Turkey Noodle Soup

Turkey sandwiches may be the customary choice for leftover turkey after a Thanksgiving feast, but we're here to suggest that this year, you try turkey noodle soup instead. With a umami-rich, savory stock, tender turkey and egg noodles, and warming seasonings, this turkey noodle soup recipe is a great choice for those post-Thanksgiving days when you're still craving comfort but need something a little less than more turkey and dressing.

Learn how to use leftover turkey for this easy turkey noodle soup, and we bet you'll be thankful to have extra turkey after the feast just for this dish.

Tips for the Best Turkey Noodle Soup

This soup recipe is designed to be easy since you'll be coming off the marathon of Thanksgiving Day cooking. But even easy recipes need some special attention. Here are a few points to keep in mind as you cook.

• Don't skimp on the stock: Simmering a leftover turkey carcass with seasoned store-bought stock makes easy work of a richly flavored homemade broth. If you made a spatchcock turkey, use the backbone here, too. The broth is key to making turkey noodle soup that actually tastes like turkey.
• Cook the pasta separately: Cooking the noodles on their own prevents them from soaking up all the broth and turning the soup thick and mushy.
• Get ahead if you can: The turkey stock can be made the day before you plan to make the soup. In fact, you might want to put the turkey broth on to simmer while you're cleaning the kitchen after Thanksgiving. When it's done, you can throw away the solids, chill the stock, and you're one step closer to this fabulous soup.

Ingredients for Turkey Noodle Soup

After cooking for Thanksgiving, odds are you have most of these ingredients in your fridge and pantry. So grab them and get to simmering.

• Leftover turkey carcass and skin: Don't trash what's left of the bird after you sliced and picked the meat from the bones. You'll get second life out of it by making an incredibly flavorful broth for this soup.
• Store-bought turkey or chicken stock: If you don't have homemade turkey stock already, store-bought will do. You're going to really make it extra savory by simmering it with the leftover bits of turkey.
• Unsalted butter: Use this to cook the vegetables until tender.
• Onion, carrots, and celery: These form the soup's flavorful base.
• Salt and pepper: Season the soup before serving. You may want to adjust based on how salty the stock is.
• Egg noodles: It is turkey noodle soup after all. In place of egg noodles, you could use rotini or fusilli.
• Turkey: You'll need 3 cups of shredded turkey.
• Thyme: The perfect woodsy herb for this soup.
• Lemon juice: A bit of citrus juice right at the end of simmering makes the soup taste brighter and elevates the other flavors.
• Parsley: For garnish and to add herby freshness

How To Make Turkey Noodle Soup

This brief recipe outline will get you started, but follow the full recipe further below:

• Step 1. Make the broth: Simmer the turkey carcass and skin with the broth or stock for about 90 minutes, or until it's reduce to 8 cups of broth. Then, discard the solids, and strain the broth.
• Step 2. Cook vegetables: In a stockpot, cook onions, carrots, and celery with butter until tender.
• Step 3. Add broth: Pour the warm broth into the stockpot, and bring to a simmer.
• Step 4. Cook noodles: In a separate pot, cook the pasta to al dente, and drain. Add to the broth mixture, along with the turkey, and simmer.
• Step 5. Season, garnish, and serve: Remove the stockpot from the heat. Add the lemon juice, and season with salt and pepper. Ladle into bowls, and garnish with parsley if desired.

How To Store Turkey Noodle Soup

Leftover turkey noodle soup will last in the fridge up to 4 days if stored in an airtight container. The pasta may take on more liquid from the soup and become extra soft in that time.

You can also freeze turkey noodle soup for a dinner in the future. Transfer the soup to a freezer-safe bowl or ziplock bag, and freeze up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, and reheat on the stove until warmed through. Taste and season the soup with more salt, pepper, and lemon juice if needed.

More Ways To Use Leftover Turkey

If you've got more turkey than you know what to do with, consider one of these recipes for a use-it-up strategy:

• Turkey Salad
• Turkey-and-Persimmon Salad
• Black-Eyed Pea Soup With Turkey
• Barbecue Turkey Sandwich
• Creamy Turkey Pasta Bake
• Turkey Frittata