Soup Up Your Leftover Turkey!

Family. Friends. Food. There are so many things to love about Thanksgiving.

The day after? Well, there’s a lot to love about all of those leftovers, too! In fact, I highly recommend enjoying a slice of pumpkin pie for breakfast in your jammies, while you scope out the Black Friday sales online.

But wait … what about all of that leftover turkey? Keep it simple! Just toss it into a warm kettle of Savory Chicken Soup, simmering away on your stovetop. Truly, all you have to do is add water and diced turkey, and BOOM. That’s it! You’ll have a light lunch or delicious dinner for your family – without all of the work.

Plus, it’s ready in only 30 minutes – perfect if you’ll be dashing out the door for a little holiday shopping.  

5 More Ways to Mix It Up
Want to toss in an extra ingredient or two? Here are a few more really easy ways to soup it up!

1. Make it creamy. Replace 1 cup water with half & half for a creamy turkey soup. This is actually my favorite way to make it!

Easy alternative: You can also prepare the soup as directed with 6 cups hot water, and stir in ¼ cup heavy whipping cream just before serving. It’s a great alternative if you still have extra cream in the fridge from holiday entertaining.

2. Mix in veggies. Stir 1½ cups frozen mixed vegetables into your simmering turkey soup. At our house, I used chopped frozen asparagus. It was delish! 

Fresh baby spinach or diced tomatoes would be great options, too. If you’re feeling fancy, garnish each bowl with a little dollop of sour cream, and serve with fresh-baked Bountiful Cheesy Biscuits.

3. Easy Thai Chicken (or Turkey!) Soup. Tired of traditional turkey? Transform it completely with a burst of bright Thai-inspired flavors.

Instead of using chicken, add 2 cups diced turkey to this fresh and colorful soup, brimming with light coconut milk, curry and sweet red bell peppers. Garnish with fresh cilantro, lime wedges or green onions.

4. Tex Mex Chicken (or Turkey!) Soup. If you’d prefer a south-of-the-border twist instead, stir up this zesty version filled with fire-roasted corn, diced tomatoes and poblano peppers.

Serve sprinkled with shredded Cheddar cheese or crushed tortilla chips on top.

5. Nashville Hot Chicken (or Turkey!) Soup. Last but not least, you can also swap out chicken with turkey in this Southern-style soup, bubbling with a kick of smoky Tennessee spices.

If you aren’t a big fan of spicy foods, don’t worry! You can add a little extra sour cream or plain Greek yogurt to cool it down.
 
More Tips for Turkey Leftovers
Looking for more ways to make the most of that leftover turkey? Check out this post that I wrote last Thanksgiving, featuring recipes for everything from turkey chili to easy enchiladas: Let’s Talk Turkey: 10 Leftovers You’ll Love.  

Here’s to keeping it simple this year – and gobbling it up!

– Jen