This Turkey Noodle Soup is hearty and comforting, packed with vegetables and pasta, and it’s perfect for using up leftover Thanksgiving turkey! Make it on the stovetop, slow cooker or Instant Pot!
You know I love soup big time. It’s my favorite way to warm up on cooler days, but it’s perfect any time of year.
This easy Turkey Noodle Soup recipe is a great way to use Thanksgiving leftovers the next day, or even leftovers from a chicken dinner.
Make your own homemade turkey stock for the best flavor, and you can change up the veggies you use to suit your taste.
Homemade turkey noodle soup with homemade turkey stock is one of the best things you can do for yourself on a cold day!
Turkey noodles are the ultimate comfort food that takes boring leftover turkey from Thanksgiving or Christmas to a whole new level This hearty, soothing one-pot meal is easy to make, endlessly customizable, and fills your home with tempting aromas Read on to learn my tips for crafting turkey noodles from scratch that will become your new favorite way to use up holiday bird!
Ingredients You’ll Need
To make turkey noodles, you’ll need just a few simple ingredients:
- Leftover cooked turkey – Use roasted or rotisserie, white and/or dark meat
- Egg noodles – Wide noodles work best, but any shape is fine
- Aromatic veggies – Onion, garlic, carrots, and celery for flavor
- Herbs and seasonings – Thyme, parsley, salt, and pepper
- Broth – Chicken or turkey broth builds a tasty base
- Cream or soup – For a luscious, creamy sauce
- Butter – For sautéing the veggies
Step-By-Step Instructions
Follow these easy steps for terrific turkey noodles every time:
1. Cook the Noodles
Bring salted water to a boil, Add egg noodles and cook until al dente Drain and set aside
2. Sauté the Vegetables
Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion, carrots celery and garlic. Sauté for 5-7 minutes until softened.
3. Simmer the Sauce
Pour in broth and bring to a simmer. Add thyme sprigs and simmer 10 minutes. Remove thyme. Stir in heavy cream or condensed soup until smooth.
4. Finish the Dish
Add cooked noodles and turkey to the sauce. Gently stir to coat. Cook 2-3 minutes until heated through. Stir in chopped parsley. Season with salt and pepper.
Serve warm and enjoy! Use a slotted spoon to get plenty of luscious sauce in each bite.
Customize to Your Taste
One of the best things about turkey noodles is how versatile the recipe is. Customize it with these easy additions:
- Use chicken instead of turkey for classic chicken noodles
- Add sliced mushrooms when cooking the veggies
- Stir in frozen peas or green beans
- Use low-sodium broth for a healthier option
- For extra richness, use evaporated milk instead of cream
- Top with crispy fried onions or panko breadcrumbs
- Season with oregano, rosemary, or basil instead of thyme
- Make it saucier with more broth, like a noodle soup
Leftover Turkey Tips
Making turkey noodles helps use up leftover holiday turkey. Here are some storage and prep tips:
- Allow cooked turkey to cool completely before refrigerating to prevent bacteria growth.
- Store turkey in an airtight container or resealable bag. Refrigerate for 3-4 days.
- Freeze turkey for longer storage, up to 2-3 months.
- When reheating, use broth, sauces, or soups to keep turkey moist.
- Add broth or water to shredded turkey to make it easier to incorporate into dishes.
- Use both white and dark meat for more flavor.
Cooking Turkey Noodles in the Instant Pot
You can easily make turkey noodles in an Instant Pot or other multi-cooker with these steps:
- Sauté aromatics right in the Instant Pot inner pot.
- Add broth, cream of chicken soup, and thyme.
- Place cooked noodles and turkey on top without stirring.
- Pressure cook on High for 0 minutes with quick release.
- Carefully stir noodles until combined and heated through before serving.
The Instant Pot gives you tender noodles and thickened sauce in a fraction of the time!
More Comforting Noodle Recipes to Try
If you love turkey noodles, try these other satisfying noodle dishes:
- Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo – Chicken, noodles, and creamy cheese sauce.
- Beef Stroganoff – Tender beef, mushrooms, and noodles in sour cream gravy.
- Baked Mac and Cheese – Creamy, cheesy baked pasta.
- Baked Ziti – Ziti, marinara, cheeses baked to perfection.
- Pad Thai – Rice noodles, chicken, shrimp, peanuts in Thai sauce.
Whatever noodle recipe you choose, I hope you enjoy recreating the warm, cozy flavors of home. Turkey noodles make the perfect hearty, nourishing meal any time of year.
Slow Cooker Turkey Noodle Soup
- Place turkey stock, turkey, onion, carrots, celery, salt, parsley, garlic, thyme, rosemary, and pepper in a 4-6 quart slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 3 hours, or until carrots are tender.
- Turn the slow cooker to high and stir in the pasta.
- Cover and let cook on high for 10-20 minutes, just until al dente (the cooking time will depend on the type and shape of pasta used), and serve.
How to make this Turkey Noodle Soup in the Instant Pot
- Add all ingredients to the Instant Pot and stir.
- Put the lid on, select pressure cook or manual, high, and set the cooking time for 3 minutes.
- It will take about 15 minutes to come under pressure and begin counting down.
- Once the cooking time is over, let the pressure release naturally for 7-10 minutes, then gradually open the valve to release the remaining pressure, and serve.
Homemade Turkey Noodle Soup
How do you make Turkey noodles?
To make turkey noodles you will need Egg noodles – Wide egg noodles are the best variety to use, but you can use any shape. Aromatic veggies – Onion, garlic, carrots, and celery provide a flavor base. Herbs and seasonings – Thyme, parsley, salt, and pepper add lots of flavor. Chicken or turkey broth – Use broth to build a rich, savory sauce.
How long does it take to make Turkey noodle soup?
One of the best parts about making a big turkey dinner is all of the leftovers. This turkey noodle soup uses homemade broth, veggies, egg noodles, and leftover turkey for a warm, comforting meal. This Turkey Noodle Soup Is a Great Way to Use Leftovers… The broth can be made a few days ahead, once the broth is made, the soup takes about 20 minutes.
Can you make homemade Turkey noodle soup without a carcass?
Make homemade turkey stock to use in this soup. This recipe was originally published in December, 2013. It was updated in November, 2024. This homemade turkey noodle soup recipe is made without a carcass for an easy, healthy dinner that’s ready in about 30 minutes!
What are the ingredients for Turkey & noodles?
The ingredients for turkey and noodles are very similar to that of chicken and noodles. Leftover Turkey Meat – Dark and white turkey meat will work just fine in this recipe. Whatever you have leftover, chop up and use in this recipe. Onions – Sweet onions or white onions work the best for this. They add more flavor to the dish.
Can you use egg noodles in Turkey noodle soup?
Egg noodles are a classic ingredient in turkey noodle soup; however, you can substitute with other pasta shapes. Try cut spaghetti or rotini, bowties, or ditalini. Just make sure that you follow the cooking instructions on your package of noodles so that they’re cooked al dente.
What to do with leftover Turkey noodle?
Sprinkle crispy fried onions or panko breadcrumbs on top. Season with oregano, rosemary, or basil instead of thyme. Make it extra saucy by using more broth, almost like a noodle soup. One of the bonuses of making turkey noodles is that it helps use up all that leftover turkey from the holidays.