Turkey Soup Recipe
A comforting and hearty Turkey Soup that makes the perfect use of leftover turkey with flavorful vegetables, herbs, and broth. Served with bowtie pasta added separately for the best texture, this American classic soup is easily customizable and ideal for cozy meals.
- Author: Nethan
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Main 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
Seasonings
- 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
- Sauté Vegetables: Melt butter in a large (4.5 quart) soup pot over medium heat. Add diced onions, carrots, and celery. Cook and soften the vegetables for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add Aromatics and Seasonings: Stir in minced garlic, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, bay leaf, dried basil, oregano, parsley, mustard powder, ground sage, and pepper. Combine ingredients well to meld flavors.
- Simmer Soup Base: Pour in chicken broth and bring the soup to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to a simmer and add the diced or shredded leftover turkey. Let the soup simmer uncovered gently for 15 minutes to develop flavor.
- Cook Pasta Separately: Boil the bowtie pasta in a separate pot until al dente, then drain thoroughly. This prevents the pasta from absorbing soup broth and becoming mushy in storage.
- Serve: Add the cooked pasta directly into serving bowls and ladle the hot turkey soup over the pasta. Garnish as desired and serve immediately for best texture and flavor.
Notes
- For extra richness, add a Parmesan cheese rind or leftover turkey bones to the pot while simmering, then remove before serving.
- You can enrich the soup by stirring in about 10 oz of cream of chicken or cream of mushroom soup for deeper flavor.
- Adjust saltiness by adding milk, cream, or water if broth is too salty.
- The hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and mustard powder enhance the flavor subtly and do not make the soup spicy.
- Do not add pasta or rice directly into leftover soup before storing to prevent them from absorbing too much broth.
- Serve with Ranch Oyster Crackers or crusty bread for a delicious accompaniment.
- Storage: Refrigerate soup in an airtight container up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
- Crock Pot Method: Sauté vegetables and garlic in butter in Crock Pot, add all ingredients except pasta, cook on low for 6 hours, then serve with separately cooked pasta.
Keywords: Turkey Soup, Leftover Turkey Recipes, Comfort Food, Hearty Soup, Bowtie Pasta Soup, Easy Dinner