Description

This comforting Leftover Turkey Soup is a hearty and flavorful way to use your cooked turkey. Packed with vegetables, wild rice blend, and creamy half & half, this soup is perfect for a cozy meal. The blend of butter, olive oil, sautéed onions, celery, mushrooms, and Italian seasoning creates a rich base enriched with turkey broth, making it both satisfying and nourishing.

Ingredients

Scale

Base Ingredients

1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
½ cup finely chopped onion
½ cup chopped celery
4 ounces sliced cremini mushrooms
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
3 tablespoons flour
6 cups turkey broth (or chicken broth or vegetable broth)

Vegetables & Grains

3 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
½ pound baby potatoes, halved or quartered
½ cup wild rice blend
½ cup corn

Dairy & Meat

1 cup half & half
4 cups cooked turkey meat, shredded

Seasoning

Salt and pepper, to taste

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Instructions

Cook aromatics: Heat butter and olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion and celery, cooking until softened for about 4 to 5 minutes.
Cook mushrooms: Stir in the sliced cremini mushrooms and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until they soften. Add the crushed garlic and cook for an additional minute to release its aroma.
Season: Reduce the heat to medium-low. Sprinkle the Italian seasoning and flour evenly over the mushroom mixture, stirring continuously for 1 minute to cook the flour and combine flavors.
Add broth: Gradually pour in the turkey broth while stirring constantly to prevent lumps, forming a smooth base for the soup.
Simmer: Add the sliced carrots, baby potatoes, and wild rice blend to the pot. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and cover. Cook until the rice is nearly done, approximately 20-25 minutes if using parboiled rice or about 35 minutes for regular wild rice blend.
Finish soup: Once the rice is nearly cooked, remove the lid and stir the soup well. Add the half & half, shredded cooked turkey, and corn. Stir thoroughly and simmer uncovered over medium heat for 10 minutes, allowing the soup to heat through and flavors to meld.
Serve: Season the soup with salt and pepper to your preference, then serve immediately while hot and comforting.

Notes

If you don’t have cremini mushrooms, button mushrooms can be used as a substitute.
Using homemade turkey broth from roasted turkey carcass will enhance flavor.
Adjust the thickness of the soup by slightly reducing or increasing the amount of flour or half & half.
Wild rice blend can take longer to cook; adjust simmering time accordingly.
Leftover turkey can be replaced with cooked chicken if desired.
For a dairy-free version, substitute half & half with coconut milk or use a plant-based creamer.