Make a simple, freezable turkey stock from leftovers with our easy recipe and top cooking tips. Use as the base for rich gravies or warming soups.
Were all on a mission to waste less food and making a flavour-packed stock from your turkey carcass is the ideal way to use up leftovers and get more meals out of one roast. Check out our top 10 turkey leftover recipes for plenty of thrifty meal inspiration.Ad
Turkey stock falls into two categories; the first is a stock you make beforehand with the neck, to use as the base for a gravy. The second is a stock you make after cooking with the leftover bones. You would use this as the base for other recipes in the same way youd use chicken stock, in soups, sauces, stews and risottos. Take a look at our ultimate turkey recipe collection for everything from traditional roasts to curries with a twist.
The holiday season often leaves us with a turkey carcass after all the meat has been carved off. But there’s no need to throw it away! Making turkey soup from the leftover carcass is a great way to use up every last bit of your holiday bird. This satisfying and budget-friendly soup captures all the savory flavor from the bones and scraps.
Why Make Turkey Soup?
Turkey soup made with the leftover carcass is frugal, tasty, and cuts down on food waste. Here are some of the main benefits of whipping up a pot:
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Saves Money: Getting an extra meal out of your turkey makes it go further. No waste means more value for your money.
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Reduces Food Waste Americans throw away 25% of the food they buy. Using the entire bird prevents waste.
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Provides Comfort: A warm, soothing soup feels cozy on a cold winter day. It’s a simple pleasure.
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Uses Leftovers You can toss in extras like veggies, noodles, rice or leftover turkey meat.
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Delivers Big Flavor: Long-cooked bones make a rich, meaty broth full of taste.
How to Make Turkey Stock from the Carcass
The first step in making turkey soup is extracting all the flavor from the bones by simmering them into a stock. Here’s a simple method:
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Place the carcass in a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil.
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Reduce heat and simmer for 1-2 hours. This extracts the collagen and flavor from the bones.
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Remove the carcass and pick off any remaining turkey meat to use in the soup.
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Strain the stock through a sieve to remove small bones and impurities.
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You can use the stock right away or let it cool and then refrigerate or freeze it.
Tip: Avoid adding vegetables, herbs or salt while making the stock. This keeps the flavor pure and concentrated.
Turkey Soup Ingredients
Once you’ve made the turkey stock, making soup is easy. Here are some tasty ingredients to include:
- Diced carrots, celery, onion, and garlic
- Chopped greens like kale, spinach, or cabbage
- Cooked turkey meat
- Noodles or rice
- Herbs and spices like parsley, thyme, sage
- Barley or rice to make it heartier
- A squeeze of lemon juice or splash of vinegar for brightness
Tip: Cook any raw vegetables until tender before adding leftovers you want to just heat through.
Step-by-Step Turkey Soup Recipe
Follow these simple steps for an easy but delicious turkey carcass soup:
1. Simmer the carcass in water for 1-2 hours to make the stock. Remove any remaining meat and discard bones.
2. Strain the stock and return to a clean pot. Add any chopped cooked turkey meat. Bring to a boil.
3. Add diced carrots, celery, onion, garlic and any other vegetables you want. Cook 5-10 minutes until tender.
4. Stir in greens, cooked noodles or rice, herbs and seasonings. Simmer until heated through.
5. Adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, lemon juice or vinegar. Add more broth if too thick.
6. Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with fresh herbs. Enjoy this nourishing, homemade soup!
Handy Tips for the Best Turkey Soup
- For a smoother texture, blend some or all of the cooked soup.
- Add a sprinkle of vinegar or lemon juice to brighten the flavor.
- To make it creamy, stir in a bit of milk or cream.
- For fun garnishes, top with croutons, shredded cheese, or avocado.
- Cook and shred extra turkey to add more meaty texture.
- Swap noodles for rice or small pasta shapes like orzo.
- Add a dash of curry powder, chili powder, or cumin for a flavor twist.
Satisfying Leftover Soup Meals
Turkey soup made from the carcass saves money while creating a delicious and comforting meal. Extend the value of your holiday bird even further by pairing it with sides:
- With biscuits or cornbread for dipping.
