This delicious and quick leftover turkey soup is so easy in the Instant Pot! Packed with turkey, veggies, and rice – it’s a true comfort food and you can choose use the whole carcass. Paleo and Whole30-friendly as well!
I’m one of those people who aren’t a huge fan of turkey on Thanksgiving, but I’ll always take all the leftovers. I just love making casseroles, dips, soups, and salads out of the cooked meat way more than eating it on its own. And within a few days after Thanksgiving, I always end up making turkey soup with leftover turkey meat. It’s just so comforting and delicious, and most importantly, SO quick and easy when I feel like I’m sick of cooking.
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Quick Leftover Turkey Soup in the Instant Pot
I’ve made many kinds of soup using leftover turkey for years, but this one might be my favorite. It’s the perfect texture with balanced flavors from the addition of veggies and lemon juice, and I’m sad I didn’t make more. I like to make leftover turkey soup with rice added, but if you want make a paleo or Whole30 version without it.
Ingredients in Leftover Turkey and Rice Soup
One great thing about this Thanksgiving turkey leftover soup is that you probably have all the ingredients on hand after all the cooking you did over the holidays. It’s a simple and budget-friendly list of ingredients that come together to make the the best leftover turkey soup.
- cooked turkey meat: You can use white or dark meat, or a mixture of both!
- turkey carcass or bones: This is completely optional, but I highly recommend you add it if you have it on hand. It’ll make a delicious leftover turkey carcass soup with amazing flavors. It also makes bone broth in the process!
- ghee: I love using ghee for my cooking, but you can use any cooking oil you have on hand. If using ghee, you can make your own or this is my favorite brand to purchase.
- onion
- celery
- carrots
- garlic
- thyme: I love the flavor of fresh thyme but you can use 1/3 amount of dried thyme instead.
- chicken broth: Water can be used instead of you end up using turkey carcass. The bones will add enough flavor to the water.
- white rice: This is another optional ingredient. If you are making paleo or Whole30 leftover turkey soup, you can just omit this.
- salt
- ground black pepper
- lemon juice
- parsley
How to Make Turkey Soup From Leftovers
Making soup with leftover Thanksgiving turkey is really easy and you don’t need too much meat either. I highly recommend using the bones and the carcass, but you don’t have to. It’s a really versatile recipe depending on what you have on hand. Here’s how to make soup out of turkey leftovers in the Instant Pot:
- Remove turkey meat from the bones and dice it until you have 2 cups. If available, save the bones to add to the soup.
- Turn on Instant Pot to Sauté and melt ghee (or your favorite cooking oil into the pot.
- Add onion, celery, and carrots, and cook stirring for 5 minutes until softened.
- Add garlic and thyme, and cooking stirring for 1 minute.
- Turn off the Instant Pot, then add turkey, any turkey bones (if using), chicken broth (or water if adding bones), rice (if using), salt and pepper.
- Stir together, then secure the lid. Cook on HIGH for 10 minutes. Once it beeps to a finish, release pressure naturally for 10 minutes. Manually release remaining pressure.
- Squeeze in lemon juice and remove any turkey carcass and bones. Taste to add more salt, if needed.
- Serve in a bowl, sprinkled with parsley.
That’s it! Delicious and easy soup with leftover turkey, and it’ll take care of dinner for the whole family quickly in the Instant Pot.
Frequently Asked Questions About Instant Pot Leftover Turkey Soup Recipe
Yes – you can easily make grain free Whole30 leftover turkey rice by omitting the rice. If going this route, reduce the broth or water my 1 cup and cook it the same exact way.
You don’t need it, but it adds so much flavor! If you don’t have turkey carcass or if you just don’t feel comfortable with it, make sure add chicken broth or bone broth, instead of water, when making the soup.
Yes. Since dried thyme is more potent in flavor, use 1/3 the amount of fresh thyme.
This quick leftover turkey soup will last 3-4 days, stored in an airtight container in the fridge. You can also freeze for up to 3-4 months!
If you enjoyed this recipe, you might also like…
- Instant Pot Chicken Soup (Paleo, Whole30, AIP, Keto)
- Leftover Rice Dak Juk (Korean Rice Porridge)
- Paleo White Chicken Chili (Whole30, Keto)
- Easy Chili Con Carne (Paleo, Whole30)
- Instant Pot Whole30 Chili with Spaghetti Squash
Instant Pot Leftover Turkey Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked turkey meat white and/or dark meat
- Optional: any turkey carcass or bones
- 1 tbsp ghee or your favorite cooking oil
- 1 onion diced
- 2 celery stalks chopped
- 2 carrots chopped
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
- 5 cups chicken broth or water, if using bones (use 6 cups if adding rice)
- Optional: 1/2 cup white rice omit for paleo & Whole30
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- Chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Remove turkey meat from any bones and dice until you have 2 cups. If you want, save the bones to add to the soup.
- Turn on Instant Pot to Sauté and add ghee into the pot.
- Once hot, add onion, celery, and carrots, and cook stirring for 5 minutes until softened.
- Add garlic and thyme, and stir for 1 minute.
- Turn off the Instant Pot, then add turkey, any turkey bones (if using), chicken broth (or water if adding bones), rice (if using), salt and pepper.
- Stir and secure the lid. Cook on HIGH for 10 minutes. Release pressure naturally for 10 minutes, then manually release remaining pressure.
- Add lemon juice and remove any turkey carcass and bones. Taste to add more salt, if needed.
- Serve in a bowl, sprinkled with parsley.
Video
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