• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Sunday Supper Movement logo
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • Sunday Supper Pledge
    • Family Foodie TV
  • Browse Recipes
    • Instant Pot Recipes
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Dinner Ideas
    • Side Dishes
    • Desserts
  • Holiday Recipes
  • Cooking Chart
  • Newsletter
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Browse Recipes
  • Holiday Recipes
  • Newsletter
  • Cookbooks
  • Media
  • Contact Us
  • The Sunday Supper Pledge
  • Follow us on social!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Soup Recipes » Turkey Carcass Soup

    Turkey Carcass Soup

    Published: Aug 28, 2023 Modified: Aug 28, 2023 by Isabel Laessig

    Share
    Pin
    Share

    This post may contain paid links. If you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

    My Turkey Carcass Soup Recipe is the best way to use leftover turkey including the carcass! Made with simple ingredients and all in one pot for easy cleanup, this turkey noodle soup is a breeze to make and so flavorful. This will be the best turkey soup you will ever make.

    Turkey carcass soup in a white bowl with a spoon
    Jump to:
    • Turkey Soup from Carcass
    • Turkey Soup Recipe Ingredients
    • How to Make Turkey Soup from Carcass
    • Turkey Soup from Carcass Tips
    • Homemade Turkey Soup Substitutions
    • Turkey Carcass Soup FAQs
    • Best Turkey Recipes
    • Best Soup Recipes
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Reviews

    Turkey Soup from Carcass

    This time of year, one of my favorite dishes to make is turkey carcass soup. It’s a turkey noodle soup with the same comforting ingredients as classic chicken noodles and is perfect for using up leftover turkey.

    I always make it after the holidays using leftovers! You can make use of every part of the bird by cooking it into this turkey soup recipe. If you don’t have any leftovers or want to make it another time of year, though, you can make my turkey soup without a carcass. It’s a great soup for when you’re feeling under the weather, just like chicken noodle soup!

    I followed the instructions almost to a tea … lol .. strained the broth, then added barley, carrots, and celery, it was so delicious.. when chilled it was all jelly .. that tells me it is a great broth !!! Great recipe… yum yum yum !!

    @mlrougeau
    Spoonful of turkey carcass soup

    Turkey Soup Recipe Ingredients

    • olive oil
    • garlic minced
    • onion 
    • celery stalks
    • carrots 
    • water
    • turkey carcass and any leftover turkey meat
    • chicken bouillon
    • bay leaves
    • parsley
    • pasta noodles of your choice; I used elbow macaroni but also love to use egg noodles
    • kosher salt
    • black pepper 

    How to Make Turkey Soup from Carcass

    1. Heat olive oil in a large stock pot or Dutch Oven. Add garlic, onions, celery, and carrots, along with a pinch of salt and pepper, and cook until browned, about 5-6 minutes. When browned, add half of your water.
      Vegetables in a pot with water
    2. Add parsley, chicken bouillon, and bay leaves. Place turkey carcass on top of the mixture. Add the remaining half of your water and bring to a boil.
      Turkey carcass soup boiling
    3. Once the soup is boiling, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 2 hours. After 2 hours is up, flip the turkey and begin picking pieces off of it into the soup using tongs.
      Picking pieces of turkey off the carcass using tongs
    4. Remove the whole turkey carcass from the soup and set aside. Add pasta noodles to cook in the soup. Let the turkey carcass rest and cool before picking off more pieces to add back to the soup.
      Adding noodles to turkey carcass soup
    5. Once the noodles are cooked and meat has been added back to the soup, stir through to remove bay leaves. Keep an eye out for any small bones and remove them. Taste and add more salt and pepper to the broth if needed.
      stirring turkey noodle soup

    Turkey Soup from Carcass Tips

    • Use my Turkey Stock Recipe as the base for this soup!
    • You can make the broth ahead of time without adding the noodles to keep it for longer. The broth itself, without the noodles, will last for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
    • Be sure to remove any skin, bones, or cartilage before serving this soup.
    • I highly recommend the Our Place Perfect Pot (affiliate) for making this recipe.
    • Make sure to let the turkey carcass rest and cool before picking off more pieces to add back to the soup!

