Turkey Tortilla Soup is a perfect use for leftover turkey! This delicious soup is filled with chunks of turkey, black beans and corn all in a rich broth.
Leftover turkey
Thanksgiving dinner is a big deal and takes a lot of planning. But luckily, there are usually a lot of leftovers and you can eat again and again. When I start planning for the holiday dinner, I also start planning for the leftovers! The leftovers are just about as important as the main dinner!
This turkey tortilla soup is a must for the after holiday menu. It's delicious, easy to make, and uses up that huge turkey you just had to make!
This soup has a liquid broth flavored with chili powder, tomatoes, onions and garlic. It is loaded with chunks of turkey, black beans, corn and green chilies. The soup is topped with crunchy tortilla strips, green onions and fresh cilantro.
Another great soup using leftover turkey is this Turkey Barley Soup.
Key ingredients
- Cooked turkey - This is a great way to use up all those small bits of leftover turkey. You can also slice into chunks. Feel free to use chicken instead of the turkey.
- Broth - Use homemade chicken or turkey broth.
- Black beans - Use canned black beans. Rinse and drain beans.
- Corn - I use frozen corn
- Canned tomatoes - Diced canned tomatoes. Use store bought or your own home canned tomatoes.
- Homemade taco seasoning - Making your own is easy, but you can use a packet of store bought too.
Step by step directions
Soup
- Sauté onions.
- When soft, add garlic and corn meal. Stir over low heat for 1 minute.
- Sprinkle on chili powder. Stir for 1 minute. Do not overcook chili powder or it will turn bitter.
- Pour broth over onion mixture and cook over medium heat until simmering.
- Add black beans, corn, turkey and tomatoes.
- Add salt and pepper.
- Simmer for an additional 5 minutes until heated through.
Crispy tortilla topping
- Slice corn tortillas into thin strips.
- Place on a baking sheet and spray with cooking spray.
- Toss strips with your fingers and spray again.
- Sprinkle with taco seasoning.
- Place in a 400 degree oven for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and toss lightly.
- Return to oven for an additional 10 minutes or until strips are crispy.
Tips for making turkey tortilla soup
- If your family doesn't like spicy, decrease the amount of chili powder used.
- Most canned chilies have a heat index - mild, medium or hot. Select the type that best fits your taste.
- Add all the juices from the canned tomatoes.
- Be certain to rinse all the sauce from the canned black beans before using in this soup.
- This soup can also be made using leftover chicken - chicken tortilla soup
Make ahead or freeze
You can make this soup ahead of time. It is great to leave simmering on the stove, or make up a batch and store in the refrigerator and then reheat at lunch or dinner time.
This soup can be frozen. I often make a double batch and then freeze half for another meal. Just add the fresh topping and tortillas strips when ready to eat.
Toppings
You can add a variety of topping to this soup, depending on what you have on hand and your individual taste.
I always like to add freshly chopped cilantro, green onions and crispy tortilla strips. You could also add shredded cheese, a dollop of sour cream, fresh avocado, fresh tomatoes, and jalapeno slices.
More delicious soup recipes
- Creamy Tomato Soup
- Cheesy Broccoli Soup
- Chicken Noodle Soup
- Clam Chowder
- Enchilada Soup
- Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
- Ham and Bean Soup
If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop
Check out all my Soup Recipes!
Turkey Tortilla Soup
Equipment
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
- Stainless Steel Pot
Ingredients
Soup
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion (chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- ¼ cup corn meal
- 1 Tablespoon chili powder
- 8-10 cups turkey or chicken broth
- 2 cups cooked turkey (shredded or chopped)
- 1 14.5 oz can chopped tomatoes
- 1 15 oz can black beans (rinsed and drained)
- 1 ½ cups frozen corn kernels
- 1 8 oz can roasted chili peppers (chopped)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
Tortilla Strips
- 1 Tablespoon taco seasoning
- 12 corn tortillas
Toppings
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro (chopped)
- ¼ cup green onions (chopped)
Instructions
Soup
- Saute onions with olive oil over medium heat1 Tablespoon olive oil, 1 onion
- When soft, add garlic and corn meal. Stir over low heat for 1 minute.2 cloves garlic, ¼ cup corn meal
- Add chili powder and stir. Do not overcook chili powder or it will turn bitter.1 Tablespoon chili powder
- Add broth and cook over medium heat until simmering.8-10 cups turkey or chicken broth
- Add black beans, corn, turkey, peppers and tomatoes.2 cups cooked turkey, 1 14.5 oz can chopped tomatoes, 1 15 oz can black beans, 1 ½ cups frozen corn kernels, 1 8 oz can roasted chili peppers
- Add salt and pepper.1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper
- Simmer for an additional 5 minutes until heated through.
Toppings
- Slice corn tortillas into thin strips.12 corn tortillas
- Place on a baking sheet and spray with cooking spray.
- Toss strips with your fingers and spray again.Sprinkle with taco seasoning.1 Tablespoon taco seasoning
- Place in a 400 degree oven for 10 minutes.
- Remove from oven and toss lightly.Return to oven for an additional 10 minutes or until strips are crispy.
