The holidays have come and gone, and now you’re staring at a fridge full of leftovers wondering what to do with them As a home cook who loves cooking economical and tasty meals, one of my go-to leftover makeovers is turning extra turkey and gravy into a hearty and comforting soup. This satisfying turkey gravy soup lets you stretch your holiday leftovers into an easy family dinner
Benefits of Leftover Turkey Soup
There are many benefits to whipping up a pot of turkey soup using your Thanksgiving or Christmas remnants
- Uses up leftover turkey so it doesn’t go to waste
- Gives new life to extra gravy instead of dumping it
- Provides a budget-friendly, nutritious family meal
- Lets you repurpose fridge and freezer contents
- Can be made in big batches and frozen for later
- Recreates that holiday flavor in a cozy soup
Basically, it’s a frugal cook’s dream recipe for this time of year!
Tips for Making Turkey and Gravy Soup
When crafting your turkey gravy soup, follow these helpful tips for the best flavor:
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Use the whole turkey – don’t just stick to breast meat. Thighs, legs, wings all add richness when simmered into stock.
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Sauté aromatics like onions, carrots, and celery first to build a flavor base.
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Simmer the bones and scraps for 1-2 hours to extract the most flavor.
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Shred or chop the turkey into bite-sized pieces after cooking.
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Add leftover gravy just before serving to prevent thinning out the broth.
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Consider throwing in other holiday leftovers – stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberries, etc.
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Season thoughtfully at the end with salt, pepper and herbs like sage, thyme and rosemary.
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Allow the soup to cool before freezing in portions for quick meals later.
Follow these tips and you’ll have a holiday turkey soup that tastes like you slaved for hours when really it took just minutes to throw together!
Sample Turkey Gravy Soup Recipe
To give you an idea of how wonderfully easy this soup is to whip up, here is a basic recipe:
Ingredients:
- Turkey carcass and bones
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 carrots, peeled and sliced
- 3 stalks celery, sliced
- 8 cups water or turkey broth
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 3 cups shredded leftover turkey
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1⁄4 cup pearl barley or small pasta (optional)
- 1⁄4 cup leftover turkey gravy
Instructions:
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In a large pot, combine turkey bones, onion, carrots, celery, water or broth, bay leaves, thyme, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer for 1-2 hours.
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Remove bones and bay leaves. Add shredded turkey, peas, barley or pasta, and gravy. Simmer for 10-15 minutes until heated through.
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Taste and adjust seasoning as desired. Serve hot.
This easy recipe highlights the essential steps for repurposing your leftover turkey and gravy. But feel free to customize it with whatever ingredients you have on hand. Get creative with the veggies, starches, seasonings and garnishes.
Elevate Flavor with Homemade Stock
One shortcut to take your soup from good to great is making your own turkey stock. Here’s a simple method:
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Place turkey carcass and scraps in a large pot. Add any bones, skin or wings.
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Toss in vegetable trimmings like onion skins, celery leaves or herb stems.
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Cover with water, bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 2-3 hours.
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Strain the solids out and you’ll be left with a rich, golden turkey broth perfect for soups and stews.
Creative Uses for Thanksgiving Leftovers
Beyond turkey and gravy, you can add any of these leftovers to your soup pot:
- Diced holiday stuffing
- Cranberry sauce
- Mashed potatoes
- Roasted winter squash
- Green beans or brussels sprouts
- Corn kernels
- Diced apples or pears
- Pumpkin puree or sweet potatoes
Get creative with leftover bits and make a hearty turkey pot pie soup!
Enjoy Your Soup All Week Long
The great thing about soup is it stores easily for meals all week:
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Enjoy a steaming mug for lunch with crusty bread or a sandwich.
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Pair it with a fresh salad for a simple, healthy dinner.
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Portion into containers to grab and go for work.
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Freeze in serving sizes to reheat on busy nights.
Take your Thanksgiving leftovers from frumpy to fabulous with this easy, Economical and tasty turkey gravy soup. Put those scraps to good use and enjoy delicious soup now or later!
Step 1Put all the ingredients with 10 cups the water into a large soup pot over medium heat, bring to a boil, and then reduce the heat to a simmer. Stir to break up all the clumps of stuffing and mix well. Let the soup simmer for about 1 1⁄2 hours. Add another 1 1⁄2 cups of cold water and let simmer for 10 more minutes. Taste for salt and adjust the flavoring if necessary. Serve hot.
- Put all the ingredients with 10 cups the water into a large soup pot over medium heat, bring to a boil, and then reduce the heat to a simmer. Stir to break up all the clumps of stuffing and mix well. Let the soup simmer for about 1 1⁄2 hours. Add another 1 1⁄2 cups of cold water and let simmer for 10 more minutes. Taste for salt and adjust the flavoring if necessary. Serve hot.
- 1 turkey carcass, broken into pieces
- 2 1⁄2 cups leftover turkey stuffing
- 2 cups turkey gravy
- 3 carrots, peeled and thickly sliced
- 3 ribs celery with leaves, sliced
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1⁄2 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 tsp. dried thyme, crumbled
- Salt to taste
Made with turkey bones, leftover stuffing, and leftover gravy, this recipe from cookbook author Marion Cunningham, is the ultimate day-after Thanksgiving one pot meal.
- 1 turkey carcass, broken into pieces
- 2 1⁄2 cups leftover turkey stuffing
- 2 cups turkey gravy
- 3 carrots, peeled and thickly sliced
- 3 ribs celery with leaves, sliced
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1⁄2 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 tsp. dried thyme, crumbled
- Salt to taste
Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Soup
FAQ
Can you put leftover gravy in turkey soup?
The secret to a really great turkey soup is to add the leftover gravy to the soup. It adds a richness to the flavor of the soup. The thing this soup is that you can add all your favorite vegetables. Broccoli, green beans, barley, and kale would be great additions to the recipe.
Can you turn leftover gravy into soup?
Add chilled or frozen leftover gravy (about 1⁄2 cup for a brothy soup or up to 2 cups for something more stew-like) right to a pot of sautéed vegetables, meat, and/or cooked grains. Stir until everything is evenly coated, then add about 4 cups stock or water. Simmer until it’s cooked to your liking.
How to make turkey soup with leftovers?
- Make the stock: Place carcass, stuffing, onion, carrots, celery, poultry seasoning, sage, and bay leaves in a deep pot. Cover with broth and bring to a boil. …
- Make the soup: Return the meat to the pot. Season the soup with garlic salt and pepper.
How do you reuse leftover soup?
Add pasta or rice Just like leftover proteins, extra cooked pasta or rice is a lovely addition to most soups, and can help stretch leftovers across several meals. I usually keep those convenient packages of precooked rice in the house, just for this purpose. I also keep frugal ramen noodles in the house.