Turkey soup two ways : Making leftovers new

Let the Crock-pot do your heavy lifting for turkey soup. Image: Flickr / _e.t / CC-BY-SA

Now that you’ve got a fridge full of Thanksgiving leftovers, turkey soup sounds like a pretty good idea. Turkey soup may sound like the same old idea, but you can make it fresh. Turkey soup can use Thanksgiving leftovers and still feel like a fresh new meal.

Turkey soup basics

The day after Thanksgiving, the last thing you want to do is spend the day cooking. Turkey soup is the perfect solution – it not only uses leftovers, but can be thrown together very quickly and easily. Soup is an inexact science – if you don’t have “enough” of something or “too much” of something else, it is usually fine. Just remember to reheat everything to at least 160 degrees for safety’s sake.

Creamy crockpot turkey soup recipe

When the snow is flying and temperatures are dropping, a warm and creamy soup is the perfect thing. First, combine 1-2 cups leftover onions, celery, garlic, carrots, or stuffing vegetables that weren’t used with 2 tablespoons butter or olive oil. Saute in a pan over medium-high until they’re softened and fragrant. Mix in a crockpot with 2-3 cups leftover mashed potatoes and 1-2 cups chopped leftover turkey. Add enough chicken stock to thin the mixture into a turkey soup and 2 tablespoons dill. Put the crockpot on medium until it is heated through. Right before serving, mix in a bit of leftover sour cream or whipping cream and a handful of shredded cheese.

Savory turkey soup recipe

If you’re in the warmer climates and a thick, creamy turkey soup feels like a little too much, you have other options.First, combine 1-2 cups leftover onions, celery, garlic, carrots, or stuffing vegetables that weren’t used with 2 tablespoons butter or olive oil. Saute in a soup pot medium-high until they’re softened and fragrant. Add 2-3 cups chopped turkey and 4 cups vegetable or chicken broth. Season with basil, oregano, and pepper. Cook until heated through.