Name: Turkey Soup with Sweet Potato Dumplings Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 pounds turkey breast tenderloins; Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste; 4 tablespoons unsalted butter; 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil; 4 celery hearts, chopped; 2 medium carrots, chopped; 1 medium white onion, finely chopped; 6 cloves garlic, finely minced; 6–8 sprigs fresh thyme; 3 bay leaves; 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano; 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika; 1/2 teaspoon Jamaican allspice; 8 cups (2 quarts) turkey or chicken stock/broth; 1 cup frozen peas; 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour; 1/2 cup fine yellow cornmeal; 1 tablespoon baking powder; 4 tablespoons salted butter, melted; 3/4 cup whole buttermilk; 1/4 cup mashed sweet potato or sweet potato puree

There’s something about a warm bowl of homemade soup that instantly feels like a hug on a chilly day, which is exactly why I’m excited to share this Turkey Soup with Sweet Potato Dumplings Recipe with you. The combination of tender turkey and fluffy sweet potato dumplings creates a comforting and nourishing meal you’ll want to make again and again.

A purple pot filled with a warm, golden-yellow stew that has soft, uneven dumplings floating on top. The stew contains small bits of shredded light brown chicken, bright orange carrot slices, green peas, and green sprigs of thyme scattered throughout. The broth looks thick and smooth with a slightly shiny surface, seasoned with small black pepper flakes. The pot rests on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Turkey Soup with Sweet Potato Dumplings Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Turkey Soup with Sweet Potato Dumplings Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Turkey Soup with Sweet Potato Dumplings Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I genuinely love this Turkey Soup with Sweet Potato Dumplings Recipe because it feels special enough for a cozy family dinner, yet it’s straightforward in a way that invites you to relax while cooking. The dumplings add a lovely twist that makes every spoonful more interesting and satisfying.

Comfort food elevated: The sweet potato dumplings add a subtle sweetness that pairs perfectly with the savory, seasoned turkey broth.
Easy to prepare: The soup comes together with pantry staples and simple techniques, making it approachable for cooks at any level.
Flexible and forgiving: You can swap ingredients or adjust seasonings to suit your preferences without losing the hearty goodness.
Great for leftovers: It keeps and reheats wonderfully, turning into an even better meal the next day.

A large white pot filled with a thick soup showing about eight uneven, yellow dumplings floating on top. The soup has a light brown, creamy broth with visible pieces of shredded light brown meat, small orange carrot slices, green peas, and some small green herbs like thyme. The dumplings look soft and slightly textured with a sprinkle of black pepper on them. The pot has a purple handle and sits on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in this Turkey Soup with Sweet Potato Dumplings Recipe plays its part to build rich flavor and delightful texture. Here’s a quick rundown of why I use them and a tip or two to help your shopping.

Flat lay of fresh turkey breast tenderloins with clean white shells of two whole eggs, a small pile of finely chopped celery hearts, two medium peeled and chopped carrots, one medium white onion finely chopped, six peeled garlic cloves, a few sprigs of fresh thyme, three whole bay leaves, a small white bowl of dried oregano powder, a small white bowl of smoked paprika powder, a small white bowl of Jamaican allspice, a simple white ceramic bowl filled with clear turkey broth, a small white bowl of frozen peas, a small white bowl of all-purpose flour, a small white bowl of fine yellow cornmeal, a small white bowl of baking powder, a small white bowl of melted unsalted butter, a small white bowl of whole buttermilk, a small heap of mashed bright orange sweet potato puree, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Turkey breast tenderloins: Lean and tender, these cook quickly and shred into beautiful juicy pieces perfect for soup.
Butter and olive oil: The combo gives a rich base for sautéing veggies without overpowering the delicate turkey flavor.
Celery, carrots, and onion: Classic trio that builds aroma, sweetness, and texture in the broth.
Garlic: Adds a gentle punch that wakes up the other flavors.
Fresh thyme and bay leaves: Herbs that infuse the soup with an earthy, herbal depth.
Dried oregano, smoked paprika, Jamaican allspice: These spices bring warmth and a hint of smokiness to balance the sweetness from the dumplings.
Turkey or chicken stock: A flavorful liquid that ties everything together and adds body.
Frozen peas: Quick-cooking and adds pops of freshness and color.
All-purpose flour, cornmeal, baking powder: The dumpling base, giving them fluffy structure with a bit of corny texture.
Salted butter and buttermilk: Adds richness and tang for tender, soft dumplings.
Mashed sweet potato: The star of the dumplings, lending natural sweetness, moisture, and gorgeous color.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love tweaking this Turkey Soup with Sweet Potato Dumplings Recipe depending on the season or what I have on hand. Feel free to make it your own — it’s such a forgiving recipe that encourages creativity.

Vegetable swaps: I sometimes add chopped kale or spinach towards the end for extra greens, which adds a fresh note without messing up the dumpling texture.
Spice it up: When I’m in the mood for a bit of heat, a pinch of cayenne or crushed red pepper flakes adds a lovely warming kick.
Gluten-free version: Use 1:1 gluten-free flour instead of all-purpose to keep it gluten-friendly — the dumplings still turn out fluffy!
Leftover turkey: This soup is perfect for using up turkey from the fridge, making it a great post-holiday recipe.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Turkey Soup with Sweet Potato Dumplings Recipe

Step 1: Season and Sear the Turkey Tenderloins

First, I take the turkey tenderloins and season them generously with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Letting them sit at room temperature for about 25-30 minutes really helps the meat cook evenly and stay tender. Then, I heat a mix of butter and olive oil in my Dutch oven over medium-high heat. When the pan is hot and the mixture is sizzling, I sear the turkey for 2-3 minutes on each side. The goal here isn’t to cook the meat through, but to get a beautiful golden crust that locks in flavor. After that, I remove the turkey and set it aside—don’t worry, it’ll finish cooking in the broth later!

