If you have cooked turkey sitting in the refrigerator after a holiday meal, this keto leftover turkey stew is a delicious way to give those leftovers new life.
Instead of simply reheating turkey and side dishes, you can turn that extra meat into a hearty low carb stew filled with mushrooms, turnips, squash, green beans, and plenty of savory herbs.
The creamy broth makes this stew especially satisfying, while turnips stand in for the potatoes traditionally found in turkey stew.
Best of all, because the turkey is already cooked, it gets added toward the end so it stays tender and doesn't dry out.
This is the kind of recipe I love having after Thanksgiving when we are ready for something different but still want to make good use of everything we have on hand.
Why You'll Love This Keto Leftover Turkey Stew
This easy leftover turkey stew is a great addition to your low carb meal rotation because it is:
- A delicious way to use leftover cooked turkey
- Low carb, keto friendly, and gluten free
- Packed with hearty vegetables
- Made in one pot
- Rich and creamy without using flour or cornstarch
- Easy to customize with vegetables you already have
- Ready in about 45 minutes
It's also a great way to stretch a relatively small amount of leftover turkey into another satisfying family meal.
Making Low Carb Turkey Stew Without Potatoes
Traditional turkey stew usually includes potatoes, flour, or both. For this keto version, I use turnips along with winter squash to give the stew plenty of substance without relying on potatoes.
Turnips are one of my favorite low carb substitutes in soups and stews because they become tender as they simmer and absorb the flavor of the broth and herbs.
The small amount of squash adds color and a touch of natural sweetness. Pumpkin, acorn squash, or butternut squash will all work well.
Since winter squash contains more carbohydrates than some other low carb vegetables, keeping the portion to about one cup allows you to enjoy its flavor while keeping the overall stew keto friendly.
Ingredients You'll Need
The following are some of the key ingredients that make this keto turkey stew flavorful and satisfying.
Cooked turkey: Both white and dark turkey meat work well. I especially like using a combination of the two because dark meat adds extra richness while white meat keeps the stew nice and hearty.
Turnips: These replace traditional potatoes and become tender as they cook in the broth.
Winter squash: Use pumpkin, acorn squash, or butternut squash. Fresh or frozen squash can be used.
Mushrooms: Baby bella mushrooms add a wonderful savory flavor and meaty texture.
Carrots and celery: A small amount gives the stew the classic flavor you expect from a homemade turkey or chicken stew.
Green beans: Fresh or frozen green beans add another low carb vegetable and a little color.
Turkey or chicken broth: Turkey broth is especially delicious if you happen to have homemade stock from your holiday turkey, but chicken broth works perfectly too.
Heavy cream: A small amount creates a creamy broth without making the stew overly rich.
Xanthan gum: Instead of flour or cornstarch, a small amount of xanthan gum gently thickens the broth while keeping the recipe low carb.
Herbs and seasonings: Italian seasoning, thyme, rosemary, garlic, onion powder, and a bay leaf give this leftover turkey stew plenty of savory flavor.
How To Make Keto Leftover Turkey Stew
To make this easy low-carb turkey stew, begin by sautéing the onion, carrots, and celery in olive oil until the vegetables begin to soften.
Then add the fresh garlic toward the end so it becomes fragrant without burning.
Remove the vegetables temporarily and brown the mushrooms in olive oil and butter. Taking the extra few minutes to brown the mushrooms gives them much better flavor than simply simmering them in the broth.
Return the cooked vegetables to the pot and add the turnips, squash, broth, herbs, and seasonings.
Allow everything to simmer until the turnips, carrots, and squash are tender.
Next, add the green beans and continue cooking briefly.
Once the vegetables are tender, lower the heat and add the cooked turkey and heavy cream.
Because the turkey has already been fully cooked, it does not need to simmer for a long time. You only want to heat it through. This keeps leftover turkey from becoming dry or stringy.
Finally, sprinkle the xanthan gum over the stew while stirring and allow the broth to thicken slightly.
Remove the bay leaf, adjust the seasoning, and your creamy keto turkey stew is ready to serve.
The Secret To Tender Leftover Turkey
One of the most important differences between making chicken stew from raw chicken and making stew from leftover turkey is when you add the meat.
You don't want to brown the turkey or simmer it throughout the entire cooking process.
