The perfect meal to use up all that leftover turkey from the holidays! Packed with fresh veggies, herbs and noodles, this leftover turkey soup recipe is super filling and comforting!
I’m a big sucker for soup. Especially once the weather gets cooler in the fall and winter. Some of my other favorites are pot pie soup, taco soup and lasagna soup. Yum!
I know most of you are going to be looking for a recipe to use up all that leftover turkey after Thanksgiving. Definitely give this easy turkey soup a try! It’s very filling and also pretty healthy too.
This recipe is an easy way to pack in extra veggies for your family. My whole family loved it and the kids gobbled it right up. We’ll definitely be making it again this weekend!
If you love chicken noodle soup, you will love this leftover turkey soup too. We love to add the noodles to bulk up the soup a little, but you can easily omit them if you want to keep it low carb. It’s simple to make, comes together in one pot and is ready in less than an hour. This is the perfect recipe to use up that leftover turkey!
What spices to use?
There are lots of different spices you can use in this recipe. My favorites to add are salt, pepper, garlic powder and fresh thyme.
Other spices that would taste delicious are parsley, sage, marjoram, a bay leaf and poultry seasoning. Feel free to add in what you have on hand!
Vegetables to add
The beauty of this recipe is that you can add in any veggies you have on hand. I added the traditional vegetables that you typically find in a turkey soup, however feel free to add in any extras that you prefer. Such a great way to get those veggies in!
- Onion
- Celery
- Carrots
- Spinach
- Kale
- Peas
- Green beans
- Potatoes
How to make turkey soup
- Cook the veggies. In a large pot over medium-heat, add in carrots, onion, celery and butter. Cook until onions are soft, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add in liquids. Next add chicken broth and water to the pot and bring to a boil. Cook for about 10 to 15 minutes.
- Mix in noodles and spices. Then mix in the noodles, turkey, thyme, salt, pepper and garlic powder. Bring to a boil. Cook for additional 10 to 12 minutes (until noodles are cooked through).
How long does it last in the fridge?
This soup will keep in the refrigerator for about 3 to 4 days. Just be sure to store in an airtight container in the fridge. I like to reheat it on the stove. Add soup to a pot and cook on medium-heat, until the soup is warm throughout.
Can it be frozen?
If you’re planning to freeze the turkey soup recipe, I’d recommend leaving out the noodles when cooking. They tend to get a bit mushy when frozen and reheated. Just make the recipe without the noodles and store in an airtight container in the freezer.
When ready to eat, thaw in the refrigerator over night. While warming soup back up on the stove, cook your noodles in a separate pot. Once noodles are cooked through, add to soup and enjoy!
More homemade soups:
- Hearty Vegetable Soup
- Healthy Turkey Chili
- One-Pot Chicken and Rice Soup
- Easy 3-Ingredient Chili
- Minestrone Soup
Leftover Turkey Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups carrots , sliced
- 1/2 cup onion , chopped
- 1 cup celery , chopped
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- 1 cup water
- 43.5 ounces chicken broth , or turkey stock (3 cans)
- 1 cup elbow noodles , uncooked
- 2 1/2 cups turkey , cooked and shredded
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme (1/4 teaspoon dried)
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Combine the carrots, onion, celery and butter in a large pot over medium-heat. Cook for 2-3 minutes, or until onions are soft.
- Add the water and chicken broth to the pot. Bring to a boil and cook for about 10-15 minutes.
- Add the noodles, turkey, thyme, salt, pepper and garlic powder and bring to a boil. Cook for an additional 10-12 minutes or until the noodles are cooked. Add more salt and pepper to taste (if desired).
Notes
- You can also use leftover chicken for this recipe too. Tastes just as yummy!
- This soup will keep in the refrigerator for about 3 to 4 days if stored in an airtight container.
- To freeze: Make the recipe without the noodles and store in an airtight container in the freezer. When ready to eat, thaw in the refrigerator over night. Cook the noodles in a separate pot while you warm the soup. Once noodles are cooked, add to soup and enjoy.
Nutrition
Now pour yourself a bowl of this delicious turkey soup and enjoy! Serve with homemade french bread or rolls for the ultimate comfort meal!
Great way to use up leftover turkey or chicken. I like to add a small splash of rice vinegar or white wine vinegar to brighten the flavor of soups.
Great idea, thanks for sharing! :)
Great idea! I made it GF by skipping elbow mac in favor of potatoes, corn, and peas.
I’m glad it turned out by making it gluten free! Thanks for sharing!
This is such a lifesaver after Thanksgiving when everyone is so sleepy and busy that weekend! This soup is so yummy – I can’t wait to have it after Thanksgiving too!
I’m so glad you enjoy it! :)
We love this recipe for using up leftover turkey! It’s tasty and easy too.
Very tasty and easy to make. Perfect for all the leftovers I had after Thanksgiving dinner. Only addition I made was to add some mushrooms with the other veggies because I also had some leftover and they added a very nice earthy touch to the finished product.
Sounds delicious! So glad you enjoyed it! :)
Amazing recipe! I added kale and used egg noodles (a LOT of them) and it was SO good! Thanks for the awesome share!
Sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing! :)
Such a great way to use up turkey! My family will love this!
Pass me the soup! I would love a big bowl of this.
I love everything about this soup!! So warm and comforting!