Description
This Easy Turkey Carcass Soup is a comforting, tasty way to utilize leftover turkey carcass by creating rich homemade turkey stock and transforming it into a hearty soup. Perfect as a main course, this American classic combines simmered turkey broth with fresh vegetables, diced turkey meat, and your choice of rice or pasta for a satisfying family meal.
Ingredients
Turkey Stock Ingredients
- 1 turkey carcass, cleaned of skin, fat, and meat
- 1 large white or yellow onion, peeled and quartered
- 3 carrots, quartered
- 3 stalks celery, quartered (include leafy tops if available)
- 2 tablespoons salt
- 10 peppercorns
- 6 bay leaves
- 2-3 sprigs fresh parsley or 2 teaspoons dried parsley
- Water to cover
Turkey Soup Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 cup diced white onion
- 5 large carrots, diced
- 4 stalks celery, diced
- 1 tablespoon poultry seasoning
- 2 ½ cups diced turkey meat
- 9 – 10 cups turkey stock
- Cooked rice or cooked pasta as needed for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the Turkey Carcass: Break the turkey carcass apart at the joints to fit into the stock pot. Remove all skin and fatty parts to reduce grease in the broth.
- Make the Stock: Place carcass pieces into a large stock pot along with quartered onion, carrots, celery stalks, salt, peppercorns, bay leaves, and parsley. Add enough water to cover all ingredients completely.
- Simmer the Stock: Bring to a simmer and cook gently for 3-4 hours until the turkey bones start breaking down, meat falls off easily, and broth becomes cloudy and flavorful.
- Strain the Broth: Carefully remove carcass pieces and set aside any meat. Strain broth through a fine mesh strainer into another pot to remove solids and debris, leaving clear turkey stock.
- Prepare Vegetables: In your soup pot, melt butter over medium heat. Sauté diced onions until soft, then add diced celery and carrots. Cook for another 4-5 minutes stirring occasionally.
- Season Vegetables: Add poultry seasoning to the vegetables and cook for an additional minute to release flavors.
- Combine Soup Ingredients: Add diced turkey meat, strained turkey stock, and cooked rice or pasta into the pot. Stir well to combine.
- Simmer Soup: Bring mixture to a low simmer and cook until rice or pasta is heated through and vegetables are tender.
- Serve: Ladle the hot turkey carcass soup into bowls and enjoy your hearty, flavorful meal.
Notes
- Use leafy tops of celery if available for enhanced flavor in the broth.
- Remove fatty parts from the carcass to avoid greasy stock.
- You can substitute cooked quinoa or barley for rice or pasta as preferred.
- The soup keeps well refrigerated for up to 3 days and freezes beautifully for up to 3 months.
- Adjust salt at the end if needed since poultry seasoning and stock can contribute to sodium levels.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
