle simmering process is what defines the dish as a stew and creates that deep, rich flavor profile! Stews are generally associated with family, warmth, and community across most cultures! There’s just something about a piping hot bowl of comfort that seems to bring people together!

What ingredients do I need to make this?

For the turkey stew:

Leftover Turkey – try my recipe!
Turkey Stock – try my recipe!
Carrots
Celery
Potatoes
Lemon
Peas
Onion
Garlic
Butter
Flour
Bay Leaves
Thyme
Rosemary
Sage
Oregano
Salt
Black Pepper
Red Pepper Flakes

For serving:

Parsley
Lemon Wedges
Parmesan
Crispy Bread or Crackers

What equipment do I need?

• Cutting Board
• Chef Knife
• Stockpot
• Juicer
• Zester
• Soup Ladle
• Measuring Cups and Spoons
• Cheese Grater

How do I make it?

To prep the ingredients:

The first thing you’ll want to do is wash and prep all of your veggies. Slice the carrots into coins, thinly slice the celery, and dice the onion. Mince the garlic and herbs, then scrub the potatoes and cut them into bite-sized pieces. Take the frozen peas out to thaw. Then zest and juice the lemon.

Now let’s get started on sorting through our leftover Thanksgiving turkey. You’ll want to have nice big chunks of either white or dark meat – whatever you like. Pick the skin out and start shredding the meat up between two forks or just use your hands! Refrigerate until ready to use.

To make the turkey stew:

In a stockpot on medium heat, melt the butter. Sauté the carrots, onion, and celery for a few minutes, sprinkling with some of the salt and pepper, stirring occasionally.

Next, add in the garlic, and cook until fragrant. Stir in the flour and cook a few minutes to get rid of that raw flour taste. Pour in the homemade turkey stock or store-bought broth, bay leaves, rosemary, thyme, potatoes, and the rest of the seasonings.

Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until potatoes can easily be pierced with a fork. Stir in the turkey, peas, and sage.

Simmer a few minutes more to bring all of those flavors together, and using a soup ladle, smush some of those potatoes against the side of the pot to naturally thicken the stew! Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice and zest.

To serve:

Serve Turkey Stew hot with lemon wedges, freshly shredded parmesan cheese, parsley and whatever else you’d like! Enjoy!

Tips:

• This stew will keep for 3-5 days if stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It can also be frozen for up to 3 months!
• If you feel like you want it to be thicker, you could stir in some half and half or heavy cream at the tail end of cooking. Once removed from heat, you’ll be safe to add your lemon juice and zest without worrying about curdling!
• Skip the potatoes and add an egg noodle instead for a soupier vibe! Just keep in mind, pasta doesn’t freeze well!

Looking for more ways to use up leftover turkey? Check these out!

• Garden Club
• Turkey Noodle Casserole