    Homemade Turkey Soup Substitutions

    • If you don’t have a turkey carcass, use pieces of turkey meat and replace the water with equal parts chicken broth. Don’t add the bouillon. If you use a salted chicken broth, make sure to check the flavor before adding any seasoning of your own.
    • Celery, onion, and carrots are staples, but any vegetables you want can be added to make this turkey soup recipe exactly how you like it, like corn or peas.

    Turkey Carcass Soup FAQs

    How long can you keep a turkey carcass to make soup?

    If properly stored in the refrigerator, a turkey carcass will last for up to 1 week. Perfect for making turkey soup from a carcass!

    How long is turkey soup good for?

    Leftover turkey noodle soup will last up to 3 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

    Can you freeze turkey carcass soup?

    Turkey soup can be frozen. To freeze turkey carcass soup, first allow it to cool, then add it to an airtight freezer-safe container. Make sure to leave at least a half inch of space at the top of the container to leave room for the liquid to expand. Store for up to 1 month in the freezer. When ready to use, allow the soup to thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating over low heat on the stove or carefully in the microwave.

    Best Turkey Recipes

    • Best Turkey Recipes
    • Air Fryer Turkey Breast
    • Smoked Turkey
    • Best Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe
    • Instant Pot Turkey Breast
    • Grilled Turkey
    • Deep Fried Turkey
    • Spatchcock Turkey
    • Sous Vide Turkey Breast

    Best Soup Recipes

    • Hungarian Mushroom Soup
    • Chick-fil-A Chicken Noodle Soup
    • Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe
    • Zuppa Toscana
    • See more of my Easy Soup Recipes!

    📋 Recipe

    Turkey carcass soup in a bowl that says thankful

    Turkey Carcass Soup

    Isabel Laessig
    Learn how to make turkey soup from a carcass! Turkey carcass soup is easy, delicious, and so comforting.
    4.68 from 25 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 30 minutes mins
    Cook Time 2 hours hrs
    Total Time 2 hours hrs 30 minutes mins
    Course Main Dish, Soup
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8
    Calories 191 kcal

    Equipment

    • Large heavy-bottomed pan or dutch oven
    • Wooden spoon
    • Tongs

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 Tablespoons olive oil
    • 3 cloves garlic minced
    • 1 onion minced
    • 4 celery stalks diced
    • 4 large carrots diced
    • 12 cups water
    • 1 turkey carcass
    • 2 chicken bouillon cubes or 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon powder
    • 2 bay leaves
    • 4 Tablespoons fresh parsley
    • 16 ounces pasta noodles of your choice; I used elbow macaroni
    • ¼ teaspoon salt adjust to taste
    • ¼ teaspoon pepper adjust to taste
    Cooking Conversions

    See our Cooking Conversions Chart for help converting measurements!

    Instructions
     

    • Heat olive oil in a heavy-bottomed pan or Dutch Oven. Add garlic, onions, celery, and carrots, along with a pinch of salt and pepper, and cook until browned, about 5-6 minutes. When browned, add half of your water.
      3 Tablespoons olive oil, 3 cloves garlic, 1 onion, 4 celery stalks, 4 large carrots, ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper
      Vegetables in a pot with water
    • Add turkey carcass, parsley, chicken bouillon, and bay leaves. Add the remaining half of your water and bring to a boil.
      12 cups water, 1 turkey carcass, 2 bay leaves, 4 Tablespoons fresh parsley, 2 chicken bouillon cubes
      Turkey carcass soup boiling
    • Once the soup is boiling, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 2 hours. After 2 hours is up, flip the turkey and begin picking pieces off of it into the soup using tongs.
      Picking pieces of turkey off the carcass using tongs
    • Remove the turkey carcass from the soup and set aside. Add pasta noodles to cook in the soup. Let the turkey carcass rest and cool before picking off more pieces to add back to the soup.
      16 ounces pasta noodles
      Adding noodles to turkey carcass soup
    • Once the noodles are cooked and meat has been added to the soup, stir through to remove bay leaves. Keep an eye out for any small bones and remove them. Taste and add more salt and pepper to the broth if needed.
      stirring turkey noodle soup

