This healthy wild rice soup recipe with leftover turkey is the perfect for Thanksgiving leftovers. A family-favorite turkey soup recipe, get it now.
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Confession: I’ve never understood the appeal of making a sandwich with Thanksgiving leftovers.
I know. It may sound odd as I know many people who probably look forward to that sandwich more than the actual Thanksgiving meal itself.
Instead, my favorite way to enjoy leftover turkey is turkey is in my mom’s creamy wild rice soup.
This soup is the epitome of a comforting winter soup thanks to its creamy texture and nutty wild rice. Let me show you how to make a healthier version of the classic chicken and wild rice soup.
>>Get more healthy soup recipes here.
Yes! In fact, when it isn’t the day after Thanksgiving, I usually make this soup with rotisserie chicken instead of turkey.
You can also use leftover chicken or poach a chicken breast and shred it. This is my go-to recipe for poaching chicken that I plan on shredding.
If you don’t have fresh thyme or rosemary, you can easily use dried herbs instead:
For every 1 tablespoon of chopped fresh herbs, use 1 teaspoon of dried.
You may be surprised to know that wild rice isn’t actually rice at all. Instead, wild rice is an aquatic grass that’s commonly found in the Great Lakes region of the northern United States.
And while it cooks similarly to rice, wild rice has a chewier texture and nuttier flavor that make it perfect for soups.
Nutritionally, wild rice is higher in protein than other types of rice and contains as much fiber as brown rice. It’s also a rich source of antioxidants and contains a good amount of magnesium.
Wild rice soup is so easy! Everything is made in one soup pot and requires just 40 minutes of simmering.
Transfer leftovers to an airtight container and allow to cool to room temperature. Once cooled, cover with a lid and store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
To reheat, simply heat a serving in the microwave for 2 minutes, stirring halfway through.
If reheating a larger portion, I recommend placing the soup in a pot and bringing it to a low boil over medium-high heat.
Personally I don’t like freezing this soup as the consistency does change with thawing.
As it has protein, carbs, and some fat, this healthy turkey soup can easily be enjoyed as a meal on its own.
For extra veggies, I like to pair it with a salad. Of course, you can never go wrong with a slice of crusty bread for dipping!
If you tried this Healthy Wild Rice Soup with Leftover Turkey, or any other recipe on the blog let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment/rating below!
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This sounds absolutely delicious! I love wild rice, and leftover turkey is the perfect addition. Can’t wait to try it.
Thanks Lizzie! Let me know what you think if you end up trying it!
This recipe looks so cozy and delicious! Such a great use of leftover turkey, too!
Thanks Brittany! The coziness was much needed with all the snow we got in Colorado after Thanksgiving 🙂
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