Nothing beats the cozy warmth of a hearty bowl on a chilly day, and my Turkey Soup with Sweet Potato Dumplings Recipe delivers just that. The tender turkey mingles with fragrant herbs while the sweet potato dumplings add a delightful fluffy surprise—pure comfort in every spoonful.

A deep white pot filled with a thick stew, showing seven large, fluffy yellow dumplings floating on top. The stew underneath is a golden orange color with visible small pieces of shredded chicken, bright green peas, and round slices of orange carrots. Tiny green herb sprigs are scattered across the surface, and the stew looks creamy with specks of black pepper. The pot has a purple outside with a lid placed slightly to the side, and the whole scene 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’m genuinely excited to share this Turkey Soup with Sweet Potato Dumplings Recipe because it’s one of those dishes I return to whenever I want something nourishing yet a little special. The sweet potato dumplings add a lovely texture contrast that you don’t usually find in turkey soups, and it’s surprisingly easy to prepare.

Comfort Food at Its Best: The combination of savory turkey broth and sweet potato dumplings is both hearty and soothing, perfect for cooler days or anytime you need a hug in a bowl.
Homemade Dumplings Fun: Making sweet potato dumplings from scratch is easier than you’d think, and they cook right in the soup—no fuss needed.
Versatile and Adaptable: You can tweak the herbs, add your favorite veggies, or even swap turkey for chicken without missing a beat.
One-Pot Wonder: Everything cooks together in one pot, making cleanup quick and the flavors meld beautifully.

The image shows a pot filled with a warm stew containing several golden-yellow dumplings floating on the surface. The stew has a thick, slightly oily brownish broth with visible pieces of shredded light brown meat, small bright orange carrot slices, green peas, and sprigs of green herbs scattered throughout. The dumplings are soft, fluffy, and unevenly shaped with a rough texture, while tiny black pepper flakes are sprinkled on top. The pot has a white interior with a purple outer rim and handles. The photo is taken on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

The magic behind this Turkey Soup with Sweet Potato Dumplings Recipe lies in balancing rich, savory flavors with a hint of sweetness and the fresh aroma of herbs. Each ingredient plays a key role to ensure every bite feels warm and satisfying. When you shop for these, look for fresh turkey tenderloins and naturally sweet, creamy sweet potatoes to make your dumplings shine.

Flat lay of fresh turkey breast tenderloins, a few sprigs of fresh thyme, two bay leaves, four celery hearts chopped, two medium carrots chopped, one medium white onion finely chopped, six garlic cloves whole, unpeeled, a small pile of kosher salt crystals, a small heap of freshly ground black pepper, a few tablespoons of unsalted butter in a small white bowl, a small white bowl of extra virgin olive oil, a small white bowl of chicken stock, a small white bowl filled with frozen green peas, a small mound of all-purpose flour, a small mound of fine yellow cornmeal, a small white bowl with melted salted butter, a small white bowl of whole buttermilk, a small portion of mashed sweet potato, all arranged with perfect symmetry on a clean white ceramic plate and bowls 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: These are lean and tender, perfect for shredding after cooking without drying out.
Celery, carrots, and white onion: Classic soup veggies that soften into a flavorful base.
Garlic: Adds depth and wonderful aroma to the broth.
Fresh thyme and bay leaves: The herbs bring bright, earthy notes that elevate the soup.
Dried oregano, smoked paprika, Jamaican allspice: These spices add warmth and a subtle complexity.
Turkey or chicken stock: Using a good-quality stock makes a huge difference in flavor.
Frozen peas: A pop of color and sweetness at the end.
All-purpose flour and yellow cornmeal: Combine for dumplings that are tender but have a slight bite.
Baking powder: Essential for keeping your dumplings light and fluffy.
Salted butter and buttermilk: Adds richness and moisture to dumplings, keeping them soft.
Mashed sweet potato: The star that gives these dumplings their gentle sweetness 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

This recipe invites you to get creative. I love swapping out a few herbs depending on what’s fresh in my garden or adding a touch of heat with red pepper flakes for those nights when I want an extra kick. You’ll find it’s easy to make this soup your own.

Variation: One time, I added chopped kale near the end of cooking which gave the soup a wonderful leafy texture and even more nutrients—definitely worth a try if you want to sneak in extra greens!

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

Step 1: Season and Rest the Turkey Tenderloins

Start by seasoning your turkey breast tenderloins generously with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. I like to cover them and let them sit for about 25-30 minutes at room temperature—this little trick helps the seasoning soak into the meat and brings it up to an even temperature, which means more even cooking later on.

Step 2: Brown the Turkey for Flavor

Heat the butter and olive oil together in a large Dutch oven or stock pot over medium-high heat. Once sizzling, add the seasoned turkey. Sear each side for about 2-3 minutes until golden brown. This step locks in flavor and gives your soup a deeper taste—but don’t worry about cooking the turkey through yet; it’ll simmer later.

