Best Leftover Turkey Soup Recipe - I Heart Naptime (2024)

Best Leftover Turkey Soup Recipe - I Heart Naptime (1)

Jamielyn Nye
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This leftover turkey soup is the best way to make the most of Thanksgiving leftovers. Made with a rich broth, tender turkey, fresh vegetables and noodles, it’s comforting and super easy to make!

Other ways we enjoy leftover turkey recipes, are making this turkey pot pie, turkey tetrazzini and turkey cranberry sliders!

Best Leftover Turkey Soup Recipe - I Heart Naptime (2)

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Table of Contents

  • Easy Leftover Turkey Soup
  • Why This Recipe Works
  • Recipe Ingredients
  • Substitutions and Variations
  • How to Make Turkey Soup
  • 5 star review
  • Recipe FAQs
  • More Homemade Soup Recipes
  • Turkey Soup Recipe Printable Recipe

Easy Leftover Turkey Soup

If you need a recipe to use up all that leftover roasted turkey or smoked turkey after Thanksgiving, definitely give this easy turkey soup a try!

If you love chicken noodle soup, you will love this leftover turkey soup, too. We love to add the noodles, but you can easily omit them or use rice, similar to this chicken and rice soup!

Why This Recipe Works

  • Easy to make. Everything cooks in just one pot, making clean up super easy and quick. Done is less than 1 hour.
  • Best use of leftovers. This turkey soup recipe is great to use leftover turkey meat from Thanksgiving. Use leftover vegetables from dishes such as crockpot stuffing, too.
  • Comfort food. Like chicken pot pie soup, the savory flavor and hearty texture make this leftover turkey soup the ultimate comfort meal!

Recipe Ingredients

Made with a simple mix of veggies, noodles, seasonings and leftover turkey, this soup recipe is both hearty and comforting!

Best Leftover Turkey Soup Recipe - I Heart Naptime (3)

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

  • Turkey: Use leftover turkey that’s been cooked and shredded. Using both white and dark meat adds the best flavor.
  • Veggies: Chopped celery, onions and carrots (mirepoix) are sauteed in butter to add the perfect aroma to the turkey soup.
  • Noodles: Uncooked elbow noodles are my favorite to use, but egg noodles are great, too.
  • Broth: You can use chicken broth or make your own homemade turkey stock which will make it even more rich and flavorful.
  • Herbs and spices: A simple mix of fresh thyme or dried thyme, garlic powder, salt and pepper is all that’s needed to flavor this leftover turkey soup.

Substitutions and Variations

  • Veggies: Spinach, kale, peas, green beans, potatoes and corn.
  • Protein: No leftover Thanksgiving turkey, no worries! Try shredded chicken or oven roasted chicken.
  • Seasonings: Other spices that would taste delicious are parsley, sage, marjoram, rosemary, a bay leaf and poultry seasoning.
  • Grains: Instead of noodles, add cooked white rice, brown rice or a wild rice blend.
  • Creamy: Make a roux to add to this easy turkey soup recipe or just whisk some flour with some half and half and stir it in near the end. You could also add in 1/2 cup heavy cream.

How to Make Turkey Soup

This recipe for leftover turkey soup takes just 15 minutes to prep and is ready to devour in just about 45 minutes.

Best Leftover Turkey Soup Recipe - I Heart Naptime (4)
  1. 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.
  2. Add in liquids. Next add chicken broth (or turkey stock) and water to the pot and bring to a boil. Cook for about 10 to 15 minutes.
  3. Mix in noodles and meat. Then stir in the noodles, cooked turkey, thyme, salt, pepper and garlic powder. Bring to a boil. Cook for additional 10 to 12 minutes (until noodles are cooked through).
  4. Serve. Ladle the soup into bowls and serve with a leftover homemade dinner roll from your Thanksgiving meal! Add a squeeze of lemon juice to brighten flavors if desired.

5 star review

This recipe was the inspiration needed to figure out a way to make a veggie-filled turkey soup for my family. Thank you for this recipe and the chance to change leftovers into something comforting on a cold day. :-)

– Dina
Best Leftover Turkey Soup Recipe - I Heart Naptime (5)

Recipe FAQs

How long after cooking turkey can you make soup?

Cooked turkey will keep in the fridge for about 3 to 4 days, so I’d recommend making this soup about 1-2 days after your Thanksgiving meal. That way if you have any leftover soup, the turkey will still be fresh for a few more days.

What to serve with turkey soup?

We love serving ours with a piece of crusty French bread or sweet cornbread. Leftover reheated Lion House rolls from Thanksgiving also taste delicious on the side.

Besides a turkey sandwich and soups, what are some other leftover turkey recipes?

Any casserole that calls for chicken you can substitute leftover turkey! It also tastes delicious in a breakfast casserole or substitute the protein in this ham and cheese quiche.

