Turkey Gumbo Recipe

Name: Turkey Gumbo Recipe
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 120 min
Total time: 160 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 8 strips bacon (diced); 3/4 cup vegetable oil (divided use); 1 cup all-purpose flour; 1 pound smoked sausage (preferably Cajun-inspired, such as andouille ); 2 cups onion (chopped); 1 cup green bell pepper (chopped); 1/2 cup red bell pepper (chopped); 1 cup celery (chopped); 3 green onions (chopped, white and light green separated from dark green); 3 cloves garlic (minced); 2 to 2 1/2 quarts chicken stock (or turkey stock, low sodium); 3 to 4 cups turkey (cooked, chopped or shredded); 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce; 3 bay leaves; 1 teaspoon kosher salt (or to taste); 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning; 1 teaspoon dried thyme; 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1/4 cup chopped parsley (plus more for garnish, if desired); Optional: hot sauce , for serving; Optional: steamed rice, for serving

Prep: 40 mins

Cook: 2 hrs

Total: 2 hrs 40 mins

Servings: 8 servings

37 ratings

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If you're looking for a way to use that leftover Thanksgiving turkey, look no further! This rich and delicious gumbo is an excellent choice. The recipe makes enough for about eight satisfying entrée servings, and much of the prep work can be done in advance. Don't worry if you have leftovers—the soup is even better the next day!

Your Frequently Asked Holiday Questions, Answered

Smoked Turkey on a platter with orange wedges

The majority of the required hands-on prep time is for stirring the roux. You can cut prep time significantly by preparing the roux a day or more in advance. Store cooked roux in a covered container in the refrigerator until you are ready to make the gumbo. Homemade is best, but ready-made Cajun roux can be found in stores and online.

8 strips bacon, diced
3/4 cup vegetable oil, divided use
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 pound smoked sausage, preferably Cajun-inspired, such as andouille
2 cups onion, chopped
1 cup green bell pepper, chopped
1/2 cup red bell pepper, chopped
1 cup celery, chopped
3 green onions, chopped, white and light green separated from dark green
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 to 2 1/2 quarts chicken stock, or turkey stock, low sodium
3 to 4 cups cooked turkey, chopped or shredded
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
3 bay leaves
1 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup chopped parsley, plus more for garnish, if desired
Hot sauce, for serving, optional
Steamed rice, for serving, optional

Gather the ingredients.

Diana Rattray
Put the bacon in a large skillet and place the skillet over medium heat. Cook until the bacon has rendered its fat. With a slotted spoon, remove the bacon pieces to paper towels to drain. You should have about 1/4 to 1/3 cup of drippings left in the pan. Refrigerate the crumbled bacon to use as a garnish or save it for another use.

Diana Rattray
Remove 2 tablespoons of oil from the 3/4 cup and set it aside. Add the remaining oil—about 2/3 cup—to the bacon drippings. Add the flour to the bacon drippings and oil mixture and cook over medium heat, constantly stirring, for about 25 to 30 minutes, or until the roux is the color of milk chocolate. Remove the roux from the heat and set it aside.

Diana Rattray
Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the smoked sausage and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently.

Diana Rattray
Add the onions, celery, green and red bell pepper, and the white and light green parts of the green onions to the sausage; continue to cook for about 4 minutes, or until the vegetables are soft. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute longer.

Diana Rattray
To the vegetables and sausage, add the reserved roux; stir to combine.

Diana Rattray
Gradually add 2 cups the chicken stock to the pot a little at a time, stirring constantly. Add the chopped turkey, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaves, salt, Cajun seasoning, thyme, and black pepper. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. If too thick, add more stock in small amounts.

Diana Rattray
Stir the parsley and chopped green onions (dark green parts) into the gumbo and serve it over hot steamed rice.

Diana Rattray
Garnish the turkey gumbo with extra green onions, parsley, and the crumbled cooked bacon, if desired.

Diana Rattray

Cajun Gumbo Recipe

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
748	Calories
49g	Fat
34g	Carbs
41g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories	748
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 49g	63%
Saturated Fat 11g	53%
Cholesterol 129mg	43%
Sodium 1539mg	67%
Total Carbohydrate 34g	12%
Dietary Fiber 2g	8%
Total Sugars 10g
Protein 41g
Vitamin C 37mg	183%
Calcium 71mg	5%
Iron 4mg	20%
Potassium 1100mg	23%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.