Leftover Turkey Soup
Is your fridge loaded with Thanksgiving leftovers? This creamy Leftover Turkey Soup with Poblano Peppers will give your leftovers a sassy makeover with a little southwest flair. Not even the most anti-leftover eater could resist it!
Leftover Turkey Soup Recipe
The biggest cooking day of the year is over, and I bet you could use a weekend off from cooking.
Yet, it seems there are always hungry mouths to feed, and about half of those mouths will turn up their noses to leftovers, even sacred Thanksgiving leftovers.
So how do you use up your fridge full of food in a way no one will complain about?
You make this Creamy Turkey Soup Recipe with smoky poblano peppers.
This simple turkey soup recipe is so cozy, with mild smoky heat from the poblano peppers. I used up our leftover turkey, mashed potatoes, and even the orzo stuffing I made, in a unique and irresistible way.
Creamy Turkey Soup
The mashed potatoes thicken the soup base, making it creamy and inviting. While the poblano peppers provide that extra something, that makes this soup seem like a completely different meal than Thanksgiving dinner.
And since most of the ingredients are already cooked, it takes very little time and effort to prepare. Score!
Now go relax while your soup simmers… You’ve earned it.
Turkey Soup Recipe Ingredients
Want to make this quick zesty turkey soup recipe? Here’s what you’ll need…
- Butter – To sauté the onions and poblano peppers.
- Onions – The underlying platform flavor of every soup.
- Poblano pepper – Seeded and chopped. Poblanos are usually mild, however, every once in a while, you’ll stumble across a hot one. I like to buy 2-3 so I have options.
- Garlic – Minced. To bring in zesty essence.
- Leftover mashed potatoes – This acts as the thickener in the soup base.
- Leftover turkey meat – You can you white or dark meat. Just chop it, and throw it in the pot.
- Chicken broth – Or turkey stock.
- Cooked orzo – For texture.
- Salt and pepper
How To Make Turkey Soup
- Sauté the Veggies. Place a large stock pot over medium-high heat and add the butter to the pot. Once the butter has melted, add the onions, poblano peppers and garlic and sauté to soften.
- Thicken the Soup Base. Add the mashed potatoes to the pot and pour in the stock. Whisk to dissolve the mashed potatoes into the stock, and bring to a boil.
- Get Chunky. Stir and add the turkey meat and orzo. Simmer.
What Else Can I Add To Leftover Turkey Soup?
You can add anything you like! Get creative by tossing in frozen corn, green chiles, diced carrots, celery, cilantro, oregano, ground cumin, and cayenne pepper.
Get the Full (Printable) Creamy Leftover Turkey Soup Recipe Below!
More Leftover Turkey Recipes
More Dazzling Soup Recipes
- Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup
- Greek Lemon Chicken Soup
- Creamy Wild Mushroom Soup
- Sausage and Kale Soup
- See ALL Our Soup Recipes
Leftover Turkey Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3/4 cup chopped onions
- 1 large poblano pepper, seeded and chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 cups leftover mashed potatoes
- 6 cups chicken broth, or turkey stock
- 3 cups roughly chopped cooked turkey
- 2 cups cooked orzo or 2 1/2 cups leftover orzo stuffing
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Place a large stock pot over medium-high heat and add the butter to the pot. Once the butter has melted, add the onions, poblano peppers and garlic and sauté for 3-5 minutes to soften.
- Add the mashed potatoes and broth to the pot. Whisk to dissolve the mashed potatoes into the broth, and bring to a boil. Simmer for 15 minutes.
- Add the chopped turkey and orzo stuffing and simmer another 5 minutes. Salt and pepper to taste.
Nutrition
Great way to enjoy some leftover turkey!
cobblers yum!
This sounds like comfort in a bowl – hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
I would cook the berries down some to make a topping for pancakes & waffles.
We love to make soups.
a berry compote
I’d make berry preserves.
With my berries I would make my own jam/jelly. :)
What a great idea, looks delicious!
I would make the no knead bread recipe that I’ve had pinned for months and keep looking at! I really need a Dutch oven and I love Emile Henry
I’d like to make a loaf of bread in the Dutch Oven.
Fresh Berries, well I’d go with a rustic pie!
This soup is GORGEOUS, Sommer! What a perfect way to use up those leftovers!
I would make jam….lots of jam!
I’m pretty sure I would make some sort of berry compote in this gorgeous pot! Hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving!! :)
This is a great way to use up leftovers..
So…I’m thinking it’s a great day for soup!
It is 5 am and I am getting ready to make our big dinner a day late. This recipe looks so good!
This looks great. I bet it would be great for applesauce with berries.