What can I say, this is a classic but, as usual, I put my own twist on it by tossing in some fresh dill. Have you ever tried fresh dill in a chicken or turkey soup? It's the bomb! Trust me! I made this soup with leftover turkey but you can easily substitute the same amount of cooked chicken. This Hearty Turkey & Vegetable Soup is my ultimate comfort food and I'm sure it's soon to be yours too!
Turkey isn't just for soup. Turn up your turkey game with a Brined and Roasted Turkey Breast or how about this Stuffed Turkey Breast recipe? Any leftovers from a Smoked Turkey Breast would be absolutely delicious in this soup. And if you love dill try my recipe for Creamy Dill Pickle Chopped Salad or this Chicken and Mushroom Soup with Dill.
Ingredient List
- onion
- leeks
- carrots
- celery
- garlic
- cooked turkey or chicken
- chicken or turkey stock
- spinach
- dill, fresh (see dry substitute below)
- parsley, fresh (see dry substitute below)
- fresh lemon juice
- salt and pepper
Substitutions
- Omit the leeks and add an extra onion or omit the onion and add an extra leek or 2.
- Chicken works perfectly instead of turkey. You can also use ground meat if you like. Add it between Steps 1 & 2. Stir until cooked and then proceed with Step # 2.
- Turkey or vegetable stock can be used instead of chicken.
- Use any hearty leafy green in place of the spinach such as kale, collards, Swiss chard or arugula.
- Frozen spinach can be used instead of fresh, no need to thaw before adding. If using frozen, add in Step 2.
- Substitute with dried herbs instead of fresh by using 4 teaspoons of each in place of the ¼ cup each.
How to make your own turkey or chicken stock.
Don't throw out the carcass after roasting a bird! You don't have to make stock right away either. Just toss it in a bag and into the freezer until you are ready to use it. Then follow my delicious Homemade Chicken Stock recipe to make your own! Not only does it save money but it's also more delicious and nutritious!
Make it Vegetarian
You can convert this recipe to be vegetarian and vegan friendly by replacing the turkey with your favourite cooked beans or lentils and using instead of chicken stock. Add the beans in at Step # 2 in place of the turkey or chicken. Check out my recipe for a delicious and Easy Homemade Vegetable Stock!
Storage
This soup will keep in the fridge for 3- 5 days and can be frozen for up to 6 months.
Other Recipes To Enjoy
📖 Recipe
Hearty Turkey (or chicken) & Vegetable Soup
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoon olive oil or butter
- 1 small to medium onion, white or yellow, diced
- 2 leeks, white part only, rinsed, cut lengthwise and sliced
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 - 3 cups cooked turkey or chicken, shredded or chopped
- 8 cups chicken stock, homemade or store bought (low or no sodium)
- 2 cups spinach, baby or regular with tough stems removed
- ¼ cup fresh dill, chopped or 4 teaspoon dry
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- juice of half a lemon, or about 2 tablespoons
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Melt 3 tbsp. olive oil or butter over medium heat in a large soup pot or Dutch oven. Add onion, leeks, carrots, celery, and garlic. Stir and cook until vegetables are softened and onions are glossy, about 10 minutes. Add an extra splash of oil if the vegetables start to dry out and lower the heat if they start to brown.
- Add the shredded meat and stock. Stir to combine. Increase the heat to medium high and bring to a boil. Once boiling, lower the heat to a simmer. Let simmer gently for 15 minutes.
- Turn off the heat and add the spinach, dill, parsley, and fresh lemon juice. Stir to combine. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed. this amount will vary depending on how salty your stock is.
Karl says
Great soup have made many times, usually we skip the carrots add one extra leak
Dana Oglan says
Love this soup!! I make it often!! Thank you Andrea!
Andrea says
My pleasure! I'm so happy you're enjoying it!
Suze says
This soup is delicious. Love the little flavour difference with the lemon and dill, from the standard chicken/turkey soup.
If I click on the ‘heart’ for this recipe, does it save it somewhere?
Andrea says
Yes if you create a Grow account, which is super easy, you can save all your favourite recipes across other websites in one place there. So happy you enjoyed the soup!
Julie says
Absolutely delious soup Andrea. So comforting and I love the lemon and dill.
Andrea says
I'm so happy you enjoyed it Julie! It's one of my faves. Especially this time of year!
Audrey Allen says
This soup was above my expectations! I thought I’d miss the noodles, but with all the flavours, I didn’t miss them at all! Thanks for another great recipe Andrea!
Andrea says
My pleasure Audrey! So happy you enjoyed it!
Sonya says
Fresh and flavourful soup with room for modifications to suit. I pulled my Christmas turkey carcass from the freezer and made stock using onions, but left out the leeks in the soup itself since it's not something I usually buy. I also used frozen chopped spinach as I had it on hand, and pulled ample turkey from the bones. I usually make stock and add turkey and noodles, but this is a nice fresh and colourful alternative to our usual broth.
Rosemary Barry says
Awesome soup! Thank you!
Annie says
Such a delicious and easy to make soup! Nice that I can freeze some for later - thank you!
Jackie says
Love the dill in this soup…this will be my go to after Christmas from now on!
Jose says
Hi Andrea,
We made this lovely soup yesterday. Fortunately we had all the ingredients. We used the Lilydale roasted turkey breast slices from Costco. It is a tasty and easy recipe.
Thank you!
Andrea says
Hi Jose! I'm so happy you enjoyed it!
