There is a chilly wind blowing. And I am having some chills too. The combination of colder weather blowing in and not feeling so good makes me want a hot and comforting meal. It has been a whirlwind of a week catching up from being out of town. I very much needed to feel better to tackle the to-do list. I knew exactly what to make – homemade turkey noodle soup.
I had a turkey carcass in the freezer. All I needed was some turkey necks and vegetables to make the stock. I think homemade stock is a magical elixir that makes you feel better. At least it works for me. It replenishes the body and soul. The flavor is above and beyond any broth or stock from the store. Another one of my favorite recipes with stock is chicken and dumplings. Remember to keep your turkey carcass (bones) when you cook a turkey. Put it in the freezer so you can make stock with it later.
The rest of the soup is easy once the stock is done. Not that making the stock is difficult either. Basically all you have to do is put the ingredients in a pot, let it simmer, strain, and it is done. Then add noodles and chopped cooked turkey. A little later you have a bowl of rich, flavorful soup. It shows that only a few ingredients can come together and make something incredible.
Turkey noodle soup is perfect for today’s Sunday Supper event. Our host, Susan from The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen, asked the team to highlight soul warming dishes. Check out these wonderful recipes:
Main Entrees:
- Carrot, Parsnip and Lentil Casserole – Happy Baking Days
- Chicken with Herbed Dumplings – Bobbi’s Kozy Kitchen
- Chicken pot pie – Gotta Get Baked
- Cholula Chicken Enchiladas – Kwistin’s Favorites
- Eggplant Parmesan – The Hand That Rocks The Ladle
- Roasted Roots and Fruits with Sausage – Shockingly Delicious
Chili/Stews:
- Beer-Braised Beef – Sustainable Dad
- Bigos {Authentic Polish Hunter’s Stew} – From Fast Food to Fresh Food
- Brunswick Stew and Rice – Big Bear’s Wife
- Calico Beans – Home Cooking Memories
- Carbonnade Flamande – The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
- Chicken Cacciatore {Hunter Style Stew} with Easy Creamy Polenta –Webicurean
- Chicken & Mushroom Stew On Egg Noodles – Galactosemia in PDX
- Cowboy Beef Stew – Comfy Cuisine
- Ham and String Beans – Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Hearty Moose Meatball Stew – Mrs. Mama Hen
- Jalapeno Popper Chicken Chili – Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Lentil and Chorizo Stew – Vintage Kitchen Notes
- Seafood Gumbo and Soul Warming #SundaySupper Wine Pairings – ENOFYLZ Wine Blog
- Soul Warming Hearty Beef Stew – In The Kitchen With KP
Soups:
- 30 Minute Black Bean Soup – Supper for a Steal
- Black Bean Soup – Basic and Delicious
- Black Bean Soup with Hot Roast Pepper Cream – The Lovely Pantry
- Canadian Beer Cheese Soup – Juanita’s Cocina
- Chicken Soup with Dumplings – The Messy Baker
- Chicken Tortilla Soup – Dinners, Dishes and Desserts
- Coconut Curry Chicken Soup – Damn Delicious
- Easy Chicken and Dumplings – My Catholic Kitchen
- Easy Italian Wedding Soup – Family Foodie
- Easy Wonton Soup – Soni’s Food
- French Onion Soup – Momma’s Meals
- Homestyle Chicken and Dumplings – I Run For Wine
- Lasagna Soup – Cravings of a Lunatic
- Lemon Chicken Noodle Soup – Mangiamo
- Lentil and Bacon Soup – Small Wallet, Big Appetite
- Lentil Soup with Spinach – Mama’s Blissful Bites
- Peppery Mulligatawny Soup with Cherry Tomatoes & Cilantro – Sue’s Nutrition Buzz
- Pozolillo Verde {Green Chicken & Corn Pozole} – La Cocina de Leslie
- Red Lentil Soup with Crispy Aromatic Coriander – Chattering Kitchen
- Roasted Jalapeno Soup – Chocolate Moosey
- Rule of Thirds Soup – What Smells So Good?
