Turkey Soup with Rice (Leftover Turkey Recipe) - Little Sunny Kitchen (2024)

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By: DianaPosted: 11/13/21Updated: 11/27/22

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A hot pot of Turkey Soup with Rice is exactly what should be simmering on your stove the weekend after Thanksgiving! It’s easy to make and a great way to turn holiday leftovers into a wholesome, comforting meal.

Turkey Soup with Rice (Leftover Turkey Recipe) - Little Sunny Kitchen (1)

I am typically the cook on Thanksgiving day, so on the day after Thanksgiving, all I really want to do is put my feet up and relax. Leftover turkey soup lets me do just that! Soup is an easy meal to make, and doesn’t take very long at all.

Sometimes I can even get my husband to make this soup so I can really enjoy some relaxation.

Need a different leftover turkey idea? Make this Leftover Turkey Casserole or these Leftover Turkey Sliders.

Why you’ll love this recipe

  1. Perfect for all of those leftovers: You cooked a really big turkey and now you don’t know what to do with it all? No worries, this recipe is perfect for using up the Thanksgiving leftovers. Leftover turkey soup has always been a must in my house after turkey day.
  2. Filling comfort food: The addition of rice to this turkey soup makes it hearty and will give you a warm, cozy feeling, especially on a cold day.
  3. A Healthy Option: After a day of Thanksgiving eating, you might want something a little bit lighter. This soup is filling, but also made with veggies and without processed foods, so it’s wholesome. Eating turkey soup is healthier than eating leftover pie, right?

Looking for a different comforting, filling soup recipe? Try my Cabbage and Sausage soup next!

Key Ingredients

Turkey Soup with Rice (Leftover Turkey Recipe) - Little Sunny Kitchen (2)

Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

  • Butter and Oil: I like to use a combination of both fats to sauté the vegetables for the soup. You can use one or the other if you prefer.
  • Onion, Carrot, and Celery: Chop your veggies in a small to medium dice. Keeping everything around the same size will make for a pleasing texture.
  • Long Grain Rice: Short grain rice doesn’t work very well in soups, as it tends to have more starch. The rice cooks in the soup, which is such a timesaver.
  • Garlic: A good amount (2 cloves) of garlic goes into this soup. I love how the strong flavor of garlic plays with the flavor of turkey, it’s delicious.
  • Turkey Stock: You can use stock you made from the turkey bones or carcass, or just use boxed turkey or chicken stock.
  • Turkey or Poultry Seasoning: Use what you have left from making your turkey, use my turkey seasoning. I also love this homemade poultry seasoning recipe and it’s delicious on my Spatchco*ck Turkey. If you don’t have this delicious seasoning blend, use dried rosemary, tyme, and sage.
  • Leftover Turkey Meat: Dice up any leftover meat that you have. 2 cups is the perfect amount. Feel free to really pick the bones to get all of the goodness into the pot.

How to Make Turkey Rice Soup

Turkey Soup with Rice (Leftover Turkey Recipe) - Little Sunny Kitchen (3)
  1. Sauté Vegetables: In a dutch oven over medium high heat, add olive oil and melt butter. Add onion, celery, and carrot and cook until softened, about 2-3 minutes.
  2. Toast Rice: Add the rice to the pan with the vegetables, and toast for about a minute, just until it starts to turn brown. This step adds a nutty flavor to the soup.
  3. Season: Add garlic, and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant. Then pour the stock over the veggies and season with poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper.
  4. Simmer: Bring the soup to a boil, reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer until the rice is cooked. Stir in the turkey meat at the end, and simmer for a few minutes until it’s heated through. Adjust seasonings and serve hot.

Recipe Tips

Add some green: A garnish of fresh parsley makes this soup beautiful, and also adds a fresh herbal flavor to each bowl. Another great trick for adding a fresh note to the soup: give it a squeeze of lemon juice before serving.

Get a good dutch oven: If you like making soups, a dutch oven is your best friend. The heavy construction provides even heating, and makes it versatile to go from stovetop to oven for recipes that require that. I love my red Le Creuset dutch oven, and for a more economical option check out the Lodge version.

Use Chicken: Want to try this soup, but don’t want to go through the trouble of roasting a turkey? No worries, substitute cooked chicken in this soup, or follow this recipe for Chicken and Rice Soup instead.

