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Turkey Orzo Soup One Pot
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5 from 18 votes

Turkey Orzo Soup

This one pot turkey orzo soup is a great idea for using all that leftover Thanksgiving turkey. It is easy, delicious, and comforting.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Soup
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 371kcal
Author: Tania

Ingredients

  • Olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 stalks celery, diced
  • 3 medium carrots, diced
  • 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves (or 1 teaspoon or less dried thyme)
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano (or Italian seasoning)
  • 6 to 7 cups chicken broth, plus more as needed
  • 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
  • 3 cups cooked leftover turkey breast, cubed or shredded (not deli turkey)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • A handful of Italian parsley
  • 1 lemon (optional)

Instructions

  • Heat about 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium heat. Sauté garlic, onion, carrots and celery until softened, about 6-8 minutes. Add thyme and dried oregano. Cook for another minute until fragrant, stirring.
  • Add the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Then, add shredded turkey and the uncooked orzo. Season with salt and pepper to taste if needed. Bring to a boil and lower heat to simmer for about 15 minutes, half-covered or uncovered, until orzo is tender or cooked to taste. Optional: add some water and simmer if you think the broth is too strong (it depends on which brand of broth you use).
  • Remove from heat. Add freshly chopped Italian parsley. If desired, serve with a lemon wedge on the side, it adds brightness to the soup. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Special equipment: a large pot or Dutch oven.
  • Make ahead: You can dice the vegetables the day before and store in the fridge in an airtight container. The turkey can also be shredded ahead of time.
  • Storing: Once the soup has cooled down, transfer to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 3 days. If freezing: let the soup cool down before storing in the freezer. Freeze up to 1 month in a freezer-friendly container. To reheat, thaw in the refrigerator.
  • Note on reheating: If you're storing leftovers, the orzo may have absorbed the liquid. When reheating, add some chicken broth and warm it up in a small pot or in the microwave oven.

Nutrition

Serving: 1bowl | Calories: 371kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 41g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 103mg | Sodium: 1057mg | Potassium: 263mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 5141IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 71mg | Iron: 3mg