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Turkey Soup Recipe (Thanksgiving Leftovers)

This super easy to make Turkey Soup Recipe (Thanksgiving Leftovers) will be your favorite way to use up leftover turkey after a holiday meal. Featuring succulent, shredded turkey meat, creamy white beans and an array of fresh vegetables and herbs, this is a hearty, healthy and flavorful soup that will warm up the whole family on cold night.

bowl of leftover thanksgiving turkey soup in white bowl

Leftover Turkey Soup Recipe

Roasted turkey is the highlight on most Thanksgiving dinner tables. While every everyone loves those tasty turkey sandwiches the next day, this recipe puts a whole different spin on what you can do with your savory turkey leftovers from your holiday meal. It has a wonderful combination of flavors and textures with the perfect little bit of heat from a pinch of cayenne pepper.

The best part about this recipe is it’s a healthier and lighter option that won’t leave you feeling stuffed after all the other heavy meals this time of year. I am a huge fan of Healthy Ground Turkey Recipes, but when it comes to cooking a whole turkey, I typically save that for the Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Since there are always turkey leftovers, you can create all sort of tasty spins on traditional recipes the next day. You can add some to this Healthy Vegetable Frittata or this easy Breakfast Egg Casserole. At the top of my list this year is this spicy white bean and turkey soup. I think after you try it, you will see why it is such a crowd pleaser.

Why We Love This Recipe

  • By using leftover roasted turkey, it’s a simple way to make sure there is no food waste after your Thanksgiving feast.
  • This simple turkey soup is loaded with amazing, herbed flavors with a wonderful creamy texture from the white beans.
  • Great source of vitamins and nutrients from fresh vegetables and protein from the turkey and spinach.
pile of leftover turkey shredded

Recommended Tools

  • Large Pot (or Dutch oven)
  • Sharp Kitchen Knife
  • Measuring Spoons
  • Measuring Cup

Homemade Turkey Soup Recipe Add-in’s and Variations

  • Veggies: Have fun by adding any of your favorite vegetables to this soup. Sweet potatoes, green peas, green beans, are all wonderful and tasty options.
  • Fresh herbs: If you prefer to use fresh herbs instead of dried, just remember that you’ll need to add a little more since dried herbs have a stronger flavor. Try adding other herbs, like fresh thyme. rosemary and basil.
  • Turkey: If you don’t have leftover turkey, you can use roasted chicken or even ground turkey.
  • Leeks: If you aren’t a fan of leeks, you can use chopped celery stalks instead.
  • Turkey and Rice Soup: This hearty soup with the beans, but if you prefer, you can use wild rice, brown rice or even white rice instead. Just know the nutrients will differ by not using the beans.
  • Creamy soup: If you want a creamy broth, all you have to do is throw in a soften block of cream cheese and cook until it has melted. It gives the soup a nice tangy flavor too.
  • Turkey noodle soup: If you have pasta lovers in your life, you can always just swap out the beans with your favorite type of pasta.

What’s Needed to Make Easy Turkey Soup

  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Garlic cloves, minced
  • Yellow onion, diced
  • Leek, diced
  • Carrots, peeled and diced
  • Jalapeno pepper, diced
  • Sea salt and pepper, to taste
  • Bay leaf
  • Dried parsley
  • Dried oregano
  • Cayenne pepper
  • Organic chicken stock (or you can use homemade chicken broth or stock)
  • Parmesan cheese rind
  • Canned cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
  • Leftover turkey meat, (dark meat and white meat (shredded
  • Baby spinach, coarsely chopped
  • Water
  • Optional garnish: freshly shaved Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley, chopped 

How to Make Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Soup

bowl of white beans

Step One: Sauté Vegetables

  • Start by heating some olive oil in a large dutch oven over medium heat. Once the oil is warm, add in the minced garlic, chopped onion, leeks, carrots, and jalapeno.
  • Continue to sauté the vegetables, stirring occasionally, until they are soft and develop a bit of color. This should take approximately 6 – 8 minutes.

Step Two: Season the Soup

  • Season with salt and black pepper. Add bay leaves, dried herbs, and cayenne pepper and cook for another 2-3 minutes, or until the herbs become fragrant. 

