Chunks of turkey, carrots, celery, and thick egg noodles come together in this Creamy Turkey Noodle Soup to create a perfect after-Thanksgiving meal.
My family looks forward to this soup every bit as much as we look forward to the big turkey with all the sides.
My middle son loves this turkey soup so much that we have labeled it HIS soup and he would happily just drink the broth if I let him.
He calls this “broth soup” because he thinks the turkey broth is “awesomely delicious.”
Turkey Soup
Hearty, comforting and creamy, turkey soup is a favorite way to use Thanksgiving leftovers. After all the excitement of the holiday meals, the family gatherings and the clean up, it’s lovely to sit back and enjoy a warming bowl of Turkey soup.
I’ve tasted some lack luster soups made with turkey leftovers. This is nothing like some of those watery flavorless soups made by tossing leftover turkey chunks into store-bought broth.
The Creamy Turkey Noodle Soup I’m sharing today is full of flavor from the homemade turkey broth, thickened with flour and butter, plus perfectly cooked tender egg noodles. Noodle soup lovers will love this recipe.
We like turkey soup soup too much to just eat it only when we have holiday leftovers. I buy several turkeys when they go on sale each year, so that I can make this soup through the year.
Creamy Turkey Soup freezes well and I keep servings of it in the freezer exclusively for my son. That way, on nights when they rest of the family is enjoying spicier soups; he has this option instead.
On the occasion when we don’t have turkey in the house to make this soup, it works nicely with chicken as well.
If you’re looking for more tasty turkey soup recipes, give this Spicy Southwest Turkey and Four Bean Soup and this Creamy Turkey Green Chile Soup a try too.
Turkey Recipes
Turkey is so much more than just the center piece for a Thanksgiving dinner. This Roast Turkey with Wine and Herbs makes for an impressive and delicious dinner any time of year.
We love our turkey but I have to admit that one of my favorite things about making a big roast turkey dinner is the leftovers. Creamy Turkey Soup is a highlight but there are so many delicious turkey recipes for using that leftover bird.
I love leftover this Southwest Turkey Chopped Salad and this Turkey and Walnut Salad with Cranberry Dressing enough to eat them by the bucket full.
Turkey Cranberry Quesadillas wrap the best of Thanksgiving flavor into a hand-held meal and Turkey Pho keeps those turkey leftovers from every being boring.
Leftover Turkey Taquitos are a kid favorite that everyone loves. BBQ Turkey Stuffed Red Potatoes are an unexpected use for leftover turkey that we look forward to every year.
Turkey Soup Recipe
Making turkey soup starts by simmering a leftover turkey carcass to make broth. (This is my youngest son’s favorite part and he would be glad to just slurp the broth straight up.)
You need three quarts of the broth to make Turkey Noodle Soup. Any leftovers I happen to have get stashed in the freezer for future soup recipes.
I add the broth to a pot of vegetables sauteed in butter. A little flour sprinkled over the veggies and butter turns the broth lightly creamy, like a thin gravy. Cooked egg noodles and a helping of real heavy cream add the finishing touches to this turkey noodle soup.
Creamy Turkey Noodle Soup
After adding the cream, you just stir everything together and let it all get warm for a few minutes. Then, it’s ready to be poured into bowls and hit the dinner table.
In my opinion, Creamy Turkey Noodle Soup is just the right middle ground between the ultra thick cream soups like Creamy Cauliflower Potato Soup and brothier soups like Chicken Tortilla. Every spoonful of this soup is full of rich egg noodles, creamy flavorful broth and chunks of carrot and celery.
It’s a meal all on its own but would also be delicious with a side of crusty bread or oyster crackers.
You can freeze this soup easily. Simply reheat in the microwave or let thaw in the refrigerator to reheat on the stove top. I love making a big batch of this soup to keep in the freezer all winter long.
Nothing is better on a chilly January night than a hot steaming bowl of Turkey soup!
Kitchen Tip: I use this pot to make this recipe.
{originally published 11/20/2011 – recipe notes and photos updated 10/4/17}
My Journey With Candida says
My Mother in law makes soup with the turkey carcass. I have never tried it yet.
Your soup looks great.
mokyfellow says
What is a turkey’s carcass ???
