Easy Turkey Rice Soup

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This easy Turkey and Rice Soup is a 15 Minute Turkey Soup that is pure comfort food. If you have a lot of leftover holiday turkey, then this is the recipe for you.  It is the perfect way to wrap up the busy holiday season.

A quick, easy dinner that is warm and delicious, it will become part of your holiday tradition. Plus, it’s a great way to use up leftover holiday turkey.

A top shot of the easy turkey rice soup.

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Turkey rice soup is great for chilly afternoons or a quick supper. You can even make it with leftover chicken or a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store.  It’s just as good!

Is there anything better than making a tasty soup with ingredients that you already have? You are the rock star that made a delicious meal but this homemade turkey soup only takes minutes.

If you’re looking for more soup recipes, try these Copycat Panera Autumn Squash Soup, Instant Pot French Onion Soup with Chicken and Italian Wedding Soup with Turkey Meatballs.

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A bowl of the dish with a side of bread.

Why We Love This Turkey and Rice Soup Recipe

This is a great recipe to use up everything in the fridge.  Not only does it use up leftover turkey, but I can use up any leftover veggies. The broth and rice make the soup so comforting and make this turkey soup a keeper.

  • 15 Minute Meal: Make the soup in only minutes with cooked turkey.
  • Easy Ingredients: All found in the fridge. Use leftover turkey for the win!
  • Family Friendly: Warm and hearty soup that everyone will love on a cold day.
  • Adaptable: Can make it with almost any veggies or starch. Use brown rice or wild rice for this recipe or no rice if you want.

Ingredient Notes for this Turkey Rice Soup Recipe

Turkey, rice and broth.
  • Homemade Turkey Stock: Use the turkey carcass to make the stock. Add the turkey carcass to a pot and make your own homemade stock or buy premade turkey broth. Either broth or stock works.
  • Shredded Turkey: Pull all the turkey meat off, use turkey that is both dark and white meat. You can use cubed turkey for a chunkier soup.
  • Vegetables: Celery, carrots, onions or stir in whatever you have.
  • All Purpose Blend: Make your own from the link or use your favorite.
  • Garlic: Start with two or use more for even more flavor.

See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.

Variations and Substitutions to Make Turkey and Rice Soup

Of course it is easy to adapt this comforting soup to make it a family favorite.

  • Rice: Long grain white rice, turkey soup with wild rice blend or use brown rice all work in this leftover thanksgiving turkey soup.
  • Seasoning: Use your favorite spices to add flavors you enjoy. Salt, pepper and other spices to taste.
  • Instant Pot Turkey Soup: Make the soup in the instant pot or make a slow cooker turkey soup. Just add the broth, add the turkey and the ingredients and cook until the rice is tender.
  • Chicken: Chicken or turkey breast is great for this leftover soup. Use chicken broth in place of the turkey broth. Use leftover chicken or a turkey or chicken breast.

How to Make the Best Turkey Soup

These are the basic steps for making turkey rice soup. Please refer to the recipe card below for more detailed instructions and cooking times including prep time and total time and nutrition information.

Mixing the ingredients in the stock pot.

STEP 1: In a Large Dutch Oven

First, add the broth or stock, leftover turkey, carrots, celery, onion, bay leaf, All Purpose Seasoning blend, dried dill and garlic to a stock pot. (You can sauté in a little olive oil to soften veggies first.)

STEP 2: Boil and Stir the Soup

Next, bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

STEP 3: RICE

Finally, add prepared noodles or use white rice to the soup, ladle the soup into bowls and serve.

Recipe FAQs to Make Turkey Rice Soup

This soup is pretty amazing, however you can make little adjustments to make it healthier. Such as using a low sodium turkey broth or quinoa in place of the rice.

Indeed, make soup without rice by using barley, cauliflower rice, farro or even chick pea rice. If you are a fan of chicken noodle soup you can even add your favorite prepared noodle.

Have lots of turkey leftovers, then of course you can double or even triple batch of soup.

You can make this soup right after the holidays and freeze for up to three months and simply pull it out when you are ready for a wonderful meal.

It will definitively last for several days, however, it can depend on several factors. Freeze this soup for longer storage.

The soup will be great in a freezer bag or air tight container for up to three months.

Yes, you can make a cream of turkey soup by adding cream, whole milk, yogurt or a roux made with flour to thicken the soup.

A side view of the easy turkey rice soup i a ceramic bowl.

Expert Tips to Make Turkey Soup with Rice

Need a few more tricks for this soup made from thanksgiving leftovers?

  • Add Fresh Herbs: Fresh parsley, thyme, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or garnish with your favorites.
  • Variation tip: Try adding kale or fresh spinach to your soup.
  • Rice: Buy your favorite rice at your local take out Chinese restaurant, add the rice for a quick cooked rice option.
  • Smoked Turkey: Want more flavor? Use leftover smoked turkey.

What to Serve with Easy Turkey Rice Soup

5 from 12 votes

Easy Turkey Rice Soup

Yield: 4 serving
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 20 minutes
This easy Turkey and Rice Soup is a 15 Minute Turkey Soup that is pure comfort food. If you have a lot of leftover holiday turkey, then this is the recipe for you.  It is the perfect way to wrap up the busy holiday season.
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Ingredients

  • 4 cups Turkey stock, prepared
  • 2 cups Turkey, shredded
  • 2 Carrots, peeled and diced
  • 2 Stalks of celery, diced
  • 1 Onion, diced
  • 1 Bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon All Purpose Seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon Dried dill
  • 2 cloves Garlic, minced
  • 2 cups Rice, or noodles, prepared

Instructions

  • Add stock, turkey, carrots, celery, onion, bay leaf, House Seasoning blend, dried dill and garlic to a stock pot.
  • Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
  • Add prepared noodles or rice and serve.

Expert Tips

  • Add Fresh Herbs: Fresh parsley, thyme, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or garnish with your favorites.
  • Variation tip: Try adding kale or fresh spinach to your soup.
  • Rice: Buy your favorite rice at your local take out Chinese restaurant, add the rice for a quick cooked rice option.
  • Smoked Turkey: Want more flavor? Use leftover smoked turkey.

Estimated Nutritional Information

Calories: 295kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 43mg | Sodium: 1016mg | Potassium: 627mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 5230IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 2mg
The nutritional information provided are estimates. To learn more about how I calculate this information go to www.itisakeeper.com/about-its-a-keeper/privacy-disclosure-policies/
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Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American

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