Step Three: Add the Stock, Beans and Simmer

  • Add chicken stock to the soup pot.
  • Throw in the parmesan rind, water, and the rinsed and drained cannellini beans. Increase to medium-high heat and bring the soup to a rolling boil. Once it boils, reduce heat to medium low and simmer, uncovered, for 20-25 minutes.

Step Four: Add the Turkey and Serve

  • Add the shredded turkey and the baby spinach to the pot. Allow it to cook for another 3-5 minutes or until the spinach wilts and the turkey is heated through.
  • Remove the soup from heat and discard bay leaves.
  • Taste and adjust seasonings, as desired.
  • Serve immediately with some chopped fresh parsley and shaved Parmesan cheese. Enjoy!

FAQs

How Long Does Turkey Soup Last in the Fridge?

When it comes to leftover soup using turkey leftovers, the clock starts ticking on the day the turkey was originally cooked. Adding it to soup does not extend the life. Be sure to allow the soup to cool to room temperature, then place it in an airtight container and store it in fridge. Leftover soup should be fresh for 2-3 days.

Can I Use Homemade Turkey Stock Instead?

If you save the turkey carcass, you can certainly make homemade stock with it. Just simmer in some water with flavorful veggies and herbs for a couple of hours. Then you will just strain it and use in place of the chicken stock.

Can I Make this Soup in a Slow Cooker

Absolutely! Sauté the veggies and in a skillet first. Add in all the other ingredients to the slow cooker. The soup will need to cook on low for about 4-5 hours or until the veggies are tender.

Can I Freeze This Turkey Soup?

You sure can. Freeze it the same way you would any other soup. For best results, you should freeze it at least within a day or two of making it so it will be fresh when you are ready to thaw it

Want More Delicious Soup Recipes?

bowl of leftover thanksgiving turkey soup in white bowl

Turkey Soup Recipe (Thanksgiving Leftovers)

Published By Stephanie
Featuring succulent, shredded turkey meat, creamy white beans and an array of fresh vegetables and herbs, this is a hearty, healthy and flavorful soup that will warm up the whole family on cold night. Great way to use up your turkey leftovers!
No ratings yet
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Course Dinner, Lunch, Main Course, Soup
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings
Calories 183 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 T Extra virgin olive oil
  • 3-4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 med yellow onion diced
  • 1 lg leek diced
  • 4 carrots peeled and diced
  • 1 jalapeno pepper diced
  • sea salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 t dried parsley
  • 2 t dried oregano
  • ½ t cayenne pepper
  • 4 cups chicken stock
  • 3 in parmesan cheese
  • 2 cup water
  • 2 15 oz can cannellini beans rinsed and drained
  • 2 cups turkey cooked and shredded
  • 2 cups baby spinach coarsely chopped

Optional Garnish

  • Freshly shaved Parmesan cheese
  • Fresh Parsley chopped

Instructions
 

  • Start by heating some olive oil in a large dutch oven over medium heat. Once the oil is warm, add in the minced garlic, chopped onion, leeks, carrots, and jalapeno.
  • Continue to sauté the vegetables, stirring occasionally, until they are soft and develop a bit of color. This should take approximately 6 – 8 minutes.
  • Season with salt and black pepper. Add bay leaves, dried herbs, and cayenne pepper and cook for another 2-3 minutes, or until the herbs become fragrant. 
  • Add chicken stock to the soup pot. Throw in the parmesan rind, water, and the rinsed and drained cannellini beans. Increase to medium-high heat and bring the soup to a rolling boil. Once it boils, reduce heat to medium low and simmer, uncovered, for 20-25 minutes.
  • Add the shredded turkey and the baby spinach to the pot. Allow it to cook for another 3-5 minutes or until the spinach wilts and the turkey is heated through. Remove the soup from heat and discard bay leaves. Taste and adjust seasonings, as desired. Serve immediately with some chopped fresh parsley and shaved Parmesan cheese.

Nutrition

Calories: 183kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 13gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 30mgSodium: 328mgPotassium: 481mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 7877IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 68mgIron: 1mg
Keyword soup, turkey, Vegetables
Tried this recipe?Tag me on Facebook @fitfoundme with a pic and let me know what you thought of this recipe in the comments below!
Recipe Rating




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