How do I thicken my turkey stew?

This turkey stew is pretty thick to begin with, as it contains lots of small pieces of turkey meat that soak up the liquid. You can thicken it more by smashing some of the vegetables against the side of the pan. Adding the optional white beans will also thicken the stew. If you have leftover mashed potatoes, you could stir in a scoop or two of the potatoes to thicken the stew some more.

Can you freeze turkey stew?

Yes. Let the stew cool down, then transfer it to a freezer safe container. It can stay good in the freezer for several months. Move it to the refrigerator the day before you want to use it to thaw; or defrost in the microwave.

Can I use store bought stock for turkey stew?

Yes. If you just have leftover turkey meat without the bones, it might be easier to just use store bought stock. Turkey stock or chicken would be fine. But if you can make your own stock, it makes for a delicious soup!

How long does turkey stew keep in the refrigerator?

Considering you are probably making the stew with turkey that was cooked at least one day prior, you should try to use the turkey stew within two to three days of making it.

How to keep leftover turkey to make stew?

Be sure to refrigerate the turkey shortly after the meal. Cooked turkey should not be kept out more than two hours (preferably an hour or less) before refrigerating.

Leftover Turkey Stew with Butternut Squash

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This hearty and delicious Leftover Turkey Stew with Butternut Squash recipe is a great way to use leftover turkey! Grab a spoon and dig into this comforting stew with great fall flavors!

Author: Cooking Chat
Prep Time: 30 mins
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 30 mins
Yield: 6 servings 1x
Category: Entree
Method: stove top
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale

1 medium onion, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
3 cloves garlic
1 medium butternut squash, peeled and chopped
1 cup green peas, frozen OK
4 cups or more cooked turkey, cut or shred into bit sized pieces
6 to 7 cups turkey or chicken stock (if you have less than 6 cups stock, add water to bring you to 6 or 7 cups of liquid).
1 tbsp olive oil
salt & pepper to taste
a 14 1/2 ounce can of white beans (Optional), such as navy, drained and rinsed
a handful of greens such as spinach or kale cut into thin strips (optional)

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Instructions

Soften the onions: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large pan. Add the onions to the pan and sauté for about 5 minutes, until they begin to soften.
Add veggies: Add the carrots, butternut squash, and garlic, and sauté for about two more minutes.
Add stock: Add the stock to the pan, bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer on medium low.
Add turkey and simmer: After the veggies have been simmering for about 10 minutes, stir in the turkey and peas. Let the stew simmer uncovered at least 30 more minutes until the veggies are good and tender. Stir occasionally as the stew simmers, and break up a few pieces of the squash as you do to distribute the flavor throughout the liquid.
Finish the stew: A full hour of total cooking time is ideal to really let the flavor build up. Add any extra cooked vegetables, greens and/or white beans with about 15 minutes left in the cooking time. Add salt and pepper to taste, and serve in a bowl along with crusty bread. Enjoy!

Notes

Amount of liquid: 6 cups of broth gives you a thick consistency, definitely more of a stew. Using the 7 cups gives it a more typical soup consistency. Your choice!
Stock: You can use store bought chicken or turkey stock if needed. But if you have the leftover turkey carcass too, making your own stock is a great idea. You can follow the tips for making turkey stock in the article above the recipe, or see my method for making chicken stock here — the same process applies with turkey.
Vary the vegetables based on what you have on hand. The recipe as presented is based on squash and other veggies that need to be cooked. If you have leftover cooked vegetables you would like to use, add them with about 10 minutes cooking time remaining. That will be just enough to heat them without getting too soft.

Find it online: https://cookingchatfood.com/turkey-butternut-squash-stew/