Leftover turkey soup is made in the crock pot and is the perfect recipe to use up some Thanksgiving leftovers. Filled with turkey, vegetables, noodles, and potatoes, this comforting soup will make your house smell amazing as it cooks in the slow cooker!

Click HERE to save recipe to Pinterest
Wondering what to do with leftover turkey? There are so many options! Leftover turkey recipes don’t have to be boring. I like to turn them into turkey & stuffing egg rolls and this slow cooker turkey noodle soup. Luckily, there’s usually enough turkey leftover to make multiple dishes.
This soup recipe is so simple to throw together and you can let it simmer all day long in the crockpot, making your house smell amazing as you decorate for the holidays or get other things done.
Why you’ll love leftover turkey soup
- It’s easy! I’m telling you, only 5 minutes of prep to get it going. The most time consuming part is chopping up the veggies.
- It’s delicious & kid friendly. Warm, comforting, and hearty, this soup will make your belly happy.
- It’s a great way to use up leftovers! No boring turkey sandwiches.
- Not only good with turkey leftovers, if you find yourself craving some soup at other times of the year, it is also excellent made with rotisserie chicken!
Equipment needed to make slow cooker turkey noodle soup
You really don’t need much to make this soup happen, but a few things will make your life easier.
- Slow Cooker – Of course, you’ll need a slow cooker. This makes a large batch of soup so opt for at least a 6 quart. This is the one I have and love.
- Veggie Chopper – I mentioned that chopping the veggies is the most time consuming part of the prep, but this veggie chopper makes it quicker. I love this thing.
- Ladle – To scoop up all the goodness.
- Souper Cubes – These cubes are excellent for freezing leftovers. They freeze the perfect portions, then I reheat in my mini crockpot for lunches. Highly recommend.

Ingredients
Below is a list of ingredients needed as well as some helpful tips and possible substitutions. **Scroll all the way down for the full recipe card with measurements**
Stock – Chicken or turkey stock (or broth). Low sodium can be used if that’s what you need/prefer.
Potatoes – Yukon gold potatoes are soft and creamy while holding their shape, which makes them perfect for soups. Red skin potatoes will also work.
Carrots, Celery, & Onion – The “holy trinity” of soup – carrots, celery, and onion give amazing flavor to soup.
Garlic – Fresh garlic is the best flavorwise, but jarred minced garlic will also work.
Bay Leaves– Bay leaf in soup breaks down to an almost peppery flavor and helps make soup less heavy.
Thyme – Fresh thyme can be picked up in the produce section of most markets. It has an earthy flavor. You can use dried or sub with oregano.
Salt & Pepper – Season to taste.
Cooked Turkey – The star of the soup, cooked leftover turkey. If you don’t have any leftover turkey, a rotisserie chicken works well, too.
Noodles – Egg noodles cook quickly and taste great in soups but you can use your favorite shape, just know that most other noodles will take a bit longer to soften.

How to make turkey soup from leftovers
You ready for how easy this is??
STEP ONE: First, add the stock, potatoes, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, thyme, bay leaves, salt, and pepper to the slow cooker. Stir it all together.
STEP TWO: Next, cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours.
STEP THREE: Finally, pull out and toss the thyme stems and bay leaves. Add the cooked turkey and egg noodles, stir it in. Cook an additional 15-30 minutes, checking on the noodles to get them to your preferred doneness.

What to serve with leftover turkey soup
One of the best things about this soup is it is so hearty and filling on its own. I like to serve it with a piece of onion dill bread, a dinner roll, or just crackers.
Follow it up with dessert of “better than box mix” brownies or oatmeal raisin cookies.
Substitutions and additions
This soup is easy to customize. If you don’t have any leftover turkey, you can use diced up rotisserie chicken. If you don’t like egg noodles, choose your favorite shape and adjust cook time as necessary. If you don’t have any yukon gold potatoes, red skin potatoes will also work well, or skip the potatoes altogether if noodles are enough for you.
How to reheat and store turkey noodle soup
Best way to store leftovers
Store leftovers covered in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Can I freeze it?
Yes, this turkey soup will freeze well, but I recommend freezing without the noodles as they absorb too much liquid and won’t reheat well. Store in airtight, freezer safe containers for up to 3 months.
How to reheat it
Leftover soup will reheat well in the microwave, of if you have a large amount of soup, you can reheat right in the slow cooker.
If you don’t plan on eating all of the soup right away, I suggest cooking the noodles separately then adding them to your bowl with the soup while serving.
You may need to add additional broth/stock if too much has been absorbed.

Leftover turkey FAQs
How long is leftover turkey good for?
Cooked turkey is good for 3-4 days when stored in the fridge.
Can you freeze leftover turkey?
Yes, cooked turkey meat is freezable. Remove the meat from the bones, cut it up and place it into freezer bags. It will keep for up to 3 months and is great when used in casseroles, soups, sandwiches, etc.
How do you thicken homemade turkey soup?
You can thicken soup by adding flour or corn starch. You should never add the flour or corn starch directly to your soup (it will clump), instead make a slurry by ladling out a small about of broth into a separate bowl, whisk in some cornstarch of flour, then pour it back into the pot, stirring to distribute.
Need more leftover turkey recipes? Try these:
Turkey & Stuffing Air Fryer Egg Rolls
Crockpot King Ranch Chicken (great with turkey!)
Leftover Turkey Casserole
Leftover Turkey Tetrazzini
Need more slow cooker soup recipes? Try these:
Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup
Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup
Slow Cooker Green Chile Enchilada Soup
Click here for my entire collection of slow cooker recipes.

CONNECT WITH PERSNICKETY PLATES!
Follow along on my social media so you never miss a post!
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram
I made a fun group on Facebook for sharing recipes, asking questions, and talking about food. I’d love to have you! Request to join HERE.
Also, sign up to receive an email in your inbox for each new recipe:
FREE EMAIL SUBSCRIPTION & EBOOK
If you MAKE & LOVE this recipe, share it on Instagram and tag me @melissa_pplates and/or #persnicketyplates so I can see it. I LOVE seeing what you make & I’ll share it in my stories!
It is VERY HELPFUL to me and other readers if you leave a review after you make my recipe. Please come back & let me know how it turned out!
Share Your Thoughts