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.

Ingredients

Scale

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)

Instructions

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.
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.
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.)
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.
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.
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