Turkey noodle soup is a leftover pot of stock, vegetables, noodles and diced or shredded turkey, simmered until it is steaming hot. Use leftover turkey within 3 to 4 days, or start with stock from the carcass and add the meat at the end so it does not dry out. You can use homemade stock or a boxed stock if you are short on time. This is not a copy of chicken noodle soup; for that method see how to make chicken noodle soup. For the stock itself, see how to make turkey stock from the carcass. Also see how long Thanksgiving leftovers last and the mains, diets and leftovers hub.
Build the pot, then add the turkey
Sweat onion, carrot and celery in a little oil or leftover fat, then pour in turkey stock. Homemade stock from the carcass has more body; boxed stock is an honest shortcut if you season it carefully. Bring the pot to a simmer, then add egg noodles or another pasta and cook until they are just tender. Stir in leftover turkey at the end and keep the soup at a simmer until the meat is hot throughout. Leftovers should be reheated to 165°F.
If you are starting from a picked carcass, simmer the bones with onion and celery first, strain the stock, then build the soup in a clean pot so you are not serving cloudy bone bits. Taste for salt only after the stock reduces. A bay leaf or thyme is optional. Related: the USDA leftovers guide and the Thanksgiving guide.
Cool leftover soup in shallow containers and refrigerate within 2 hours. Use it in 3 to 4 days, or freeze it. Noodles soften in the fridge, so some cooks store the broth and turkey separately and add fresh noodles when they reheat. Reheat to 165°F. If the leftover turkey was already at the end of its 3-to-4-day window, make the soup and eat it that day rather than parking it for another week.
Wide egg noodles are traditional, but small pasta or leftover plain rice can stand in. Add delicate greens, if you use them, only at the end. Keep raw cutting boards away from the leftover turkey, which is already cooked, and use a clean board for the vegetables.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use boxed stock?
Yes. Homemade carcass stock has more flavor, but boxed stock works if you simmer it with vegetables and season it at the end.
When should I add the leftover turkey?
Near the end. It is already cooked; you only need to heat it through, to 165°F, without boiling it to shreds.
How long does leftover turkey soup keep?
Refrigerate it within 2 hours and use it in 3 to 4 days, or freeze it. Reheat to 165°F.
Helpful kitchen tools
- OXO Good Grips 2-Cup and 4-Cup Glass Measuring Cup Set — Measure stock and water as you build the pot.
- OXO Good Grips 11-Pound Digital Kitchen Food Scale — Weigh leftover turkey so you can scale the vegetables and noodles.
- OXO Good Grips Chef’s Precision Digital Instant Read Thermometer — Confirm reheated soup and turkey reach 165°F.
- Cuisinart Stainless 16-Inch Roasting Pan with Rack and Deluxe Basting Set — The pan you used for the original roast, before the leftovers become soup.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.