Leftover Turkey Soup Recipe on Food52 (2024)

Thanksgiving

by: Rachel Gurjar

November25,2020

4.7

24 Ratings

  • Prep time 20 minutes
  • Cook time 30 minutes
  • Serves 2 to 3

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Author Notes

The best part about holiday cooking: the leftovers, especially turkey. This delicious, chunky, vegetable-studded soup is my favorite way of putting it to good use. I mean, what’s not to love? Creamy and comforting, with tender bits of meat, you really can’t go wrong. Plus, it comes together super quick, so you can get back to spending time with your family.

You could use the turkey carcass to make a stock with a mirepoix of carrot, celery, and onions—or go the easier route of using a store-bought broth. Make sure to grab a low-sodium option as that will give you more control over the seasoning.

The creaminess in this soup comes from a roux, which is when equal parts of flour and fat are cooked together. This helps thicken the sauce without the addition of dairy. It’s mild, nutty, and adds a nice silky texture to the broth. Feel free to throw in any turkey drippings from the night before—that will add a ton of flavor to your soup.

I like to serve it with a generous sprinkle of herbs, like parsley or cilantro, lemon juice, and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for some heat. You can even eat it over rice to make this an extra hearty meal. This soup is open to interpretation, so feel free to experiment with your favorite toppings.

Helpful tools for this recipe:
- Five Two Wooden Spoons
- Five Two Essential Stock Pot
- Casafina Modern Classic Ceramic Soup Bowl (Set of 4)

Rachel Gurjar

  • Test Kitchen-Approved

What You'll Need

Ingredients
  • 2 tablespoonsextra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium white onion, finely diced
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 teaspoondried thyme
  • 3 medium carrots, peeled and finely diced
  • 3 celery sticks, finely diced
  • 1/4 cupall-purpose flour
  • 1 (32-ounce) box low-sodium chicken or turkey stock (or homemade)
  • 2 poundscooked turkey meat, shredded or cut into large chunks (about 4 cups)
  • kosher salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • chopped flat-leaf parsley, lemon wedges, and red pepper flakes, for garnish
Directions
  1. In a heavy-bottomed pot, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic, and cook until translucent and soft, about 3 minutes. Add the thyme and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add carrots and celery and sweat until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the flour and cook for 3 minutes, stirring constantly, until all the vegetables are coated. Slowly pour in the chicken or turkey stock, stirring continuously to break up any lumps of flour.
  2. Add the turkey meat. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat. Simmer for 20 minutes until the liquid has reduced a little and the soup has slightly thickened. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed. Ladle into bowls, garnish with parsley, and serve immediately.

Tags:

  • American
  • Turkey
  • Thanksgiving
  • Lunch
  • Leftovers
  • Dinner

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Melissa Case

  • Rebecca Kurzendoerfer

  • BarnOwlBaker

  • Nancy Stahl

Recipe by: Rachel Gurjar

Rachel is an immigrant from Mumbai, India now based out of Brooklyn, New York. She is a chef, photographer and food editor who loves to cook and develop delicious recipes from her culture and beyond. In her free time, you will find her exploring street food around the city!

Popular on Food52

13 Reviews

Nancy S. October 18, 2023

FABULOUS! Truly! For something that comes together in 30 minutes, it’s incredible! The addition of flour to thicken the broth is the best part. And the thyme adds such a great flavor. I used a rotisserie chicken shredded. Tastes like you slaved over a hot stove all day.

Melissa C. December 9, 2022

This soup is absolutely FABULOUS. I made it exactly as directed and I wouldn't change a single thing. This will be my go-to for both turkey AND for chicken soups. Perfect.

LAurie November 30, 2022

Just finished making this delicious soup! Highly recommend this recipe. Ty Food52

VictoriaL November 29, 2022

Don’t skip the add ins! Made the basic soup for my parents to freeze. They then added the lemon, pepper flakes, parsley and orzo when reheating. Definitely a keeper!

Nancy S. November 29, 2022

Could not get the recipe to copy to my pages, so unfollowing your site. Where is the food friendly community?

Tamara March 28, 2022

This was a delicious soup. I've made it twice now and plan to make it again. I used oat flour instead of white flour and also I've used whole milk instead of including cream. Both options were excellent. I also increased the recipe to 1.5 and took a kettle full of soup to my friends' house who recently had a baby.

CindyH January 1, 2022

just made this with no substitutions, delicious!