Mary says
The carcass is the remains of the turkey (aka the bones) after the meat has been served.
Sue/the view from great island says
This looks so much lighter than the gelatinous turkey soups I remember…
Mallory says
Looks good, I love the fact that it has cream in it, not just broth.
Chris says
Looks yummy, Mary. Although my leftover turkey goes towards Kentucky Hot Browns, lol.
Words Of Deliciousness says
This is a lovely looking soup. I love to use the turkey carcass for making soup, it give the soup such good flavor.
[email protected] eco friendly homemaking says
Oh this looks so good. I wish we could have had a bowl of that for lunch today!!
due bionde in cucina says
Hello Mary, I'm so glad to meet you. You have so delicius recipe. I love american dishes, specially this for the Thanksgivingday.
Have a nice day.
Sabina
Tricia @ saving room for dessert says
Oh my that looks wonderful! So warm and comforting. Another great recipe 🙂
Tricia Buice says
I may have to give it a go this Thanksgiving!
Anonymous says
I just made your soup following Thanksgiving and some stock made from a smoked turkey carcass. Aside from the leftover smoked turkey, I added a chopped leek to the mirapoix and simmered 2 stems of thyme, a bay leaf and some chopped rosemary. (So many fresh herbs left over, too!) Then a little chopped sage at the end. OMG!! I can't believe the flavor! Thank you so much for this wonderful recipe. The best!!
Mary says
I am thrilled that you enjoyed it. The fresh herbs make it that much more delicious. I've added fresh herbs a time or two before, it just depends on what I have in the house. I love the sounds of the combination of ALL of those herbs though. I need to try that next time. Thanks!
M. Bochler says
This is WONDERFUL!! Thank you for sharing! My family LOVES it!!
RC1956 says
Love all the recipes you can do from leftover turkey. Turkey Pot Pies, Turkey StirFry, Hot Turkey Sandwiches with mashed potatoes and stuffing, Turkey Delight or Martha's Favorite Turkey Sandwiches – warmed turkey, shredded with cream cheese and cranberry sauce on a croissant bun. Always ran out of turkey before recipes. Will have to save enough to make this recipe. looks so good.
Anonymous says
Another wonderful recipe, Mary. It is an excellent soup and I can see why your son likes the broth so much. There is nothing like "old school stock," made from the carcass, veggies, herbs and slow cooking. Such flavor! i sometimes switch out 3 cups of cooked wild rice for the noodles and I don't worry about soggy noodles, if we don't eat it all at once.
Mary
Kelli @ The Corner Kitchen says
Turkey soup is my favorite way to use Thanksgiving leftovers! Great recipe, Mary!!
Pam says
All this time and I never thought to make my turkey soup a creamy one!
Magnolia Verandah says
Even though we are moving towards summer, this soup looks invitingly good.
Sara says
I made a BIG pot of this for a church supper. It was a hit!
Chris says
I would be jealous except we made a very similar one this week 🙂 Perfect since it was darn cold this week.
Sheana says
Thank you for posting the turkey noodle soup. I made it today and it was the most amazing soup ever! Words cannot express my gratitude for this wonderful dish! It got many raves today at the dinner table!!
Linda says
I made this soup again today!! I made it at thanksgiving and twice since, my family LOVES it! Thank you!

Alison says
I make this soup every time I cook a turkey! My daughter gets excited when I make a turkey because she absolutely loves this soup!
Janet says
This looks delicious! Only problem is – my kids do not like creamy soups – can I just leave out the cream? Thanks!
Mary says
Yes, you can leave out the cream.
Martha Stidham says
I love this recipe for the creamy turkey soup. Simple but very tasty.
Terry says
What a surprise. The only thing creamy about this recipe is that there is cream in it. What a waste of time. This recipe literally sucks. What a HUGE disappointment. I gave it a 1 rating by mistake. It should be a ZERO.
Beth says
you must be hung over from NY eve – such nastiness!
Nicole says
Thank you so much for this wonderful recipe. I love making soup. This sounds delicious and although I haven’t made it yet, I’ve done everything mentioned in your recipe before to make turkey noodle soup except adding cream so I appreciate you sharing a way to kick turkey noodle soup up a notch! And I appreciate that it isn’t heavy cream which is delicious but fattening and for me, somewhat defeats the purpose of me eating soup regularly. Please ignore the downright rude posting. Some people live to post awful & nasty things and hide behind the screen. Please continue to post great recipes because those of us who are joyful cooks appreciate it!
Debbie says
I would like to see recipes that are not so fattening. Could the turkey noodle soup be made without any cream?
Mary says
Sure. It’s tasty that way as well. I just prefer it with the cream and usually make it that way.
KT says
Ordinarily, I do not review recipes.
I don’t know where I went wrong, but I followed the recipe to the letter and it was the disappointing to spend nearly two hours on a pot of inedible soup. It wasn’t a matter of taste even: the soup was not creamy at all.
Better luck to everyone else out there, but this one fell flat for us.
Mary says
I can’t even hazard a guess what might have gone wrong here. If you added the cream, this should’ve been a creamy soup. It is a pretty straightforward recipe and it always turns out creamy for us. (And for all the others who make it each year.)
Heather says
I’ve added this to my Thanksgiving leftover rotation because it’s so delicious! I freeze family and single size portions for quick lunches and dinners. This is one of our favorite soup recipes. I use fat free half and half instead of cream, and it’s still very delicious and filling. Thank you so much for sharing it!
Mary Younkin says
I am thrilled that you love it so much, Heather!
Yolanda says
This recipe is really tasty, my husband said it was the best Turkey soup I have ever made! I just wish it came out a bit thicker. Will make again with chicken next time.
Mary Younkin says
I’m so glad that you’re enjoying the soup, Yolanda! If you’re looking for a thicker soup, you can make a slurry with a little bit of flour and add it to the simmering soup. Or, you can also increase the heavy cream in the recipe.
Valerie says
Just made this recipe tonight. Utterly delicious!!!
This will be my family’s new favorite from now on. Thank you, Valerie
Mary Younkin says
I’m so happy that you love the soup, Valerie!
Linda says
Hi Mary! I just made your lovely, delicious creamy turkey noodle soup tonight. My husband and I both loved it! It’s a keeper and I will be making it often!
Mary Younkin says
I’m so happy that you enjoyed the soup, Linda!
April says
Hello! I am fairly new to cooking and this looks amazing. Just curious if this would be the same recipe if i used chicken instead of the turkey?
Mary Younkin says
This recipe works great with chicken, April.
JENN M. says
My shift tzu dog loves it. He at 3 bowls. He loves the broth. We enjoyed it, but I may add rosemary , thyme, and garlic. Thank you.
Mary Younkin says
I’m so glad that you love the soup, Jenn.
Deann says
Fabulous soup! I added a bit more flour to make it thicker but that taste is wonderful
Mary Younkin says
I’m so glad that you love the soup, Deann!
Rob says
Made for the first time today, really really good. Definitely will be making again. Not a big fan of turkey dinner leftovers, will have once and that’s enough. This is a great way to use leftover turkey.
Mary Younkin says
I’m so glad you like the soup, Rob!
J&H says
Amazing tasting soup, hearty and satisfying! We went fishing in 15 degree cold and heated this soup for lunch – hit the spot!
Mary Younkin says
I’m thrilled that you’re enjoying the soup!
Patricia Schroll says
I have made many of your recipes and we have enjoyed all of them. I’m making this Creamy Turkey Noodle soup today. My husband loves the word Creamy.
Enjoy the New Year 2021.
Mary Younkin says
I hope you love the soup, Patricia.
Terri says
Made this tonight. Very delicious!!
Mary Younkin says
I’m so glad to hear that you enjoyed the soup, Terri!
Patrise Mercurio says
Thanks Mary! I LOVE making soups and THIS is the absolute BEST turkey soup I have EVER made. I simmered the carcass for 2 days though, until the bones were soft. I like to get ALL of the collagen out of the bones and joints. I made a huge pot and shared it with mu neighbors, they said it was the best turkey soup they had ever had! Thanks so much.
Mary Younkin says
I’m thrilled that you enjoyed the soup so much, Patrise!
Elizabeth Cupples says
Easy to make, very delicious. I followed the recipe exactly as it is and wouldn’t change anything.
Mary Younkin says
I’m thrilled that you like it, Elizabeth!