Description
This hearty Turkey Soup is a comforting and flavorful recipe perfect for using up leftover turkey. Made with a medley of diced vegetables, aromatic herbs, and tender turkey in a rich chicken broth, it’s a delicious and warming meal. Bowtie pasta is served on the side to keep it perfectly al dente and avoid sogginess. The soup is easy to prepare on the stovetop and customizable with options like rice, potatoes, or tortellini.
Ingredients
Scale
Soup Base
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 2 ribs celery, diced
- 1 cup carrots, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Seasonings & Broth
- 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 pepper
Protein & Pasta
- 3 cups leftover turkey, diced or shredded
- 1 cup bowtie pasta, uncooked (to be cooked separately)
Instructions
- 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 about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- 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 well so the flavors meld. (Pro Tip: For deeper flavor, add a Parmesan rind or leftover turkey bones to the pot.)
- Add Broth and Turkey: Pour in the chicken broth and bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer and add the diced or shredded turkey.
- Simmer Soup: Let the soup gently simmer uncovered for 15 minutes, allowing flavors to blend and the turkey to warm through.
- Cook Pasta Separately: While the soup simmers, boil the bowtie pasta in a separate pot until al dente. Drain well to avoid excess moisture.
- Serve: Portion cooked pasta into individual serving bowls. Ladle the hot turkey soup over the pasta. This method prevents the pasta from absorbing broth and becoming mushy during storage.
Notes
- This turkey soup is a versatile, easy recipe that works perfectly with leftover turkey and fresh vegetables.
- Additional ingredients like rice, potatoes, or different pasta shapes such as tortellini can be added for variety.
- Adding a Parmesan rind or leftover turkey bones enhances flavors and richness.
- Cooking pasta separately is key to preventing soggy noodles in the soup.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 242 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 1410 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg
