Name: Creamy Turkey Soup Recipe: Velvety, Comforting
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 4 tbsp butter; 1 large onion (diced); 3 carrots (sliced); 3 celery stalks (sliced); ⅓ cup flour; 6 cups turkey or chicken broth; 3 cups cooked turkey (shredded); 1½ cups half-and-half or cream; 1½ cups egg noodles or rice; Thyme (poultry seasoning, bay leaves)

Introduction

Table of Contents

Creamy Turkey Soup is the best thing to happen to Thanksgiving leftovers: tender shreds of turkey swimming in a rich, herb-flecked cream broth loaded with carrots, celery, and noodles (or rice) that tastes like a hug from Grandma. Ten minutes of chopping, one pot, and you’ve turned yesterday’s bird into today’s most-requested dinner. Presented in a white ceramic bowl with a swirl of cream and fresh parsley, this Creamy Turkey Soup offers pure post-holiday comfort that’s even better than the original feast.

Ingredients

For the Creamy Turkey Soup (serves 6–8): • 4 tbsp butter
• 1 large onion, diced
• 3 medium carrots, sliced
• 3 celery stalks, sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
• 6 cups turkey or chicken broth (low-sodium)
• 3 cups cooked turkey, shredded or diced
• 1½ cups half-and-half or heavy cream
• 1½ cups uncooked egg noodles, rice, or diced potatoes
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp dried poultry seasoning
• 2 bay leaves
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh parsley for garnish

Step-by-Step Process

Sauté vegetables
Melt butter in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery; cook 6–8 minutes until softened.
Add garlic & flour
Stir in garlic; cook 1 minute. Sprinkle flour over veggies and stir for 2 minutes to cook out the raw taste.
Whisk in broth
Slowly pour in broth while whisking constantly to avoid lumps. Bring to a gentle boil.
Season
Add thyme, poultry seasoning, bay leaves, salt, and pepper.
Add starch
Stir in noodles/rice/potatoes. Simmer 10–15 minutes until tender.
Finish with turkey & cream
Add shredded turkey and half-and-half. Simmer 5 minutes until warmed through—do not boil after cream.
Serve
Remove bay leaves. Ladle into bowls, garnish with parsley and an extra cream swirl.

Tips for Perfect Creamy Turkey Soup

• Use leftover roasted turkey—smoky flavor is magic
• Half-and-half = perfect richness without heaviness
• Whisk flour slowly—prevents lumpy gravy texture
• Add cream off-heat first to prevent curdling
• Make it with carcass stock for next-level flavor
• Freeze before adding cream—add fresh when reheating

Variations and Customization

• Wild Rice & Mushroom: swap rice + 8 oz mushrooms
• Potato-Leek: replace noodles with diced potatoes + leeks
• Spicy Kick: add red pepper flakes or hot sauce
• Dairy-Free: use coconut milk + extra flour for thickening
• Turkey & Dumplings: drop biscuit dough last 15 minutes
• Loaded: top with crumbled bacon + cheddar

Storage and Serving Tips

• Tastes better day 2—perfect make-ahead
• Fridge up to 4 days (cream holds beautifully)
• Freezes up to 3 months (freeze before cream, add fresh when reheating)
• Reheat gently on the stove—never microwave cream soups
• Quick refresh: swirl of fresh cream + fresh parsley
• Serve with crusty bread or leftover dinner rolls

Nutritional Information

Based on 8 servings:
• Calories: 360 kcal
• Protein: 26g
• Total Fat: 18g (Saturated 10g)
• Carbohydrates: 24g (Fiber 2g, Sugars 5g)

FAQ

1. Can I use leftover gravy instead of flour?
Yes—skip flour and whisk in 1 cup gravy with broth.

2. My soup is too thick/thin?
Too thick → add broth. Too thin → simmer uncovered or make a slurry.

3. Can I make this ahead?
Yes—best 24 hours later. Cool completely before refrigerating.

4. Dairy-free version?
Use full-fat coconut milk and 1 extra tbsp flour or cornstarch.

5. What if I don’t have noodles?
Rice, orzo, broken spaghetti, or potatoes all work perfectly.

Conclusion

This Creamy Turkey Soup is pure post-Thanksgiving alchemy—turning leftovers into a velvety, comforting bowl that somehow outshines the original holiday meal. One pot and suddenly the family is fighting over the last ladle instead of napping on the couch. Keep leftover turkey in the freezer, and you’re always 30 minutes away from the creamiest, most soul-warming soup that makes cold nights and leftover fatigue disappear in the most delicious way possible.