Pioneer Woman Turkey Noodle Soup is made with leftover shredded turkey, wide egg noodles, carrots, celery, onion, and savory turkey broth. The result is a comforting, savory soup with tender vegetables and a rich, herby broth. It is the perfect one-pot meal for using up Thanksgiving leftovers and makes a cozy dinner for a cold winter night.
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Jump to Recipe🧡 Why You Will Love This Turkey Noodle Soup:
- The Perfect Use for Leftovers: This recipe is the best way to use up leftover Thanksgiving turkey. It transforms the meat into a completely new, delicious meal, so nothing goes to waste.
- Ultimate Comfort Food: It is like a warm hug in a bowl. The combination of savory broth, tender vegetables, soft egg noodles, and hearty turkey is incredibly comforting on a cold day.
- A True One-Pot Meal: The vegetables, broth, and noodles all cook together in one large pot. This makes the recipe easy to follow and means you have very little cleanup afterward.
- It’s a Hearty Meal: This isn’t a light starter soup. It’s packed with protein and vegetables, making it a satisfying, filling dinner for the whole family.
🍗 Pioneer Woman Turkey Noodle Soup Ingredients
For the Soup Base (Mirepoix):
- 2 tablespoons butter or olive oil
- 1 large onion, diced
- 3 medium carrots, chopped
- 3 celery stalks, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
For the Soup:
- 8 cups (2 quarts) turkey broth (or chicken broth)
- 3-4 cups cooked turkey, shredded or diced
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 bay leaves
- 12 ounces wide egg noodles
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

🍜 How To Make Pioneer Woman Turkey Noodle Soup
- Sauté the vegetables: In a large pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, and celery (this mix is called a mirepoix). Cook, stirring often, for 8-10 minutes until the vegetables are soft. Add the minced garlic and cook for one more minute.
- Add broth and seasonings: Pour in the turkey broth. Add the dried thyme, dried oregano, bay leaves, salt, and pepper. Turn the heat up and bring the soup to a boil.
- Cook the noodles: Once the soup is boiling, add the dry egg noodles. Stir well and let them cook in the broth for about 8-10 minutes, or until they are tender.
- Add the turkey: Stir in the shredded leftover turkey. Let it simmer for just 2-3 minutes. The turkey is already cooked, so you only need to warm it through.
- Serve the soup: Remove the bay leaves from the pot. Taste the soup and add more salt or pepper if needed. Ladle the hot soup into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley.
💭 Recipe Tips
- Use Homemade Broth: If you have a leftover turkey carcass from Thanksgiving, use it to make homemade broth. Simmering the bones creates a rich, gelatinous broth that store-bought versions can’t match.
- Add Turkey Last: The leftover turkey is already cooked. If you add it too early and let it boil for a long time, the meat will become tough and dry. Stir it in at the very end just to heat it up.
- Cook Noodles Separately (for leftovers): If you plan to have leftovers, the noodles will soak up all the broth in the fridge. To prevent this, cook the noodles in a separate pot. Store them separately and add them to each bowl of soup as you serve it.
- Use Dark and Light Meat: For the best flavor, use a mix of both white and dark leftover turkey meat. The dark meat adds extra richness to the soup.