- Top with fresh cilantro and green onions¼ cup fresh cilantro, ¼ cup green onions
Video
Notes
- If your family doesn't like spicy, decrease the amount of chili powder used.
- Most canned chilies have a heat index - mild, medium or hot. Select the type that best fits your taste.
- Add all the juices from the canned tomatoes.
- Be certain to rinse all the sauce from the canned black beans before using in this soup.
- Can also be made using leftover chicken.
Nutritional Disclaimer:
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Nutrition
This soup recipe was originally posted in November of 2015. The pictures, text and recipe have been updated.
John/Kitchen Riffs says
The leftovers are the best part of Thanksgiving! The main event is wonderful, of course, and is my favorite. But think of all the possibilities with the leftovers! This soup is brilliant -- just so good. Thanks! And Happy Thanksgiving.
Amanda says
I like how you're already planning the leftovers. Me too. I keep thinking "Can I make a buffalo turkey pizza instead of buffalo chicken?" Haha. This soup looks amazing. I love how you bake the tortilla strips. Great touch. Sounds warm and comforting!
Kathy says
I'm liking the pizza idea! Very clever!!!
Fran @ G'day Souffle' says
Kathy, I am inspired by the tortilla strip idea- hadn't thought of that before. And I am envious of your photography- some great shots!
Kathy says
Thanks, Fran!
GiGi Eats says
OKAY YES - this is one of the BEST ways to use up your turkey left overs - FOR SURE!
Ami@NaiveCookCooks says
This looks so delicious and yes you are so right, leftovers are as important as the main meal!!
Senika @ Foodie Blog Stalker says
Yum!! It's (finally) supposed to be cold for us here in Southern California. This soup will be PERFECT for using up our leftovers!
Kathy says
Definitely is perfect for using up leftovers and cold days! Heard you've been getting some rain....Yahoo!!!
Anu-My Ginger Garlic Kitchen says
This soup looks absolutely warm and comfy. Perfect for thanks giving. I wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving! 🙂
Kathy says
Thanks, Anu.....a Happy Thanksgiving to you too!
karrie @ Tasty Ever After says
Love tortilla soup and your recipe looks delish! Great way to use up those turkey leftovers too 🙂
Meghan | Fox and Briar says
Such a good idea to plan for leftovers! I love chicken tortilla soup but I have never actually made it. I'm going to have to add this to my list if I get any leftover turkey!
Kathy says
Oh....I hope you get some leftovers!
annie@ciaochowbambina says
Goodness! My kids will love this! Always chicken tortilla - never thought to make it with turkey! Brilliant!! Thanks for the great recipe!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
I completely agree that the leftover planning is just as important as the Big Turkey Day planning! LOVE this turkey tortilla soup, such a delicious way to use up those leftovers!! Cheers and Happy Week of Thanksgiving! <3
Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor says
We had our first cold snap here in Florida this weekend and all I want is a big bowl of soup. This tortilla soup looks perfect. I'll have to save some turkey to make this after Thanksgiving!
Kathy says
Brrr... nothing like a nice soup to warm you up!
David @ Spiced says
We just picked up our turkey yesterday, and I got an extra-large one on purpose. Leftover turkey is the best...and I think I need to turn some of it into soup this year. This looks so comforting right now! 🙂
Kathy says
Getting an extra large turkey is just good planning!
Amy (Savory Moments) says
I love taco soup and this looks delicious! So perfect for using up leftover turkey.
Kathy says
Thanks, Amy!
Kalee @ The Crowded Table says
LOVE this idea for Thanksgiving leftovers. It's finally getting cold here in Kansas City, so this soup looks perfect for the day after Thanksgiving. 🙂
Kathy says
Cool weather just says SOUP!
Alyssa @ My Sequined Life says
This soup has some of my favorite flavors, Kathy! I love how it makes use of leftovers. Although I'd welcome this soup any time of year!
Kathy says
I agree. We often use chicken instead of turkey and eat it throughout the year. Around the holidays, it's a great way to use up turkey!
Rachel @ Bakerita says
This soup looks incredible and absolutely perfect for leftovers!!
Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks says
Thanksgiving leftovers are the best! I'm totally planning ahead for this tortilla soup! P.S. Send more baby chicken pics! 🙂
Kathy says
Gotta love those leftovers!
Lindsey says
This looks absolutely delicious!! What a great use for the turkey leftovers! I will be trying this, thanks for sharing <3
Kathy says
I hope you give it a try!
Laura ~ Raise Your Garden says
This looks absolutely delicious. And I want to pop over to your place now for a bowl (okay....2 bowls but who's counting) of this soup. Those tortilla shells on top. Put me in coach, I'm ready to play. Crunch crunch. Yum!! And you know, my one gift in the kitchen is broth making. I know.....I avoid the kitchen like the plague hoping somehow dinner will just appear, but broth is pricy! Ya know. And these days, with the Ecoli at Chipotle, I feel like it's time to cook. (Yay, we eat there 3 times a week and my husbands condition.....not good! Hello fever among other unpleasantness.
Kathy says
If you already have broth perfected then this soup is no problem! You can do it!