Leftover Turkey Soup with Orzo - Easy Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipe! (2024)

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Katerina

5 from 17 votes

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My Leftover Turkey Soup with orzo and spinach combines all the best Italian flavors in a belly-warming bowl of soup! This hearty and nutritious soup recipe is my favorite way of using leftover Thanksgiving turkey.

Leftover Turkey Soup with Orzo - Easy Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipe! (2)

This homestyle turkey soup, brimming with Italian flair and a tangy tomato broth, is ideal for Thanksgiving turkey leftovers. A staple after our family’s holiday gathering, it is the best comfort food. Packed with tender turkey, nutritious veggies, orzo, and herbs, it’s reminiscent of a Tuscan retreat in a bowl. Simple to love, this one-pot soup is hearty, flavorful, and ready in just 30 minutes, drawing inspiration from my easy and delicious Turkey Corn Chowder recipe.

Leftover Turkey Soup with Orzo - Easy Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipe! (3)

Turkey Soup Ingredients

  • Olive Oil and Butter: I use both when sautéing the veggies.
  • Onion, Carrots, and Celery: Diced and sautéd with garlic for the soup’s flavor base.
  • Fresh Parsley
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Turkey: You’ll need about four cups of cooked, shredded (or chopped) turkey meat.
  • Tomato Paste & Diced Tomatoes
  • Herbs: A combination of thyme, oregano, and rosemary, and throw in a bay leaf for flavor.
  • Broth: Use your choice of low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth.
  • Orzo: This is a type of small pasta that looks a lot like long-grain rice.
  • Spinach: Baby spinach is full of nutrients and softens up easily.

How to Make Leftover Turkey Soup

Leftover Turkey Soup with Orzo - Easy Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipe! (4)
Leftover Turkey Soup with Orzo - Easy Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipe! (5)
  1. Sauté: Warm up the olive oil and butter in a large pot. Stir in the diced onions, carrots, celery, garlic, and parsley, and season with salt and pepper.
  2. Add Turkey: Toss in your shredded leftover turkey to cook for a couple of minutes.
  3. Combine: Stir in the tomato paste, diced tomatoes, and herbs. Add the broth, orzo pasta, and a bay leaf.
  4. Cook: Bring the soup to a boil, then leave it to simmer over low heat. It should take about 10 minutes for the orzo to become tender.
  5. Finish and Serve: Lastly, stir in the baby spinach and give your soup a final seasoning to taste. Fish out the bay leaf, ladle the soup into bowls, and dig in!
Leftover Turkey Soup with Orzo - Easy Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipe! (6)

Recipe Tips And Variations

  • Use up your veggies. I’ll frequently mix up the ingredients that go into this soup depending on what’s taking up space in my fridge, from adding diced bell peppers to chopped broccoli. Nothing is off-limits.
  • Make chicken orzo soup instead. I make this soup year-round with shredded chicken, too! I’ll use leftover Easy Roast Chickenor a store-bought rotisserie chicken.
  • Make it spicy. If you’re after a soup with a bit of spicy kick, toss in a pinch of crushed red chili flakes.
  • Different pasta.If you don’t have orzo, other good pasta options are rotini, ditalini, fusilli, or rotelli.

Serving Suggestions

Serve a bowl of zesty leftover turkey soup with a side of crusty Focaccia, Skillet Bread, or Naan to soak up that delicious broth. Other easy sides include a fresh green salad or Easy Butternut Squash Salad,Roasted Butternut Squash, Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts, or Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Parsnips, and Carrots.

Leftover Turkey Soup with Orzo - Easy Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipe! (7)

Storing and Reheating Soup

Store leftovers in an airtight container and keep them in the fridge for up to 4 days, or freeze for up to 3 months. To reheat leftovers, stir a little extra broth or water into the soup, then warm the soup on the stovetop or in the microwave.

More Leftover Turkey Recipes

  • Leftover Turkey and Wild Rice Casserole
  • Leftover Turkey Salad Sandwiches
  • Turkey Corn Chowder
  • Turkey Tetrazzini with Fetuccine
  • Leftover Turkey Pot Pie
  • Leftover Turkey Frittata

Leftover Turkey Soup with Orzo - Easy Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipe! (8)

Leftover Turkey Soup

Katerina | Diethood

A hearty Italian-inspired soup recipe loaded with tomatoes, spinach, orzo pasta, and leftover turkey meat.It's the best way to use up Thanksgiving leftovers!

5 from 17 votes

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 small yellow onion, diced
  • 2 large carrots, diced
  • 3 ribs celery, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • ¼ cup fresh chopped parsley
  • salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste
  • 4 cups cooked and shredded turkey meat
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 can (14-ounces) fire-roasted diced tomatoes
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 8 cups low sodium chicken or vegetable broth
  • cups orzo pasta
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 5 to 8 ounces baby spinach

Instructions

  • Heat the oil and melt the butter in a Dutch oven or a large stock pot set over medium-high heat.

  • Add the onions and sauté for 2 minutes. Add carrots, celery, garlic, and parsley; season with salt and pepper and continue to sauté for about 3 minutes.

  • Stir in the turkey meat and cook for 2 more minutes, stirring occasionally.

  • Mix in the tomato paste and stir in the canned tomatoes; stir in thyme, oregano, and rosemary and cook for 2 minutes.

  • Add the broth, orzo, and bay leaf; stir to combine and bring the soup to a boil. Lower heat to medium-low and continue to simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender.

  • Stir in the baby spinach and cook for 1 more minute or until the spinach is wilted.

  • Remove from heat and taste for seasonings. Adjust accordingly.

