Turkey Noodle Soup - The Recipe Rebel (2024)

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!

Turkey Noodle Soup - The Recipe Rebel (1)

Table of Contents

  • Ingredients Needed:
  • Turkey Noodle Soup on the Stovetop
  • How to make this Turkey Noodle Soup in the Instant Pot
  • Slow Cooker Turkey Noodle Soup
  • Turkey Noodle Soup FAQs
  • Tips and Notes
  • How To Make Homemade Turkey Stock?
  • Turkey Noodle Soup Variations
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Turkey Noodle Soup Recipe

You know I love soup big time. It’s myfavorite wayto warm up on cooler days, but it’s perfect any time of year.

Thiseasy Turkey Noodle Soup recipeis agreat wayto useThanksgiving leftoversthenext day, or even leftovers from a chicken dinner.

Make your ownhomemade turkey stock for the best flavor, and you can change up the veggies you use to suit your taste.

Homemade turkey noodle soupwithhomemade turkey stockis one of thebest thingsyou can do for yourself on a cold day!

It’s a soul-warming, ailment-healing experience that I don’t ever regret.

Try myCrockpot Turkey with Garlic Butter,Turkey Meatballs,Turkey Kielbasa Pasta Bake, myOne Pot Turkey Tetrazzini Recipe, and thisCreamy Turkey Shepherd’s Piefor more delicious ways of usingleftover turkey meat.

Ingredients Needed:

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  • Oil:I like using canola oil, but olive oil or another kind of neutral-flavored oil will also work to sauté the vegetables.
  • Vegetables:use a classic mirepoix of carrots, celery, and onion for a great flavor base.
  • Seasonings:salt, dried parsley, freshly minced garlic, dried thyme, dried rosemary, and black pepper give an aromatic flavor to the soup.
  • Turkey Stock:use low-sodium turkey stock to add great flavor.
  • Pasta:I’ve used fusilli pasta for this recipe, but you can use any short pasta, like ziti, penne, or rigatoni.
  • Turkey:cooked, chopped turkey will add protein and flavor, you can useshredded chickenif you prefer.

Turkey Noodle Soup on the Stovetop

You will find the full recipe down in the pink recipe card!

  1. Sauté vegetables: Sauté the carrots, celery, and onion in your Dutch oven with oil.
  2. Add seasoning: Add salt, parsley, garlic, thyme, rosemary, and black pepper, and toast briefly.
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  1. Cook with stock: Add turkey stock, stir, and cook.
  2. Add pasta. Stir in the pasta, turkey, cover, and let it cook until al dente.
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How to make this Turkey Noodle Soup in the Instant Pot

  1. Add all ingredients to the Instant Pot and stir.
  2. Put the lid on, select pressure cook or manual, high, and set the cooking time for 3 minutes.
  3. It will take about 15 minutes to come under pressure and begin counting down.
  4. 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.

Slow Cooker Turkey Noodle Soup

  1. Place turkey stock, turkey, onion, carrots, celery, salt, parsley, garlic, thyme, rosemary, and pepper in a 4-6 quart slow cooker.
  2. Cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 3 hours, or until carrots are tender.
  3. Turn the slow cooker to high and stir in the pasta.
  4. 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.

Turkey Noodle Soup FAQs

Is turkey stock the same as turkey broth?

Turkey stock and turkey broth are both made from simmering turkey meat and bones in water, but there are some differences between the two. Stock is typically made with just the bones and contains more collagen, which gives it a thicker, more gelatinous texture. It’s also usually more flavorful than broth, as it’s simmered for a longer period of time.
Broth, on the other hand, is made with meat and can include bones, but it’s typically simmered for a shorter amount of time and has a lighter, clearer consistency. Both can be used in a variety of recipes, but stock will give you the best tasting soup, as it is a richer and more flavorful base.

How do I store turkey noodle soup?

Store turkey noodle soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Allow it to cool to room temperature before putting it in the fridge.

