A cozy, herb-packed next-day turkey stew made from homemade turkey stock and Thanksgiving leftovers.
Servings: 6–8
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 45–60 minutes
Total Time: ~1 hour 15 minutes
✨ Why You’ll Love It
- Uses every last bit of your turkey
- Rich homemade broth simmered from the carcass
- Deep, savory flavor from lots of herbs
- Perfect way to use leftover turkey + pantry noodles
- Ultra cozy, warm, and nourishing
🥘 Ingredients
Stock & Stew Base
- Turkey carcass (pick off extra meat first)
- 6 cups water (or enough to cover carcass)
- 3–4 carrots, diced
- 3–4 celery stalks, diced
- 1 large onion, diced
- 6 chicken bouillon cubes
- Additional turkey or chicken stock (for extra broth)
- 2–4 cups leftover cooked turkey, chopped
Herbs (Generous Amounts)
- 1–1½ tsp dried rosemary
- 1–1½ tsp dried sage
- 1–1½ tsp dried thyme
- Optional: 1 tbsp fresh chopped parsley
- Optional: 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
- Salt & pepper, to taste
Noodles
- 2–3 cups egg noodles or any preferred pasta
For Serving
- Fresh baked Rhodes rolls or warm French bread
👩🍳 Directions
1. Make the Turkey Stock
- Remove excess meat from turkey carcass and set meat aside.
- Place carcass in a large pot and cover with water.
- Bring to a boil, then simmer 30–45 minutes.
- Remove carcass and strain broth if desired.
2. Sauté the Veggies
- In a skillet, sauté diced carrots, celery, and onion until softened.
- Add sautéed vegetables to the pot of turkey stock.
3. Build the Herb-Rich Flavor
- Add 6 bouillon cubes.
- Add extra turkey or chicken stock if you want more broth.
- Stir in the chopped leftover turkey.
- Add generous herbs: rosemary, sage, thyme, and optional fresh parsley or thyme.
- Simmer 20–30 minutes to deepen flavor.
4. Cook the Noodles
- Add noodles directly to the simmering stew.
- Boil until tender, usually 8–12 minutes.
- Adjust seasoning with more herbs, salt, and pepper if needed.
5. Serve
Enjoy steaming bowls of stew with:
- Soft, warm Rhodes rolls, or
- Crusty French bread
🦃 Turkey Day Afterglow Stew
A warm, nourishing next-day turkey stew made by simmering the turkey carcass into a rich homemade stock, adding classic vegetables, lots of herbs, leftover turkey, bouillon for depth, and soft noodles. The ultimate cozy bowl to enjoy after Thanksgiving — especially with warm Rhodes rolls or French bread.
Ingredients
Method
- Make the Turkey Stock
- Remove extra meat from turkey carcass and set aside.
- Place the carcass in a large pot and cover with water (usually 10–14 cups).
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30–45 minutes.
- Remove and discard carcass.
- Strain broth if desired and return liquid to pot.
- Sauté the Vegetables
- In a skillet, sauté carrots, celery, and onion in a little butter or oil until softened.
- Add sautéed vegetables into the pot of turkey stock.
- Build the Flavor
- Add 6 chicken bouillon cubes (or to taste depending on water amount).
- Add extra turkey or chicken stock if you want a larger batch or more broth.
- Stir in chopped leftover turkey.
- Add herbs: rosemary, sage, thyme, and optional fresh parsley/thyme.
- Simmer 20–30 minutes to deepen flavor.
- Add the Noodles
- Add noodles directly to the simmering stew.
- Cook until noodles are soft (8–12 minutes).
- Taste and adjust seasoning and herbs as needed.
- Serve
- Serve hot with fresh Rhodes rolls or warm French bread.
Notes
- Bouillon Strength Guide: 1 cube seasons about 2 cups of water. If using a very large pot or a lot of water, 6 cubes is appropriate. Adjust up or down by taste.
- Add more herbs if you like a stronger, cozy holiday flavor — this stew handles them well.
- Noodles will absorb broth as it sits; add extra stock when reheating if needed.
- You can substitute rice, potatoes, or dumplings instead of noodles.
