Easy turkey noodle soup recipe – LIGHT and so flavorful. Perfect for leftovers on a cozy chilly day!
Easy Turkey Noodle Soup
Nothing fancy to see here, kids!
Nothing fancy at all.
Just an extremely flavorful (understatement of the century) Easy Turkey Noodle Soup that starts with a turkey-based broth with heaps upon heaps upon heaps of steamy rice noodles and every possible topping in the universe including but not limited to a heavy handed dousing of sriracha even if that’s not totally authentic. Also: me slurping the noodles up like a child because my fine motor skills actually BECOME those of a child when I have chopsticks in my hand. But come ON. I’d rather not do this right now.
What I do want to do is tell you how important it is for your tastebuds that you resourcefully use the leftover turkey and the turkey carc*** (terrible, terrible word that shall not be named on this blog) and make these epic noodle bowls.
I’m keeping today’s post short because it’s sort of unexpected –> I just found myself feeling inspired to make a turkey in order to have the leftovers to make the turkey soup which we devoured in three and a half bites ALL BEFORE THANKSGIVING EVEN HAPPENED // so logical –> and I normally don’t post on Tuesdays, but I really needed you to see this before you throw away the turkey you-know-what after T-giving dinner.
Don’t do it! Don’t throw it away. Intervene NOW.
So should you make this and slurp it up while sitting around in your cozies over the weekend? Let’s just say I feel really good when I think about us doing that. 💙
Source notes: This recipe was previously titled “Easy Turkey Pho” but was updated in August 2021 to better reflect and respect the cultural origins from which this dish came from. While the broth in this soup uses flavors commonly found in pho, it is not a traditional pho recipe. Check out this recipe from Sarah at The Woks of Life for traditional and delicious pho!
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Easy Turkey Noodle Soup
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
Easy turkey noodle soup recipe – LIGHT and so flavorful. Perfect for leftovers on a cozy chilly day!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Broth
- 6–8 cups turkey broth (see notes)
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 2 whole star anise
- 6 whole cloves
- 1/4 cup cilantro stems
- 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 3-inch piece of ginger, peeled and cut into pieces
For Noodle Bowls
- 8 ounces rice noodles
- 2 cups shredded leftover turkey
- cilantro, mint, lime, hot sauce, fish sauce, soy sauce, chili peppers, sprouts, or anything else you’d want to top your soup with!
Instructions
- In a large stock pot, simmer all the broth ingredients together for an hour or so. Pour through a fine mesh colander, reserving liquid and discarding solids.
- Return to heat and add noodles. Let the noodles soak until soft (about 10 minutes). Add the turkey. Transfer to bowls (noodles and turkey heaped in the middle, broth ladled over the whole thing) and top with anything your turkey noodle soup heart desires. And DON’T SKIP THE LIME. My favorite.
Notes
Ingredients note: I bought all these ingredients at what I consider to be a mainstream grocery store (Cub Foods, if you’re local to the Minneapolis area). The star anise came in a little bag in the section where they sell the whole dried spices.
Do this a day in advance if you can! I made it all in one day and it was totally fine, but it would be ideal to spread it over two days. –> To make the stock, just cut up the turkey carcass (I’m sorry – no way around that word) and cover it with 8-10 cups water in a large pot. Throw in a few chopped up carrots and some onion slices and simmer for 1-2 hours. Drain, reserving the tasty broth and discarding the solids, and then if you can, let it chill for a while so you can skim the fat off the top. Total yield will depend on how long you simmer it, but generally speaking, this should be plenty for this soup recipe.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Vietnamese-Inspired
Keywords: turkey soup, turkey noodle soup, turkey recipe, thanksgiving leftovers
November 24, 2015
Nice to meet you!
I’m Lindsay and I ♡ FOOD. I used to be a teacher, and now making food and writing about it online is my full-time job. I love talking with people about food, and I'm so glad you're here.
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Love this! I’m actually living in Vietnam right now, so pho is my jam! You’re right, it’s such a flavorful soup thanks to the spices in the broth and the fresh herbs~~~ Turkey is not a common meat in Vietnam- but that’s what makes your idea even more unique! I’m looking at buying a turkey from the foreign food store here so I can make a Thanksgiving meal- but a turkey costs about double what they do back in the states! May have to do it anyway~~ and try this out 🙂
Aw, that’s so fun to hear that you’re in Vietnam right now! I apologize in advance for being so un-traditional with the turkey. 🙂 But hope you can make something delicious and memorable!
yummy way to make noodle 😋 soup 🍲, thanks for your awesome blog. Love from India.
