Simple tortellini soup is a great way to use up some leftover holiday turkey. This tomato based soup is an easy, 30-minute soup loaded with veggies, turkey, and cheese tortellini.
If you are looking for more recipes to use leftover turkey, check out our Turkey Enchiladas and Turkey Sliders.
Leftover Turkey Soup
The more turkey you have left from the holidays, the more easy meals you can make over the next few days following the holiday.
Of course, it’s easy to just make yourself another plate of turkeys, stuffing, and mashed potatoes, but why not make something new and tasty? Make some comforting potato cakes out of leftover mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes.
It’s easy and delicious to use stuffing in breakfast casseroles, breakfast muffins, hushpuppies, or waffles.
Cranberry sauce is great to bake into cookies, cookie bars, doughnuts, and pastries. It’s also great to add a little touch of sweetness to grilled cheeses and other sandwiches.
Turkey is another leftover holiday dish that has endless possibilities for reinvention. You can use leftover turkey in breakfast recipes, lunch, and dinner dishes. One of my favorite things to make with turkey is an easy soup.
Day after Thanksgiving is tough. Besides the Black Friday shopping, there is still a lot of cleaning and getting the house ready for the next holiday. Easy soup is the way to go.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
If using leftover turkey, this soup becomes incredibly simple and fast to make. The whole thing will take you less than 30 minutes.
Sauté onions and carrots first, to caramelize them for more flavor.
Add spinach and garlic and cook until spinach is wilted. Add diced turkey meat and sauté.
Pour the entire can on fire roasted diced tomatoes into the pot. Stir in tomato puree and bring to simmer.
Add broth, stir, and bring everything to simmer.
Season and add tortellini. Cook until tortellini is just done.
Stir in minced basil and enjoy some delicious soup.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Yes, absolutely. Since carrots are already cooked, they don’t need much cook time. Don’t add carrots to the pot until right before adding broth. You can also use leftover green beans and other vegetables if you wish.
This turkey soup will be delicious made creamy. Simple add 1/4 cup of heavy whipping cream at the same time as basil and stir well. Cook for just a couple of minutes and you have a creamy turkey tortellini soup. If you wish, add some shaved or grated parmesan cheese as well.
Some leftover turkey recipes:
Turkey Cranberry Brie Grilled Cheese
Cranberry Asiago Turkey Sliders
Leftover Turkey Tortellini Soup
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp canola oil
- 1 medium yellow onion diced
- 2 medium carrots diced
- 5 oz spinach chopped
- 4 garlic cloves pressed or minced
- 14.5 oz fire roasted diced tomatoes
- 2 cups diced cooked turkey meat
- 3 tbsp tomato paste
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 9 oz four cheese tortellini
- 6 minced fresh basil leaves
- salt
- 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Preheat a medium pot over medium heat. Add oil.
- Add diced onion and carrots and saute until onions start to brown.
- Stir in pressed (or minced) garlic and saute until fragrant.
- Add tomatoes with the juices and mix it well.
- Add spinach, stir and cook until wilted.
- Add cooked turkey meat and stir.
- Add tomato paste, broth, salt, and red pepper flakes. Stir well and bring to simmer.
- Add tortellini and cook until tortellini is just done.
- Stir in minced basil and serve.
Nutrition
Cathy says
Very good. Used Rotel Hot, and spinach tortellini. Very good.
LyubaB says
I am happy you liked it, Cathy!
Danielle says
I am making this now. Don’t have spinach so I’m using kale.
Trisha says
Made this soup tonight. It is so good
jolly says
Wonderful recipe! Just wondering where to add the tomatoes. Doesn’t show up in the directions. thanks for sharing this with us.
Michael Lagana says
Really Good
LyubaB says
Thanks, Michael!
Denise Lock says
Love it and thanks for sharing. Easy to make and all my friends loved it too
LyubaB says
I am so happy you liked it, Denise!
Krafthy says
Every year I try making soup from the turkey carcass. Some years they’re good, and some blah. Well…gotta tell everyone that this was the BEST leftover turkey soup I’ve ever made! This recipe will be my yearly go-to!
I didn’t have spinach or carrots in the house, so I used corn and peas. Still delicious, although next year I’ll make sure I have the spinach and carrots.
Thank you for the awesome recipe!
LyubaB says
That makes me so happy! I am so glad you liked it!
Tiffany says
I made this today. It was delicious! My entire family loved it! Thanks for sharing. I will definitely make this again!
LyubaB says
Hi, Tiffany! Thanks for letting me know you loved it, made my day! 🙂
Rosalyn Gallant says
Wonderful recipe! Just wondering where to add the tomatoes. Doesn’t show up in the directions
Thanks.
lyuba says
Oh, I”m so sorry, Rosalyn! I will fix that. You’d add it after the onions and carrots have softened.
Liz says
Oooh, even my picky daughter will love this!! A delicious alternative to my usual leftover turkey recipes!
lyuba says
Thank you, Liz! I hope you all enjoy the soup 🙂
Ashley @ Wishes & Dishes says
My turkey leftovers will definitely be used for this! Yum!
lyuba says
I hope you enjoy it, Ashley 🙂
Linda says
Looks yummy! I will be trying this next weekend. 😊
lyuba says
I hope you like it, Linda! It’s very comforting 🙂