- Alongside a green salad or roasted veggies.
- Topped with stuffing or potato croutons.
- With cranberry sauce or chutney for tartness.
- Over rice or mashed potatoes to make it heartier.
Leftover turkey has never tasted so good! Follow these simple steps to savor every last bit of flavor and nutrition. Making your own turkey bone broth and soup from scratch keeps waste low while providing maximum value from your holiday bird.
Asian noodle & turkey soup
Our Asian noodle & turkey soup takes inspiration from pho, a Vietnamese broth traditionally made with beef and plenty of fresh herbs. Warm up from the inside out with this easy, filling dish that takes just 20 minutes from fridge to bowl. Serve with a lime wedge for squeezing.
More essential turkey techinques
For a simple step-by-step guide, watch our simple video tutorial how how to make stock.
This easy method works for both chicken and turkey. Want to make the most of your stock? Try making our instant turkey noodle soup or our leftover turkey slaw.
Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Soup
FAQ
How to make turkey soup from a carcass?
- Place turkey carcass in a large, deep pot. …
- Pour in chicken broth. …
- Remove carcass and any bones. …
- Season soup with garlic salt and pepper. …
- Stir in peas and continue to simmer until rice is tender, about 10 minutes more. …
- Adjust seasonings to taste before serving. …
- Serve hot and enjoy!
What to do with turkey carcass?
“Don’t throw away the turkey bones after you’ve demolished your bird! Save them to make a fantastic turkey stock, which you can then use to flavor all sorts of soups and gravies. After you strain the stock you can freeze it in small Tupperware tubs, or even in ice cube trays, very handy to have in the kitchen!”
How to make bone broth from a turkey carcass?
- Fill the stockpot. In a large stockpot, add the cooked turkey carcass (broken into large chunks), onions, celery, and carrots. …
- Bring to a boil. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Simmer for about 3 hours. Reduce the heat to maintain a simmer. …
- Strain. …
- Cool and store the stock.
Should I roast the turkey carcass before making soup?
But when it comes to the most flavorful stock, the kind that you’d be happy to sip on straight when you just can’t get it up to make soup, there’s one thing you simply must do. Before making stock, you’ll need to roast the turkey carcass.
How do you make turkey carcass soup?
This old-fashioned turkey carcass soup will make the richest, most delicious turkey soup you’ve had. Straight from my Grandma’s recipe box! ▢ 1 turkey carcass, with as much of the meat and and stored in the fridge for the soup. Place the carcass in a large soup pot. If necessary, break the turkey carcass apart at the joints.
Can one have turkey and carrots?
Eating turkey and carrots is part of healthy habits. The turkey has meat like chicken and is another healthy poultry option. Carrots are rich in carotenoids, it is a source of vitamin A, fiber, potassium and vitamin B3.
Can I use leftover turkey carcass for Soup?
Leftover turkey: Once you’ve removed all of the meat for other turkey leftover recipes, use the carcass and other parts you don’t eat (giblets, neck, etc.) for this soup. Chicken broth: Although you’re basically making a stock with the turkey carcass, adding chicken broth increases the flavor and adds richness to the soup.
How do you cook a turkey carcass in a stockpot?
In a stockpot, place the turkey carcass, water and broth. Bring it all to a boil, then reduce the heat, cover and simmer for four to five hours. Editor’s Tip: If the carcass is really large, simply break it up into smaller parts so it fits in the pot and water can cover it. Taste of Home Remove the turkey carcass and any meat from the stock.
How do you cook a turkey carcass?
Straight from my Grandma’s recipe box! ▢ 1 turkey carcass, with as much of the meat and and stored in the fridge for the soup. Place the carcass in a large soup pot. If necessary, break the turkey carcass apart at the joints. Add turkey neck if it’s available and hasn’t been used for another purpose (like stock for the gravy).
Can you freeze turkey carcass soup?
Yes, you can freeze turkey carcass soup. Let the soup cool, then transfer it to a freezer-safe container (in individual portions if you’re not planning to eat it all at once). Make sure to leave about 1-inch remaining at the top of the container, as the soup will expand as it freezes. Freeze for up to one month.