Turkey soup is only as good as the broth its made with. I’m going to share my tips about how to make the best turkey soup AND help you clean up after your big turkey dinner easily.
Review from Anne, “Kristen this is an amazing recipe, loved the soup. I used leftover roasted turkey as garnishing on top and it was delicious. ★★★★★”
Many turkey soup recipes are made with chicken stock, which means that they won’t taste like real, homemade turkey soup. Luckily, making turkey stock is so easy that you can do it in your sleep – literally.
This is a recipe that I’ve made a million times. Or at least once a year for the past 20-something years – pretty close to a million. You can trust that when it comes to making turkey soup, I know what I’m doing.
Turkey soup is a hearty comforting meal that makes use of leftover turkey after the holidays. It can be challenging to figure out the best way to make turkey soup from scratch. This article will provide a step-by-step guide on how to make delicious homemade turkey soup.
Ingredients Needed
The main ingredients you’ll need for homemade turkey soup are
- Turkey meat – Use leftover roasted turkey or cook 2 boneless, skinless turkey breasts.
- Turkey bones and carcass – Simmer the bones to make flavorful broth. Break up carcass to fit in pot.
- Vegetables – Onions, carrots, celery are classic. Can also add corn, zucchini, peppers, etc.
- Herbs – Poultry seasoning, basil, parsley, rosemary, thyme.
- Rice or pasta – Use white or brown rice, egg noodles or small pasta shapes.
- Broth – Chicken or turkey broth boosts flavor. Use 2-3 cans or boxes.
Steps to Make Turkey Soup
Follow these simple steps for deliciously homemade turkey soup
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Make turkey stock: Place turkey carcass, bones, and 2-3 boxes broth in a large pot. Add enough water to cover. Simmer 4-6 hours.
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Prepare the vegetables: Chop onions, carrots, celery. Mince garlic. Optional vegetables can be chopped now too.
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Sauté vegetables: Heat olive oil in pot over medium heat. Sauté onion for 2-3 minutes. Then add carrots, celery, and garlic. Sauté 3-5 minutes more.
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Add turkey and stock: Remove carcass and bones from broth. Add stock, roasted turkey meat, sautéed vegetables and herbs to pot.
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Simmer: Bring soup to a boil then reduce to simmer for 20-30 minutes until vegetables are tender.
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Add rice/pasta: Stir in rice or pasta and simmer until fully cooked, about 10-15 minutes more.
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Adjust seasonings: Taste the soup and add more salt, pepper, poultry seasoning if desired.
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Garnish and serve: Ladle hot turkey soup into bowls. Garnish with parsley. Enjoy!
Tips for the Best Turkey Soup
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For maximum flavor, make stock with the turkey bones. Use wings, backbone, and neck too.
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Sautéing the vegetables boosts their flavor. You can skip this step if short on time.
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Simmer the stock as long as possible, at least 4 hours but 8-10 hours is ideal.
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Cut vegetables and pasta small so they cook quickly in the soup.
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Cook rice/pasta separately if making a large batch. They get too soft reheated in soup.
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Add a splash of lemon juice or vinegar before serving to brighten the flavors.
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Swap any vegetables you like such as sweet potato, spinach, green beans.
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Stir in milk or cream to make a creamy turkey vegetable soup.
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Add chili powder, cumin, and cilantro for a Mexican-style turkey tortilla soup.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does homemade turkey soup last?
Turkey soup will last 3-4 days refrigerated and 4-6 months frozen. Reheat frozen soup over medium heat until hot and bubbly.
Can you use a slow cooker to make turkey soup?
Yes, a slow cooker is perfect for making turkey soup. Add all ingredients and cook on low for 6-8 hours until vegetables are tender.
What can I add to turkey soup for more protein?
Stir in chopped cooked chicken, canned beans, lentils or cooked quinoa to add extra protein to your turkey vegetable soup.
Should rice/pasta be cooked separately?
It’s best to cook rice and pasta separately to prevent them from getting mushy in leftovers. Add them just before serving.
How can I thicken homemade turkey soup?
For a thicker soup, create a slurry by mixing 1-2 tbsp cornstarch with cold water. Slowly stir slurry into simmering soup to thicken.
What spices go well in turkey soup?
In addition to poultry seasoning, try thyme, sage, marjoram, rosemary, parsley, basil, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper.
Enjoy Your Homemade Turkey Soup
Making turkey soup from scratch is easier than you think. Simmer the bones into a flavorful broth, sauté aromatic vegetables, add turkey meat and cooked rice or pasta, and season to taste. In less than an hour you can have a pot of hearty, comforting homemade turkey soup ready to enjoy. Experiment with add-ins and toppings to make this classic soup your own.
Leftover turkey soup recipe FAQs
While you certainly can, it will alter the recipe significantly. Homemade broth is wonderfully flavorful and has a rich mouthfeel that storebought broth simply doesnt match.
Turkey soup recipe ingredients
To make soup, youll start by simmering the bones from your roast turkey in water to create a wonderfully rich and flavorful broth. Once you have your turkey stock, youll need these ingredients for the soup:
- Olive oil – to sauté the vegetables.
- Onion, carrots, and celery – the classic turkey soup trio.
- Turkey meat – this comes from the roast turkey. If you dont have enough leftover turkey, you can use chicken instead.
- Sea salt – helps to bring out all the other flavors.
- Cooked egg noodles – I love noodles in my turkey soup! Its best to cook them separately and add them to your bowl otherwise the noodles will turn mushy if you have leftover soup.