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Creamy Turkey Soup with Quinoa

5
/5
45 mins
9 Comments
Jump to Recipe
By: Rachel GurkPosted: 11/23/2015Updated: 06/15/2021

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

This Creamy Turkey Soup with Quinoa is easy to make and is a healthy and hearty way to repurpose leftover turkey. It tastes great when you make it with chicken too! Get the recipe on RachelCooks.com!

This creamy turkey soup with quinoa is easy to make and is a healthy and hearty way to repurpose leftover turkey or chicken.

Two servings of turkey soup in white bowls with handles, garnished with fresh herbs.

This post is sponsored by Milk Means More.

Turkey time is coming which means leftover turkey time is coming! Leftovers are almost even more amazing than the actual main event on Thanksgiving.

I’m all about a good sandwich but there is something to be said for a comforting, warm bowl of soup. You can snuggle up with a blanket and a mug of soup while everyone else is Black Friday shopping.

I’m not a huge fan of big crowds so I prefer a leisurely relaxed morning. If you are a Black Friday shopper, this soup will be the perfect thing to relax with when you get home. It doesn’t take long to make, and the warm, smooth creamy base will help you relax after battling crowds for that great deal on a TV.

A bowl of soup garnished with fresh parsley on wooden cutting board.

About this Creamy Turkey Soup with Quinoa

This soup comes together quickly – all you have to do is dice some vegetables, mince some herbs, and stand over a nice warm stove for a little while. The quinoa cooks right in the soup so you only need to make one pan dirty. It’s great leftover too. Leftovers of leftovers – less cooking for you!

Closeup of soup in bowl.

PS: If you don’t have leftover turkey for this creamy turkey soup with quinoa, it works great with chicken too. Maybe if you have some frozen cooked chicken breasts? Or make it with a rotisserie chicken too – it’s perfect!

Overhead of soup in bowl with parsley.

More soup recipes

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  • Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Soup
  • Copycat Panera Squash Soup
  • Chicken Tortellini Soup with Kale and Pesto
  • Red Lentil Soup Recipe
  • Creamy Tomato Soup with Whole Wheat Orzo
  • Roasted Cauliflower Soup with Orzo
  • 20 Minute Turkey, Bean and Spinach Soup

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

A serving of turkey soup in white bowl with chopped parsley.
Recipe

Get the Recipe: Creamy Turkey Soup with Quinoa

5 from 3 votes
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 45 mins
8 servings
Print Rate Recipe
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This creamy turkey soup with quinoa is easy to make and is a healthy and hearty way to repurpose leftover turkey or chicken.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 large onion, diced (a heaping cup)
  • 2 cups chopped celery
  • 2 cups chopped carrots
  • 6 cups diced leftover turkey
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley
  • 3 large fresh sage leaves (2 teaspoons minced)
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 4 cups no salt added chicken stock
  • 3 cups water
  • 3/4 cup uncooked quinoa
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • milk or water as necessary to thin soup

Instructions

  • In a large pot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion, celery, and carrot. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until onions are translucent (about 5 minutes). Add turkey, parsley, sage, thyme, chicken stock, and water. Raise heat to high and bring to a boil.
  • Once boiling, add quinoa and stir. Reduce heat to medium and continue to simmer rapidly until quinoa is cooked – 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. You should see “tails” appear on the quinoa.
  • Remove from heat and slowly add milk while stirring soup. Return to low heat to reheat if needed. If desired, use more milk or water to achieve a thinner soup. We love it thick!

Notes

  • Use chicken instead of turkey, if desired.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1of 8, Calories: 348kcal, Carbohydrates: 21g, Protein: 37g, Fat: 12g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g, Cholesterol: 124mg, Sodium: 471mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 4g

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

© Author: Rachel Gurk
Did You Make This?Be sure to upload a photo & tag me at @RachelCooksBlog. I love seeing what you made!
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**Disclosure: I am thrilled to be a dairy ambassador for Milk Means More.  I have been compensated by Milk Means More for my time to develop this recipe and write this post. All opinions are as always, my own. Find out more about why Milk Means More on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Pinterest.
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  1. Verna Buchanan says

    November 30, 2019 at 9:26 am

    Thank you for this delicious sounding soup! Definitely making it as soon as I get the quinoa! Hope your holiday wad great. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      December 1, 2019 at 2:45 pm

      I hope you love it!

      Reply
  2. Monique @ Ambitious Kitchen says

    November 30, 2015 at 11:05 am

    Love how easy this soup looks. And how creamy is it too. It reminds me of Minnesota comfort food. :)

    Reply
  3. Nicole says

    November 27, 2015 at 10:36 pm

    Yum! This looks perfect for my leftover turkey taking up all the room in my fridge!

    Reply
  4. Auntiepatch says

    November 27, 2015 at 4:28 pm

    I love turkey leftovers! We out for Thanksgiving and later in the week buy and cook our own turkey. Best of both worlds.

    Reply
  5. fabiola@notjustbaked says

    November 24, 2015 at 7:59 pm

    This soup simply makes me happy. Leftovers are my most favorite part of Thanksgiving! So making this.

    Reply
  6. naomi says

    November 24, 2015 at 11:17 am

    I love this so much – healthy and creamy – perfect for soup season!

    Reply
  7. Aggie @ Aggie's Kitchen says

    November 23, 2015 at 5:53 pm

    I was starting to panic that my turkey wasn’t big enough this year because I love turkey leftovers so much! So I bought an extra turkey breast just in case. :) This soup looks so delicious, love the addition of quinoa!

    Reply
  8. Bethany @ Athletic Avocado says

    November 23, 2015 at 12:42 pm

    My parents always buy a huge turkey that could feed a small army and we always have tons of leftovers!! Id love to make this delicious soup with the leftovers!

    Reply

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