The vegetables need time to become tender, but the turkey does not.
Add your cooked turkey during the final 5 to 10 minutes of cooking. This gives it enough time to absorb some of the flavor from the broth and become completely heated without overcooking.
Tips For The Best Keto Turkey Stew
Taste before adding additional salt. Leftover roasted turkey and packaged broth may already contain enough salt. It's easier to add more at the end than to correct an overly salty stew.
Cut the vegetables evenly. Keeping the turnips, carrots, and squash roughly the same size helps them cook at the same rate.
Would you like to save this?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Brown the mushrooms. Letting the mushrooms develop some color before adding the broth deepens their flavor.
Don't boil the cream. Once you add the heavy cream and turkey, keep the stew at a gentle simmer.
Add xanthan gum gradually. A little goes a long way. Sprinkle it lightly over the stew while stirring rather than adding it all in one clump.
Use homemade turkey stock if you have it. If you made stock from your leftover turkey carcass, this is a wonderful recipe for putting it to use.
What Kind Of Leftover Turkey Can I Use?
You can use leftover roasted turkey breast, dark meat, or a combination of both.
Turkey that has been roasted, or smoked can also work, although strongly seasoned or smoked turkey will change the overall flavor of the stew.
Just be sure the turkey is boneless and cut into bite sized pieces before adding it to the pot.
Can I Use Leftover Chicken Instead?
If you are wondering if you could use leftover cooked chicken, you absolutely can.
Use an equal amount of cooked roasted chicken, baked chicken, or rotisserie chicken and add it during the final 5 to 10 minutes so it heats through without overcooking.
If you want to make stew using raw chicken, visit our Keto Chicken Stew Recipe instead.
That version walks you through browning and cooking the chicken from the beginning, while this recipe is specifically designed for meat that has already been cooked.
Can I Make This Turkey Stew Dairy Free?
You can replace the heavy cream with unsweetened coconut milk if you need a dairy free option.
Keep in mind that coconut milk may add a subtle coconut flavor to the broth.
You could also leave out the cream completely for a more traditional broth based turkey stew.
What To Serve With Keto Turkey Stew
This stew is hearty enough to serve by itself, but there are several low carb options that pair well with it.
Try serving it:
- Over cauliflower rice
- Alongside keto biscuits
- With a simple green salad
A warm bowl of this creamy stew is especially satisfying when you want an easy meal after several days of holiday cooking.
How To Store Leftover Turkey Stew
Store the cooled stew in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to days.
Keep in mind that the turkey may have already spent some time refrigerated before being added to the stew.
When determining how long to keep the finished stew, take into consideration how long the cooked turkey had already been stored.
Reheat individual portions gently on the stovetop or in the microwave until thoroughly heated.
You can also freeze the stew, although cream based soups and stews may change slightly in texture once thawed.
A Delicious Way To Reinvent Thanksgiving Leftovers
Leftover turkey doesn't have to mean eating the same Thanksgiving dinner several days in a row.
This keto leftover turkey stew transforms cooked turkey into a hearty new meal with tender vegetables, savory herbs, and a creamy low carb broth.
It's simple, comforting, and makes good use of food you already have in your kitchen.
Tag US
I sure hope you'll give this recipe a try. When you do, be sure to tag us on Instagram and Facebook. It truly encourages me to keep sharing and perfecting these keto recipes for you.
You can also visit our Amazon Store for some of our favorite keto baking tools, pantry staples, and low-carb recommendations.
Join Our Jesus And Keto Movement
Looking for an online support system to help you stay the course on keto? As a family, we came to the keto diet looking at it from a Christian perspective. As believers, we live our lives supported by God's grace.
So when the Holy Spirit led us to combine our Christian faith and the keto diet, we did so in hopes of finding lasting transformation. When we followed the Holy Spirit's prompting we got on the path to real transformation.
Knowing firsthand the benefits of this decision we have created a closed Christian group that is using the keto diet to transform their lives. We invite you to join our Private Facebook Group and see if it's not the key you have been missing.
Be sure to request our FREE Jesus and Keto E-Book (First 7 Days) We hope it blesses you.
