Hearty Slow Cooker Turkey Soup
Transform your leftover turkey carcass into a warming and delicious turkey soup with this easy slow cooker recipe. This soup is not only a wonderful way to nourish your loved ones, but it also maximizes your leftovers! Using simple ingredients like fresh vegetables and herbs, you'll create a flavorful broth that brings all the comforting vibes to your table. Perfect on a chilly day, this soup can be made in advance using frozen carcass, giving you delicious turkey broth ready when you are. Serve it with your favorite noodles for a filling meal that the whole family will enjoy.
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
20
Ingredients
Ingredients
turkey carcass
1 (broken down)
onion
1 (quartered (for broth))
celery
1 (cut in half (for broth))
carrot
1 (whole (for broth))
salt
1/2 (teaspoon)
pepper
1/2 (teaspoon)
bay leaf
1
poultry seasoning
1/2 (teaspoon)
instant chicken bouillon granules
2 (teaspoons)
water
12 (cups)
onions
2 (diced (for soup))
garlic clove
1 (minced)
carrots
2 (peeled and chopped)
celery
2 (stalks, chopped)
dried thyme
1/2 (teaspoon)
salt
1/2 (teaspoon (for soup))
fresh ground black pepper
1/4 (teaspoon)
turkey
2 (cups, shredded (include reserved turkey from broth))
uncooked noodles
to taste
fresh parsley leaves
2 (tablespoons, chopped)
Instructions
1
Turkey Broth:
2
1. Place the turkey carcass in your slow cooker. Add one onion (quartered), one celery stalk (cut in half), one carrot (whole), and sprinkle with salt, pepper, bay leaf, poultry seasoning, chicken bouillon granules, and water.
3
2. Cover and cook on Low overnight (or for at least 8 hours).
4
3. In the morning, carefully strain the broth, discarding the solids, and return the liquid to the slow cooker.
5
4. Remove the turkey meat from the bones, shred it, and set aside for later use.
6
Soup:
7
5. To the slow cooker with the broth, add the remaining onions (diced), minced garlic, chopped carrots, chopped celery, dried thyme, salt, and black pepper.
8
6. Cook on High for 4 hours until the vegetables are tender.
9
7. Stir in the shredded turkey, uncooked noodles, and chopped parsley.
10
8. Continue cooking for another 30 minutes or until the noodles are al dente. Adjust seasoning if necessary.
11
9. Serve hot and enjoy the comforting flavors!
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hearty Slow Cooker Turkey Soup?
It is a warming and delicious meal that transforms a leftover turkey carcass into a flavorful soup using fresh vegetables and herbs in a slow cooker.
Can I use a frozen turkey carcass for this recipe?
Yes, this soup can be made using a frozen carcass, which allows you to prepare delicious turkey broth whenever you are ready.
How long does the turkey broth need to cook?
The turkey carcass and broth ingredients should be cooked on the Low setting overnight, or for at least 8 hours.
What vegetables are used to make the turkey broth?
The broth is made with one quartered onion, one celery stalk cut in half, and one whole carrot.
What seasonings are added to the broth?
The broth is seasoned with salt, pepper, a bay leaf, poultry seasoning, and instant chicken bouillon granules.
How much water is required for the broth?
You will need 12 cups of water to create the base for the soup.
What should I do with the solids after cooking the broth?
After cooking, you should carefully strain the broth and discard the solid vegetables and bones, keeping only the liquid.
How do I prepare the turkey meat from the carcass?
Once the broth is done, remove the turkey meat from the bones, shred it, and set it aside to be added back to the soup later.
What vegetables are added to the soup phase?
The soup includes diced onions, minced garlic, chopped carrots, and chopped celery.
What setting is used to cook the vegetables in the soup?
The vegetables in the soup should be cooked on the High setting for 4 hours until they are tender.
When do I add the noodles to the turkey soup?
The uncooked noodles should be stirred into the slow cooker along with the shredded turkey and parsley after the vegetables have cooked for 4 hours.
How long do the noodles take to cook in the slow cooker?
The noodles typically take about 30 minutes to cook until they are al dente.
How much shredded turkey is needed for the final soup?
The recipe calls for 2 cups of shredded turkey, which includes the meat reserved from the broth.
What herbs are used in the soup stage?
Dried thyme and fresh chopped parsley leaves are used to add flavor to the soup.
Is chicken bouillon necessary for this recipe?
The recipe uses 2 teaspoons of instant chicken bouillon granules to enhance the savory flavor of the broth.
How many onions are used in total?
A total of three onions are used: one for the broth stage and two diced onions for the soup stage.
How many carrots are needed for the soup?
Two carrots, peeled and chopped, are added during the second cooking stage of the soup.
How many celery stalks are added to the soup?
Two chopped celery stalks are added to the broth along with the other soup vegetables.
What kind of pepper is recommended for the soup?
The recipe calls for 1/4 teaspoon of fresh ground black pepper for the soup stage.
Can I adjust the seasoning of the soup?
Yes, you should adjust the seasoning to your preference after the noodles have finished cooking.
Is this a good recipe for Thanksgiving leftovers?
Yes, it is specifically described as a wonderful way to nourish loved ones while maximizing turkey leftovers.
How should the turkey carcass be prepared?
The carcass should be broken down before being placed in the slow cooker.
What is the first step of the instructions?
The first step is to place the carcass, aromatic vegetables, and seasonings in the slow cooker with water to begin the broth.
Can I serve this soup with anything else?
The recipe suggests serving it with your favorite noodles for a filling and complete meal.
How much poultry seasoning is used?
The recipe requires 1/2 teaspoon of poultry seasoning for the broth.
Does the recipe use garlic?
Yes, one minced garlic clove is added to the soup for extra flavor.
How much fresh parsley is used?
The recipe calls for 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh parsley leaves.
What type of noodles should I use?
You can use any uncooked noodles of your choice, adding them 'to taste' as per the ingredient list.
How many steps are in the cooking instructions?
There are 9 steps in total, covering both the broth creation and the soup assembly.
Should the soup be served hot?
Yes, the final step is to serve the soup hot and enjoy the comforting flavors.