Can I freeze turkey noodle soup?

One of my favorite things about soup is how well it freezes for later use. Once the soup has fully cooled, store it in a freezer-safe container and freeze it for up to 3 months. Keep in mind that the pasta will soften with freezing, so you may want to cook the soup without the noodles, then add them just before serving.

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Tips and Notes

  • I use this6 quart Instant Potand this6 quart slow cooker. They’re both a great size for making large meals for the whole family! Some devices have Bluetooth, meat probes, and other handy things to help you while you cook, so do a bit of research before investing in one to suit your needs.

How To Make Homemade Turkey Stock?

Making turkey carcass soup or stock may look different for everyone, so use this as more of a guide than an exact recipe.

Use a leftover turkey carcass to make turkey stock. The size of the turkey will differ, the veggies you have lying around may differ, and the seasonings you prefer can change each time you make it.

I am not always great about keeping vegetable scraps in the freezer for stock, so I throw in what I have. Since I always add tons of vegetables to my turkey noodle soup, I don’t worry much about missing out on flavor or nutrients!

If I don’t have any vegetable scraps, I will chop up an onion and maybe throw in a large carrot and a rib of celery too. I usually use some salt, pepper, garlic, and a variety of herbs like parsley, thyme, rosemary, oregano, or basil.

I will let it all cook overnight or all day in the slow cooker to let the flavors meld together.

Strain the bones and vegetables and use them right away or refrigerate them for later.

If you refrigerate the stock until chilled, any fat in the stock will float to the top and solidify, so you can easily remove it if you prefer.

Turkey Noodle Soup Variations

  • Use fresh herbs.You can use some fresh herbs instead of dried herbs if you want, but you will need more fresh herbs than dried ones.
  • Add vegetables.You can add some extra veggies to the soup if you like. Fresh vegetables like sweetcorn, mushrooms, peas, or chopped peppers would work well.
  • Make it gluten-free.You can make this Turkey Noodle Soup gluten-free by using gluten-free noodles and double-checking all of your packages.
  • Use rice instead of noodles.Swap the noodles for rice to make a turkey rice soup, and that is a good substitute for gluten-free pasta if you need one. If you use instant rice, add it for the last 5-10 minutes in the Instant Pot or slow cooker. If you’re using long-grain rice, you will likely want to add it at the beginning of the cooking time.
  • Dairy-free soup.This turkey soup is naturally dairy-free.
  • Make it creamy.Add a can of evaporated milk to make this soup creamy!
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Serving Suggestions

Turkey Noocle Soup is hearty and filling, especially as it includes pasta, but it will also go well with some sides to make it a fuller meal or to help it go a bit further.

Try some delicious bread on the side like myHomemade Crescent Rolls,No Knead Artisan Bread, orHomemade Breadsticks.

This meal would also work well withAir Fryer Broccolior someRoasted Green Beanson the side for extra nutrition!

Dinner

Roasted Red Pepper Soup

Dinner

Italian Sausage Soup

Dinner

Cabbage Roll Soup

Dinner

Chicken Pot Pie Soup

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Turkey Noodle Soup

written by Ashley Fehr

5 from 6 votes

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!

Turkey Noodle Soup - The Recipe Rebel (15)

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Cuisine American

Course Soup

Servings 4 servings

Calories 287cal

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • 2 large carrots peeled and diced
  • 1 rib celery sliced
  • ½ medium onion finely diced
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 2 cloves garlic finely minced
  • ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
  • ¼ teaspoon dried rosemary
  • teaspoon black pepper
  • 6 cups turkey stock (see post for how to make from scratch)
  • 2 cups uncooked pasta
  • 2 cups cooked chopped turkey

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • Add oil to a 4-quart Dutch oven or soup pot and heat over medium-high heat.

  • Add carrots, celery, and onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are translucent, about 3-4 minutes.

