Make the most of your leftover turkey with this comforting Turkey and Rice Soup recipe, ideal for chilly, blustery evenings.
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I use leftover turkey in many recipes, but my absolute favorite, must-make-every-single-year leftover turkey recipe is Turkey and Rice Soup. This soup is quick and easy to make. It’s also frugal to make with Thanksgiving leftovers, but that is not why I make it. I make this homemade turkey soup because it embodies comfort food.
We often get our first big snowstorm around Thanksgiving. This turkey soup makes an easy, yet hearty dinner – the perfect meal after spending time outside on a cold, blustery day.
I use the bones from our Thanksgiving turkey to make turkey stock in my Crock-Pot the day after Thanksgiving, then I use the stock in a variety of turkey recipes, but I always reserve 8 cups of stock to make this turkey and rice soup. If you don’t have turkey stock, you can use chicken broth or vegetable broth to make this soup.
This turkey soup recipe calls for 2 cups of cooked rice. You can use any type of rice you wish. I have used white rice, brown rice, and wild rice. They all taste good in this recipe. I often batch cook basmati rice and freeze it in 2 cup portions, which allows me to just dump the precooked portion of rice in the soup.
While this recipe calls for 2 cups of cooked turkey, you can choose to use either white meat or dark meat. I use a mix of both diced white meat and dark meat because my family isn’t picky.
Storing the Turkey Soup
This recipe for turkey soup with rice makes a big batch. It will keep in your refrigerator for up to 5 days. If your family can’t eat it all within that time, you can freeze it and enjoy the rest later.
To freeze the soup, allow it to cool. Then place it in a freezer safe dish with a lid. You can freeze this soup for up to 3 months.
To thaw frozen soup, put the container in the refrigerator and allow it to thaw over night.
Turkey and Rice Soup Recipe
A homemade turkey and rice soup recipe using leftover turkey and cooked rice.
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoon turkey fat, olive oil or broth
- 6 green onions, sliced (use the tops too)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 stalks celery
- 8 cups turkey stock or chicken broth (How to Make Turkey Broth)
- 2 cups sliced carrots
- 2 cups cooked rice
- 2 cups cooked turkey, cubed
Directions
- In a large soup pot, sauté the onion, garlic, and celery in turkey fat or olive oil.
- Add the turkey stock, and carrots. Cook over a medium high heat until it reaches a boil.
- Lower heat to medium and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Add the turkey and rice and cook for 5 minutes or until the the turkey and rice are warm and the carrots are fork tender.
Printable Recipe for Turkey and Rice Soup
Turkey and Rice Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon turkey fat olive oil or broth
- 6 green onions sliced (use the tops too)
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 stalks celery thinly sliced
- 8 cups turkey stock, turkey broth, or chicken broth
- 2 cups carrots cut into coins
- 2 cups cooked rice
- 2 cups cooked turkey cubed
Instructions
- In a large soup pot, sauté the onion, garlic, and celery in turkey fat.
- Add the turkey stock, and carrots. Cook over a medium high heat until it reaches a boil.
- Lower heat to medium and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Add the turkey and rice and cook for 5 minutes or until the turkey and rice are warmed through and the carrots are fork tender.
Nutrition
More Leftover Turkey Recipes
Turkey Salad Sandwiches with Apple and Cranberries
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mindy says
I just pulled some turkey out of the freezer that was leftover from Thanksgiving and was wondering what to make with it. Then I came across this soup and think I will be making this. Thank you for sharing your recipe!
Alea says
My pleasure! I hope you enjoy it!
Marcy says
This looks so good, and I’m cooking on Thanksgiving this year, so I’ll have a lot of turkey left over, I know.