Step 3: Build the Flavor Base with Vegetables

Remove the turkey temporarily and toss in the chopped celery, carrots, and onion. Use a wooden spoon to scrape up those delicious browned bits from the bottom of the pot—that’s where a lot of flavor hides! Let these veggies soften for about 4-5 minutes, then add the garlic and stir for another minute until fragrant.

Step 4: Add Herbs, Spices & Simmer

Throw in your thyme sprigs, bay leaves, oregano, paprika, and Jamaican allspice. Stir and toast them gently for about a minute to really bring out their aromas. Then nestle your browned turkey back into the pot, cover with stock, and stir gently to combine—all the turkey should be submerged. Turn heat to low, cover, and let everything simmer for 45-50 minutes. This slow cooking breaks the turkey down, making it tender and flavorful.

Step 5: Shred the Turkey and Prepare Dumplings

Take the turkey out gently and shred it with two forks on a cutting board—it’s a great little rewarding task. Into a bowl, whisk together flour, cornmeal, and baking powder. Add melted butter, buttermilk, and the mashed sweet potato. Stir just until combined; overmixing will make your dumplings tough. Let the mixture sit a couple of minutes, and you’ll notice it getting fluffy—that’s the baking powder at work.

Step 6: Add Dumplings and Finish Cooking

Return the shredded turkey to the pot and stir in frozen peas. Then, using a spoon or your favorite scooper, drop small mounds of dumpling dough onto the surface of the soup. Spoon a bit of broth over each, cover the pot, and cook for another 10-15 minutes. The dumplings will puff up and cook through, making your soup extra special.

Step 7: Serve and Enjoy

Before serving, scoop out thyme sprigs and bay leaves. Ladle soup into bowls and add a fresh grind of black pepper on top. At this point, it’s pure bliss—warm, rich, and so satisfying.

Top Tip

From my many attempts making this Turkey Soup with Sweet Potato Dumplings Recipe, I’ve learned some handy tricks that make all the difference, so your soup turns out perfect every single time.

Don’t skip letting the turkey rest: This helps even out the cooking, preventing dry or tough chunks later.
Dumpling texture matters: Mix dumpling dough just until combined and avoid over-working it to keep them tender and fluffy.
Use good quality stock: The flavor base of this soup depends heavily on the broth; homemade or a quality store-bought version will elevate your dish.
Cover while simmering dumplings: Keeping the pot covered traps the steam that cooks the dumplings evenly.

How to Serve Turkey Soup with Sweet Potato Dumplings Recipe

Garnishes

I like to keep it simple here—a little fresh cracked black pepper is perfect. Sometimes a sprinkle of chopped fresh parsley or chives adds a pop of color and freshness that balances the hearty flavors nicely.

Side Dishes

This soup is pretty filling on its own, but a simple crusty bread or some buttered corn on the cob pairs wonderfully if you want to round out the meal. I’ve also enjoyed it with a crisp green salad for a lighter contrast.

Creative Ways to Present

For gatherings, I’ve ladled this Turkey Soup with Sweet Potato Dumplings Recipe into small, individual ramekins and topped each bowl with a tiny dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of smoked paprika—it made a pretty presentation and got lots of compliments.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

After cooling, I store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. It’s best eaten within 3-4 days. The dumplings hold up wonderfully; just give the soup a gentle stir before reheating to keep everything cozy.

Freezing

I’ve frozen this soup a couple of times—with dumplings and all! I recommend freezing in portions and leaving some extra broth on the side just in case the dumplings soak it up too much during thawing. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating gently.

Reheating

Reheat the soup on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. If it seems too thick, splash in a bit more broth or water to loosen it up. Avoid high heat to prevent the dumplings from becoming rubbery.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use leftover turkey for this soup?

Absolutely! This recipe is a great way to transform leftover turkey into something fresh and delicious, though you may want to skip the initial browning step and add the turkey towards the end with the peas and dumplings.

Can I make the dumplings gluten-free?

Yes! Simply substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free 1:1 blend. The texture might be slightly different but still delicious.

What if I don’t have buttermilk?

You can easily make a buttermilk substitute by adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to ¾ cup of milk. Let it sit for 5 minutes before using in your dumpling dough.

Can I freeze the soup before adding dumplings?

Definitely! Freezing the soup without the dumplings is a good option to preserve the texture. When you’re ready to eat, thaw the soup and prepare fresh dumplings to cook directly in the reheated soup.

Final Thoughts

This Turkey Soup with Sweet Potato Dumplings Recipe has become a personal favorite, reminding me of cozy family dinners and chilly evenings spent relaxing at home. I hope it becomes one of yours too—easy enough for a weeknight, yet special enough to impress. Give it a go, and I promise you’ll love having this comforting bowl in your cooking repertoire.