  • Add salt, parsley, garlic, thyme, rosemary, and black pepper and cook for 1 minute.

  • Add turkey stock and bring to a low boil on medium-high heat.

  • Stir in pasta and turkey. Cover and let cook for 8-10 minutes, just until al dente (cook time will depend on the type and shape of pasta used).

  • Taste and adjust seasonings as desired. Serve.

Notes

No leftover turkey? Start with a boneless turkey breast or uncooked chicken breasts:

  1. Add one boneless turkey breast (or 2 chicken breasts) to the broth and cook.
  2. Remove when the soup is cooked, shred, and stir back in.

Turkey Noodle Soup in the Instant Pot

  1. Add all ingredients to the Instant Pot and stir.
  2. Put the lid on, select pressure cook or manual, high, and set the cook time for 3 minutes.
  3. It will take about 15 minutes to come under pressure and begin counting down.
  4. 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.

Slow Cooker Turkey Noodle Soup

  1. Place turkey stock, turkey, onion, carrots, celery, salt, parsley, garlic, thyme, rosemary, and pepper in a 4-6 quart slow cooker.
  2. Cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 3 hours, or until carrots are tender.
  3. Turn the slow cooker to high and stir in the pasta.
  4. Cover and let cook on high for 10-20 minutes, just until al dente (this cooking time will depend on the type and shape of pasta used), and serve.

Storage

Store:Store turkey noodle soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Allow it to cool to room temperature before putting it in the fridge.

Freeze:One of my favorite things about soup is how well it freezes for later use. Once the soup has fully cooled, store it in a freezer-safe container and freeze it for up to 3 months.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 287cal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 42mg | Sodium: 1007mg | Potassium: 570mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 5170IU | Vitamin C: 3.6mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 1.5mg

Keywords leftover turkey, turkey soup

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Turkey Noodle Soup - The Recipe Rebel (2024)

FAQs

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.

How to spice up bland turkey soup? ›

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 do you store turkey soup? ›

How long is leftover turkey soup good for? Soup can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to four days. Without the orzo, the soup can be frozen up to three months. Stir cooked orzo into the rewarmed soup just before serving.

What gives soup the best flavor? ›

"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.

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.

How do you add depth of flavor to soup? ›

Garlic and roasted onions add depth. Simmering mushrooms down concentrates flavors for mushroom soup. Simmering most vegetables down also adds more concentrated flavors and reduces the water in them. Herbs, salt and pepper also help.

How do I fix bland tasting 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.

What adds flavor to turkey? ›

Instead of filling your bird with stuffing, fill it with aromatics. (News flash: Cooking stuffing inside a turkey can be dangerous.) The basics, like onion, garlic, thyme, rosemary, and sage, help lend that traditional Thanksgiving flavor. Take your aromatics up a notch by adding halved lemons or oranges.

Is it OK to leave turkey soup out overnight? ›

Food should not be at room temperature for more than two hours. Shallow containers or small amounts of hot food can be placed directly in the refrigerator or rapidly chilled in an ice or cold water bath before refrigerating. Cover foods to retain moisture and prevent them from picking up odors from other foods.

How many days can you eat leftover turkey soup? ›

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.

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).

How do you fix bland turkey stock? ›

Make sure you season your turkey stock/broth with herbs (save your carrot tops from making Glazed Carrots), fresh parsley, herbs, peppercorns and bay leaf. If you add too much water, it can water down the stock making it bland (in this case, once you strain it, simmer it to reduce and intensify flavor).

How do you fix flavorless soup? ›

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. Start with the basics. Ensure you've added enough salt and black pepper.

How do you fix a bland turkey? ›

Add flavor to a bland turkey.

Turkey needs to be generously seasoned. But if the meat is still under-seasoned after cooking, carve the turkey and place the slices on a serving platter. Sprinkle all over with sea salt and a few grinds of fresh black pepper. And be sure to properly season the gravy.

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