Leftover Turkey Soup Recipe
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This leftover turkey soup is a delicious, savory way to use up some of that leftover Thanksgiving turkey you’ve still got in the fridge.
What To Do With Leftover Turkey
Leftover turkey recipes see a surge of traffic the day after Thanksgiving. And for good reason. There is usually a fair amount of turkey that needs eating after the holidays is done and gone.
A good leftover turkey recipe will help you enjoy what’s been leftover from the holiday festivities so that nothing goes to waste.
Turkey Stock
If you have that carcass left over from Thanksgiving, put it to good use and make turkey stock! There is nothing quite like homemade stock, and the good news is, it’s simple to make. Here’s how to make turkey stock. And I promise, it will take your homemade soup to new, flavorful heights.
Turkey Noodle Soup
A good chicken or turkey soup really needs more than just a good flavored broth. It needs something to fill that broth. And whether you prefer rice or noodles, both are equally wonderful at bulking up a good broth.
In my experience, it’s always better to cook the noodles separately to package directions. This recipe reflects that.
The best way to get the most flavor out of your pasta is to salt your cooking water. In a large pot of water, I will usually add about 1 tbsp. of salt. A good portion of which, will stay behind in the water when you strain the pasta.
Turkey Rice Soup
If you prefer turkey rice soup over turkey noodle, then it’s easy enough to switch the noodles for rice in this recipe.
What You’ll Need
4 cups chicken broth – Look for broth that is low in sodium and has no added sugar (a.k.a dextrose). You’ll probably add salt to this soup anyway, so having all the extra sodium in your broth is never a good idea.
1 cup sliced carrots – These can be regular, peeled carrots with green tops removed, or you can use baby carrots. Either one will work well here.
2 medium celery stalks – Slice these thin for the best texture in your soup. Large chunks of celery are rarely appetizing.
1 tbsp. garlic powder – Do not use garlic salt. A simple granulated garlic powder is all you need.
1 tbsp. dried onion – You can use onion powder if you don’t have any dried onions. Either one will work here.
2 tsp. dried sage – only use 1 tsp. if your turkey was cooked with sage. Otherwise, the flavor will overpower your soup.
2 cups cooked, shredded turkey – This will be your leftover turkey. Shred some of the pieces and add it to your soup. 2 cups is just a starting point. You can add more or less as you wish.
Noodles or rice – Add as much as you like at the end when serving. See notes in instructions for keep your noodles or rice from getting mushy.
How To Make Turkey Soup
- Boil – In a medium sized soup pot, bring the broth, carrots, celery and spices to a boil.
- Add – Boil until the vegetable are cooked to your liking and then toss in the turkey.
- Cook – Cook for an additional 5 minutes just to warm the meat, and serve.
- Serve – Add any cooked noodles or rice. Note that you may want to add the rice or noodles at serving instead of dumping them into your big pot of soup. Storing them separately will keep them from getting mushy from soaking up extra liquid in the soup overnight.
More Leftover Turkey Recipes
Leftover Turkey Soup
Leftover Turkey Soup
Equipment
- Soup Pot
Ingredients
- 4 cups chicken broth (low sodium, no sugar added)
- 1 cup sliced carrots
- 2 medium celery stalks
- 1 tbsp. garlic powder
- 1 tbsp. dried onion
- 2 tsp. dried sage (only use 1 tsp. if your turkey was cooked with sage)
- 2 cups cooked, shredded turkey
Instructions
- In a medium sized soup pot, bring the broth, carrots, celery and spices to a boil.
- Boil until the vegetable are cooked to your liking and then toss in the turkey.
- Cook for an additional 5 minutes just to warm the meat, and serve.
- Add any cooked noodles or rice. Note that you may want to add the rice or noodles at serving instead of dumping them into your big pot of soup. Storing them separately will keep them from getting mushy from soaking up extra liquid in the soup overnight.
My fave soup is Chicken Noodle. That was always our go to soup.
This lunch warmer would be perfect for me. Our microwave “blew up” at work and they are not planning to replace it. Thanks! Kelly
This one! What a great healthy way to get rid of the last of the turkey and also have a nice warm meal on a cold day or night!
Thank you for all your hard work in the kitchen to make our time in the kitchen so much more healthier and easy!
My favorite soup recipe is one for a Thai Sweet Potato Soup. It has coconut milk lemongrass and of course sweet potatoes! Delicious!
My favorite soup recipe is taco soup. It’s great when the family wants the flavor of tacos but I don’t have time to make tortillas. I love the idea also of putting the spices in a tea ball! I never thought of that and will be trying it.
It’s hard for me to pick a favorite soup. I love pasta fagioli. I love Rachael Rays Double Dumpling Chicken soup (made with gnocchi). I love Spinach Sausage Barley. We live in MN. In the cold months (which is most of them!) we have soup at least once a week! I’m always on the lookout for a new great recipe.
I don’t have any leftover turkey this year!! But I look forward to trying this recipe soon 🙂 Maybe they’ll be some turkey sales??
Favorite Soup = Tomato Basil
Thank you! I was looking for a new way to use my leftover turkey!
My family LOVES split pea soup 🙂
I made a turkey soup last night and it’s delicious! Thanks for all your great recipes!
I love red lentil soup because it’s super easy (and my son’s favorite) but this looks like a great changeup in the winter menu. It’s about 20 degrees in MN right now and blowing snow. Can’t wait to make this for lunch!
My favorite recipe is this:
take onion and garlic, saute then add chicken and brown rice (about a cup) and cover and let boil for 20 minutes. Then add about 1/2 cup quinoa and as many veggies as you like, cover and let boil another 20 minutes or so until the chicken is done (add bullion only if you use plain water instead of a bone broth or something similar – add when you add the chicken). This is a harty stew that I LOVE to make this time of year and freeze portions. 🙂 YUM!
thanks for the recipe! trying it out today!
oh and my fave soup recipe is butternut squash soup.
Love your blog!♥ It has helped me so much!
Leftover turkey soup from the holidays is the absolute best! Mom is visiting right now, and that’s what we’re having for dinner tonight. Yummy!
I love Chicken Noodle.
Yum! I like to add diced onion, spinach and wild rice too! I haven’t seen the crock pot warmer before…very cool!