  • Remove bay leaf and serve.

Notes

  • Use up your vegetables and make this soup with anything from bell peppers to broccoli. It’s an excellent way to clear out your fridge.
  • Try it with chicken. Substitute turkey with shredded roast or rotisserie chicken for year-round enjoyment.
  • Add heat. For spiciness, include some crushed red chili flakes.
  • Switch the pasta. No orzo? Use rotini, ditalini, fusilli, or rotelli instead.
  • To Store: Transfer completely cooled turkey soup to an airtight container. Keep refrigerated for up to 4 days. To reheat, add more liquid, stir, and reheat over medium heat on the stovetop.
  • To Freeze: Make sure the soup is completely cooled. Transfer the soup to large, heavy-duty freezer bags (I divide it into two freezer bags), and freeze it for 3 to 4 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

Nutrition

Serving: 1.5 cups | Calories: 391 kcal | Carbohydrates: 36 g | Protein: 33 g | Fat: 11 g | Saturated Fat: 3 g | Cholesterol: 106 mg | Sodium: 287 mg | Potassium: 653 mg | Fiber: 3 g | Sugar: 5 g | Vitamin A: 3960 IU | Vitamin C: 14.5 mg | Calcium: 69 mg | Iron: 2.8 mg

Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.

Course: Dinner, Soup

Cuisine: American, Italian

Keyword: leftover turkey recipes, thanksgiving leftover recipes, turkey noodle soup

Did you make this recipe?Leave a Rating!

Categories:

  • Dinner Recipes
  • Freezer Friendly Meals
  • Holidays
  • One Pot Meals
  • Quick Dinner Ideas
  • Soups
  • Thanksgiving
Leftover Turkey Soup with Orzo - Easy Thanksgiving Leftovers Recipe! (2024)

FAQs

How long is leftover turkey good for soup? ›

How long is leftover turkey soup good for? Soup can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to four days.

How to make bland turkey soup taste better? ›

You can add more herbs and different spices to add more flavor to turkey soup, but sometimes a bit of salt is all you need. The other clincher is cooking the carcass low and slow to get as much flavor from the roast turkey as possible. Try sauteeing your vegetables in a bit of olive oil before adding to the soup.

How many days can you eat leftover turkey? ›

USDA recommends using cooked turkey within 3 to 4 days, kept refrigerated (40°F or less). Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth. Turkey can be frozen for 3 to 4 months. Although safe indefinitely, frozen leftovers can lose moisture and flavor when stored for longer times in the freezer.

How to thicken turkey soup? ›

Add flour or cornflour

Put a tablespoon of either into a small bowl and stir in 2-3 tbsp of the soup until you have a smooth mixture. Stir this back into the soup and bring it to a simmer. Cook for a few minutes to allow the starch granules to burst to thicken, and to cook out any flour flavour.

How long can you eat turkey in soup after Thanksgiving? ›

Turkey: 3-4 days.

If you use the turkey in a new dish like a soup or casserole, only consume within those initial four days. Another option is freezing the cooked turkey. Turkey can last up to four more months if frozen.

Can you use a 5 day old turkey in soup? ›

turke. I know that leftover turkey should be used up in 3 to 4 days.

What seasoning makes soup taste better? ›

"Ground paprika, turmeric, nutmeg, ground ginger, and other powdered spices add a touch of color and spiciness to broths," she says. As a general rule, use fresh herbs at or near the end of cooking and dried herbs and spices early on. This helps you get the flavors you're looking for in the right balance.

What gives soup more flavor? ›

Use a high-quality broth or stock as a base for your soup. Roast or caramelize your vegetables before adding them to your soup to bring out their natural sweetness. Add ingredients like mushrooms, tomatoes, soy sauce, miso, or seaweed to enhance the flavor of your soup.

How do I increase the depth of flavor in soup? ›

Perk up a Bland Soup With Simple Pantry Staples

Add a splash of vinegar (any kind!), or a squeeze of citrus. Chances are, you could use a little more salt. Go ahead—it's ok. Salt perks up flat flavors and helps balance out bitter-tasting ingredients.

Is a 3 year old frozen turkey still good? ›

Frozen Turkey

Turkeys can be kept in the freezer indefinitely. However, cook turkeys within 1 year for the best quality.

Can you eat 7 day old turkey? ›

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends using cooked turkey within three to four days as long as it is kept refrigerated at a temperature that is 40°F or lower.

Is 5 day old turkey safe to eat? ›

Cooked turkey and other leftovers can be kept in the fridge safely for about three to four days, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and FoodSafety.gov say. But after that time, "the risk of food poisoning goes up," the Mayo Clinic notes, pointing to the growth of bacteria in refrigerated leftovers.

Can I make turkey soup after 6 days? ›

Cooked turkey should be refrigerated within two hours after being cooked . Stuffing should be removed and stored separately in air tight containers . Assuming your soup would include the carcass you want to make your soup within three days . And the soup itself has a life of three to four days in the fridge.

Can I eat leftover soup after 5 days? ›

Leftovers can be kept for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. After that, the risk of food poisoning goes up. If you don't think you'll be able to eat leftovers within four days, freeze them right away. Frozen leftovers will stay safe for a long time.

Can you make turkey soup with a 3 day old turkey? ›

Leftover turkey lasts for up to four days. So, I'd recommend making this soup a day or two after Thanksgiving, so the soup is still good for at least a day.

Is soup still good after 7 days? ›

A general rule of thumb is that soup can be stored in the refrigerator for about three days, but you should always taste your dish before deciding to reheat.

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