I am typically the cook on Thanksgiving day, so on the day after Thanksgiving, all I really want to do is put my feet up and relax. Leftover turkey soup lets me do just that! Soup is an easy meal to make, and doesn’t take very long at all. Sometimes I can even get my husband to make this soup so I can really enjoy some relaxation. Need a different leftover turkey idea? Make this Leftover Turkey Casserole or these Leftover Turkey Sliders.
Why you’ll love this recipe
Looking for a different comforting, filling soup recipe? Try my Cabbage and Sausage soup next!
Key Ingredients
Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Butter and Oil: I like to use a combination of both fats to sauté the vegetables for the soup. You can use one or the other if you prefer. Onion, Carrot, and Celery: Chop your veggies in a small to medium dice. Keeping everything around the same size will make for a pleasing texture. Long Grain Rice: Short grain rice doesn’t work very well in soups, as it tends to have more starch. The rice cooks in the soup, which is such a timesaver.Garlic: A good amount (2 cloves) of garlic goes into this soup. I love how the strong flavor of garlic plays with the flavor of turkey, it’s delicious.Turkey Stock: You can use stock you made from the turkey bones or carcass, or just use boxed turkey or chicken stock.Turkey or Poultry Seasoning: Use what you have left from making your turkey, use my turkey seasoning. I also love this homemade poultry seasoning recipe and it’s delicious on my Spatchcock Turkey. If you don’t have this delicious seasoning blend, use dried rosemary, tyme, and sage. Leftover Turkey Meat: Dice up any leftover meat that you have. 2 cups is the perfect amount. Feel free to really pick the bones to get all of the goodness into the pot.
How to Make Turkey Rice Soup
Recipe Tips
Add some green: A garnish of fresh parsley makes this soup beautiful, and also adds a fresh herbal flavor to each bowl. Another great trick for adding a fresh note to the soup: give it a squeeze of lemon juice before serving. Get a good dutch oven: If you like making soups, a dutch oven is your best friend. The heavy construction provides even heating, and makes it versatile to go from stovetop to oven for recipes that require that. I love my red Le Creuset dutch oven, and for a more economical option check out the Lodge version. Use Chicken: Want to try this soup, but don’t want to go through the trouble of roasting a turkey? No worries, substitute cooked chicken in this soup, or follow this recipe for Chicken and Rice Soup instead.
What to Serve with Turkey Rice Soup
Serve this delicious, restoring turkey soup with a healthy salad. Your body is probably craving it after a heavy holiday meal. My Kale salad with Lemon Vinaigrette is perfect. A simple Caesar Salad would be delicious too. A crunchy snack would be a great side dish too. Try making Honey Mustard Pretzels or Ranch Oyster Crackers. Heading out for some black Friday shopping: I hope someone has this soup ready for you when you get home! Take a Spinach Smoothie or some Cheerio Bars with you to keep your energy high for all of that shopping. Ah, the last bit of Thanksgiving turkey is turned into a delicious homemade soup. I think that’s a wonderful way to move on to the next holiday! © Little Sunny Kitchen
