Keto Leftover Turkey Soup (Loaded with Vegetables)

Once the feast is over and you have a pile of bones and good meat left to use, this is what I make with it. Keto leftover turkey soup is loaded with vegetables and real turkey stock.

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Save the carcass, do not throw it out. Simmering the bones with a few aromatics gives you a genuinely great homemade stock to build the soup on.

Chef Jenn’s Take on Keto Leftover Turkey Soup

If you have a leftover turkey carcass, save it, do not throw it out. Quarter an onion and add it to the pot along with 2 to 3 cloves of garlic, a carrot, 2 stalks of celery, and a bay leaf. Fill with water and simmer on the lowest heat that will maintain a gentle simmer for about 4 hours, then strain, and you have a genuinely good homemade turkey stock to build the soup on.

Simmer the soup itself uncovered, that helps the flavors condense instead of staying diluted. Sautee the onion and celery first until translucent, about 4 to 5 minutes, then add the carrot, kale, and turkey stock, and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes. Add the turkey and zucchini last, along with the thyme, and simmer just 5 more minutes, enough to heat through without overcooking.

Both white and dark turkey meat work great here, use whatever you have leftover.

Fresh kale is terrific, but frozen works too, or swap in spinach if that’s what’s on hand. To keep this genuinely keto, spinach, turnips, kale, zucchini, radish, celery, and swiss chard are all good additions, just go easy on the carrots and onions.

What You’ll Love About Keto Leftover Turkey Soup

• Freezes beautifully, so leftovers of your leftovers keep well too.
• A genuinely great use for a leftover turkey carcass and the meat still on it.
• Loaded with vegetables and real homemade stock, not a shortcut broth.

Ingredients

• Turkey stock – Homemade from the carcass, or good low-sodium store-bought.
• Onion and celery – Diced.
• Kale– Fresh, frozen, or spinach as a substitute. Remove the tough stem and chop if not using baby kale.
• Zucchini – Diced, added near the end.
• Carrot – Diced. Go easy on this if doing strict keto.
• Leftover turkey – White or dark meat, whatever you have.
• Thyme – Standard pantry staple.
• Pink salt and pepper
• Cooking oil – Or butter.

How to Make Keto Leftover Turkey Soup

Scroll down for the full recipe card with exact measurements and printable instructions.

For the stock: Add the turkey carcass to a large pot with a quartered onion, 2 to 3 cloves of garlic, a carrot, 2 stalks of celery, and a bay leaf. Fill with water and simmer on the lowest heat that will maintain a simmer, for about 4 hours. Strain and set aside.

Sautee the onion and celery in the oil or butter in a large soup pot, until translucent, about 4 to 5 minutes.

Add the carrot, chopped kale, and turkey stock. Simmer, uncovered, over low heat for 30 minutes.

Add the diced turkey, zucchini, and thyme. Season with salt and pepper, and simmer an additional 5 minutes.

Serve hot and enjoy!

Make It A Meal

Try my Homemade Turkey Stock as the base here. For more soups in your rotation, Mexican Turkey Soup, Chicken Zoodle Soup, and Beefy Minestrone Soup are all worth adding.

Storage

This freezes beautifully. Portion into freezer-safe containers or trays and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in a pot over medium-low heat straight from frozen, or move it to the fridge the night before to thaw overnight.

Frequently Asked Questions

Love keto recipes? These keto soups & chowders are pretty darn delicious, and if you’re a veggie lover, Crack Cauliflower is a must-try. Meaty favorites include a hearty Tex-Mex casserole, a saucy sausage dish, and for lunch, a beefy beef chaffwich.