Turkey Rice

4.3
(7)

What ultimately sets a great holiday leftover dish apart from the rest? The answer: lots of flavor, not a lot of ingredients, and the ability to stand on its own rather than remind us of the meal it came from. This turkey rice, which is in fact a little more turkey than rice, checks all the boxes, and a fresh, 3-ingredient salsa adds the bright finishing touch.

3
3
Prep Time:
15 mins
Cook Time:
1 hr 30 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 45 mins
Servings:
4

Ingredients

  • 1 cooked turkey leg

  • 1 cooked turkey thigh

  • ½ cooked turkey breast, chopped

  • 4 cups chicken broth, or more as needed

  • 1 yellow onion, diced

  • ¾ cup uncooked white rice

  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt

  • 1 pinch freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper

For the salsa topping:

  • 2 tablespoons minced green onions

  • 2 tablespoons minced red pepper

  • ¼ cup cilantro leaves, minced

Directions

  1. Combine leftover turkey leg, thigh, and breast meat in a stockpot over high heat; add chicken broth and onion. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and cover. Simmer, flipping turkey pieces over halfway, until meat falls off the bone, about 1 hour.

  2. Transfer turkey pieces to a bowl and let cool until safe to handle.

  3. Meanwhile, bring broth to a boil and stir in rice. Season with black pepper, cayenne, and salt. Reduce heat to medium and let rice simmer until it starts to plump up, about 10 minutes.

  4. Pick turkey meat off the bone and chop into small pieces. Stir into the rice, adding more broth as needed. Cook over medium-low heat until rice reaches desired tenderness, 10 to 15 minutes.

  5. Smash green onions, red pepper, and cilantro together for the salsa. Taste and season turkey rice as desired, then scoop into serving bowls and top with salsa.

Chef's Notes:

Use any cooked turkey pieces you have. I ended up with about 14 ounces of picked meat.

Substitute broth with chicken stock or turkey broth/stock if desired.

I used medium-grain, but any rice will work.

Use any red pepper, sweet or hot, that you like.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

443 Calories
11g Fat
34g Carbs
48g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Calories 443
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 11g 14%
Saturated Fat 3g 17%
Cholesterol 129mg 43%
Sodium 2539mg 110%
Total Carbohydrate 34g 12%
Dietary Fiber 1g 5%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 48g 96%
Vitamin C 8mg 9%
Calcium 40mg 3%
Iron 5mg 29%
Potassium 564mg 12%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.

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