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This Instant Pot Turkey Soup doesn’t take too much time to prepare and will give you a hearty and delicious dinner or lunch.
This homemade turkey soup recipe is great for using leftovers and it is super flavorful. It is one of my favorite instant pot soup recipes around this time of year because it is easy to throw together, and it’s a light but hearty meal after all the holiday feasting. Another one of my favorites is my Instant Pot Lentil Soup with Vegetables, for a warming winter soup.
Pressure cooker turkey soup is easy because it is hands-off and low on cooking time, great for leftover turkey meat, but it can also be substituted for chicken if you prefer. With this recipe, you have the option to use your pressure cooker or slow cooker, depending on which you prefer.
Instant Pot Turkey Soup will become a quick favorite in your household!
Why this recipe is so good
- It is quick and easy to make
- It makes a hearty soup but isn’t too heavy
- Lots of flavor, the best way to use up your leftovers
- Easy to customize and make substitutions
Ingredient Notes
Here is an overview of the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe. Scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom for quantities.
- Leftover Turkey – This recipe is great to use up your leftover turkey, but it also works well with leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken too.
- Turkey Stock – Homemade turkey stock is my preference, but you can substitute chicken stock if you would like.
- Pasta – Small shell pasta works great in this soup, but you can use any type of pasta you prefer. Egg noodles are the traditional type of noodles, but you can really use any type of pasta you would like.
- Herbs – Fresh herbs will taste best in this soup and give it all that delicious flavor and depth. Rosemary, thyme, parsley, bay leaf and garlic all add so much depth of flavor to this soup.
How to make this recipe
Detailed measurements and instructions can be found at the bottom of the page on the printable recipe card.
- Prep: Chop the vegetables, herbs and leftover turkey.
- Combine: Press sauté on the instant pot, add oil, sauté onions (2-3 minutes). Then add celery and carrot, and sauté for 2 more minutes.
- Mix: Add stock and all the seasonings.
- Cook: Put the lid on, select high pressure, and cook for 5 minutes. Let pressure release naturally for 5–10 minutes, then quick release. Turn to sauté, add turkey and pasta. Simmer until al dente, 5–10 minutes.
- Finish and serve: Turn instant pot off, remove bay leaves, season to taste and serve.
Expert Tips
- Instant Pot: Using an instant pot is really simple, and it makes the soup more flavorful
- Pressure Cooker: If you prefer to not use the pressure cooker step of this recipe, put the ingredients on the stove top and cook for 15 minutes and then add the pasta
- Slow Cooker: If you would like to use the slow cooker, just put all the ingredients in except the pasta. Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3 hours, or until carrots are tender. Add pasta and cook 10–20 minutes longer on high until pasta is al dente.
- Noodles: If you want to serve the noodles on the side, just use only 4 cups of stock in the soup and cook the noodles separately
Recipe FAQs
There are many benefits to making soup in an instant pot. In a short amount of time, you can make a soup that’s loaded with flavor. It’s a great way to use your leftovers!
For this recipe, you can easily substitute chicken stock. If you would like to make your own turkey stock, you can do so with the leftover parts of the turkey such as the backbone from a spatchcock turkey, wings, and neck.
I like to add fresh herbs such as parsley, thyme, and rosemary as well as fresh garlic. Along with the vegetables that go into this recipe, salt and pepper add to all the flavors nicely!
What to serve with Instant Pot Turkey Soup
I like to serve some nice fresh white bread to dip in this soup. It also goes great with a delicious side salad to make a cozy and healthy meal. For example, this Pomegranate Pear Salad tastes great with this soup.
Leftovers
If you have leftover soup, you can refrigerate it in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days if it is stored properly. Simply reheat when you are ready to finish this delicious soup.
Freezing
It is possible to freeze this soup if necessary. Put the cooled leftovers in an airtight freezer-safe container, and you can freeze it for up to 3 months. When you are ready to eat it, thaw it overnight in the fridge and then reheat.
More warming soup recipes to try
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Instant Pot Turkey Soup
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- ½ medium onion, finely diced
- 2 large carrots, peeled and sliced
- 2 ribs celery, sliced
- 6 cups turkey stock, or chicken stock
- 1 bay leaves
- ½ tsp salt, to taste
- ½ tsp minced garlic, (optional)
- 1 tsp fresh parsley, plus more for garnish
- ½ tsp fresh thyme
- ½ tsp fresh rosemary
- ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 2 cups leftover turkey, chopped
- 1 ½ cups dry small shell pasta
Instructions
- Press sauté, add oil, sauté onion (2-3 minutes). Add celery and carrot, sauté for 2 more minutes.
- Add stock and all the seasonings.
- Put lid on, select high pressure, and cook for 5 minutes.
- Let pressure release naturally for 5–10 minutes, then quick release.
- Turn to sauté, add turkey and pasta. Simmer until al dente, 5–10 minutes.
- Turn off, remove bay leaves, season to taste, serve.
Notes
- Instant Pot: Using an instant pot is really simple, and it makes the soup more flavorful
- Pressure Cooker: If you prefer to not use the pressure cooker step of this recipe, put the ingredients on the stove top and cook for 15 minutes and then add the pasta
- Slow Cooker: If you would like to use the slow cooker, just put all the ingredients in except the pasta. Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3 hours, or until carrots are tender. Add pasta and cook 10–20 minutes longer on high until pasta is al dente.
- Noodles: If you want to serve the noodles on the side, just use only 4 cups of stock in the soup and cook the noodles separately
- Leftovers: If you have leftover soup, you can refrigerate it in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days if it is stored properly. Simply reheat when you are ready to finish this delicious soup.
