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? ›

According to the USDA, cooked turkey should be eaten within three to four days, so it's best to make your leftover turkey soup soon after the big day.

How to make bland turkey soup taste better? ›

Amping up the flavor can be easy with the right touch. Maybe a splash of white wine, fresh herbs, or a squeeze of lemon? Roasting the turkey bones before making the broth adds depth too.

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 make turkey soup with Jamie Oliver? ›

Season and simmer gently for 5 minutes. Tear the mushrooms and shred or slice the turkey, then add to the pan and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for another 2 to 3 minutes, then add fish sauce and lime juice to taste. The finished soup should be sour, salty and hot so add another bruised chilli or two, if needed.

Can I eat week old leftover soup? ›

How Long Can Soup Be Stored in the Fridge? The general rule of thumb is that leftover soup can safely be stored in a fridge for up to three to four days. However, these stored soups should always be tasted or smelled before consumption to detect signs of rancidity.

Is it safe to eat turkey soup left out overnight? ›

Food should not be at room temperature for more than two hours. Shallow containers or small amounts of hot food can be placed directly in the refrigerator or rapidly chilled in an ice or cold water bath before refrigerating.

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.

How do you add depth of flavor to 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.

How can I thicken my 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.

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.

Is it OK to eat turkey that's been in the fridge for 2 weeks? ›

If properly stored, raw turkey can last in the fridge for 1–2 days, while cold cuts last up to 5 days. How long does cooked turkey last in the fridge? If you have leftovers that include cooked turkey, you can expect those to last in the refrigerator for 3–4 days.

Can you eat 5 day old leftovers? ›

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.

What is the secret to soup? ›

7 Tips for Successful Soup Making
  • Use a Sturdy Pot. It is worth investing in a heavy pot with a thick bottom to use for making soup. ...
  • Sauté the Aromatics. ...
  • Start with Good Broth. ...
  • Cut Vegetables to the Right Size. ...
  • Stagger the Addition of Vegetables. ...
  • Keep Liquid at a Simmer. ...
  • Season Just Before Serving.
Oct 9, 2022

What is the gelatinous stock in turkey soup? ›

It will liquefy again when you heat it up, so don't worry! Gelling simply refers to the way the broth congeals when you cool it in the fridge. Really good bone broth is gelatinous (and jiggly). Your broth is still nutritious, even if it doesn't gel.

Are leftovers good after 7 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.

How long does cooked turkey broth last in the fridge? ›

Cool the stock, then place it in the fridge, either in a large pot or in quart containers. When the stock is chilled, scrape most or all of the fat from the top. Use as desired in various recipes. Turkey stock can be refrigerated for up to 4 days, or frozen for up to 4 months.

How long does turkey noodle soup last in the fridge? ›

Yes, this is still a delicious veggie and pasta soup on its own, without the poultry bones or meat. How long can I store leftover turkey noodle soup? Leftover soup can be refrigerated for 3-4 days in an airtight container. It can also be frozen for up to 3 months for longer storage.

Is soup still good after 3 days? ›

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), soups and stews containing meat and vegetables will be safe to eat for three to four days if refrigerated. The Hong Kong Centre for Food Safety (CFS) recommends setting your fridge temperature at 4 degrees Celsius (39 degrees Fahrenheit) or below.

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