Leftover turkey soup is the perfect crockpot meal in a bowl. It is a great way to repurpose your leftover parts to make another wonderful and delicious dish. Nothing goes to waste!.
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Homemade turkey is a real treat. Even though a turkey dinner is tasty, the best part might be the extra meals you can make with the leftovers. Turkey sandwiches and turkey salad are two great examples.
But there is one dish that stands out from the rest: turkey soup! It’s tasty, easy to make, and freezes really well. If you make a lot of this soup, your turkey will be able to keep feeding you. Long after that first meal is done!.
It is most definitely one of the best things to do with your Thanksgiving leftovers. But you don’t have to wait for Thanksgiving to make this turkey soup recipe. It’s great any time of the year.
The holiday season is prime time for enjoying a roasted turkey centerpiece. But once the initial round of leftovers is gone, the picked-over carcass often gets tossed out. This is a huge waste, as leftover turkey carcasses can be transformed into incredible soups with minimal effort using a crockpot.
Turkey bones contain nutrients that get extracted into the broth, creating a rich, flavorful base This nutritious broth mingles with vegetables, noodles, herbs, and turkey meat for a hearty, comforting soup Making turkey soup from a carcass is an easy and thrifty way to get more mileage out of your holiday bird.
The first step is roasting the turkey carcass and scraps in the crockpot with standard soup ingredients like carrots, celery, onions, and herbs. Cook it on low overnight or for at least 8 hours. This long cooking time allows the bones to impart maximum flavor as they break down.
In the morning, simply remove the bones and strain the broth Pick any remaining meat off the bones to add back to the soup. Discard the spent bones, carrots, celery, and onions used for making the broth
You can complete the soup by returning the broth to the crockpot and adding a variety of vegetables, noodles, leftover turkey meat, and seasonings. Cook for a few more hours on low until the noodles are tender. Quick-cooking ingredients like spinach, kale, or canned beans can be added towards the end.
Some delicious add-in options for turkey carcass soup include:
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Noodles or rice – Egg noodles pasta shells or wild rice work well.
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Hearty vegetables – Potatoes, sweet potatoes, turnips, parsnips, corn, peas.
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Greens – Spinach, kale, chard, cabbage.
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Beans – Cannellini, great northern, kidney.
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Herbs – Thyme, sage, parsley, cilantro.
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Spices – Paprika, cumin, chili powder, curry powder.
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Shredded turkey meat – Breast, leg, or thigh meat.
The flexibility of ingredients allows you to customize and experiment with different flavor profiles. Make it bright and lively with lemon and fresh herbs. Go bold with chili powder and cumin. Keep it classic with potatoes, carrots, celery, and egg noodles.
Simmering the soup for hours melds the flavors and makes the vegetables and noodles tender. What emerges is a soothing, hearty meal that feels like a warm hug on cold days.
When making turkey soup, it’s best to start with an unbrined and unstuffed turkey carcass for cleanest flavor. But even carcasses from store-bought turkeys work. For more richness, add chicken wings or necks while making the broth.
Crockpot turkey carcass soup makes holiday leftovers feel fresh again. The aroma as it simmers will make your mouth water. Leftover soup also freezes well for easy meals later. Each bowl conjures memories of cozy holidays and the joy of togetherness.
How To Make Slow Cooker Turkey Soup
You can make this tasty soup right after Thanksgiving by putting everything in the crockpot at once. No need to worry about storing or dealing with the bones if you take this route.
If you’re too tired after cooking and cleaning a big Thanksgiving turkey dinner, don’t worry! You can put your leftover turkey in the fridge and make this the next morning.
Still exhausted the next day? Just freeze your leftover carcass and make this dish whenever your schedule allows.
To make this slow cooker soup, start by adding the turkey carcass to your crockpot. Small cracks in the bones may help them fit better in the slow cooker and let some of the good stuff in the bone marrow come out.
No need to break them up too small, your crockpot will handle that part for you. They will naturally break down a little during the cooking process.
Add cut-up vegetables, seasonings, and fresh herbs with the turkey parts. Fill slow cooker with water to about one inch from the top of the rim. Cover and cook for 10-12 hours. Thats it!.
This is a great time to use up whatever vegetables that you may have laying around. For example, when I make this after a holiday, I use veggies leftover from my crudites appetizer. This makes both the soup and clean-up even easier!.
Once done cooking, strain the broth through a fine-mesh sieve or a cheesecloth to remove bones. You now have a wonderful and healthy homemade turkey broth.
Pro tip: Cut up older celery, onion, and carrots before they go bad and freeze them. This way they are always on hand and no vegetables go to waste.
You can change almost everything about your slow cooker turkey soup once it’s done. You can put it back in the slow cooker right away if you want to use it right away.
Adding in vegetables and leftover turkey meat is one fantastic and healthy soup option. People love to make turkey noodle soup by adding cooked wide egg noodles. They also love to make slow cooker turkey rice soup by adding cooked brown rice or cauliflower rice. Serving as a simple, healthy broth is a great option too!.
For this hearty soup, a fresh garden salad and a heel of crusty bread are great sides. Sweet corn spoonbread, garlic parmesan mushrooms, or lightly steamed green beans are also the perfect accompaniments.
❓❔Why Use A Slow Cooker For This Dish
Slow Cookers are just made for this type of soup. It’s best to cook a whole turkey slowly so that all of its flavors and nutrients can come out. Leftover meat pieces stuck to the bone are a bonus and will fall off the bone during cooking. Let your slow cooker handle the details as your soup cooks.
In addition to leftover turkey, you will need to add the following to your slow cooker:
TURKEY SOUP in a Slow Cooker
FAQ
How long can you keep a turkey carcass before making soup?
Is turkey carcass broth good for you?
Why does my turkey soup taste bland?
What is slow cooker Turkey Soup with Carcass?
Slow cooker turkey soup with carcass is a hearty and flavorful soup that is perfect for a cold winter day. It is made with a turkey carcass, which gives the soup a rich and flavorful broth. The vegetables and herbs in the soup add a variety of flavors and textures, and the beans, rice, or noodles make it a filling and satisfying meal.
Can one have turkey and carrots?
Eating turkey and carrots is part of healthy habits. The turkey has meat like chicken and is another healthy poultry option. Carrots are rich in carotenoids, it is a source of vitamin A, fiber, potassium and vitamin B3.
How do you make Turkey Soup from turkey carcass?
Broth: Turkey broth is traditionally used in turkey soup, make it homemade from the turkey carcass. Or swap in chicken or vegetable broth. Spices: Add flavor to the soup with a combination of rosemary, thyme, dried basil, bay leaves, black pepper, kosher salt, and fresh parsley. Swap in Italian seasoning or poultry seasoning.
What is turkey carcass soup?
A: Turkey carcass soup is a great way to use up leftover turkey meat and bones, and it is also a very economical way to make a delicious and nutritious soup. The soup is also high in protein and calcium, and it is a good source of vitamins and minerals. Q: How do I make turkey carcass soup?
Can you cook turkey carcass in a slow cooker?
Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours. Remove the turkey carcass from the slow cooker and shred the meat. Discard the bones from the slow cooker. Stir the shredded turkey meat into the soup. Serve the soup hot. Turkey carcass soup is a delicious and hearty soup that is perfect for a cold winter day.
Can you put Turkey Soup in a slow cooker?
Once your slow cooker turkey soup is ready to go, you can tailor it just about any way you like. If you plan to use it right away, you can put it right back in the slow cooker after straining. Adding in vegetables and leftover turkey meat is one fantastic and healthy soup option.