Easy Instant Pot Leftover Turkey Soup Recipe | What Great Grandma Ate (2024)

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• Cooked Turkey Meat: You can use white or dark meat or a mixture of both! You can also make this recipe with leftover chicken, rotisserie chicken, or cooked chicken breasts!
• Turkey Carcass or Bones: This is completely optional, but I highly recommend you add it if you have it on hand. It’ll make a delicious leftover turkey carcass soup with amazing flavors. It also makes homemade turkey stock/turkey broth in the process!
• Ghee: I love using ghee for my cooking, but you can use any cooking oil you have on hand. If using ghee, you can make your own or this is my favorite brand to purchase.
• Veggies: Diced onion, celery, carrots, and minced garlic– you could even throw in green beans if you want!
• Thyme: I love the flavor of fresh thyme but you can use 1/3 amount of dried thyme instead.
• Chicken Broth: Water can be used instead of you end up using turkey carcass. The bones will add enough flavor to the water.
• White Rice: This is another optional ingredient. If you are making paleo or Whole30 soup, you can just omit this. You can also use brown rice or a wild rice blend if preferred.
• Fresh Herbs & Spices: Salt, ground black pepper, and fresh parsley.
• Lemon Juice: Fresh lemon juice is best, but you can use a bottle of lemon juice if you’re in a pinch.

Instant Pot Turkey Soup

1. Remove turkey meat from the bones and dice it until you have 2 cups. If available, save the bones to add to the soup.
2. Turn on your Instant Pot pressure cooker to sauté and melt ghee (or your favorite cooking oil) into the pot.
3. Add the carrot, celery, and onion, and cook stirring for 5 minutes until softened.
4. Add the garlic and thyme, and cook stirring for 1 minute.
5. Turn off the Instant Pot, then add the turkey, any turkey bones (if using), chicken broth (or water if adding bones), rice, salt, and pepper.
6. Stir together, then secure the lid. Cook on HIGH pressure for 10 minutes. Once it beeps to a finish, release pressure naturally for 10 minutes. Manually release remaining pressure.
7. Squeeze in lemon juice and remove any turkey carcass and bones. Taste to add more salt if needed.

Leftover Turkey Soup Stovetop Method

1. Remove turkey meat from the bones and dice it until you have 2 cups. If available, save the bones to add to the soup.
2. Warm a stockpot or a Dutch oven over medium-high heat and melt ghee or your favorite cooking oil.
3. Add the carrot, celery, and onion, and cook stirring for 5 minutes until softened.
4. Add the garlic and thyme, and cook stirring for 1 minute.
5. Into the same pot, add turkey, any turkey bones (if using), chicken broth (or water if adding bones), rice (if using), salt, and pepper.
6. Stir and bring to a boil. Once boiling, lower the heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes.
7. Squeeze in lemon juice and remove any turkey carcass and bones. Taste to add more salt if needed.

Tips & Tricks

Do I have to adjust the recipe if I’m making Whole30 or paleo leftover turkey soup?

Yes, you can easily make grain-free Whole30 soup by omitting the rice. If going this route, reduce the broth or water by 1 cup and cook it the same exact way.

​​Do I need the turkey carcass for this turkey soup recipe?

You don’t need it, but it adds so much flavor! If you don’t have the turkey carcass make sure to add chicken broth or bone broth, instead of water, when making the soup.

Can I use dried thyme instead of fresh?

Yes. Since dried thyme is more potent in flavor, use 1/3 the amount of fresh thyme.

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