This Turkey Noodle Soup is hearty, comforting and works great with leftover turkey! Includes tips for making with turkey carcass, as well as Instant Pot and Slow Cooker tips.
Table of Contents
It’s no secret, but I feel like I have to lead with this every time I post a soup recipe:
I. Love. Soup.
I love it big time.
Even better? Is cooking up a whole turkey or chicken or ham, and having the easiest homemade turkey stock (or chicken or ham…).
I pretty much always make this turkey noodle soup with leftover turkey, because it’s just so easy (and if I used this Crockpot Turkey with Garlic Butter recipe, I’ll make the stock overnight without even washing the slow cooker in between! You won’t tell anyone, will you??).
I’ll admit, I’m bad about keeping bones for stock in the freezer.
But, if I just make it right away and plan on soup for the next day’s dinner, it always happens.
And it is always a soul-warming, ailment-healing experience that I don’t ever regret. Homemade turkey noodle soup with homemade turkey stock is one of the best things you can do for yourself on a cold day!
How to make turkey stock using a turkey carcass:
I am not going to provide an actual recipe for making turkey carcass soup or stock because it’s going to be different for everyone.
The size of the turkey is different, the veggies you have lying around are different, the seasonings you prefer are different.
Personally, I am not great about keeping vegetable scraps in the freezer for stock. So I throw in what I have, but since I always add tons of vegetables in my turkey noodle soup, I don’t worry about missing out on that flavor much.
If I don’t have any vegetable scraps, I will chop up on onion, and maybe throw in a large carrot and a rib of celery, along with salt, pepper, garlic, and a variety of herbs like parsley, thyme, rosemary, oregano or basil.
Then I will let it cook overnight or all day in the slow cooker.
Strain the bones and vegetables, and you can use it right away or refrigerate for later.
If you refrigerate until cold, any fat in the stock will float to the top and solidify so you can easily remove it if you like.
How to make this Turkey Noodle Soup in the Instant Pot:
I pretty much always make soup in the Instant Pot — it’s so easy, and quick, and has the same great flavor!
- Add all ingredients to the Instant Pot (yes, all!) and stir.
- Put the lid on, select pressure cook or manual, high, and set the cook time for 3 minutes.
- It will take about 15 minutes to come to pressure and begin counting down.
- Once the cook time is over, let pressure release naturally for 7-10 minutes, then gradually open the valve to release remaining pressure.
- Serve.
Variations on this Turkey Noodle Soup:
- You can make this Turkey Noodle Soup gluten-free by using gluten-free noodles and double checking all of your packages.
- If you prefer, you can swap the noodles for rice to make a turkey rice soup, and that is a good substitute for gluten-free pasta if you need one. If you use instant rice, add it for the last 5-10 minutes in the Instant Pot or slow cooker. If you’re using long grain rice, you will likely want to add it at the beginning of the cook time.
- This turkey soup is naturally dairy free.
Tools I used to test this recipe:
With so many sizes and models of slow cookers and Instant Pots on the market and all of them performing slightly differently, I feel like it’s important to share what I have used to make this recipe so you can adjust if needed.
- I have the 6 quart Instant Pot with bluetooth. I don’t use the bluetooth for much but it is handy if you’re in another room while it’s cooking.
- I use my 6 quart slow cooker to make my Crockpot Turkey recipe (the link is above!), and I just throw the bones right back in to make turkey stock for soup afterwards. It’s a great large size! It also has a meat probe which is perfect for cooking turkey and other meats!
Turkey Noodle Soup
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 2 large carrots (peeled and diced)
- 1 rib celery sliced
- ½ medium onion finely diced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 2 cloves garlic (finely minced)
- ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon dried rosemary
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- 6 cups turkey stock (see post for how to make from scratch)
- 2 cups uncooked pasta
- 2 cups cooked, chopped turkey
Instructions
- Add oil to a 4 quart dutch oven or soup pot and heat over medium-high heat.
- Add carrots, celery and onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are translucent, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add salt, parsley, garlic, thyme, rosemary, and black pepper and cook 1 minute.
- Add turkey stock and bring to a low boil on medium-high heat.
- Stir in pasta. Cover and let cook for 8-10 minutes, just until al dente (cook time will depend on the type and shape of pasta used).
- Taste and adjust seasonings as desired. Serve.
Notes
- Add one boneless turkey breast (or 2 chicken breasts) with the broth and cook.
- Remove when soup is cooked, shred and stir back in.
- Place turkey stock, turkey, onion, carrots, celery, salt, parsley, garlic, thyme, rosemary and pepper in a 4-6 quart slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3 hours, or until carrots are tender.
- Turn slow cooker to high and stir in pasta. Cover and let cook on high for 10-20 minutes, just until al dente (this cook time will depend on the type and shape of pasta used).
- Serve.
Nutrition Information
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Ella says
Sooo yummy! Even the picky husband went for seconds.
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Ella!
Teresa Hoch says
What is a serving size?
Ashley Fehr says
A serving is 1/4 the total recipe
Cathy says
This recipe was so good. I will be making this often even with chicken instead of turkey.
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Cathy!
Stephanie says
Can I freeze this?
Ashley Fehr says
Yes! You can but the pasta will be soft after freezing.
Sally M says
I followed your recipe but I cooked in a pot on the stove. I had to use 8 cups of chicken broth. It’s delicious!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Sally!