🍞 What To Serve With Turkey Noodle Soup?
This soup is a hearty one-pot meal, so it doesn’t need much it is perfect when served with a piece of crusty bread, buttery dinner rolls or saltine crackers for dipping into the broth. You can also pair it with a simple side salad or the last of your leftover Thanksgiving cranberry sauce.
🎚 How To Store Leftovers Turkey Noodle Soup?
- Refrigerate: Store the soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Be aware that the noodles will continue to absorb the broth, making the soup very thick. When you reheat it, you will likely need to add an extra cup or two of broth or water.
- Freeze: It is best to freeze this soup without the noodles, as they can become very soft and mushy when thawed. If you must freeze it with noodles, it will last for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
🥵 How To Reheat Leftovers Turkey Noodle Soup?
Note: When you store this soup, the egg noodles will absorb a lot of the broth, making the leftovers very thick. You will need to add more liquid.
1. On the Stovetop (The Best Method) This method allows you to adjust the consistency perfectly.
- Pour the soup into a pot over medium-low heat.
- Add a splash of turkey broth, chicken broth, or water (about 1/2 cup per bowl) to loosen the soup and create more broth.
- Stir gently and heat until the soup is steaming and hot all the way through. Avoid boiling it rapidly, as this can make the noodles fall apart.
2. In the Microwave (The Fastest Method) This is great for a single bowl.
- Place a serving of the thick soup in a microwave-safe bowl.
- Add a few tablespoons of broth or water and stir.
- Cover the bowl with a loose-fitting lid or a paper towel to prevent splatters.
- Heat on high for 1 minute, stop and stir, then continue heating in 30-second intervals until it is hot. Stirring is key to make sure it heats evenly.

FAQs
Absolutel this recipe for Turkey Noodle Soup works perfectly with leftover rotisserie chicken or any cooked, shredded chicken.
Yes, while wide egg noodles are classic, you can use any pasta shape you have. Small shells, ditalini, or broken spaghetti pieces are all great options. Just adjust the cooking time based on the package directions.
For a creamy version, turn the heat to low after the turkey is warmed through. Stir in 1/2 cup of heavy cream or half-and-half just before serving. Do not let the soup boil after adding the cream.
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📊 Turkey Noodle Soup Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 bowl (approx. 1.5 cups)
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Total Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
- Sodium: 980mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 25g
- Dietary Fiber: 3g
- Sugars: 4g
- Protein: 26g
Pioneer Woman Turkey Noodle Soup Recipe
Course: Soups, Dinner, Lunch, MainCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Beginner6
servings15
minutes25
minutes280
kcalPioneer Woman Turkey Noodle Soup is made with leftover shredded turkey, wide egg noodles, carrots, celery, onion, and savory turkey broth. The result is a comforting, savory soup with tender vegetables and a rich, herby broth. It is the perfect one-pot meal for using up Thanksgiving leftovers and makes a cozy dinner for a cold winter night.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter or olive oil
1 large onion, diced
3 medium carrots, chopped
3 celery stalks, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
- For the Soup:
8 cups (2 quarts) turkey broth (or chicken broth)
3-4 cups cooked turkey, shredded or diced
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 bay leaves
12 ounces wide egg noodles
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Directions
- Sauté the vegetables: In a large pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, and celery (this mix is called a mirepoix). Cook, stirring often, for 8-10 minutes until the vegetables are soft. Add the minced garlic and cook for one more minute.
- Add broth and seasonings: Pour in the turkey broth. Add the dried thyme, dried oregano, bay leaves, salt, and pepper. Turn the heat up and bring the soup to a boil.
- Cook the noodles: Once the soup is boiling, add the dry egg noodles. Stir well and let them cook in the broth for about 8-10 minutes, or until they are tender.
- Add the turkey: Stir in the shredded leftover turkey. Let it simmer for just 2-3 minutes. The turkey is already cooked, so you only need to warm it through.
- Serve the soup: Remove the bay leaves from the pot. Taste the soup and add more salt or pepper if needed. Ladle the hot soup into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley.
Notes
- Use Homemade Broth: If you have a leftover turkey carcass from Thanksgiving, use it to make homemade broth. Simmering the bones creates a rich, gelatinous broth that store-bought versions can’t match.
Add Turkey Last: The leftover turkey is already cooked. If you add it too early and let it boil for a long time, the meat will become tough and dry. Stir it in at the very end just to heat it up.
Cook Noodles Separately (for leftovers): If you plan to have leftovers, the noodles will soak up all the broth in the fridge. To prevent this, cook the noodles in a separate pot. Store them separately and add them to each bowl of soup as you serve it.
Use Dark and Light Meat: For the best flavor, use a mix of both white and dark leftover turkey meat. The dark meat adds extra richness to the soup.