Turkey Soup with Rice (Leftover Turkey Recipe) - Little Sunny Kitchen (4)

What to Serve with Turkey Rice Soup

Serve this delicious, restoring turkey soup with a healthy salad. Your body is probably craving it after a heavy holiday meal. My Kale salad with Lemon Vinaigrette is perfect. A simple Caesar Salad would be delicious too.

A crunchy snack would be a great side dish too. Try making Honey Mustard Pretzels or Ranch Oyster Crackers.

Heading out for some black Friday shopping: I hope someone has this soup ready for you when you get home! Take a Spinach Smoothie or some Cheerio Bars with you to keep your energy high for all of that shopping.

FAQs

Should I wash rice before adding it to soup?

This depends on how you like your turkey and rice soup to be. Unrinsed rice will release more starch into the broth, making it thicker, while rinsed rice will allow the soup to be brothier.

Can I make soup with brown rice? What about wild rice?

You can definitely use other types of rice or grains in this turkey soup. Since brown rice takes longer to cook than white rice, I would suggest cooking it before adding to the soup. The same advice applies if you’d like to try wild rice, barley, or noodles.

Can I add other veggies?

Sure! Throw in any additional vegetables that you like when you add the broth. They should cook at the same time as the rice. Add more broth if needed. Try cauliflower, cabbage, green beans, or green peppers.

Looking for a turkey recipe? Try these:

Roast Turkey RecipeSucculent Smoked TurkeyRoast Spatchco*ck TurkeyInstant Pot Turkey Breast

All turkey recipes ➜

Ah, the last bit of Thanksgiving turkey is turned into a delicious homemade soup. I think that’s a wonderful way to move on to the next holiday!

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

Recipe

Turkey Soup with Rice (Leftover Turkey Recipe) - Little Sunny Kitchen (9)

5 from 9 votes(Click stars to rate!)

Turkey Soup with Rice

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 20 minutes mins

Total Time: 30 minutes mins

Author: Diana

Print Rate Recipe

A delicious leftover turkey soup with rice is the perfect wholesome meal to make after Thanksgiving. Homemade turkey soup takes just 30 minutes to make.

4 servings

A delicious leftover turkey soup with rice is the perfect wholesome meal to make after Thanksgiving. Homemade turkey soup takes just 30 minutes to make.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 medium yellow onion diced, about 1 cup
  • 1 cup diced carrot
  • 1 cup chopped celery
  • ½ cup long grain rice
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 6 cups turkey stock if not available, use chicken stock
  • 1 ½ teaspoons turkey seasoning or ½ teaspoon dried rosemary, ½ teaspoon dried thyme, and ½ dried teaspoon sage
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 cups leftover turkey meat shredded or cubed
  • Chopped fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions

  • To a dutch over medium high heat, add olive oil and melt butter.

  • Add onion, carrot, and celery and cook until softened 2-3 minutes.

  • Add rice, and toast for 1 minute.

  • Add garlic, and sauté for 30 seconds then pour the stock over the veggies, season with poultry seasoning, salt and pepper.

  • Bring to a boil, reduce to medium-low heat and simmer until the rice is cooked.

  • Stir in the turkey meat, cook for 2-3 more minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings to your preference.

  • Garnish with chopped parsley, and serve.

Notes:

  • Washing the Rice: Unrinsed rice will release more starch into the broth, making it thicker, while rinsed rice will allow the soup to be brothier.
  • Adding Vegetables. Throw in any additional vegetables that you like when you add the broth. They should cook at the same time as the rice. Add more broth if needed. Try cauliflower, cabbage, green beans, or green peppers.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 457kcal, Carbohydrates: 41g, Protein: 33g, Fat: 17g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 8g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 100mg, Sodium: 980mg, Potassium: 849mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 9g, Vitamin A: 5931IU, Vitamin C: 6mg, Calcium: 91mg, Iron: 3mg

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

© Little Sunny Kitchen

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Reader Interactions

Leave a Review!

  1. Evelyn says

    Can you use brown rice also?

    Reply

    • Diana says

      Yes, but since brown rice takes longer to cook than white rice, I would suggest cooking it before adding to the soup.

      Reply

Older Comments12

Turkey Soup with Rice (Leftover Turkey Recipe) - Little Sunny Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

Do you cook rice before adding to soup? ›

Best rice for soup

White, brown, wild rice, black rice, sushi rice, basmati and jasmine rice are all great. Even risotto rice and paella rice work! For brown and wild rice, these take longer to cook than the simmer time for the soup. So they will need to be cooked separately before adding into the soup.

