Hearty Instant Pot Turkey Soup

Transforming holiday leftovers into a delightful, soul-warming meal has never been easier or more delicious than with Instant Pot Turkey Soup. This pressure cooker turkey soup isn’t just a practical way to use up that succulent leftover turkey; it’s a rich, flavorful concoction that promises comfort in every spoonful. Whether you prefer a hearty bowl of turkey noodle soup or a lighter, broth-based version, this recipe offers incredible versatility and is remarkably simple to prepare, making it a perfect addition to your post-holiday culinary repertoire or any time you have turkey on hand.

As the weather cools, there’s nothing quite like a steaming bowl of homemade soup to bring warmth and coziness. This Instant Pot Turkey Soup delivers exactly that, enveloping you in a comforting embrace of savory goodness. Its deep flavors and nourishing ingredients make it an instant favorite, providing a wonderful antidote to chilly days and a satisfying meal for the entire family.

Instant Pot Turkey Soup: Your Ultimate Leftover Makeover

The Instant Pot has revolutionized home cooking, especially when it comes to soups. Its ability to create rich, complex flavors in a fraction of the traditional time makes it an invaluable tool in any kitchen. Our Instant Pot Turkey Soup recipe harnesses this power, turning what could be a simple, mundane leftover dish into an extraordinary culinary experience. This recipe is particularly well-suited for after Thanksgiving, giving your leftover turkey a glorious second life and making the most of homemade turkey broth, which elevates the soup’s depth and authenticity.

Crafting homemade turkey soup in the Instant Pot is a journey into fresh, vibrant tastes without requiring an extensive list of ingredients or complicated steps. Its beauty lies in its simplicity, allowing the natural flavors of turkey and fresh vegetables to shine through. The straightforward nature of this recipe ensures that even novice cooks can achieve remarkable results, yielding a comforting meal that tastes like it simmered all day long.

Customizing Your Soup: Noodle or Noodle-Free?

One of the best aspects of this Instant Pot Turkey Soup recipe is its adaptability. While it’s perfectly designed to be a hearty turkey noodle soup, incorporating delicious egg noodles for that classic feel, you have complete control over this element. Since the noodles are added after the pressure cooking phase, it’s incredibly simple to omit them if you prefer a lighter, lower-carb soup. For those who enjoy an alternative texture, consider stirring in some cooked rice, quinoa, or even small pasta shapes like orzo at the end. This flexibility ensures your soup perfectly matches your dietary preferences or what you’re craving that day.

Cooking with Uncooked Turkey Meat

While this recipe is a fantastic way to utilize leftover cooked turkey, it’s equally effective if you’re starting with uncooked turkey meat. Simply follow the recipe as written, and the cubed turkey meat will cook beautifully alongside the other ingredients during the pressure cooking cycle. No special adjustments or changes to the cooking time are necessary, making this recipe versatile for any occasion or type of turkey you have on hand.

Flavor Foundation: The Best Broth to Use

The quality of your broth is paramount to the overall success and flavor profile of your Instant Pot Turkey Soup. It forms the very soul of the soup, so choose wisely:

• Homemade Instant Pot Turkey Broth: For the absolute richest and most authentic flavor, we highly recommend using homemade Instant Pot Turkey Broth. This can be easily made from your leftover turkey carcass, transforming every bit of your holiday bird into a treasure. The depth of flavor from a homemade broth is unparalleled and truly elevates this soup from good to extraordinary.
• Store-Bought Turkey or Chicken Broth: If homemade broth isn’t an option, a good quality store-bought turkey broth or stock is your next best choice. If turkey broth is unavailable, chicken broth serves as an excellent substitute. While it will subtly alter the flavor profile, your soup will still be incredibly tasty and satisfying.
• Avoid Plain Water: We generally don’t recommend using plain water, as this recipe doesn’t involve cooking bones to create flavor from scratch. Without a flavorful base, your soup might taste bland. However, if water is your only option, you can enhance it significantly by dissolving turkey-flavored bouillon or broth powder, ensuring your soup still packs a flavorful punch.

Begin by activating the Sauté function on your Instant Pot. Once hot, add a generous drizzle of olive oil, then introduce your chopped aromatic vegetables – onions, carrots, and celery – along with a bay leaf. Sauté these until they begin to soften, releasing their sweet and savory essences. Next, add the finely minced fresh rosemary and garlic, stirring frequently for about 45 seconds until fragrant. This crucial step builds the foundational layers of flavor for your soup.

