With a quick cooking time and a most comforting texture and flavor, this Turkey Noodle Soup is an all-time favorite way to use leftover turkey. It’s soothing when illness strikes and makes for a fast and yummy meal whenever you need it.
In recent years, my family has really embraced all of the easy soups and this one—which is similar to my Chicken and Stars Soup and Chicken Noodle Soup for Kids—is a favorite to make with Thanksgiving turkey leftovers. It’s easy, fast, and nutritious and is packed with plenty of kid-friendly flavor. (Though to be very clear, our whole family enjoys this!)
You can use any type of fully cooked turkey meat you have access to, and leftover roasted turkey is perfect for this. You can also use rotisserie chicken if that’s easier.
And know that you can use fresh vegetables or frozen ones, depending on what you have and what is easiest for you.
Serve this on its own, or pair it with simple sides such as sliced fruit, Cinnamon Apples, cheese and crackers, Healthy Pumpkin Bread, or Mini Cranberry Muffins.
(You may also like my White Turkey Chili, Macaroni Soup and Alphabet Soup recipes, and toddler stocking stuffer ideas for this time of year!)
Table of Contents
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Ingredients You Need
Here’s a look at the ingredients you need for this Turkey Noodle Soup recipe so you know what to add to your grocery list or pull out of the fridge and pantry.
- Carrots: I use freshly diced carrots here, but you can also use frozen diced carrots if that’s easier.
- Celery: I use freshly diced celery to add a base of flavor.
- Reduced-sodium broth: You can use turkey broth, chicken broth, or vegetable broth according to your preference.
- Small pasta: I use small pasta here since it cooks through fastest and is nice to eat in a soup, so look for small shells, star pasta, or orzo.
- Fully cooked turkey:My lemon herb Spatchcock Turkey recipe is a great base for this soup, which makes this a great post-Thanksgiving or Christmas recipe.
- Parmesan cheese, minced fresh parsley, fresh lemon juice (optional) to top.
TIP: I don’t add minced onion or garlic because my kids dislike seeing little bits of those ingredients, but you can add them if you’d like.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Below is an overview of this Turkey Noodle Soup recipe so you know what to expect from the process. Scroll down to the end of the recipe for the full amounts and timing.
Step 1. Heat a medium pot and warm olive oil. Cook the carrots and celery.
Step 2. Add the broth and bring to a simmer.
Step 3. Add the pasta and cook until tender. Stir in the turkey. Season to taste with salt.
Step 4. Serve with Parmesan, minced parsley, and/or fresh lemon juice if desired.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can add fresh lemon juice, Parmesan cheese, herbs such as freshly minced parsley, simmer the mixture with a bay leaf, or add a little more salt.
I usually don’t but you can if you’d like to. And you can do this recipe that way if you want to make it in advance to avoid the pasta soaking up all of the broth.
We prefer to use it in this Turkey Noodle Soup or add it to White Turkey Chili.
How to Store
Store any leftover Turkey Noodle Soup in an airtight container in the fridge. Warm to serve, adding more broth or water as you like (the pasta will likely absorb all of the broth in the storage container).
Best Tips for Success
- I like to make this with my Vegetable Broth, but chicken broth or turkey broth also works.
- If using any other pasta shape, check the cooking time on the package and adjust accordingly.
- The pasta continues to absorb the liquid as it sits, so the soup will continue to thicken. You can add more broth if desired, though thicker soup is easier for the kids to eat.
- I usually freeze portions of leftover Thanksgiving turkey so I can pull them out to make this soup quickly on busy days.
- Use fresh or frozen minced vegetables as you like.
- Use pasta or egg noodles in this easy soup for kids.
- Add herbs including thyme, fresh parsley, or rosemary to add more flavor.
- Find more Thanksgiving recipes for kids with other ideas, too.
Related Recipes
I’d love to hear your feedback on this post, so please rate and comment below!
Turkey Noodle Soup
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¾ cup diced carrots
- ¾ cup diced celery
- 2 quarts reduced-sodium broth (turkey broth, chicken broth, or vegetable broth)
- 2 cups small pasta (such as mini shells, orzo, or elbows)
- 1 cup diced fully cooked turkey
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Parmesan cheese, minced fresh parsley, fresh lemon juice (optional)
Instructions
- Heat a medium pot over medium heat. Add the oil to warm.
- Add the carrots and celery and stir to coat. Cover and cook for 4 minutes.
- Add the broth and turn the heat to high. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat back to medium so it's at a simmer with regular small bubbles.
- Add the pasta and cook for 5-6 minutes or until tender.
- Stir in the turkey.
- Season to taste with salt and serve with Parmesan, minced parsley, and/or fresh lemon juice if desired.
Equipment
Notes
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. Warm to serve, adding more broth or water as you like (the pasta will likely absorb the broth in the storage container).
- I like to make this with my Vegetable Broth, but chicken or turkey broth also works.
- If using any other pasta shape, check the cooking time on the package and adjust accordingly.
- The pasta continues to absorb the liquid as it sits, so the soup will continue to thicken.
- Drain off some of the broth to make this easier for kids to eat.
Nutrition
This post was first published November 2023.
We used chicken in this recipe but it was delicious! My kids loved it!