Why is my turkey soup so bland? ›

Not Adding Acid

If a soup is tasting bland in the bowl, consider adding acid rather than salt. A squeeze of lemon or lime, or a dash of yogurt or sour cream can add brightness to the bowl.

How do you make turkey soup less bland? ›

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 long is turkey good for in soup? ›

Leftover turkey soup is good for 3-4 days in the refrigerator. It can be frozen for a few months.

When should rice be added to soup? ›

Cook the food by itself, then add it to the soup or stew close to the end of the cooking. Add the rice separately. Cook it in with a little chicken broth instead of the full liquid water to give it a bit more flavor. Mix the two at near the end of the chicken soup cooking time.

Can you throw uncooked rice into soup? ›

Adding uncooked rice to a soup, stew, or casserole can stretch your meals farther. Add 1 cup uncooked rice and two cups of broth or water to your recipe before cooking. The rice will soak up the broth or water as it cooks on the stove top or in the oven.

What not to put in soup? ›

The Worst Things to Put in Your Soup
  1. By Sara Butler. If there's one good thing about fall and winter, it's soup. ...
  2. Heavy Cream. Heavy cream creates an inviting texture for soups but that's where its positive contributions end. ...
  3. Juice. ...
  4. Turkey Bacon. ...
  5. Cheese. ...
  6. Croutons.

What gives soup the best flavor? ›

Herbs and spices add aroma, flavor, and intensity to soup broth. "Use fresh or dried basil in tomato-based recipes or fresh parsley to add freshness to clear broth soups," says Sofia Norton, RD. You can also go with more heat and spices.

How can I thicken my turkey soup? ›

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool. Add a few tablespoons of flour or cornstarch to the bowl and whisk until it's blended smooth. Next, bring the soup to a simmer and add the mixture back to the pot. Pro tip: Don't dump in the entire mixture at once.

How can I deepen my soup flavor? ›

Vinegar – A spoonful of vinegar is a quick fix when you find yourself with a bowl of dull, flat-tasting soup. Just a small amount of acid will brighten up the flavors. 2. Soy Sauce – Soy sauce is another item that's ideal for brightening up and adding depth of flavor to an otherwise dull soup.

What spices are good in soup? ›

To season it, we recommend starting with our Vegetable Soup Mix. It contains celery salt, parsley flakes, garlic powder, sea salt, summer savory, marjoram, thyme, black pepper, turmeric and sage, which are all excellent with root vegetables, so you can incorporate things like carrots or potatoes into the soup.

What spices to add to bland soup? ›

A little tomato sauce, garlic, salt, and bay leaves while cooking was Patty's recommendation. Barbara said, “I add a beef billion cube, oregano, basil and garlic.” That would definitely spice up the soup. The bullion usually adds a lot of sodium so you get a lot of salty flavor. “Six pepper, sparingly”, Laureen said.

Can you make turkey soup with 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.

Can you use 5 day old turkey in soup? ›

USDA recommends using cooked turkey within 3 to 4 days, kept refrigerated (40°F or less).

Is it OK to leave turkey soup 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. Cover foods to retain moisture and prevent them from picking up odors from other foods.

How do you add rice to soup without overcooking it? ›

Or, you can precook the rice for 10 minutes, store it separately from the soup, and add it to the soup as it's reheating. Just simmer another 10 minutes or so before serving. It would be a delicious addition to this Turkey Meatball Soup.

How do you keep rice from getting mushy in soup? ›

This issue makes for a soup lacking in appealing textures, but there is a quick and easy fix to this frustrating problem. To avoid a mushy mess, here's how you should be adding rice to soup instead: Cook your rice separately from the rest of the soup and add the grains directly into each bowl as you serve.

Will rice dissolve in soup? ›

Rice absorbs liquid like a sponge, and if it's left to sit in soup, it becomes mushy and blown out—less like rice in soup and more like mediocre risotto in starchy chicken water.

Why is my rice still crunchy in soup? ›

After cooking for the recommended period of time, if the rice is still hard or chewy, add a little bit of water to create more steam (for every cup of uncooked rice used, add about 2 tablespoons of water). Cover the pot tightly and place over very low heat for 5 to 10 minutes.

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