How long does it lasts in the fridge?

Store soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 3-4 days. Reheat on the stove oven medium-heat, until the soup is warm throughout. You may need to add in a little more broth or stock if the soup has thickened.

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 mushy when frozen and reheated. Cool soup completely then store in an airtight container in the freeze for a few months.

Thaw in the refrigerator overnight then warm on stove. Add freshly cooked noodles to soup before serving.

Best Leftover Turkey Soup Recipe - I Heart Naptime (6)

More ways to repurpose your Thanksgiving leftovers include cranberry meatballs with cranberry sauce or transform roasted butternut squash to a fall salad or butternut squash soup!

More Homemade Soup Recipes

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  • Healthy Turkey Chili Recipe
  • Easy Lasagna Soup Recipe
  • Easy Taco Soup Recipe

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Best Leftover Turkey Soup Recipe - I Heart Naptime (11)

Turkey Soup Recipe

4.97 from 76 votes

↑ Click stars to rate now!

Author: Jamielyn Nye

Leftover turkey soup made with a rich broth, tender chunks of turkey, fresh vegetables and noodles is the best way to use Thanksgiving leftovers!

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 30 minutes mins

Total Time: 45 minutes mins

Servings: 6

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Ingredients

  • 2 Tablespoons salted butter
  • 1-2 cups sliced carrots
  • 1 cup chopped celery
  • ½ cup chopped onion
  • 1 cup water
  • 43.5 ounces chicken broth (or turkey stock)
  • 1 cup elbow noodles , uncooked
  • 2 ½ cups turkey , cooked and shredded
  • 1-2 teaspoons fresh thyme , or 1/4 teaspoon dried
  • ¼ – ¾ teaspoon Kosher salt , plus more to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper , plus more to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

  • In a large pot over medium-heat, melt butter. Add the carrots, celery, and onion. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, or until onions are softened.Add the water and broth to the pot. Bring to a boil and cook for about 10 minutes.

  • Add the noodles, turkey, thyme, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Return a boil, and cook for an additional 10 to 12 minutes, or until the noodles are cooked. Ladle into bowls and serve warm.

Notes

Variations: You can also use leftover oven roasted chicken for this recipe too. Tastes just as yummy!

Storage: This soup will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 3 to 4 days.

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

Calories: 198kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 959mg | Potassium: 508mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 7300IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 1.3mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

Course: Soup

Cuisine: American

Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!

Categorized as: American, Christmas, Dinner, Freezer-Friendly, Freezer-Friendly, Nut-Free, One Pot, One Pot, Soups, Stovetop, Stovetop, Thanksgiving

Best Leftover Turkey Soup Recipe - I Heart Naptime (12)

Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is also the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook. Here you will find easy family-friendly recipes for every occasion.

More about Jamielyn Nye

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Add a comment

63 comments

    • Debra
    • Best Leftover Turkey Soup Recipe - I Heart Naptime (17)

    I didn’t make this soup yet. Wanted to know if I can substitute the noodles for basmati rice

    • Reply
      • Jamielyn Nye

      I haven’t tried it with this recipe, but you could swap the chicken for turkey in this recipe: https://www.iheartnaptime.net/chicken-rice-soup/

      • Reply
    • Kandy

    Found this recipe a few days ago and made it. It was so delicious, I’m even making it today for my client that I do in-home-support with.

    • Reply
    • Pauline Gudas
    • Best Leftover Turkey Soup Recipe - I Heart Naptime (18)

    I have everything I need to make this on Friday. Delocious and easy to make

    • Reply
    • Julie Sharkey
    • Best Leftover Turkey Soup Recipe - I Heart Naptime (19)

    This is the perfect recipe to use for Thanksgiving leftover turkey! I use this recipe with leftover chicken as well. So good!

    • Reply
      • Jamielyn Nye

      So glad you enjoyed the turkey soup! Thanks for your review Julie :)

      • Reply
    • Natasha
    • Best Leftover Turkey Soup Recipe - I Heart Naptime (20)

    This recipe for Leftover Turkey Soup is very tasty! I love trying out new soup recipes and I’m so glad I didn’t skip this recipe.

    • Reply
    • Andie
    • Best Leftover Turkey Soup Recipe - I Heart Naptime (21)

    Honestly one of the best way to use up the leftover turkey. And since it’s cold season…nothing helps you feel better like a warm bowl of soup!

    • Reply

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Best Leftover Turkey Soup Recipe - I Heart Naptime (2024)

FAQs

How long is leftover turkey good for soup? ›

It's generally safe to keep a cooked turkey carcass in the fridge for 3-4 days before making stock. After that, it's advisable to freeze it for longer storage if you don't plan to use it immediately.

