The day after a big Thanksgiving dinner, I give myself one last push to make this leftover turkey soup, packed with veggies and noodles and topped with croutons made from savory leftover stuffing. So worth it!

As I am slicing the turkey for the main event, I always turn my thoughts to tucking the carcass into the fridge, ready for making soup the next day – hands down, my favorite thing about Thanksgiving leftovers.

turkey soup with veggies, orzo, turkey and stuffing croutons.

What to expect

This leftover Thanksgiving turkey soup is a full meal that includes carrots, celery, onions, spinach, parsnips, noodles and leftover turkey.

Topping the soup with crispy croutons made from leftover stuffing (my favorite) adds a delicious twist. The croutons taste just like the stuffing which I make with my homemade stuffing recipe every year.

Bottom line: The turkey soup is the perfect way to use leftovers. Plus, it’s like a reward for all the work from the days before. Comforting, hearty and super tasty.

Ingredients – tailored to your taste

Turkey bones: Use leftover bones from the whole turkey – the wings, drumsticks, skin (for flavor) or whatever you have. A turkey carcass can stay in the fridge for up to 3 days in a sealed bag.

Vegetables: I always use onions, carrots, and celery. And, if I have some on hand, I also add parsnip, turnip and baby spinach or frozen spinach.

Broth: Use can use water, chicken broth or vegetable broth.

Stuffing croutons: These are made with leftover stuffing. If already seasoned well, all you have to do is bake them until crispy. So good!

Noodles: Orzo or fine egg noodles are my favorite, but any small pasta will work.

Variations to consider:

Bones: If you don’t have a leftover turkey carcass, use bones from a roasted chicken instead.

Extra vegetables: If you have any leftover roasted vegetables, dice them and toss them into the soup at the end.

Broth: For a richer soup, you can use homemade or store-bought chicken stock instead of broth. If you prefer a creamy soup, you can add a little heavy cream to the turkey broth as it simmers.

Herbs: I use thyme, parsley, and a bay leaf. Other fresh herbs options are fresh sage, rosemary or chives.

Rice: Instead of pasta, add leftover white rice, brown rice or wild rice.

Step by step instructions

turkey bones, onion, vegetables, herbs, broth in soup pot — Put turkey bones, veggies, herbs and seasoning in a soup pot or Dutch oven. Cover with broth or water.

turkey soup with veggies and turkey bones in pot. — Simmer the broth and veggies for an hour partially covered.

stuffing croutons on foil lined baking pan. — Bake leftover stuffing at 425F/218C for 12 minutes to make croutons.

chopped chicken, veggies, spinach, orzo on cutting board — Strain soup if needed and add cooked veggies, cut-up turkey meat, noodles and spinach (if using).

ladle of turkey soup — Taste and adjust seasonings. Ladle soup into bowls. Add the crotons to the top of the soup and serve.

Tips for a richer broth

If the broth lacks depth and flavor after cooking, try one of these fixes:

Add a can of concentrated undiluted chicken broth (e.g. Campbell’s in a can). Don’t add a can of ready-made broth that contains water.
Add 1-3 teaspoons or cubes of chicken bouillon or paste such as Better Than Bouillon base.
Remove the turkey and vegetables, leaving the broth in the pot. Simmer the soup, uncovered, on medium heat to reduce and concentrate the broth.
Add salt. It can make a big difference.

Shortcut

Some grocery stores sell peeled and cut celery sticks and carrots.
If you are planning to add spinach, you can get prewashed baby spinach or frozen spinach.

Make Ahead

This homemade turkey soup can be made up to 3-4 days ahead and kept in the fridge in an airtight container.
The stuffing croutons would have to be kept in the fridge so it’s best not to crisp them up ahead as they will become soft in the fridge.
Reheat the soup in the pot or microwave and make the stuffing croutons while you are reheating the soup.

What to serve with turkey soup

This soup is a meal on its own and doesn’t need much else with it. Normally, I would suggest some crusty bread or biscuits, but with noodles and croutons, they are not necessary.

You can, of course, complement the soup with a salad or a simple sandwich if you like such as an egg salad or chicken salad sandwich. Swap the chicken with leftover turkey if you have any.

Leftover Turkey Soup topped with Stuffing Croutons in a bowl p4 — Top with stuffing croutons and serve.

More delicious soup recipes

Want more ideas? Check out our full list of soup recipes.

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Leftover Turkey Soup With Stuffing Croutons