Easy Turkey Noodle Soup Recipe - Pinch of Yum
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Easy Turkey Noodle Soup

15 reviews / 4.9 average

Easy turkey noodle soup recipe – LIGHT and so flavorful. Perfect for leftovers on a cozy chilly day!

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. 💙

Turkey Pho recipe - LIGHT and so flavorful. All familiar ingredients that can be bought at a mainstream grocery store. Perfect for leftover turkey! | pinchofyum.com

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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Turkey Pho in a bowl with chopsticks.

Easy Turkey Noodle Soup


  • Author: Pinch of Yum
  • 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

  • 68 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

  1. 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.
  2. 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

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64 Comments

  1. Pinch of Yum Logo

    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 🙂

    1. Pinch of Yum Logo

      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!

  2. Pinch of Yum Logo

    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 ! 🙂

  3. Pinch of Yum Logo

    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!

  4. Pinch of Yum Logo

    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!

  5. Pinch of Yum Logo

    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!

  6. Pinch of Yum Logo

    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…

  7. Pinch of Yum Logo

    Every Thanksgiving my dad makes soup out of the turkey carcass. This looks like a flavorful, clever update of that tradition. Delicious.

    1. Pinch of Yum Logo

      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…

  8. Pinch of Yum Logo

    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 🙂

  9. Pinch of Yum Logo

    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!

  10. Pinch of Yum Logo

    Love the bowls can you tell me where you found them? I love the earthy vibe they bring to your dishes.

  11. Pinch of Yum Logo

    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.

  12. Pinch of Yum Logo

    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!