Turkey Tortilla Soup is a hearty, satisfying, and flavorful soup to make with leftover turkey meat from Thanksgiving.

For more leftover recipes, check out mashed potato cakes, turkey chili, and cranberry coffee cake.

turkey tortilla soup in a bowl topped with avocado and crushed tortillas. this recipe
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Reasons to Love This Recipe

If you’re looking for a delicious and easy way to use up leftover turkey, this tortilla soup recipe is a great option. 

  • Complex Flavor: We use a combination of onions, spices, and chiles to give the soup a complex, rounded flavor. Pair it with these cheese popovers. 
  • Quick and Easy: Ready in just about 30 minutes, making a great way to use up leftover roasted Thanksgiving turkey or turkey breast. 
  • Customizable: This recipe is highly customizable, so you can adjust the ingredients to suit your tastes. 

Ingredients

Overview of ingredients for leftover turkey tortilla soup.
  • Leftover turkey: You can use leftover turkey from Thanksgiving or roast a bone-in turkey breast specifically for this recipe. Meat from roasted whole chicken works too!
  • Chicken broth: If possible get sodium-free broth or make it at home yourself.
  • Onions and garlic: These vegetables are highly aromatic and flavorful.
  • Canned tomatoes and chiles: Fire-roasted tomatoes and smoky chilies add depth and complexity to the soup.
  • Black beans and corn: Be sure to drain and rinse these vegetables.
  • Spices: Spices add a warm, earthy flavor to the soup.
  • Cilantro: Fresh cilantro adds a bright, herbaceous flavor to the soup.
  • Lime juice: A squeeze of fresh lime juice goes a long way in balancing the flavors. 

Substitutions and Variations

  • Cooked turkey: If you don’t have leftover turkey, you can use shredded rotisserie chicken or cooked ground turkey instead. You can also make this soup vegetarian by omitting the meat and using vegetable broth instead of chicken broth. 
  • Chicken broth: You can use turkey or vegetable broth instead if you’d prefer. 
  • Beans: Pinto or kidney beans also work for this soup. 
  • Corn: Try using hominy for a fun substitution (or addition). 
  • Spicy: For a spicier soup, add a diced jalapeño pepper or a pinch of cayenne pepper. If you prefer a milder soup, omit the chili powder and cumin.

Making Tortilla Soup from Leftovers

First, heat olive oil in a dutch oven over medium heat. Add onions and cook until soft, 3-5 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant.

step by step on how to make leftover turkey tortilla soup

Next, add tomatoes, beans, chiles, corn, chili powder, oregano, stock, and water. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes. The soup will reduce slightly.

tortilla soup in a soup pot

Lastly, stir in leftover turkey meat, cilantro, and lime juice and cook until heated through.

tortilla soup from leftovers

Expert Recipe Tips

To make the perfect Turkey Tortilla Soup, here are some expert recipe tips that you can follow:

  • Use leftover turkey: This recipe is a great way to use up all those small bits of leftover turkey. You can also slice into chunks. If you don’t have any leftover turkey, you can use chicken instead.
  • Make your own broth: Homemade chicken or turkey broth will add extra flavor to your soup. You can make your own broth by simmering chicken or turkey bones with vegetables and herbs.
  • Use fresh ingredients: Fresh ingredients like onions, garlic, and cilantro will add a lot of flavor to your soup. Make sure to chop them finely before adding them to the soup.
  • Add spices: Spices like cumin, oregano, and chipotle pepper will add a lot of depth to your soup. Use them sparingly and adjust them to your taste.

Tortilla Soup Toppings

This tortilla soup is delicious topped with crushed tortilla chips and avocado but you can certainly customize the toppings to suit your taste. Here are a few of our favorites:

  • Tortilla chips
  • Chopped avocado
  • Cilantro
  • Lime wedges
  • Shredded cheese
  • Sliced green onions
close up leftover turkey tortilla soup recipe.

Storage Instructions

If you plan to eat your soup within the next few days, you can store it in the refrigerator. Allow the soup to cool down to room temperature before transferring it to an airtight container. Make sure the container is tightly sealed to prevent any air from getting in.

You can store turkey soup in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. When you are ready to eat it, simply reheat it on the stove or in the microwave until it reaches your desired temperature.

To freeze the soup, allow it to cool down to room temperature before transferring it to a freezer-safe container. Be sure to leave some room at the top of the container, as the soup will expand as it freezes.

You can store this soup in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you are ready to eat it, thaw the soup in the refrigerator overnight and then reheat it on the stove or in the microwave until it reaches your desired temperature.

Recipe FAQs

Can I use chicken instead of turkey for this soup?

Yes, you can use chicken instead of turkey for this soup. The recipe will still work and taste great. Just use cooked chicken in place of the turkey in the recipe. You can use leftover chicken or cook some chicken breasts or thighs specifically for the soup.

Can I use turkey stock instead of chicken stock?

Yes, you can use turkey stock instead of chicken stock. The stock gives the soup its flavor, so using turkey stock will give the soup a richer, more intense flavor. If you don’t have turkey stock, you can use chicken stock or even vegetable stock.

What sides go good with turkey tortilla soup?

There are many sides that go well with this soup including cornbread, avocados, salad, or chips and salsa.

More Leftover Recipes

Turkey Cuban Sandwich

Leftover Turkey Chili

Leftover Mashed Potato Cakes

Cranberry Coffee Cake

If you try Turkey Tortilla Soup, please leave a star rating and let me know how you like the recipe in the comments below.

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turkey tortilla soup recipe

Turkey Tortilla Soup

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 3 reviews
  • Author: Katya
  • Prep Time: 10 min
  • Cook Time: 30 min
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 6 1x
  • Category: Soup
  • Method: Simmer
  • Cuisine: Tex-Mex
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Description

Quick and easy way to use up leftover Thanksgiving turkey meat is with this turkey tortilla soup. It’s made with chiles, corn, diced tomatoes, beans, and turkey meat. 

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 small yellow onion, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 (14.5 oz.) can fire-roasted tomatoes
  • 1 (15 oz.) can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 2 (4 oz.) cans diced chiles
  • 1 cup frozen corn
  • 2 tsp. chili powder
  • 1 tsp. dried oregano
  • 4 cups chicken stock
  • 1 cup water
  • 3 cups shredded leftover turkey meat
  • 1 cup fresh chopped cilantro, plus extra for serving
  • 1/2 – 1 lime, juiced
  • Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper
  • To serve: crushed tortilla chips and chopped avocado

Instructions

  1. Heat olive oil in a dutch-oven over medium heat. Add onions and cook until soft, 3-5 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant.
  2. Add tomatoes, beans, chiles, corn, chili powder, oregano, stock, and water. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes. Soup will slightly reduce.
  3. Stir in turkey meat, cilantro, and lime juice and cook until heated through. Serve with tortilla chips and avocado.

Notes

  • Leftovers: Leftover soup will last in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Keep stored in an airtight container.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 395
  • Sugar: 6.9 g
  • Sodium: 775.7 mg
  • Fat: 11.7 g
  • Carbohydrates: 29.1 g
  • Protein: 42.7 g
  • Cholesterol: 119.3 mg