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.

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? ›

How long is leftover turkey soup good for? Soup can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to four days.

How to make bland turkey soup taste better? ›

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.

How long is turkey good for in the fridge after it's cooked? ›

USDA recommends using cooked turkey within 3 to 4 days, kept refrigerated (40°F or less). Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth. Turkey can be frozen for 3 to 4 months. Although safe indefinitely, frozen leftovers can lose moisture and flavor when stored for longer times in the freezer.

What can I turn leftover soup into? ›

In perfect better-together fashion, I like to use leftover soup as the liquid-y base of a hearty casserole recipe or to make delicious vegetarian casserole recipes. An idea to use up creamy or thicker soups could be to play around with turning them into a casserole.

Can you use a 5 day old turkey in soup? ›

turke. I know that leftover turkey should be used up in 3 to 4 days.

Can a 5 day old turkey go in soup? ›

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.

What seasoning makes soup taste better? ›

"Ground paprika, turmeric, nutmeg, ground ginger, and other powdered spices add a touch of color and spiciness to broths," she says. As a general rule, use fresh herbs at or near the end of cooking and dried herbs and spices early on. This helps you get the flavors you're looking for in the right balance.

How do you add depth of flavor to soup? ›

Perk up a Bland Soup With Simple Pantry Staples

Add a splash of vinegar (any kind!), or a squeeze of citrus. Chances are, you could use a little more salt. Go ahead—it's ok. Salt perks up flat flavors and helps balance out bitter-tasting ingredients.

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.

Is a 3 year old frozen turkey still good? ›

Frozen Turkey

Turkeys can be kept in the freezer indefinitely. However, cook turkeys within 1 year for the best quality.

Is turkey still good after 7 days in the fridge? ›

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends using cooked turkey within three to four days as long as it is kept refrigerated at a temperature that is 40°F or lower. “Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth,” the website states.

Is it safe to eat leftover turkey after 6 days? ›

The answer is simple: leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator for three to four days. This means you have until the Monday after Thanksgiving to eat all those delicious leftovers or place them in the freezer to enjoy later. If you store leftovers in the freezer, they will be of best quality within 2-6 months.

What not to do when making soup? ›

The 7 Biggest Mistakes You Make Cooking Soup
  1. Boiling instead of simmering. You want a small bubble or two to rise to the surface of the liquid every few seconds. ...
  2. Not using enough salt. ...
  3. Ignoring water. ...
  4. Overcooking the vegetables. ...
  5. Adding tomatoes at the beginning. ...
  6. Neglecting to garnish. ...
  7. Not trying a pressure cooker.
Nov 19, 2014

What do you call soup made from leftovers? ›

This soup is made with leftover veggies. My kids call it garbage soup because it would have been garbage if we hadn't made soup! Throw in any type vegetables you have in your fridge to add some flavor.

What can I put in soup instead of stock? ›

Water. This simple swap should suffice in most recipes that call for broth. To give H2O more depth, you may want to compensate by adding more spices like salt, pepper and bay leaves to your recipe and a tablespoon or two of olive oil to mimic the richness of broth.

Can I make turkey soup after 6 days? ›

Cooked turkey should be refrigerated within two hours after being cooked . Stuffing should be removed and stored separately in air tight containers . Assuming your soup would include the carcass you want to make your soup within three days . And the soup itself has a life of three to four days in the fridge.

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? ›

Leftovers can be kept for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. After that, the risk of food poisoning goes up. If you don't think you'll be able to eat leftovers within four days, freeze them right away. Frozen leftovers will stay safe for a long time.

Is soup still good after 7 days? ›

A general rule of thumb is that soup can be stored in the refrigerator for about three days, but you should always taste your dish before deciding to reheat.

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