I really hope you made enough turkey to have leftovers, whether you cooked an entire roast turkey, a boneless breast of turkey in your slow cooker, or a whole turkey breast in your instant pot. This leftover turkey soup is such a great way to put that leftover meat to good use! After Thanksgiving, I’m always left craving something different in flavor from the comforting foods surrounding the holiday. The flavors in this southwestern turkey soup are the perfect respite from the gravy-laden fare of Thanksgiving, and it’s a healthy way to enjoy leftover turkey! Packed with smoky flavor from smoked paprika, sweetness from the corn, and bright, fresh flavor from fresh lime juice and plenty of cilantro, I love this light-tasting soup to help detox from gorging over the holidays. This soup is so simple and easy to make, PLUS you can stick it in your freezer to enjoy later.
Tips and tricks for the best flavor
To make this leftover turkey soup, just sauté some peppers and onions, add some spices, chicken stock, turkey, beans, and corn! It’s so fast and easy since most of the ingredients are already cooked when you add them. Here are some tips for getting the BEST flavor.
Add grains to make it heartier
You can add rice, barley, quinoa, pasta, or another grain to this soup to help bulk it up a bit. You’ll need to add more chicken stock to help it cook, and it will take a little longer. For example, after you sauté the peppers and onions and add the spices, you can add 3/4 cup basmati (or other long grain white) rice. Then, add an extra 1.5 cups of chicken stock, and simmer until rice is tender. Then, you can stir in the turkey, beans, and corn, and continue as directed.
Can I make leftover turkey soup with chicken?
Absolutely! There’s practically no difference between cooked turkey and chicken. You can use leftover turkey in chicken noodle soup, and you can use leftover roast chicken in this leftover turkey soup recipe. Which means this recipe can be enjoyed any time of the year, not just when you happen to have leftover turkey!
What to serve with this soup
I love fixings on soup. For this southwestern leftover turkey soup, I recommend serving it with sour cream, chopped onions, and diced avocados. And a little hot sauce if you like things spicy! I also love serving it with homemade bread or dinner rolls, or tortilla chips.
Other recipes to use leftover turkey (or chicken)
Leftover Turkey Salad with Cranberries and Walnuts Chicken and Dumplings Chicken Stew with Sweet Potatoes and Black Beans Turkey and Black Bean Enchiladas
Or browse all my soup recipes– there are tons that use cooked chicken as an ingredient! Did you make this Leftover Turkey Soup recipe? Please click the stars below to comment and Rate this Recipe!
