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Cozy up with a big bowl of this healthy Turkey Stew all throughout the colder months, with tender braised turkey breast and a thick velvety apple cider broth that creates a tangy gravy-like sauce, you’re sure to love every last bite.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Healthy Protein: We’re using lean turkey meat, which is a fantastic source of high-quality protein to keep you feeling strong and satisfied.
- High Fiber: With all those hearty potatoes and the subtle sweetness of the apples, you’re getting a wonderful mix of complex carbohydrates and fiber. It’s the kind of stick-to-your-ribs nutrition that makes you feel good from the inside out, and honestly, it tastes like a hug in a bowl.
- Tender, Flavorful Meat: After a quick browning of the turkey, which is totally worth the five minutes, trust me! You just cover that beautiful skillet and slide it into the oven. That’s it! For the next hour and a half, the oven does all the work, slowly braising the turkey until it’s fall-apart tender and allowing all those incredible flavors to meld together.
- Hands Off Cooking: It’s the perfect hands-off meal for a busy weeknight when you need to help with homework, run errands, or just finally sit down and relax. You deserve a break, and this stew is going to give it to you.
Hearty meat stew during the cold months is always a good idea! If you want to try out more of our healthy stew recipes, you should try Hearty Beef + Sweet Potato Stew, Flavorful Moroccan Chicken Stew, or White Bean + Barley Stew next.
Turkey Stew Ingredients
These are the clean ingredients that make this Turkey Stew both delicious and nutritious.
- 6 servings
- 2 Tbsps arrowroot powder, gluten-free flour, or cornstarch
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1 Tbsp sweet paprika
- 2 lbs cubed turkey meat
- 2 Tbsps high-quality olive oil, unrefined avocado oil, or ghee
- 5 shallots, peeled and halved
- 5 garlic cloves, chopped
- 3 cups apple cider
- 2 Tbsps apple cider vinegar
- 3 bay leaves
- 3 large apples, cubed
- 3 large white potatoes, cubed
See the recipe card for full information on all ingredients and instructions.
Variations and Adaptations
Turkey: If you don’t have turkey, this delicious stew will also taste great with chicken.
Apples: We recommend Fuji or Honeycrisp apples since they hold up well in cooking and their flavor is both tart and sweet, however another option is Granny Smith but it could add a slightly more tart flavor to the stew.
Arrowroot Powder: If you don’t have any arrowroot, you could substitute gluten free flour or cornstarch to keep this turkey stew gluten free.
Thicker or Thinner Stew: To make this stew thicker or thinner, adjust the amount of apple cider you add.
Cook on the stovetop: You may cook this turkey stew on the stovetop, covered, over very low heat.
How to make Turkey Stew
Preheat your oven to 320°F.
Step 1. In a large bowl whisk the arrowroot or flour together with all of the seasonings, then add in your cubed meat and toss well to coat every piece.
Step 2. Heat your oil over medium-high heat in a large Dutch oven or large oven-safe skillet with lid and brown the coated meat on all sides.
Step 3. Remove the browned meat from the Dutch oven and add the shallots to sauté for a few minutes. Next, deglaze the pan with the garlic, apple cider, and apple cider vinegar, being sure to scrape the brown bits from the bottom of the pan.
Step 4. Return the browned turkey pieces to the pan together with the apples, potatoes, and bay leaves, stir to combine.
Step 5. Cook covered in the oven for 1.5 hours or until the meat and potatoes are tender.
Enjoy!
Love, Rachel
Are you looking for more turkey recipes? Then try our Turkey + Veggie Skillet, Creamy Leftover Turkey Soup, or Healthier Turkey Swedish Meatballs.
Rachel’s Tips for the best result
Now, let me share a few little secrets to make this stew absolutely perfect.
- Don’t skip the step of coating the turkey in the seasoned flour mixture; that’s what helps thicken the stew beautifully and gives the meat a gorgeous crust.
- Also, when you’re deglazing the pan with the apple cider and vinegar, make sure you scrape up all those little browned bits from the bottom, that’s pure flavor!
- And a little tip for the apples: use a variety that holds its shape well, like Honeycrisp or Fuji, so they add a lovely texture without turning to mush.
- The combination of the sweet cider and the tangy vinegar is what gives this stew its unique, irresistible flavor.
Serving Suggestions
A big bowl of this turkey apple stew is hearty enough to be a meal in itself. However, we love serving this at fall potlucks and gameday grill outs too, so adding a few sides is necessary. Here are some of our favorite pairings:
Leftover Storage and Reheat Instructions
This stew is great for meal prep because it will keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. It also freezes beautifully if you want to make a double batch and freeze it for later. It will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you are ready to reheat the stew, just pop it into the microwave and heat until it’s hot throughout.
Recipe FAQs
Is turkey stew healthy?
Using turkey (especially breast meat) provides a lean source of protein that is essential for muscle repair and satiety.
The apples and potatoes contribute a significant amount of dietary fiber, especially if you keep the skins on.
The 1.5 cups of apple cider contribute to the sugar content in this stew (which lends an INCREDIBLE flavor). While this is “natural” sugar, it can still impact blood glucose levels. You could reduce the cider by half and replace it with water or low-sodium turkey bone broth for a less sweet profile.
Can I use leftover turkey in this stew?
I would not use leftover turkey for this stew. This recipe works best using cubed, raw turkey. If you have some leftover turkey you need to use up, try these recipes, Quick Leftover Turkey + Bean Soup or Dill + Lemon Turkey Leftover Soup.
Should apples be peeled before stewing?
The apples can be peeled if you want, but I think they hold up better in this stew unpeeled. Plus, a lot of the nutrients and fiber is found in the apple skin.
More Stew Recipes You’ll Love
- Thai Inspired Fish Stew
- Loaded Vegetable Stew
- Quick + Easy CFC Chicken Stew
- Rachel’s Favorite Comforting Beef Stew
Healthy Turkey Stew Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsps arrowroot powder, , gluten-free flour, or cornstarch
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1 Tbsp sweet paprika
- 2 lbs cubed turkey meat
- 2 Tbsps high-quality olive oil, unrefined avocado oil, or ghee
- 5 shallots, peeled and halved
- 5 garlic cloves, chopped
- 3 cups apple cider
- 2 Tbsps apple cider vinegar
- 3 bay leaves
- 3 large apples, cubed
- 3 large white potatoes, cubed
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 320°F.
- In a large bowl whisk the arrowroot or flour together with all of the seasonings. Add in your
- cubed meat and toss well to coat every piece.
- Heat your oil over medium-high heat in a large Dutch oven or large oven-safe skillet with lid.
- Brown the coated meat on both sides.
- Once all the turkey pieces are browned, set them aside on a large plate.
- Add the shallots to the pot and sauté for a few minutes. Stir in the garlic, apple cider, apple cider vinegar, and bay leaves. Stir and bring the mixture to a boil, scraping the bottom of the skillet.
- Return the browned turkey pieces to the pan together with the apples and potatoes. Stir to combine.
- Cover and cook at 320°F for about 1 ½ hours, until the meat and potatoes are tender.
- Alternatively, you may cook on the stovetop, covered, over very low heat.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