Fittoservegroup Keto App
Looking for a fast way to access our keto recipes? We got you covered. There's an app for that. Yup, there's a Fit To Serve Group App and it's going to make your keto diet a delicious breeze!
Access hundreds of recipes that are all sugar-free, gluten-free, and keto-friendly.
Enjoy early access to recipes before they go live on the website. Plus, bonus recipes that are exclusive to the app. Make your own personal cookbooks that you can use to organize your favorite recipes.
Search recipes by title, ingredients, keywords, and categories, and of course every recipe shows complete nutritional facts. Get the Fit to Serve Group App for easy-to-follow keto recipes made with easy-to-source ingredients.
The app is loaded with hundreds of yummy recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and even desserts!
Learn more by visiting our Fit To Serve Group App Page.
Keto Leftover Turkey Stew
This keto leftover turkey stew is a hearty, comforting way to turn cooked turkey into an entirely new meal. Tender turkey, mushrooms, turnips, squash, green beans, and vegetables simmer in a creamy, herb-seasoned broth for an easy low-carb and gluten-free stew that's perfect after the holidays.
Ingredients
- 1 pound of cooked turkey, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil, divided
- 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter
- ¾ teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon of onion powder
- 1 teaspoon of freshly cracked black pepper
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped into large pieces
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and cut into ½-inch cubes
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 1 cup of turnips, peeled and cut into ½-inch cubes
- 8 ounces of mushrooms, sliced, such as baby Bella mushrooms
- 1 cup cubed pumpkin, acorn squash, or butternut squash, peeled and cut into ½-inch cubes, fresh or frozen
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 cups of chicken broth or turkey broth or stock
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1 cup green beans, fresh or frozen
- 2 teaspoons of dried Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon of xanthan gum ( to help thicken the stew)
- ¼ teaspoon of dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon of dried rosemary
- 1 bay leaf
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.
- Add the onion, celery, and carrots. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion begins to soften.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, just until fragrant. Transfer the vegetables to a bowl and set aside.
- Add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and the butter to the pot. Add the sliced mushrooms and cook over medium-high heat until the mushrooms release their moisture and begin to brown, about 5 to 7 minutes.
- Return the cooked onion, celery, carrots, and garlic to the pot.
- Add the turnips, squash, broth, Italian seasoning, thyme, rosemary, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, salt, and bay leaf. Stir to combine.
- Bring the stew to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook uncovered for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until the turnips, squash, and carrots are fork-tender.
- Add the green beans and cook for another 5 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to low. Add the cooked turkey and heavy cream. Stir gently and simmer for about 5 to 10 minutes, just until the turkey is completely heated through. Avoid boiling the stew once the turkey and cream have been added.
- Sprinkle the xanthan gum lightly over the surface of the stew while stirring continuously. Continue stirring and simmer for another 2 to 3 minutes, or until the broth thickens slightly.
- Remove and discard the bay leaf. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper as needed.
- Ladle the stew into individual bowls and garnish with fresh chopped parsley or sliced green onions. Serve as is or over cauliflower rice for an even heartier meal.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days. The stew can also be frozen, although the texture of the cream may change slightly after thawing.
Notes
Add the turkey near the end. Because leftover turkey is already fully cooked, it only needs enough time in the stew to heat through. Simmering it for the entire cooking time can cause the meat to become dry.
Season carefully. Leftover roasted turkey and store-bought broth can both contain salt. Start with ¾ teaspoon of sea salt and adjust after the stew has finished cooking.
Turkey broth works well. If you made broth or stock from your Thanksgiving turkey, you can use it in place of the chicken broth for even more turkey flavor.
For thicker stew: The ¼ teaspoon of xanthan gum provides gentle thickening. If you prefer a thicker consistency, you can add a very small additional pinch, but add it gradually since xanthan gum thickens quickly.
Using frozen vegetables: Frozen squash and green beans can be added directly to the stew without thawing. You may need to increase the cooking time by a few minutes.
Dark or white turkey meat: Either works well. A combination of both gives the stew great flavor, while dark meat tends to remain especially tender.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 520Total Fat: 23.8gSaturated Fat: 5.1gCholesterol: 60mgSodium: 500mgCarbohydrates: 9gNet Carbohydrates: 6.3gFiber: 3.9gSugar: 5.9gProtein: 54g
Leave a Reply