- Seafood Chowder – Noshing with the Nolands
- Spanish Garlic Soup – Pippi’s In The Kitchen Again
- Spicy Gumbo Z’herbes – Pescetarian Journal
- Spicy Korean Brisket Soup {Yukgaejang} – Crispy Bits & Burnt Ends
- Spicy Seafood Noodle Soup {Jjamppong} – Kimchi Mom
- Spicy Udon Noodle Soup – My Trials In The Kitchen
- Turkey Noodle Soup – Magnolia Days
- Tuscan Bean Soup – The Wimpy Vegetarian
- Twisted Chicken Noodle Soup – The Meltaways
- Warm You Up Spicy Bacon Cheeseburger Soup – Daily Dish Recipes
Desserts/Beverages:
- Hot Fudge Pudding Cake – That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- White Hot Chocolate with Orange – GirliChef
How do you warm your soul? Is it with food, volunteering, or spending time with family and friends? I’ll make my turkey noodle soup and share it with family and friends. The whole thing warms my soul from cooking, eating, and seeing how much they enjoy the meal.
Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter each Sunday. We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET and you do not want to miss out on the fun. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. Check our our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more fabulous recipes and food photos.

Turkey Noodle Soup
Ingredients
- 1 turkey carcass * bones from cooked turkey
- 3 to 4 raw turkey necks
- 3 celery stalks cut into 2-inch pieces
- 3 carrots cut into 2-inch pieces
- 1 onion peeled & sliced into thick rings
- 1 whole garlic bulb top sliced off
- 5 sprigs fresh thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 10 whole peppercorns
- 3 quarts water
- Chopped cooked turkey**
- Egg noodles**
Instructions
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Place turkey carcass, necks, celery, carrots, onion, garlic, thyme, bay leaves, salt, peppercorns, and water in a large soup pot or dutch oven. Make sure water covers all the ingredients. Bring just to a boil but do not let it get to a rolling boil. Turn the heat to low and simmer loosely covered for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Skim off any foam that forms on the surface.
-
Taste the stock and cook longer if a more concentrated flavor is desired.
-
Remove and discard turkey carcass and necks. Set a strainer in a very large bowl and pour remaining contents into the strainer. Discard cooked vegetables, herbs, and spices. Wipe out and clean the cooking pot. Skim off any clear fat on top of the stock by using a large spoon or with a gravy separator. Discard fat.
-
Return stock to the pot by pouring it through a strainer lined with a cheesecloth. Bring the stock back to a boil. Add the chopped turkey and noodles.**
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Cook until noodles are done. Taste and add salt and/or pepper if needed. Serve hot.
Recipe Notes
*You can make the stock without the turkey carcass by using 1 or 2 more turkey necks. **The amount of stock, chopped turkey, and noodles you use depends on the amount of soup you want to make. You can freeze a portion of the stock for later use.
Lyn @LovelyPantry says
Turkey neck is quite the delicacy. I have yet to try it out but i’m thinking i will. Loving the ingredients, Renee! Simple yet flavourful! I would strain soup too. I have a thing about consistency. I enjoy a smooth soup – just like this! Happy Sunday Supper!
Renee says
I strain it twice to get it nice and clear. Not allowing it to come to a hard boil helps also. I think it makes a difference.
Paula @ Vintage Kitchen says
Homemade stock is just a great thing to have on hand. Kudos for making your own! this soup if perfect for cold weather and being under the weather too. Happy Sunday!
Renee says
Thanks Paula! I love to make homemade stocks. They certainly are much better than store bought.
veronica gantley says
You should have saved this one for turkey leftovers! Thats what I am bookmarking it for. Yum!
Renee says
I’ll be away and will not be able to participate in the Thanksgiving leftovers event. That’s one of the reasons I wanted to share it today so folks would have it before Thanksgiving.
Family Foodie says
I love that you shared this recipe this month! I can’t wait to try it after Thanksgiving! I bet the brought is just amazing.
Renee says
Yes, the broth is rich and full of flavor. It really warms the soul. I hope you do make it after Thanksgiving.
Patti says
Perfect for after the Holidays!
Faye Leong says
Homemade stock is the best! Love the idea to freeze some of them for later use, great idea, thanks for sharing!
Renee says
I always make sure I have enough to freeze for later. It is really handy when I don’t have the time to make a new batch.
Ian Dixon says
Now this takes patience and makes for messy fingers too!
