Heartwarming Turkey Soup with Bowtie Pasta Recipe

Introduction

This hearty turkey soup is a comforting way to use up leftover turkey while filling your kitchen with inviting aromas. Packed with vegetables, herbs, and tender turkey, it’s perfect for a cozy meal any day of the week.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 small yellow onion, diced
• 2 ribs celery, diced
• 1 cup carrots, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce
• 8 cups chicken broth (can substitute turkey broth or stock)
• 1 bay leaf
• 3 cups leftover turkey, diced or shredded
• 1 cup bowtie pasta, uncooked
• 1 teaspoon each: dried basil, oregano, parsley, mustard powder
• ¼ teaspoon each: ground sage, pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: Melt the butter in a large (4.5 quart) soup pot over medium heat. Add the diced onions, carrots, and celery, and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, bay leaf, and all the dried seasonings.
2. Step 2: (Optional) For extra flavor, add a Parmesan rind or leftover turkey bones to the pot at this stage.
3. Step 3: Pour in the chicken broth and bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to a simmer and add the diced or shredded turkey.
4. Step 4: Let the soup simmer gently, uncovered, for 15 minutes to meld the flavors.
5. Step 5: Meanwhile, cook the bowtie pasta separately until al dente. Drain the pasta and add it directly to serving bowls rather than the soup pot to keep it from absorbing too much broth.
6. Step 6: Ladle the hot soup over the pasta in each bowl and serve immediately.

Tips & Variations

• Using a Parmesan rind or turkey bones in the soup adds rich, savory depth to the broth.
• Try swapping bowtie pasta for tortellini, rice, or diced potatoes for a different texture.
• If you prefer a thicker soup, reduce the broth slightly or add a slurry of cornstarch and water.
• Adjust hot sauce to taste for mild or spicy heat.

Storage

Store leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To prevent the pasta from becoming mushy, keep the cooked pasta separate and add it to individual servings when reheating. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave until hot throughout.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use fresh turkey instead of leftovers?

Yes, you can substitute cooked fresh turkey breast or thigh meat. Just dice or shred it and add it at the same step as the leftovers.

What if I don’t have Worcestershire sauce?

You can replace Worcestershire sauce with soy sauce or a splash of balsamic vinegar to add a similar umami depth to the soup.

Heartwarming Turkey Soup with Bowtie Pasta Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 51 reviews

• Author: Ethan
• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 6 servings 1x

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Description

This comforting Turkey Soup is a hearty and flavorful way to use leftover turkey. Featuring a medley of vegetables, aromatic herbs, and tender turkey in a savory broth, this soup is perfect for a cozy meal. The recipe keeps pasta separate to ensure it stays perfectly al dente and prevents the soup from becoming too thick when stored.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Vegetables and Aromatics

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 small yellow onion, diced
• 2 ribs celery, diced
• 1 cup carrots, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced

Broth and Seasonings

• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce
• 8 cups chicken broth (can substitute turkey broth or stock)
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1 teaspoon mustard powder
• ¼ teaspoon ground sage
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Main Protein and Pasta

• 3 cups leftover turkey, diced or shredded
• 1 cup bowtie pasta (uncooked)

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Instructions

1. Sauté Vegetables: Melt butter in a large 4.5-quart soup pot over medium heat. Add the diced onions, carrots, and celery, cooking for about 5 minutes until they soften. Then, add minced garlic, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, bay leaf, and all the dried seasonings, stirring well to combine all flavors.
2. Add Broth and Turkey: Pour in chicken broth and bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer and add the diced or shredded leftover turkey to the pot.
3. Simmer Soup: Let the soup simmer gently uncovered for 15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together. (Optional tip: Add a Parmesan rind or leftover turkey bones during this step for extra depth of flavor. Remove bones before serving.)
4. Cook Pasta Separately: In a separate pot, boil the bowtie pasta until it is al dente. Drain the pasta completely to avoid excess water diluting the soup.
5. Serve: Place the cooked pasta into individual serving bowls then ladle the hot turkey soup over the pasta. This method keeps the pasta from becoming mushy, especially if the soup is stored for leftovers.
6. Additional Variations: Refer to the accompanying blog post for tips on incorporating other pasta shapes such as tortellini or adding rice and potatoes as variations.

Notes

• Cooking pasta separately prevents it from absorbing too much broth and becoming mushy during storage.
• Adding a Parmesan rind or turkey bones while simmering enhances the soup’s flavor.
• Leftover turkey can be either shredded or diced, depending on your preference.
• This soup can be easily adapted with different pasta types or starches as noted in the blog post.
• Store soup and pasta separately if saving leftovers to maintain texture.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Soup
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: American

Keywords: turkey soup, leftover turkey recipe, hearty soup, comfort food, turkey broth, easy dinner, fall soup recipe