Leftover turkey soup is hearty, flavorful, and comforting. You can easily throw this homemade keto turkey soup recipe together in about 20 minutes! Adults and kids will devour it and be asking for seconds. This easy recipe is low carb, keto, gluten-free, grain-free, sugar-free, and Trim Healthy Mama friendly.
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We’ve all been there the day after Thanksgiving or Christmas, and you are left with TONS of turkey. Scratching your head, you search the internet to find something to use the turkey in that everyone will enjoy. There are some great recipes out there, but I happen to think you just stumbled on the best turkey soup recipe I’ve ever tried.
I prefer a soup that has a lot of substance to it. And by substance, I mean some veggies, protein, and lots of seasonings. Thankfully this easy keto turkey soup meets all the requirements if you ask me!
Spending time with family and friends over the holidays is always fun, but we especially love eating this soup the next day. It’s just so warm and comforting you can’t help but feel thankful and fulfilled.
Ingredients
Butter & Olive Oil - I use both to saute the vegetable base for soups. It gives the richest flavor.
Onion, Celery, & Carrot - This classic combination really pairs well with a turkey based soup
Cauliflower Rice - I chose to use cauli-rice as the base of my keto turkey soup since it is naturally low carb and mild-flavored enough to let the other ingredients shine.
Chicken Broth or Turkey Stock - Either variety works in this. I normally use my homemade chicken broth powder which you can see in the recipe video.
Dark Turkey Meat - Cooked and shredded dark meat works the best in this recipe. If you want to use white meat instead only add it during the last 2 minutes so it doesn't dry out.
Salt & Pepper - Always season to taste. The amounts listed are guidelines and may have to be adjusted based on how salty the broth you choose is.
Garlic Powder - This is a pantry staple in my house and we use the big one from a bulk store quicker than you can imagine! You can sub in fresh garlic in the first step if you would like.
Dried Dill Weed - I love dill and it gives this soup a unique ranch flavor.
Heavy Cream - Just a bit of heavy whipping cream makes this soup taste tich and decadent. If you would like a dairy free soup just leave it out.
Bacon - Cooked crumbled bacon is amazing in turkey soup. Trust me!
How To Make Turkey Soup
You don’t just have to make keto turkey soup after the holidays. You can roast a turkey at any time of year, and the leftovers are great for making this easy turkey soup. Plus, it makes a simple lunch that you can take to work with you.
First Step: Use a large stockpot and melt the butter and oil over medium heat. Throw in the onions, celery, and carrots. Cook them until they have become tender.
Second Step: Place the cauliflower rice in with the onion mixture. Turn the heat to low and cover with a lid.
Third Step: After you have steamed the cauliflower for around 5 minutes, you’ll need to add in the stock, turkey, and seasonings.
Fourth Step: Allow the soup to simmer for 5 minutes then stir in the bacon crumbles and heavy cream. Add any extra seasonings you desire.
Fifth Step: Place the keto turkey soup in bowls and enjoy hot!
Variations
Herbs - I chose to use dried dill but dried or fresh rosemary, thyme, and/or sage all work well in this soup.
Cauliflower - For a chunkier soup use cauliflower florets instead of cauli-rice.
Do I Use Frozen Cauliflower Rice Or Make My Own?
You can use either store-bought frozen cauliflower rice or make your own. To make your own cauliflower rice, all you need to do is cut a head of cauliflower into pieces. Then toss them in a food processor or blender for a couple of seconds until it resembles rice. Once you have it to the texture you want, then you can use it for any of your cauliflower rice dishes and this leftover turkey soup.
How Long Is Leftover Turkey Soup Good For?
If you store the homemade turkey soup recipe in an airtight sealed container, you can keep it in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. This is wonderful right after the holidays when everyone is busy going from place to place. You can quickly heat up keto turkey soup and enjoy a homecooked meal in between stops. Leftover turkey soup is lovely for meal planning too!
Can You Freeze Keto Turkey Soup?
