Warm up after the holiday rush with a comforting bowl of slow cooker turkey rice soup—the perfect way to use leftover Thanksgiving turkey! This hearty, flavorful soup combines turkey, rice, and vegetables in a savory broth.
Whether you’re looking for a cozy meal to enjoy on a chilly day or a way to repurpose your turkey leftovers, this easy-to-make soup is a delicious post-holiday tradition. One of the best things about Thanksgiving is that you have so much leftover food to enjoy for the next few days! But you can eat only so many turkey sandwiches, so why not make soup this year?
The aroma of the simmering broth, filled with the comforting scents of turkey, herbs, and vegetables, will bring everyone into the kitchen with anticipation. Slow-cooking the turkey with aromatic vegetables, herbs, and spices creates a rich, flavorful broth that serves as the perfect foundation for the soup.
The addition of rice not only adds a satisfying texture and heartiness to the dish but also helps to stretch your leftovers even further, making this recipe a budget-friendly option for post-holiday meals. Plus, it’s made entirely in the slow cooker, which means you can set it and forget it while you enjoy some well-deserved post-holiday relaxation.
This soup is so delicious and easy to make that you might find yourself looking forward to leftover turkey just to have an excuse to make another batch! So get ready to discover a new, delicious way to make the most of your holiday leftovers.
In this post, I’ll guide you through the simple process of creating your own slow cooker turkey rice soup. I’ll also share tips for customizing the recipe to your liking and storing and freezing the soup for later.
Looking for more recipes to make with leftover turkey? Try Thanksgiving hand pies, cranberry turkey sliders, or turkey corn chowder.
🥘Ingredient Notes
For exact amounts needed see the recipe card below
- Turkey
- Carrots
- Celery, sliced
- Onion, diced
- Chicken or turkey broth: I recommend using low-sodium chicken or turkey stock to control the saltiness of the soup.
- Turkey gravy mix
- Rice
- Heavy cream
- Seasoning: onion powder, garlic powder, poultry seasoning, ground black pepper
- Parsley
🥣How to Make Slow Cooker Turkey and Rice Soup
- Combine the cooked turkey, sliced carrots, sliced celery, diced onion, chicken or turkey stock, turkey gravy mix, onion powder, garlic powder, poultry seasoning, and black pepper in your slow cooker. Stir to combine everything.
- Set your slow cooker to low and let it work its magic for 6 hours. If you’re in a bit of a rush, you can cook it on high for 4 hours instead.
- One hour before serving, stir in the rice and cover the slow cooker again. Let it cook for one hour.
- Just before serving, stir in the heavy cream to give the soup its luxurious, creamy texture.
- Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with a sprinkle of chopped parsley.
🍴Serving Ideas
Why not have a Thanksgiving leftover extravaganza? If you’ve got leftover rolls or bread from your holiday feast, slice them up and serve them alongside the soup for dunking. You can even spread them with some leftover cranberry sauce for a sweet and tangy flavor contrast.
For a bit of crunch, top your soup bowl with crumbled crackers, tortilla chips, or even some crispy fried onions. A simple green salad with a light vinaigrette dressing makes a nice, fresh contrast to the rich and creamy soup.
I also like to sprinkle some shredded cheddar, parmesan, or crumbled feta cheese on top of each bowl of soup for a tangy, salty kick.
Make some cabbage roll soup for another hearty meal.
💭How to Store
Transfer any leftover soup to an airtight container. It will keep for up to 3 days in the fridge. Alternatively, you can freeze it. It will keep for up to 3 months in the freezer.
When you’re ready to enjoy the soup again, simply reheat it in the microwave or on the stove until it’s heated through. If it’s thickened up during storage, you may need to add a splash of water or stock to thin it out.
⭐Tips
Be sure to check out the step by step instructions
- While parsley is a classic garnish for this soup, try experimenting with other fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, or even sage. They’ll add a nice depth of flavor to the broth.
- This soup is excellent with chicken, too!
- You can use brown rice instead of white rice, but add it at the start of the cooking time since it takes longer to cook.
- If you want to make this on the stovetop instead of in the slow cooker, you can. Simply sauté the veggies in a large pot over medium heat until softened, then add the turkey, broth, and seasonings. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 30 minutes. Stir in the rice and cream and cook until the rice is tender.
- You can add any other veggies you like. Mushrooms, peas, or even some chopped kale or spinach would be delicious additions.
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Slow Cooker Turkey Rice Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked turkey
- 3 carrots sliced
- 2 stalks celery sliced
- 1 onion diced
- 6 cups low sodium chicken or turkey stock
- 1 envelope turkey gravy mix
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- ¾ cup rice
- 1 cup heavy cream
- Parsley for garnish optional
Instructions
- Add the cooked turkey, carrots, celery, onion, stock, turkey gravy mix, onion powder, garlic powder, poultry seasoning, and black pepper to your slow cooker.2 cups cooked turkey, 3 carrots, 2 stalks celery, 1 onion, 6 cups low sodium chicken or turkey stock, 1 envelope turkey gravy mix, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or high for 4 hours.
- Add the rice to the slow cooker one hour before serving, stir, and cover.¾ cup rice
- Right before serving, stir in the cream.1 cup heavy cream
- Garnish with parsley and serve.Parsley for garnish
Notes
- While parsley is a classic garnish for this soup, try experimenting with other fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, or even sage.
- This soup is excellent with chicken, too.
- You can use brown rice instead of white rice, but add it at the start of the cooking time since it takes longer to cook.
- If you want to make this on the stovetop instead of in the slow cooker, you can. Simply sauté the veggies in a large pot over medium heat until softened, then add the turkey, broth, and seasonings. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 30 minutes. Stir in the rice and cream and cook until the rice is tender.
- You can add any other veggies you like. Mushrooms, peas, or even some chopped kale or spinach would be delicious additions.
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Nutrition Information
Nutrition facts are estimates.
Hi!
Can I use unsweetened coconut milk in place of the cream? & What about using noodles? Trying not to go to the store!
Thanks!
Yes, unsweetened coconut milk is a good substitute for cream in this recipe. You don’t taste the coconut at all and it makes it creamy. Noodles will work too, you can put them in for the last 30 minutes. Or boil them separately and stir them in at the end.