    Video

    Notes

    • You can make the broth ahead of time without adding the noodles to keep it for longer. The broth itself, without the noodles, will last for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
    • Be sure to remove any skin, bones, or cartilage before serving this soup.
    • If you don’t have a turkey carcass, use pieces of turkey meat and replace the water with equal parts chicken broth. Don’t add the bouillon. If you use a salted chicken broth, make sure to check the flavor before adding any seasoning of your own.
    • Celery, onion, and carrots are staples, but any vegetables you want can be added to make this turkey soup recipe exactly how you like it, like corn or peas.
    • Make sure to let the turkey carcass rest and cool before picking off more pieces to add back to the soup!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 191kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 5gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 374mgPotassium: 277mgFiber: 3gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 6275IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 48mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword turkey carcass soup, turkey soup, turkey soup from carcass, turkey soup recipe
    Did you try this recipe?Tag #SundaySupper on social and leave a comment below!
    Share
    Pin
    Share

    More Soup Recipes

    • spoonful of instant pot bean soup over bowl
      Instant Pot 15 Bean Soup (Freezer Friendly)
    • two bowls of ham soup up close
      Ham Bone Soup
    • hungarian mushroom soup
      Mushroom Soup
    • shrimp bisque in a white bowl with a spoonful of bisque over it
      Shrimp Bisque Recipe
    Isabel, AKA Family Foodie

    About Isabel Laessig

    Hi! I’m Isabel Laessig, also known as Family Foodie, creator of Sunday Supper Movement and author of the Boujee Steak Cookbook. Sunday Supper is my mission to bring family back around the dinner table. Join me in making family meal-time a tradition to celebrate!

    » About Me

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Mary Cutrera says

      November 26, 2022 at 12:45 pm

      Your recipe is great and almost done in 20 minutes.The taste of the broth is absolutely delicious. I didn’t cover my soup while cooking and wonder if I might add some extra broth to it as I think some of broth might have evaporated while simmering. I also added one turkey leg and one wing while simmering, as my turkey was only 12.4 lbs, just to be sure I have enough soup from a small carcass. I checked several recipes I think yours was the best, as many of the other recipes only called for 6 cups of water. I’m going to cooked the noodles separately.

      Reply
      • Em Beitel says

        November 29, 2022 at 10:30 am

        We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Mary! Thank you so much for trying it out and leaving us a comment – and especially for such a high compliment!

        Reply

    Let us know what you think or ask a question about the recipe! Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Leave a rating!




    Primary Sidebar

    Isabel, AKA Family Foodie

    Hi! I’m Isabel Laessig, also known as Family Foodie. Sunday Supper is my mission to bring family back around the dinner table!

    • Family Foodie Facebook
    • Sunday Supper Pinterest
    • Sunday Supper Youtube
    • Family Foodie Instagram
    • Family Foodie Tiktok

    Sunday Dinner Ideas

    • Southern smothered pork chops in a cast iron skillet
      Pork Chop Recipes
    • Overhead shot of beef chuck roast recipe on a white platter with carrots and fresh herbs
      Beef Chuck Roast
    • up close baked portobello mushrooms surrounded by lettuce
      Portobello Mushroom Recipe
    • A fork with a bite of air fryer pork chops
      Air Fryer Pork Chops
    • Candied Bacon
    • Elotes Mexicanos on a white platter
      Elote Recipe

    Footer

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    logos of brands sunday supper has worked with

    Connect with us!

    Join us around our family table by following us on social media, including our Sunday Supper Recipes group!

    • facebook
    • instagram
    • pinterest
    • youtube

    Our Brands

    Follow all of our websites for the best recipes catered to your needs!

    Sunday Supper Movement |
    Best Beef Recipes | Easy Sauce Recipes | Side Dish Ideas | Pork Recipe Ideas

    About Us

    • Contact Us
    • About Isabel and Sunday Supper
    • Our Partners
    • Disclosure & Privacy
    • No AI

    ↑ back to top

    Sunday Supper Logo

    Copyright 2012-2023 Sunday Supper Movement®, All Rights Reserved.