Old-Fashioned Turkey Noodle Soup

Total Time

Prep: 3-1/2 hours + chilling Cook: 45 min.

Makes

10 servings (3-3/4 quarts)

Updated: Oct. 13, 2023
Make the most of leftover turkey with this down-home soup. Creating a broth by roasting the turkey, garlic and vegetables adds richness and depth to the flavor without the need for additional fats. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Ingredients

  • BROTH:
  • 1 leftover turkey carcass (from a 12- to 14-pound turkey)
  • 2 cooked turkey wings, meat removed
  • 2 cooked turkey drumsticks, meat removed
  • 1 turkey neck bone
  • 1 medium unpeeled onion, cut into wedges
  • 2 small unpeeled carrots, cut into chunks
  • 6 to 8 garlic cloves, peeled
  • 4 quarts plus 1 cup cold water, divided
  • SOUP:
  • 3 quarts water
  • 5 cups uncooked egg noodles
  • 2 cups diced carrots
  • 2 cups diced celery
  • 3 cups cubed cooked turkey
  • 1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
  • 2-1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 teaspoons dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon pepper

Directions

  1. Place the turkey carcass, bones from wings and drumsticks, neck bone, onion, carrots and garlic in a 15x10x1-in. baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 1 hour, turning once.
  2. Transfer the carcass, bones and vegetables to an 8-qt. stockpot. Add 4 qts. cold water; set aside. Pour remaining cold water into baking pan, stirring to loosen browned bits. Add to pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 3-4 hours.
  3. Cool slightly. Strain broth; discard bones and vegetables. Set stockpot in an ice-water bath until broth cools, stirring occasionally. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
  4. Skim fat from broth. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer. Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven, bring 3 qts. water to a boil. Add noodles and carrots; cook for 4 minutes. Add celery; cook 5-7 minutes longer or until noodles and vegetables are tender. Drain; add to simmering broth. Add cubed turkey; heat through. Stir in the parsley, salt, thyme and pepper.

Nutrition Facts

1-1/2 cups: 188 calories, 4g fat (1g saturated fat), 66mg cholesterol, 670mg sodium, 17g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 2g fiber), 20g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 lean meat, 1 starch.