Turkey Curry Soup Recipe (Spicy Turkey Soup!)

Need to use up your leftover Thanksgiving turkey? Make this Turkey Curry Soup! It’s ready in about an hour and is so easy to make and has so much flavor! Read on to learn how to make this Curried Turkey Soup and how to freeze it!

Creating This Turkey Curry Soup Recipe

If you haven’t already used up all of your Thanksgiving turkey leftovers, I highly recommend this Sweet and Spicy Turkey Curry Soup with Wild Rice.

Instead of making turkey sandwiches with all your leftover roast turkey for the next week, try this easy recipe for Curried Turkey Soup.

This spicy turkey soup recipe is a great way to use up leftover turkey without feeling like it’s the same Thanksgiving meal, just presented in a different way.

The turkey curry flavor is unique, exciting, and bold. It’s full of vegetables (and a bit of fruit!).

And this curry turkey soup is a filling meal without being calorie laden for those looking to watch their calorie intake until the next in the line of holiday meals.

Soups are a great way to eat healthy without sacrificing flavor or the feeling of satiation!

read more: What to Do with Leftover Turkey

Tools Needed to Make this Curried Turkey Soup Recipe

These kitchen tools will be helpful to have on hand when preparing this spicy turkey soup:

• Sharp Knife and Cutting Board – a chef knife or santoku knife works best for chopping the veggies.
• Vegetable Peeler – to peel the carrot.
• Measuring Spoons and Cups – to measure the spices and other ingredients.
• Wooden Spoon or Spatula – for sautéing the veggies.
• Large Pot – a heavy pot works best for cooking this spicy soup. I like cast iron because I can also use it to cook the vegetables and dirty fewer pans.

Ingredients in Turkey Curry Soup

To make the turkey soup with leftover turkey, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• Wild Rice
• Carrots
• Celery
• Yellow Onion
• Garlic Cloves
• Fresh Ginger
• Olive Oil
• Allspice
• Yellow Curry Powder
• Cayenne Pepper
• Black Pepper
• Sea Salt
• Brown Sugar
• Turkey Stock
• Bay Leaves
• Shredded or Cubed Turkey
• Sweet Potato Puree
• Half and Half
• Apple

For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.

Can Pumpkin Puree Be Used in Turkey Curry Soup?

Yes, you may use canned or homemade pumpkin puree in place of the sweet potato puree called for in this recipe.

Will this Recipe Work with Chicken Instead of Turkey?

Yes! This recipe is a great use for leftover roasted chicken, too. You can definitely use chicken and/or chicken stock in place of turkey when you make this easy soup recipe.

If using chicken, you won’t have to wait around for another Thanksgiving dinner to have leftover turkey to make this recipe and you’ll be able to enjoy it as a weeknight dinner anytime!

For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.

How to Make Turkey Curry Soup

This is such an easy turkey soup recipe. It takes about an hour to make, and it’s delicious as leftovers!

1. Cook rice according to package instructions (How to Cook Rice in the Instant Pot). Set aside.
2. Heat olive oil in a large dutch oven. When hot, add onions and celery, sauteing until golden and tender.
3. Add salt, pepper, allspice, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, curry and cayenne (I only use a couple dashes). Saute until fragrant.
4. Deglaze the pan with 1/2 cup chicken broth, scraping any browned bits from the bottom. Stir the remaining broth in with the sweet potato puree.
5. Add the carrots, bay leaf, and turkey.
6. Bring soup to a boil, then turn heat to low and simmer until vegetables reach desired tenderness.
7. Stir in the half and half.
8. To serve, place a scoop of rice in a bowl, ladle soup on top, and sprinkle with diced apple.

The above is simply a quick summary of this recipe. Check out the full recipe in the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the detailed instructions.

Storage Instructions

Let the yellow curry soup cool to room temperature, then store in the fridge in an airtight container. It will last up to five days.

How to Freeze this Curried Turkey Soup

Leftover soup can also be frozen for up to three months. When ready to eat, reheat from frozen on the stovetop or thaw overnight in the fridge first.

I don’t recommend freezing this soup with the rice in it because the wild rice will become mushy once thawed after freezing.

If you would like to freeze this recipe, it is best to cook the rice at a later date when you plan to eat the soup. The best way to freeze this curried turkey soup is:

1. Prepare the easy turkey curry soup minus the rice portion and freeze it that way.
2. Then, prepare and add the rice to the turkey mixture just before serving.

Here is more information on How to Freeze Soup.

Tips for Making Leftover Turkey Soup

• When you take the time to make a batch of homemade turkey stock with your leftover turkey carcass, this recipe for curried turkey soup is really over the top good.
• For extra flavorful wild rice, cook the rice in turkey stock or chicken stock rather than water!
• If you are really watching your calories, feel free to use fat-free half and half or whole milk instead of regular half and half. It will be less rich, however.
• Dairy-free? Try substituting regular coconut milk (the canned variety) for the half and half. Don’t use lite coconut milk.
• No turkey? Just use chicken instead.
• To make sweet potato puree, I steam the potatoes until tender and then puree in a small food processor. Add some of the soup liquid, if necessary, to thin for a smooth puree.

What Readers Are Saying about this Curried Turkey Soup

“Absolutely delicious!!! It definitely hit the spot and a great use of the turkey. I used pumpkin puree instead due to having it left over 3/4 cup and the flavors were just as nice. I chopped up everything a little finer than picture. A definite keeper for the future.” — Alicia

“I just made this soup and it is excellent. I used a can of coconut milk instead of half and half. Delicious! Thanks!” — Ellen

“My turkey was sitting and sitting and sitting forever in the fridge, because I just couldn’t bring myself to have another dinner of Thanksgiving leftovers. When I made this soup, those turkey leftovers disappeared immediately.” — Erin

“Made this tonight for dinner with leftover turkey and turkey broth. Very good. I didn’t have any wild rice so we had it over mashed potatoes – not anywhere near as healthy, but yummy!” — Amy

Try this Curried Leftover Turkey Soup Recipe!

Next time you’re looking for a unique way to use up your leftover turkey meat, give this Curried Turkey Soup a try!

Did you think it was perfect for holiday leftovers? Leave a comment below and give it a review for others to see what you thought of this delicious dish.

On Instagram? Share your photo and tag me with @goodlifeeats and #goodlifeeatsrecipes. I’d love to see your photo of this spicy turkey soup!

More Leftover Turkey Recipes:

In addition to this leftover turkey soup, here are a few more recipes using Thanksgiving turkey that we love!

Green Chile Turkey Tetrazzini takes this traditional Thanksgiving turkey leftover recipe to the next level. This turkey casserole is loaded with flavor thanks to the addition of green chiles, poblano peppers, and spicy pepper jack cheese.

Pumpkin and Turkey Black Bean Chili is a great fall chili recipe with tons of flavor. Even better, it’s super easy to make!

Nothing beats a Thanksgiving Leftover Sandwich the day after Thanksgiving! We like to use sweet potato rolls as the base, but any bread will work.

This recipe for Turkey Vegetable Soup is the perfect way to use up leftover Thanksgiving turkey. This version of the classic Turkey Soup is loaded with vegetables, noodles, and plenty of flavor thanks to fresh thyme and parmesan!

Chicken Pot Pie with Buttermilk Biscuit Crust is comfort food and its finest! Creamy chicken filling is topped with tender buttermilk biscuits. Feel free to sub turkey for the chicken!

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