Yes, you can freeze this leftover turkey soup. Just pour it into a freezer bag and fill it ⅔ full. You don’t’ want to overfill it because the soup expands as it freezes, and it would rupture the bag. It will last 2-3 months in the freezer. If you want to have this as a quick lunch, you can pour the soup in individual bags instead of a large gallon-sized.
How Do You Reheat Leftover Turkey Soup?
If it’s frozen, you need to defrost it in the refrigerator overnight. When you are ready to warm it up, you can pour the soup in a stockpot and heat it on medium-high heat until it’s hot. It will usually take 5-10 minutes, depending on how much soup you have.
You can also heat the soup in the microwave. Soup tends to explode as it heats up, so make sure to cover the bowl with a paper towel. This will save you a mess later!
Other Ways to use Leftover Turkey:
Loaded Cauliflower Casserole - chop and add to this cauliflower casserole
Chicken Florentine Soup - sub for the chicken
Keto Turkey Casserole - rich and creamy with spaghetti squash
Turkey Pot Pie - the ultimate comfort food!
Turkey Lettuce Wraps - use in place of the deli turkey
Chicken Bacon Caesar Keto Casserole - sub for the chicken
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Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup onion chopped
- ½ cup celery chopped
- ¼ cup carrot chopped
- 16 oz cauliflower rice
- 1 quart chicken or turkey stock
- 4 cups dark cooked turkey meat shredded
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried dill
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup crumbled bacon
Instructions
- Heat the butter and olive oil over medium heat in a large stock pot. Add the onions, celery, and carrots and cook until softened. Add the cauliflower rice, reduce the heat to low, and cover the pot with a lid. Steam the cauliflower for 5 minutes.
- Add the stock, turkey, and seasonings. Simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in the cream and bacon. Adjust the seasoning if needed.
Notes
Nutrition
Cindy says
Has anyone tried this without bacon?
Taryn says
Yup, it's still great without the bacon.
Carole says
Has anyone frozen this soup? Maybe if I do I’ll leave out the cream and add it when I go to use it.
Taryn says
Yes. You can freeze with or without the cream. It freezes fine either way.
Barbara Hanselman says
I just made this soup with the intent of adding baked turkey meatballs to it and I had to tell you how unbelievable it was with these meatballs!
Barbara Hanselman says
I forgot to say that I did NOT put the leftover turkey in this soup only the baked ground turkey meatballs...
Angela says
Could i use riced broccoli instead of cauliflower? I just got my food delivery and instead of rice cauliflower I got rice broccoli.
Taryn says
Sure!
Nikki says
Any idea how much per serving? Looking at the ingredients I’m guessing a serving is about 1 1/4- 1 1/2 cup but was hoping to confirm! Thanks!
Taryn says
Sorry, I didn't measure that way. I think your estimate is pretty close!
Neila says
This is sooooo delish!!!! Thank you so much for a great comfort food to enjoy on a cold winter day.
Christie Davis says
This is my 2nd time making this yummy soup! I cut the salt down to 1/2 tbsp. First time it puckered my tongue. I substituted the dill for Tarragon, and OMG .. the creamy broth tastes like bernaise sauce. Definitely a craveable flavor! Everything else as is, except double carrots. I'll be making this for years to come!
Brenda says
Wow! Just made this soup and it is fantastic. I added chilli flakes because I like a bit of a kick. Thank you!
Tammy Robinson says
This soup is delicious! I wouldn’t change a thing. Yum!
Leah Skinner says
Decided to try this. Used coconut milk instead of cream and a couple tablespoons of lemon juice. So delicious and different from my usual soup. Will make again!
Joanne says
This is one of the best recipes I've tried. Thanks so much for sharing!!
Only thing I did different is leave out the dill and cream.
Katie says
Made this for the family and it was a hit!
Amanda says
This is great for leftover turkey after the holidays! I bet it’s also good with chicken during the rest of the year too!