Recipes Turkey Soup Using Carcass

Here at , we aim for nothing to go to waste. While we’ve got plenty of recipes to use up our Thanksgiving roast turkey meat, getting rid of the carcass can be a bit of a pain. Enter: Turkey carcass soup. It’s the best meal to get rid of the rest of that leftover turkey, and is oh so light and comforting after the big meal. The most important element is a turkey carcass, something you most likely already have! Don't worry if it isn't picked clean—just slice off as much turkey as you can (and use that to make an epic Thanksgiving sandwich)—and let the rest simmer with the soup.

What exactly is a turkey carcass? The carcass is what's left of the turkey after you're done with it, but no need to throw it away! The bones and remaining meat will make a rich and flavorful stock, perfect for a warming, cozy turkey soup. It might just be our favorite way to rework Thanksgiving leftovers. 

Conventional wisdom dictates that to make a great meat stock, you must always add veggies. Not true. We found that simmering the carcass—and the carcass alone—produced a clean, meaty stock that actually tasted of turkey. Add the veggies and herbs later when you are making the soup.

Cook In / Dine Out: Chicken Noodle Soup With Homemade Broth

Again, bucking conventional wisdom, we assumed that a long simmer for the carcass was necessary to extract flavor and gelatin, which helps provide the stock with richness (again, false). Two hours was perfect for a delicious, flavorful stock.

Looking for what to pair it with? Even MORE Thanksgiving leftovers, of course! Serve this soup with (or on top of) mashed potatoes, alongside some Thanksgiving rolls, or with some green bean casserole. 

If you manage to have any soup leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. My Turkey Carcass Soup Recipe is the best way to use leftover turkey including the carcass! Made with simple ingredients and all in one pot for easy cleanup, this turkey noodle soup is a breeze to make and so flavorful. This will be the best turkey soup you will ever make.

How To Make Turkey Carcass Soup

One of my favorite dishes to make this time of year is turkey carcass soup. It’s a turkey noodle soup with the same comforting ingredients as classic chicken noodles and is perfect for using up leftover turkey.

I always make it after the holidays using leftovers! You can use every part of the bird by cooking it into this turkey soup recipe. If you don’t have any leftovers or want to make it another time of year, you can make my turkey soup without a carcass. It’s an excellent soup for feeling under the weather, just like chicken noodle soup!

I followed the instructions almost to a tea … lol .. strained the broth, then added barley, carrots, and celery, it was so delicious.. when chilled it was all jelly .. that tells me it is a great broth !!! Great recipe… yum yum yum !! @mlrougeau

Grandma's Turkey Carcass Soup

If properly stored in the refrigerator, a turkey carcass will last for up to 1 week. Perfect for making turkey soup from a carcass!

Turkey soup can be frozen. To freeze turkey carcass soup, let it cool, then add it to an airtight, freezer-safe container. Leave at least a half inch of space at the top of the container for the liquid to expand. Store it in the freezer for up to 1 month. When ready to use, allow the soup to thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating over low heat on the stove or carefully in the microwave.

Place the turkey carcass in a pot covered in water and bring it to a boil. Once it is boiling, lower the heat and simmer for 2 hours.

Easy Homemade Turkey Soup

Calories: 191 kcal Carbohydrates: 29 g Protein: 5 g Fat: 6 g Saturated Fat: 1 g Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g Monounsaturated Fat: 4 g Cholesterol: 1 mg Sodium: 374 mg Potassium: 277 mg Fiber: 3 g Sugar: 4 g Vitamin A: 6275 IU Vitamin C: 7 mg Calcium: 48 mg Iron: 1 mg

Hi! I’m Isabel Laessig, also known as Family Foodie, creator of Sunday Supper Movement and author of the Boujee Steak Cookbook. Sunday Supper is my mission to bring family back around the dinner table. Join me in making family meal-time a tradition to celebrate!One of the best ways to use up your holiday leftovers is to make a turkey carcass soup when you are done with your roast turkey. This is a great waste not, want not recipe to make sure you are making the most out of your food!

If you want to make turkey soup from scratch you are going to have to start with using up your leftover turkey, whether it’s from my deconstructed turkey This is the best way to use up your roast turkey, making a soup that is loaded with healthy vegetables, lean turkey meat and a homemade broth. I like to also add in wild rice to make it a meal in a bowl!

How To Make Turkey Broth

Take the roast turkey and remove all of the meat from the bones and place in a container. Break the turkey carcass apart at the joints where you can, in order to be able to fit it into the soup pot. Remove all the skin and fatty parts as well.

Place the turkey pieces into a large stock pot. You now have to add the seasonings. Throw in a large onion cut into quarters, 2 carrots cut in thirds, 2 celery stalks ( if you have the leafy tops those are amazing for flavour, add them in!) . Add in 2 tbsp of salt, 5-6 peppercorns, 3 bay leaves, 2-3 springs fresh parsley if possible and then cover the turkey with water, just to the top of it. Simmer for 3-4 hours until the turkey bones are starting to break down, the meat is falling off the bone and the broth is looking nicely colored.

Remove the carcass from the soup pot carefully and set aside. Strain the broth through a fine mesh strainer then return to the pot.

Slow Cooker Turkey Soup Recipe

Now, if you need a foolproof method to make the best, most render and juicy turkey ever, try myRoast Turkeyrecipe. That recipe is the best method of cooking a turkey, period. I have tried it all. Breast down, red wine, convection, low and slow, fast and furious, and THAT method in that recipe yielded the

If you are looking for another great leftover turkey recipe, try my Turkey Pot Pie, that is a great recipe for using up the extra meat, while this turkey carcass soup uses up the bones.

This turkey carcass soup will definitely be simmering on my stove top on Boxing Day if we make turkey for Christmas this year! I think we might be having prime rib this year, but if I know my Mom, there will be a small roast turkey at some point during the holidays, I just know it. You can make this into a turkey noodle soup, simply skip the rice and add in precooked egg noodles once the vegetables are done cooking.

Leftover Turkey Noodle Soup {so Easy!}

One of the best ways to use up your holiday leftovers is to make a turkey carcass soup when you are done with your roast turkey.

Calories: 261 kcal , Carbohydrates: 29 g , Protein: 23 g , Fat: 5 g , Saturated Fat: 2 g , Cholesterol: 50 mg , Sodium: 459 mg , Potassium: 656 mg , Fiber: 2 g , Sugar: 7 g , Vitamin A: 6160 IU , Vitamin C: 4.5 mg , Calcium: 44 mg , Iron: 1.7 mg

All calories and info are based on a third party calculator and are only an estimate. Actual nutritional info will vary with brands used, your measuring methods, portion sizes and more.

Turkey Wild Rice Soup

I’m a busy mom of two, wife & cookbook author who loves creating fast, fresh meals for my little family on the Canadian prairies. Karlynn Facts: I'm allergic to broccoli. I've never met a cocktail that I didn't like. I would rather burn down my house than clean it. Most of all, I love helping YOU get dinner ready because there's nothing more important than connecting with our loved ones around the dinner table!