Lorna says
This soup is a staple in our house. I’ve used chicken or Turkey and it is so simple to make. Loving all our recipes… honestly your website is my recipe go-to and haven’t been disappointed yet!
Cindy says
Delicious. Thanks for all your healthy recipes
Cindy.
Sharone says
Made this for dinner tonight with stock from our Christmas turkey! I had lots of stock so we have a double batch and will freeze it for another day. Love it - delicious and nutritious and it doesn’t get better than that! Love all your recipes - thanks!!
Linda says
Hi Andrea, just wanted to let you know that the “pin for Later” button seems to not be cooperating. It just to only showing my personal photos instead of allowing me to select the delicious soup picture that you posted.
Andrea says
Hi Linda! I have checked the links and all seem to be working from my end. Perhaps you need to update or restart your Pinterest app. Apologies for any inconvenience.
Sue Noonan says
This soup is a staple in my household. I bake chicken breasts and chop into cubes instead of Turkey. It has a classic chicken soup flavour, full of healthy vegetables and leafy greens. Lunch made easy!
Jenn says
I made this soup last weekend and it was delicious! Thank you Andrea.
Andrea says
My pleasure! So happy you enjoyed it!
Deb Hobby says
Andrea, so wonderful the flavors that the dill added was amazing ,cooked a turkey breast so use some of the left overs for soup today . Hubby loved it . You are missed hope you are doing well see you busy keep up all the awesome recipes .
Thanks for sharing your meal ideas .
Deb
Andrea says
Hi Deb!
Thanks for commenting! I'm so happy you both enjoyed the soup! It's a keeper!
Chris Berdan says
I hate soup. Every kind of soup. Well, all soup except my mother-in-law’s chicken vegetable soup. 🤫 don’t tell her but this one is very similar, which I love.. but the dill!! That’s where it’s at! Thank you for sharing this recipe - I’ve made it SoOOoOooo many times since starting The Livy Method. I’ve actually made it ti delivery to a couple of friends who are also members who didn’t want to figure out what to eat, either. It’s delicious, Andrea.. and has been a game changer around here. I just made it again because my family has Covid atm .. no one wants to figure out what to eat rn. Your soup is comforting, like a hug that has all the components of a balanced meal without having to think. Thank you SoOOoOoo much 💖 PS. I miss you in the group, I hope you’re well.
Andrea says
OMG! To say this made my day would be an understatement! What a lovely comment! I am so happy you are enjoying the soup so much and even sharing it with others! I'm so sorry to hear you are all sick. I hope the soup helps at least to provide a bit of comfort. Thank you so much for your comment. I really appreciate it!
Susan Henderson says
Love this soup. Even my picky hubby is a fan. Great way to use left over rotisserie chicken. I was separating the chicken from the carcass and I decided to use the bones to enhance the broth. I put the bones in a cloth sieve then added them to the veggies and broth and simmered on low for an hour. Then added the chicken and cooked per instructions. Such a delicious comforting soup Just finished a bowl and topped with hemp hearts and a few pumpkin seeds.
Thanks Andrea for another winner.
Andrea says
Hi Susan! So happy you enjoyed it! Nice job enhancing the broth with the leftover carcass! 👌
Cindy B says
This soup (with diced baked chicken) was SO good! I froze half and now I can't wait for cooler temperatures to reheat it...or any night I don't feel like cooking. Adding the dill and lemon was perfect!
Thank you again Andrea for these wonderful recipes. Love that it's also a Livy Method one too.
Andrea says
So happy you enjoyed it! Thanks so much for commenting Cindy!
Anne says
Andrea
So, I finished the first batch off a couple days ago. Made my second batch today. This is my new go to for lunches. I used ground Turkey again and dry dill and parsley. I really like it! Thanks for a great recipe.
Andrea says
Hi Anne!
I'm so happy you are loving the soup!
Debbie Kandalec says
Andrea, This was delicious! Used onions in place of leeks, and used thin chicken breasts diced. The fresh dill just added to this great soup. Thank you for all your recipes!
Andrea says
Hi Debbie! I'm so happy you enjoyed it! Thanks for commenting 😀
Arlene Bloom says
Finally had a chance to make this today Andrea and it is delicious. Thanks for another fave. I cut up a rotisserie chicken. So good.
Deanna says
I cant wait to make this. I made my very first chicken soup, that my aunt walked me through, in my instant pot. It was delish.
Can I make this recipe in an instapot? Any tips?
Andrea says
Hi Deanna!
I don't see why not and would most likely be the same method as the chicken soup you already made. I don't have an instant pot so can't really advise. Hope you enjoy it!
Anne says
Hi Andrea
I made your soup with ground Turkey. I really enjoy it. I find it very flavourful. Thanks for a terrific recipe.
Kim Boczkur says
Andrea, Thanks for this awesome soup. It was so easy compared to one I had. I love the addition of spinach in here. The taste is superb! Will definitely make it again, and again!
Irene Heinz says
Love the format of your recipes. I had a single Mom that didn't have much time to pass on much in the way of teaching me how to cook. I have learned so much from your recipes because of all the extra information you give us. Looking forward to any new ones on the way.
Andrea says
Thanks so much Irene! So happy you are enjoying the recipes!
Deb Reaney says
I Just loved this soup I blended mine down a little because hubby likes it that way and it was so good and enough for the week and some for the freezer
Trish (Patti) says
Andrea! Keep up the great work! I was delighted my hubby loved your soup! He can be so fussy but said “This s REALLY good”! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Andrea says
So happy you both like it! 😀