Rebecca K. December 12, 2020

I made this with leftover Thanksgiving turkey and 2 cartons of chicken stock, and substituted gf flour for the all purpose. With 10 minutes left on the timer, I crumbled in a box of Jovial gf egg noodles. This made such a thick, creamy and satisfying stew; the kids swore it was similar to and as good as homemade chicken and dumplings. There were no leftovers.

Shenriver December 1, 2020

I love this recipe, as did our family. Our son had 4 bowls when we served it and he liked it so much, he had the leftovers. We had to double to triple the broth, but other than that, it is a perfect meal!

marjorie K. December 1, 2020

Delicious! I used broth from thanksgiving turkey breast and added about a 3/4 cup of uncle bens rice. Thank you!

Carol November 27, 2020

I'll be sure to share this delish recipe with my other mommies! I replaced the caramel in the recipe with sugar-free coconut oil, and it really spicened up the meal!

augie@7Holly December 1, 2021

I added Black Strap molasses in stead of caramel….game changer

BarnOwlBaker November 27, 2022

I think you must be reviewing another recipe……? No caramel in turkey soup.

Leftover Turkey Soup Recipe on Food52 (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 turkey soup less bland? ›

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 my turkey soup so bland? ›

Not Adding Acid

If a soup is tasting bland in the bowl, consider adding acid rather than salt. A squeeze of lemon or lime, or a dash of yogurt or sour cream can add brightness to the bowl.

How do you thicken turkey soup broth? ›

The most classic and surefire way to thicken a broth-based soup is with a cornstarch slurry. Whisk together equal parts cornstarch (or arrowroot) and water or broth, then whisk it into the pot of soup. A good ratio to get to a pleasant thickness without your soup tasting goopy or heavy is one tablespoon.

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).

Can you make turkey soup with 3 day old turkey? ›

Leftover turkey lasts for up to four days. So, I'd recommend making this soup a day or two after Thanksgiving, so the soup is still good for at least a day.

How do I increase the depth of flavor in soup? ›

Add acidic ingredients.

Foods that have a great deal of acidity, like lemon juice, vinegar, white wine, and tomato puree, can help liven up the flavor of bland-tasting bone and other broths. "The acidity of these ingredients works to complement and enhance the broth's flavors, not mask it.

What spices are good in soup? ›

To season it, we recommend starting with our Vegetable Soup Mix. It contains celery salt, parsley flakes, garlic powder, sea salt, summer savory, marjoram, thyme, black pepper, turmeric and sage, which are all excellent with root vegetables, so you can incorporate things like carrots or potatoes into the soup.

What can I add to soup for flavor? ›

Dried herbs and seasonings: homemade seasoned salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and dried bay leaves lend flavor to the soup.

What not to put in soup? ›

The Worst Things to Put in Your Soup
  1. By Sara Butler. If there's one good thing about fall and winter, it's soup. ...
  2. Heavy Cream. Heavy cream creates an inviting texture for soups but that's where its positive contributions end. ...
  3. Juice. ...
  4. Turkey Bacon. ...
  5. Cheese. ...
  6. Croutons.

What vegetables can you not put in soup? ›

any veggie can be used in soup, but unless you're making a very delicate, exceptional soup, I'd steer clear of lettuce. some veggies have a strong flavor, so you may enjoy using them, but in moderation. For me, parsnips and rutabaga fit this category.

What is the gelatinous stock in turkey soup? ›

Turkey stock will turn into a bit of a gel once it's been in the fridge due to the collagen that was formerly in the bones and skin of the turkey. The collagen (which is thought to have many health benefits) cooks out and ends up in the broth, but will turn into liquid once it's heated again.

What is the best thickener for soup? ›

About this method: One of the most common ways to thicken sauces and soups is with a starch-based slurry, and cornstarch is a popular choice. Cornstarch is flavorless, easy to mix up, and versatile, which makes it a go-to pantry ingredient.

How do you make soup creamier and thicker? ›

6 ways to thicken soup:
  1. Blend all or part of it. If you've made a broth with chunks of vegetable in it, such as minestrone soup, then pour the soup through a sieve. ...
  2. Add cream or yogurt. ...
  3. Add flour or cornflour. ...
  4. Use a butter and flour paste. ...
  5. Blend in bread. ...
  6. Add lentils or rice.

What does cornstarch do to soup? ›

Cornstarch, or corn flour, can be used to thicken soup through its high starch content. Cornstarch is a great thickener for soup because only a little bit is needed to significantly thicken a soup, and it will not affect the flavor profile of the soup.

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.

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? ›

Originally Answered: How long can you keep a soup in the fridge? According to the FDA food code you should keep prepared foods for no longer then 4 days and manufactured foods for 7 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.

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