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Cozy Leftover Turkey and Wild Rice Soup: Easy & Best

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This cozy leftover turkey and wild rice soup is a hearty, comforting dish made with simple ingredients. It’s perfect for using up holiday leftovers and comes together in under an hour.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 2 large carrots, peeled and diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (plus more to taste)
  • 6 cups low-sodium chicken or turkey broth
  • 1 cup wild rice
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 3 cups cooked leftover turkey, shredded or diced
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
  • Optional: 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Instructions

  1. Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion, carrots, and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are translucent and the carrots begin to soften—about 8 minutes. Add the minced garlic, dried thyme, dried rosemary, salt, and pepper. Cook for another minute until the garlic is fragrant.
  2. Add the wild rice to the pot and stir it into the vegetables. Let it toast for about 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
  3. Pour in the 6 cups of broth, scraping the bottom of the pot to release any browned bits. Drop in the bay leaf. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to low and cover the pot with a lid. Let it simmer gently for 40-45 minutes, or until the wild rice is tender and has started to split open.
  4. Once the rice is tender, stir in the shredded leftover turkey. Let it cook for 5 minutes to warm through.
  5. Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the heavy cream and the optional lemon juice. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper. Remove the bay leaf and discard it.
  6. Ladle the soup into bowls and top with fresh chopped parsley. Serve immediately.

Notes

For a dairy-free version, swap the heavy cream for full-fat coconut milk. To freeze, omit the cream and add it when reheating. The soup tastes even better the next day.

Nutrition

Keywords: leftover turkey soup, wild rice soup, turkey and wild rice soup, cozy soup, easy soup recipe

Find it online: https://fizzlefork.com/cozy-leftover-turkey-and-wild-rice-soup-easy-and-best/