There will be plenty of Turkey left on the carcass that either comes off into the stock or needs a little encouragement.
My mother did this approach with the roast chicken from Sunday because it gave enough for Chicken Stew on Monday
Renee says
Yes, it does take a little patience to wait while it is simmering. Well worth it too.
Momma's Meals says
I love love love turkey soup! I have to get over the fear of bones and make my own broth one of these days! Thanks for sharing.
Renee says
Fear of bones? Yes, you have to conquer that fear and make some stock for sure.
Heather @girlichef says
Yum, yum, yum – pure soul-warming comfort food in my book! I need to make a batch of turkey stock here in the next week or so to have ready for turkey day!!
Renee says
It absolutely warms my soul. I have some of the stock in my freezer so I can use it for turkey day.
Lane @ Supper for a Steal says
Sounds like a great way to use up Thanksgiving turkey. I’m going to be making some turkey stock this week. Will have to keep in mind.
Renee says
Great idea to make turkey stock in advance of Thanksgiving. It would be great to cook with it for the feast.
Katy says
You are so right, homemade stock is a wonderful thing. This dish sounds beautiful!
Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen says
What a great after Thanksgiving recipe!!! Pinning!!!
Renee says
Thanks! Perfect use for the leftover Thanksgiving turkey.
Karen Hartzell says
Sign of a true soup cook…having a turkey carcass in the freezer. LOL I would eat up that bowl of warm noodles and turkey in a minute! YUM!
Renee says
Yep, save the bones! Turkey, ham, chicken…they all make great stocks.
Beate says
Thank you so much for posting this recipe, Renee. My husband always wants to keep the turkey carcass after Thanksgiving and until now I just did not know how to use it 🙂 Again, thank you!
Renee says
It is the best use of a turkey carcass. The bones make a wonderful rich stock.
Jen @ Juanita's Cocina says
I’ve been drooling over this since I saw your teaser photo! There’s nothing better than a simple noodle soup. Mmmmmm!
Renee says
Thanks Jen! I love a simple soup too, especially when it has a rich broth.
Liz says
Perfect elixir for when you’re ailing…feel better soon, Renee!
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says
Mmmmm what a wonderful, warm, delicioussssss soup!
Tara Noland says
Yummy, nothing better than making a homemade soup with your turkey leftovers. I love that!! I whole process is soul warming!!
Tara Noland says
Typo in this one.
Tara Noland says
Yummy, nothing better than making a homemade soup with your turkey leftovers. I love that!! The whole process is soul warming!!
Soni says
Oooh love the homemade stock with so much flavor going on.The soup must taste so delicious 🙂 Bookmarking this one 🙂
Alaiyo says
Hey! I’m posting again because I’m not sure if my first post went through. I was saying how much I like the abundance of noodles and that my son would love this dish because he loves turkey.
chattering kitchen says
The flavors are so bold when using freshly made stock. Sounds so delicious
The Wimpy Vegetarian says
What a wonderful soup! and your photo is really lovely!
Megan @IRun4Wine says
I am sure you have heard this from every comment above, this is a perfect Thanksgiving leftover recipe. You can never have too many of those!
Chris Baccus says
Another great use for everyone’s upcoming leftover turkey.
Sarah says
Simple and delicious… a perfect comfort food
Sarah says
I totally agree with you about making home made stock. I don’t think it’s too difficult to make. And it makes it that much better. Your turkey noodle soup should be on an ad for cold medicine or soup can. It looks so comforting.
Susan says
Thank you for sharing this now! We all need a good turkey noodle soup recipe before Thanksgiving!
Carla says
Oh I think someone was playing with the aperture (or at least it looks like it on my phone haha). Great job! Now I want a bowl after being outside for work in the cold. Brr!
Renee says
Oh yes, I’m playing with aperture, white balance, and more – thanks to you and your wonderful photography tutorials.
Cindys Recipes says
Simple, easy and delicious soup!
Laura Hunter says
I think a lot of people forget about making stock from the turkey carcass after Thanksgiving. It is such a great way to get the most out of your bird and it is wonderful to have on hand for a variety of dishes, soup being one of them. Thanks for the great reminder.
Renee says
So true that too many people throw away the turkey carcass. It is valuable for stocks and makes for the best flavor.