Step 2: Sauté the Veggies and Build Flavor

Into the fat leftover in the pot, I add chopped celery, carrots, and onion. Using a wooden spoon, I scrape up all those tasty browned bits from the turkey—the little caramelized pieces are pure flavor gold. I soften the veggies until they’re tender and slightly sweet, about 4-5 minutes. Then in goes the garlic, stirred until fragrant, which happens in less than a minute—just long enough to get aromatic without burning.

Step 3: Spice It Up and Add the Broth

I drop fresh thyme sprigs and bay leaves into the pot, then sprinkle in dried oregano, smoked paprika, and Jamaican allspice. Stirring constantly, I toast these spices gently for about a minute to wake them up. Next, it’s time to nestle the seared turkey back in the pot, covering everything with warm turkey or chicken stock. You want the turkey fully submerged so it steams and simmers beautifully. At this point, I reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer for 45-50 minutes—the perfect window for the turkey to become fall-apart tender.

Step 4: Shred Turkey and Prepare Dumplings

Once the turkey is tender, I carefully remove the pieces and set them on a cutting board. Using two forks, I shred the meat—there’s something so satisfying about that process—and stir it back into the pot. While the soup simmers uncovered, I move on to the sweet potato dumplings.

In a large bowl, I combine all-purpose flour, cornmeal, and baking powder, whisking them together. I then pour in melted salted butter, whole buttermilk, and the mashed sweet potato or puree, mixing gently until just combined. The key here is not to overwork the dough—overmixing can make dumplings tough. I let the batter sit for a minute or two; you’ll notice it getting light and fluffy as the baking powder activates.

Step 5: Drop Dumplings into Soup and Simmer

I fold frozen peas into the broth, then use a spoon or spring-loaded scooper to drop 2-3 tablespoons of dumpling dough on top of the soup, spacing them out. I spoon some of the broth over each dumpling to keep them moist, then cover the pot and let everything simmer gently for 10-15 minutes. When done, the dumplings are beautifully cooked through and fluffy, soaking up that delicious broth in every bite.

Step 6: Serve Warm and Enjoy

Before serving, I remove the thyme sprigs and bay leaves (those are just for flavor). Then, I ladle the soup into bowls and add a few twists of freshly ground black pepper on top. It’s a big bowl of cozy comfort, and trust me—you'll want seconds.

Top Tip

From my experience, these tips really make a difference when you’re making this Turkey Soup with Sweet Potato Dumplings Recipe. Paying attention to small details transforms your soup from good to outstanding.

Room temperature turkey: Allowing your turkey tenderloins to come to room temperature before cooking helps them cook evenly, keeping them juicy and tender instead of rubbery.
Don’t overmix dumpling dough: It’s tempting to make a smooth batter, but gently stirring just until combined keeps your dumplings light and fluffy.
Searing adds flavor: Browning the turkey before simmering not only looks good but creates deeper, richer broth flavor from those caramelized bits.
Simmer gently: Keep the heat low after adding the stock so the soup doesn’t boil hard—this preserves the delicate flavors and keeps dumplings tender.

How to Serve Turkey Soup with Sweet Potato Dumplings Recipe

Garnishes

I keep garnishes simple—freshly cracked black pepper is a must, and sometimes I sprinkle chopped fresh parsley or thyme leaves to add a pop of green and brightness. A squeeze of lemon juice on top works wonders too if you want to cut through the richness with a little acidity.

Side Dishes

I like pairing this soup with crusty bread or warm cornbread to soak up every last bit of that luscious broth. A light side salad with lemon vinaigrette balances the hearty soup perfectly if you want something fresh on the side.

Creative Ways to Present

For special occasions, I’ve served this soup in mini cast-iron skillets or rustic bread bowls—such a fun way to wow guests and add charm to your dinner table. You can also portion into individual ramekins topped with a sprinkle of cheese and broiled briefly for a cheeky take on a soup gratin.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I like to cool the soup to room temperature and transfer it to an airtight container, storing leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days. The dumplings soak up more broth over time, so the soup thickens—just add a splash of stock or water when reheating to loosen it back up.

Freezing

This Turkey Soup with Sweet Potato Dumplings Recipe freezes well, though the dumplings can become a touch denser after thawing. I freeze the soup without dumplings and add fresh dumplings when reheating for the best texture.

Reheating

Gently reheat the soup on the stove over low to medium heat, stirring occasionally. Keep the heat moderate so the dumplings don’t toughen. If the soup is too thick, a splash of broth or water helps bring it back to the perfect consistency.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use leftover turkey for this soup?

Absolutely! Using leftover turkey is a fantastic way to make this soup even quicker and reduce waste. Just skip the searing step and add shredded turkey directly to the broth.

What if I don’t have sweet potatoes for the dumplings?

You can substitute mashed pumpkin, butternut squash, or even plain mashed potatoes. Just keep the moisture level similar to sweet potato puree for the best dumpling texture.

Can I make the dumplings ahead of time?

It’s best to drop dumplings directly into the hot soup just before simmering. If made too far ahead, the batter can lose its rising power and become dense.

How do I keep dumplings from sticking together?

Space the dumpling drops evenly across the soup surface and avoid overcrowding the pot. This gives them room to expand and cook individually into fluffy pillows.

Final Thoughts

This Turkey Soup with Sweet Potato Dumplings Recipe is one of my favorite ways to turn simple ingredients into something truly special and comforting. It’s like a hug in a bowl that nourishes both body and soul, perfect for sharing with family or indulging in a cozy moment by yourself. Give it a try—you might just find it becomes a staple in your kitchen like it has in mine!