I agree, turkish food super.
What a yummy way to use the leftover turkey!!
Thanks Mary! 🙂
I love your blog!! I mean it because today I made your Cinnamon Sugar Apple Cake, Lemony Chicken with Asparagus AND Hummus – all 3 in one day ! 🙂
So fun to hear that Swapna!
Yum! Pho has been a long time favorite of mine. What is more cozy than chopsticks and a bowl of soup??? Also, it is one of the only things my pregnant-self wanted during the first trimester and still a favorite 2 trimesters later 😛
Thanks!
haha so awesome! seems like a pretty nutritious thing to be eating with all that nutrient-filled broth, right?
I could eat PHO everyday. Love this recipe!
Thanks Arthur! 🙂 Enjoy!
Me too!
This sounds heavenly. Star anise, cilantro & cinnamon flavors together – MMMmmm! I wish I was in charge of the carc… “you-know-what” but we’re not having T-dinner at our house. I might have to make a turkey just to make this pho!
Thanks Dee! 🙂 and I mean, that’s what we did with the turkey… but I’m weird like that.
This pho is such a great way to use leftover turkey!
Thanks Nicole!
I’ve never tried pho before, but this looks really good!
Kari
http://www.sweetteasweetie.com
Thanks Kari! Enjoy!
I swear I love Pho. It is one of my favorite things to eat. I am a huge fan of noodle soups anyway! Thank you so much for providing a solid recipe. Now I know how to make it!
Of course! Hope you get a chance to try it Nicole!
You said “world” when you meant to say “word.”
Whew. Good catch.
What a fun and unique idea for leftover turkey! I love pho 🙂
Thanks Whitney! Happy Thanksgiving!
haha, I, too just bought some turkey pieces to roast just so I have leftovers! I had to make the turkey dinner the past few years and, while I’m excited to pass on that this year, I couldn’t stand the thought of missing leftovers…
Thanksgiving leftovers are everything!
Every Thanksgiving my dad makes soup out of the turkey carcass. This looks like a flavorful, clever update of that tradition. Delicious.
So smart! It seems so obvious but I don’t know if we’ve ever done it before. I mean, I know I personally haven’t…
DONE.
My bird…car*** <-most awkward word ever< will gladly participate in this broth goodness.
Great surpriiiiissseeee <3
Thanks Brittany! 🙂
Now that’s a fantastic way to use leftover turkey. I’m extra excited since it’s gluten free – so I could eat this! thanks for sharing this before the big T. day so I can make plans to have some afterwards 🙂
Yes, definitely! Takes a little bit of advance planning.
What a fun way to use up turkey. I’ve never had pho. Can’t wait to try it!
Thanks Emily! Hope you like it!
Yum! I love pho and have been looking for an easy recipe! Am going to have to try this weekend!!!
Thanks Robin!
Yum!!! And easy! Thank you for sharing on this crazy, food-busy holiday week!!
Of course! Best job ever 🙂
This looks so delicious and comforting for the cold nights we are already having. Have a wonderful holiday!
Thanks Rachel! You too!
Lindsay this bowl is packed with all sorts of delicious flavors!! So stunning! Pinning!
Thanks Ami! Appreciate it!
Any substitute for star anise and is it OK to use light brown sugar instead? I’m on a remote island with very limited groceries. Looks fab and your photography is beautiful!
Good questions. Light brown sugar will be fine, and you could use chinese 5-spice instead of star anise. You could also try crushed anise if you have that available to you.
Love the bowls can you tell me where you found them? I love the earthy vibe they bring to your dishes.
Hi, Lisa! Lindsay’s father in law made them for her.
Love it Lindsay.. Will try it out one day..
yeah.. i’ll do the same
I made this yesterday. I made a huge pot of turkey broth in the morning, then added the seasonings from your recipe and let it simmer away on the stove for a few hours in the afternoon. It was perfect! We added turkey, left over green beans with almonds, spinach, jalapeños, and radishes. Had a variety of sauces on the table for everyone to personalize their bowls, and it was a huge hit. I have enough broth left over to freeze for next time. Thanks for a great recipe! It’s nice to mix things up with the turkey leftovers.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Will try it out one day..
Oh my goodness! This looks amazing! I’m so mad that I used up the rest of our turkey leftovers! I adore Pho and go to my local Vietnamese shop at least once a week for my pho fix!! Sometimes I go twice a week! It’s my fave restaurant because it’s gluten and dairy free and filling and delicious! This looks so good! Thanks for sharing!