Incorporate the rubbed sage, along with a good measure of salt and freshly ground black pepper. Rubbed sage offers a more potent, earthy aroma, perfectly complementing the turkey. These seasonings are vital for balancing and enhancing the overall taste of the soup, so don’t be shy about seasoning to your preference.

Pour in the rich turkey broth, ensuring you scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot – this process, known as deglazing, adds immense flavor. Finally, add your cubed turkey meat, whether leftover cooked or uncooked. Secure the lid, seal the venting knob, and set your Instant Pot to pressure cook. This quick cooking method melds all the flavors beautifully and tenderizes any uncooked meat or vegetables.

Once the pressure cooking cycle is complete and the pressure has been naturally released, carefully open the lid. Now is the time to add the uncooked egg noodles. Re-engage the Sauté setting and cook the noodles directly in the soup until they reach your desired al dente tenderness. Give the soup a final taste, adjusting the salt and pepper as needed to perfect the seasoning. Your homemade Instant Pot Turkey Soup is now ready to be savored!

Double the Delight: Can I Double the Recipe?

Planning for a larger gathering or simply want to ensure you have plenty of this delicious soup for meal prepping? Doubling the recipe is certainly possible, but it depends on the size of your pressure cooker:

• 6-Quart Pressure Cooker: A 6-quart Instant Pot typically doesn’t have enough capacity to safely double this recipe. You might be able to increase it by half, but it’s crucial not to overfill your pot beyond the MAX fill line to prevent safety issues and ensure proper pressure cooking.
• 8-Quart or 10-Quart Pressure Cooker: If you own a larger 8-quart or 10-quart Instant Pot, you can confidently double the recipe. These larger models provide ample space for the increased volume of ingredients, allowing you to prepare a bigger batch without compromising safety or flavor.

For more delicious and easy Instant Pot recipes, be sure to check out these fan favorites:

Instant Pot Turkey Broth
Instant Pot 15 Bean Soup
Instant Pot Potato Ham Soup
Instant Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Instant Pot Hamburger Soup

Freezing Instant Pot Turkey Soup for Later

This Instant Pot Turkey Soup freezes beautifully, making it an excellent candidate for meal prep or saving for a busy day:

• Storage Containers: For freezing, use an airtight container or high-quality zip-closure freezer bags. To preserve quality and flavor, it’s best to freeze the soup in smaller, single-serving or family-sized portions. This allows for quick thawing and avoids refreezing large batches.
• Freezing Flat in Bags: If using freezer bags, lay them flat on a baking sheet in your freezer until the soup is solid. This method not only speeds up the freezing and thawing process (due to the thinner profile) but also makes stacking and organizing your freezer much more efficient, saving valuable space.
• Noodles Consideration: If you plan to freeze the soup, you might consider cooking the noodles separately when you’re ready to serve, or undercooking them slightly before adding them to the soup for freezing. Cooked noodles can become a bit mushy after freezing and thawing, though many people don’t mind this.

Serving Suggestions and Customizations

Once your Instant Pot Turkey Soup is ready, the serving possibilities are endless. Garnish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley or dill for a burst of color and herbaceous flavor. A dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt can add a creamy richness, while a squeeze of fresh lemon juice brightens the entire dish. Serve it alongside a crusty loaf of bread for dipping, a fresh green salad, or some warm cornbread to complete a truly satisfying meal.

Feel free to get creative with your additions. For extra vegetables, consider adding spinach or kale during the last few minutes of cooking the noodles, allowing them to wilt beautifully. A pinch of red pepper flakes can introduce a subtle warmth, or a dash of your favorite hot sauce for a spicier kick. This soup is a canvas for your culinary imagination!

We absolutely love hearing from you! If you prepare this delicious pressure cooker turkey soup, please share your experience by leaving a comment and a star rating below. Your feedback means the world to us and helps other home cooks discover wonderful recipes like this one. We’d love to know how it turned out for you!

Thank you for stopping by our recipe site today! We sincerely hope you found exactly what you were searching for and that this Instant Pot Turkey Soup brings joy and comfort to your table. Please come back and visit us any time for more easy, delicious, and happy recipes!

This post contains Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.