Slow-Cooker Leftover Turkey and Andouille Gumbo Recipe

Slow cooker gumbo made with leftover turkey and andouille is built on the foundation of a stovetop roux.

By
Jennifer Olvera
Jennifer Olvera is a contributing writer at Serious Eats.
Jennifer Olvera
Jennifer Olvera is a Chicago-based food writer and cookbook author who has written eight cookbooks and contributed to Serious Eats, the Los Angeles Times, The Chicago Tribune, and others.
Learn about Serious Eats' Editorial Process
Updated November 02, 2022
Overhead view of a bowl of slow cooker turkey gumbo with rice.

Serious Eats / Jennifer Olvera

Why It Works

  • Sautéed vegetables and a roux form the foundation for gumbo that is rich and full of depth.
  • Add-ins such as Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and Cajun seasoning boost the flavor factor.
  • Andouille sausage makes the gumbo smoky as can be.

This turkey gumbo turns leftover meat into a smoky, comforting day-after meal. The most time-consuming part is sautéing the vegetables and making the roux. I'd suggest handling the former, which includes onion, celery, bell pepper, and garlic, while you're prepping stuffing ingredients the day before. Then just refrigerate the chopped vegetables until you're ready to make the gumbo. As for the roux, you'll need to cook it on the stove until it turns toasty and fragrant; this involves continuous stirring, and it takes about 20 minutes. I know, I know—20 minutes of work for a slow cooker recipe? Trust me (and everyone in the state of Louisiana), a good roux takes a little time.

After that, good news it's essentially hands-off. Just drop it in the slow cooker and let it do the work for you. Worcestershire sauce provides savory depth, Louisiana-style hot sauce offers heat and tang, bay leaves and thyme give it more complexity, and its signature flavor arrives courtesy of smoked sausage, Cajun seasoning, and cayenne pepper.

Have more leftover turkey? Try turkey chile verde or turkey, lemon, and couscous soup.

November 2014

Recipe Details

Slow-Cooker Leftover Turkey and Andouille Gumbo Recipe

Active 30 mins
Total 4 hrs 30 mins
Serves 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup, plus 1 tablespoon, vegetable or light olive oil, divided

  • 1 stalk celery, finely chopped

  • 1 medium green bell pepper, seeded finely chopped

  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped

  • 4 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

  • 1 quart homemade or store-bought low-sodium chicken or turkey stock

  • 2 cups cooked turkey meat, preferably a mix of dark and light

  • 1 cup chopped andouille or other smoked sausage

  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

  • 1 tablespoon Louisiana-style hot sauce, such as Crystal (increase for more heat)

  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

  • 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning

  • 3 sprigs fresh thyme

  • 2 bay leaves

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

  • 2 cups cooked, long-grain white rice

Directions

  1. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add celery, pepper, and onion and cook, stirring often, until vegetables have begun to soften, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and continue cooking for 2 minutes more.

  2. Transfer vegetables to the bowl of a slow cooker and return pot to the stove over low heat. Add remaining oil and flour. Cook mixture, stirring slowly and continuously, until roux is dark brown and fragrant, about 20 minutes. Do not allow it to burn.

  3. Raise heat to medium-high and gradually whisk in stock, stirring constantly to prevent lumps. When all of liquid has been added and it starts to thicken, pour into cooker. Add turkey, andouille, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, cayenne, Cajun seasoning, thyme, and bay leaves. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

  4. Cover and cook on low setting for about 4 hours, stirring periodically. Before serving, discard bay leaves and thyme sprigs and adjust seasoning, if needed. To serve, ladle gumbo over rice.

Special Equipment

Slow cooker

Read More

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
441Calories
22gFat
36gCarbs
23gProtein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories441
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 22g29%
Saturated Fat 5g25%
Cholesterol 65mg22%
Sodium 1151mg50%
Total Carbohydrate 36g13%
Dietary Fiber 2g6%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 23g
Vitamin C 22mg110%
Calcium 45mg3%
Iron 3mg16%
Potassium 609mg13%
*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.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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