Turkey Tortilla Soup
This Turkey Tortilla Soup is so easy to make and a great way to use up leftover turkey after Thanksgiving. It’s made with mostly pantry ingredients and is ready in less than an hour! Add your favorite tortilla soup toppings, and you get a hearty, comforting bowl of soup.

If you have leftover Thanksgiving turkey this year, this soup is the perfect way to use it. It’s easy, cozy, and the perfect light recipe for the days after a big holiday meal.
The ingredients list might look long but fear not. This turkey tortilla soup has mostly pantry ingredients, with just a few fresh ones. The best part is that it’s ready to serve in under an hour.
So, save this recipe if a lot of roast turkey leftovers are in your future. You’ll love how easy it is, and it will give all that leftover turkey a new, delicious, and flavorful life.
Ingredients
- Olive oil
- Chopped onion: Yellow onion, white onion, red onion… the choice is yours!
- Chopped bell peppers: I like to use yellow and red bell peppers.
- Seasonings: Kosher salt, black pepper, ground cumin, paprika, chili powder, dried oregano
- Minced garlic cloves
- Brown sugar: Only a tablespoon adds just a hint of sweetness that balances out the tomatoes’ acidity.
- Diced green chile: Or try using diced jalapenos. You can use fresh or canned.
- Cannellini beans: Black beans, pinto beans, or kidney beans work well, too.
- Tomatoes: You’ll need some canned tomato sauce and canned diced tomatoes.
- Low-sodium chicken broth or chicken stock
- Leftover turkey breast cut into cubes: Use cooked chicken if you don’t have turkey.
How to Make Tortilla Soup with Leftover Turkey
โ๏ธ Saute
Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions, peppers, salt, and pepper. Cook them for two to three minutes or until they start to soften. Add the garlic and stir.
โ๏ธ Simmer
Add the chili powder, brown sugar, oregano, cumin, paprika, and green chiles. Add the beans, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, chicken broth, and turkey. Bring the pot to a simmer and cook the soup for 20 to 22 minutes, stirring occasionally.
โ๏ธ Garnish
Taste the soup and add more salt, if needed. Ladle it into bowls and top with your favorite toppings.
Garnishes
Once the soup is ready, grab all of your favorite toppings! Tortilla chips are a must, but there are plenty of other options. Here are some favorites:
- Tortilla chips or tortilla strips
- Diced red onion
- Diced jalapeno
- Lime juice
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Sour cream
- Sliced green onions
- Chopped fresh cilantro
- Diced avocado
More Ways to Use Leftover Turkey
Here are a few more ways to use those leftovers! Just use turkey instead of chicken in these recipes:
Turkey Tortilla Soup
This Turkey Tortilla Soup is so easy to make and a great way to use up leftover turkey after Thanksgiving. It’s made with mostly pantry ingredients and is ready in less than an hour!ย
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Simmer
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 2 bell peppers, chopped (I use yellow and red)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ยฝ teaspoon black pepper
- 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 (4-oz) can green chiles
- 1 (15-oz) can cannellini beans, drained
- 1 (15-oz) can tomato sauce
- 1 (14.5-oz) can diced tomatoes
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 pound cooked turkey breast cut into cubes or shredded
- Optional topping ideas: tortilla chips, cheese, sour cream, green onions, diced avocado
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions, peppers, salt, and pepper. Cook them for two to three minutes or until they start to soften. Add the garlic and stir.
- Add the chili powder, brown sugar, oregano, cumin, paprika, and green chiles. Add the beans, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, chicken broth, and turkey. Bring the pot to a simmer and cook the soup for 20 to 22 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Taste the soup and add more salt, if needed. Ladle it into bowls and top with your favorite toppings.
Notes
Leftover soup will keep for a few days in the refrigerator. Or you can freeze the soup for several months.
Nutrition
- Calories: 198
- Sugar: 7.5g
- Sodium: 704.3mg
- Fat: 3.4g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 23.9g
- Fiber: 5.8g
- Protein: 19.4g
- Cholesterol: 33.1mg
The nutrition is an estimate only. It was calculated using Nutrifox, an online nutrition calculator.