How do you make bland turkey soup taste better? ›

You can add more herbs and different spices to add more flavor to turkey soup, but sometimes a bit of salt is all you need. The other clincher is cooking the carcass low and slow to get as much flavor from the roast turkey as possible. Try sauteeing your vegetables in a bit of olive oil before adding to the soup.

Why is turkey soup good for you? ›

The benefits of bone broth go beyond its flavor. It is full of collagen and gelatin which are great for hair, nail and skin health as well as healthy joints. It's also full of nutrients that can contribute to improved gut and immune system health.

How long does cream of turkey soup last in the fridge? ›

How long is leftover turkey soup good for? Soup can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to four days.

Can you use 5 day old turkey in soup? ›

USDA recommends using cooked turkey within 3 to 4 days, kept refrigerated (40°F or less).

How long can you eat turkey in soup after Thanksgiving? ›

Turkey: 3-4 days.

If you use the turkey in a new dish like a soup or casserole, only consume within those initial four days. Another option is freezing the cooked turkey. Turkey can last up to four more months if frozen.

What seasoning makes soup taste better? ›

Smoked paprika: this vibrant spice helps to add smokiness, a subtle sweetness, and depth of flavor. Black Pepper or Cayenne pepper: spicy spices help to add a kick to your soup, but they also excite your tastebuds and make all of the other flavors more pronounced – even if you only add a pinch!

How do you add depth of flavor to soup? ›

"If your broth is lacking in savory richness, try adding roasted onion, tomato paste, mushrooms, seaweed, soy sauce, or miso. These ingredients add umami flavor and depth to broth," she says. The choice of ingredient depends on the recipe, though.

What adds flavor to soup? ›

You can extract a clean, strong broth from a combination of water and several pantry ingredients. It's all about layering powerful flavor-enhancers that you probably already have on hand—bacon, tomato paste, herbs, peppercorns, a Parmesan rind, and, of course, kosher salt.

Is turkey good for the heart? ›

Research suggests that regularly eating turkey can help to reduce cholesterol levels and improve heart health by helping to regulate blood pressure levels in the body. This can lead to lower heart disease or stroke risk over time.

Why is my turkey soup so greasy? ›

It happens. One common error is letting soup boil, not simmer. With boiling, any fat rendered by the meat or bones will be churned back into the broth instead of floating to the top where it can be skimmed off. Broth that has been boiled turns cloudy and has a greasy taste and feel.

What is the healthiest soup? ›

6 delicious and healthy soups
  • Chicken Vietnamese Pho.
  • Green spring minestrone.
  • Herb and yoghurt-based soup.
  • Lamb shank and barley soup.
  • Pumpkin soup with star croutons.
  • Lentil and vegetable soup with crusty bread.
Apr 26, 2020

Is it OK to leave turkey soup out overnight? ›

Food should not be at room temperature for more than two hours. Shallow containers or small amounts of hot food can be placed directly in the refrigerator or rapidly chilled in an ice or cold water bath before refrigerating. Cover foods to retain moisture and prevent them from picking up odors from other foods.

Is it safe to eat turkey soup left out overnight? ›

Based on current food safety standards, you should not eat it. Any food that contains animal protein (as most soup does) should be discarded if it has sat at a temperature between 40F and 140F for more than 2-4 hours, as bacteria can breed in this range. The fact that it's covered makes no difference.

How do you thicken turkey soup? ›

Add flour or cornflour

Put a tablespoon of either into a small bowl and stir in 2-3 tbsp of the soup until you have a smooth mixture. Stir this back into the soup and bring it to a simmer. Cook for a few minutes to allow the starch granules to burst to thicken, and to cook out any flour flavour.

Can I eat leftover soup after 5 days? ›

After 3 to 4 days, germs, also called bacteria, may begin to grow in refrigerated leftovers. This growth increases the risk of food poisoning, also called foodborne illness. Bacteria typically don't change the taste, smell or look of food. So you can't tell whether a food is dangerous to eat.

Is soup still good after 7 days? ›

A general rule of thumb is that soup can be stored in the refrigerator for about three days, but you should always taste your dish before deciding to reheat. A clear, vegetable-based soup with some acidity, such as tomatoes, may last longer. Chicken soup usually lasts three to five days.

How long does cooked turkey broth last in the fridge? ›

Cool the stock, then place it in the fridge, either in a large pot or in quart containers. When the stock is chilled, scrape most or all of the fat from the top. Use as desired in various recipes. Turkey stock can be refrigerated for up to 4 days, or frozen for up to 4 months.

Can I eat week old leftover soup? ›

According to the FDA Food Code, all perishable foods that are opened or prepared should be thrown out after 7 days, maximum. No leftovers should survive in your fridge for longer than that. Some foods should be even be thrown away before the 7 day mark.

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