Quick Recipe to Make Leftover Turkey Soup

Here is a recipe for leftover turkey soup that I came up with to use all of the good meat and bones from our Christmas turkey. It’s a flexible recipe to make a hearty Mexican style soup from what you have on hand.

Make a Quick Turkey Stock

The first thing you need to do is make a quick turkey stock that is the base for this flavorful soup.

Put 10 cups of water in a pot. Add the leftover turkey bones that hopefully have some meat left on them to the pot. I used the legs, thighs and wings.

Add half an onion cut in chunks. Add one crushed clove of garlic. Add 1 carrot and one stalk of celery cut in chunks. Add 2 toasted ancho chiles and 1 chile de arbol that have the seeds removed.

Simmer on low for 45 minutes. Reserve the bones, vegetables, and chiles. This makes a rich spicy turkey broth.

Assemble the Leftover Turkey Soup

Once you have made the turkey stock you are ready to assemble the soup.

When the turkey bones have cooled to the touch remove all remaining meat and add to the turkey broth. If the meat from the bones is not enough, shred a cup of the leftover turkey and add it to the pot.

Thinly slice 2 carrots and and 1 stalk of celery and add to the broth. Then add one half of an onion that has been diced.

You can add any other vegetables that you have on hand. Diced potatoes or tomatoes would work well in the soup. It’s really up to you. Just add what you think will taste good.

Add 1 teaspoon of crumbled Mexican oregano and 1/4 teaspoon of cumin for more flavor.

Simmer the soup for 45 minutes and add salt to taste at the end of cooking.

Garnish the Turkey Soup

To garnish the soup you can add slices of avocado, a dollop of cream, and a squirt of lime if would like. Serve very hot.

My leftover turkey soup recipe is flavorful, easy to make, and a great way to use up your leftover turkey.