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This Thai turkey soup recipe is irresistibly flavorful with a creamy coconut curry broth. It’s really easy to make and the tastiest way to use up leftover turkey!
If you like Thai-inspired recipes, try my Easy Thai Shrimp Curry or this Thai Green Curry Soup next.
Why you’ll love it
I hope those of you who celebrated Thanksgiving had a good one! If you made a Roast Turkey, chances are you have some leftovers. This Thai turkey curry soup is the perfect thing to ease you out of your turkey coma. It’s also a super low effort alternative to sandwiches.
This turkey soup recipe is warm and cozy but also fresh and fairly light! That’s what I love about making Thai-style food. We’ve got creamy coconut milk, fresh herbs, and vibrant flavors. Such a good combo, and you’ll having a piping hot bowl ready in just 30 minutes.
What you’ll need
- Olive oil – for sautéing
- Onion and garlic – tasty aromatics. I like using sweet (Vidalia) onions.
- Thai red curry paste – it’s a ready-made paste that has fragrant spices and lemongrass. I recommend Thai Kitchen brand, which is not what I’d consider spicy (some brands are).
- Chicken broth – for more savory flavor
- Lime juice & wedges – for a pop of acidity and brightness
- Turkey – we’re using cooked leftover turkey
- Rice noodles – they’re those translucent ones that come in different sizes; I prefer thicker noodles here to vermicelli
- Red bell pepper – it adds some veggie goodness
- Coconut milk – definitely use full fat for the most flavor and best texture
- Basil, cilantro, scallions – classic fresh ingredients in Thai-style recipes
Pro Tip
Naturally, this soup works well for Thanksgiving leftovers, but it could also be made on another occasion where you have leftover Roast Chicken or rotisserie chicken. Or just cook a turkey breast if you want something a little different. I’ve done that before.
Tools for this recipe
Check out Natasha’s favorite kitchen essentials, gadgets, and cookware!
- I recommend this ladle for easily dishing up this soup.
- This Staub Dutch oven is the one I use.
- Store the other half of your onion in this cute onion saver.
How to make Thai turkey soup
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
In a soup pot or Dutch oven, sauté the onion in the oil until softened. Stir in the garlic and curry paste, and cook for about 30 seconds. Add in the broth, water, lime juice, turkey, noodles, and red bell pepper.
Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat. Stir in the coconut milk. Simmer until the noodles are cooked through. Add in the fresh herbs and scallions. Taste, and season with salt & pepper as needed.
Substitutions and variations
- This turkey curry soup is flavorful but not what I’d call spicy. If you do want to make it spicier, add some grated ginger, sriracha, and/or chili paste. Play with the flavor, and taste and adjust until you think it tastes perfect!
- Are you a salt fiend like me? Add in a splash of soy sauce.
- If you’re not feeling some of the fresh herbs, simply don’t include them all.
What to serve with turkey curry soup
- I like to serve each bowl with a lime wedge for an additional burst of fresh flavor.
- It’s pretty hearty, so pair it with a slice of fresh crusty bread, and you’re good to go.
- For more Thai flavors, make my Thai Quinoa Salad as a fresh complement.
Leftovers and storage
- Store leftover soup for 3-4 days, but keep in mind the noodles will soak up the broth fast. You may need to add a splash more chicken broth when reheating.
- You could freeze leftovers for up to 3 months if you’d like, but I don’t really recommend it. The turkey is cooked twice already, so that could make it dry out even more upon thawing and reheating, and the noodles can change texture.
More leftover turkey recipes
I hope you’ll give this leftover turkey soup a try! Questions? Ask me in the comments below. Please leave a star rating and review, or tag me #saltandlavender on Instagram.
Thai Turkey Soup
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 medium onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 3 heaping tablespoons Thai red curry paste
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups water
- Juice of 1/2 lime
- 2 cups cooked turkey
- 7 ounces rice noodles see note
- 1 red bell pepper chopped
- 1 (13.5 ounce) can full-fat coconut milk
- 1 handful fresh basil torn/chopped, to taste
- 1 handful fresh cilantro chopped, to taste
- 1 handful chopped scallions to taste
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Lime wedges for serving
Instructions
- Sauté the onion in the olive oil in a large soup pot for 5 minutes over medium-high heat.
- Add the garlic and curry paste and cook for 30 seconds.
- Stir in the chicken broth, water, lime juice, turkey, rice noodles, and red bell pepper. Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low, stir in the coconut milk, and let the soup simmer for 10 minutes.
- Stir in the basil, cilantro, and scallions. Season with salt & pepper as needed and serve immediately with lime wedges.
Notes
- Serves 4-6.
- I use Thai Kitchen red curry paste, and it isn’t particularly spicy. Some brands are spicy, however. Want to make this spicier? Add some grated ginger, sriracha, and/or chili paste.
- Rice noodles come in a variety of brands and package sizes, so you don’t have to be super precise with the weight as you may need to use only part of a package. I buy the thicker ones (3 mm) vs. the super fine ones that are almost like angel hair pasta. I like to buy Thai Kitchen’s stir fry noodles when I can find them.
- I used Thai Kitchen red curry paste and coconut milk. I recommend their coconut milk because it’s not too watery unlike some other brands I’ve tried.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
© Salt & Lavender Inc. Content and photographs are copyrighted. Sharing this blog post is much appreciated, but copying and pasting full recipes without authorization to social media is strictly prohibited.
This recipe was originally published on November 23, 2018. It’s been updated with new photos and better instructions but is the same great recipe!
I could only find the really fine rice noodle. I’ve made the soup but have not added the noodles! I’ve actually made this to freeze and give away! Can I just break some of the noodles off and add to each bowl before freezing, or should I just give them the soup and tell them to add noodles? I don’t want to wreck it!
Hi! I would add in the noodles just prior to serving (like give them the noodles to add themselves maybe).
This was so good though I lowered the red curry paste to 2 tablespoons and didn’t have red bell pepper or cilantro. Still it was very flavorful and a change from the usual leftover turkey recipes. Thank you so much for a very original yet simple and quick recipe.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!! 🙂 You’re welcome!
This was fantastic and such a nice change for Christmas turkey left overs. It was such a hit amongst my moms’ group, and so continued innovation has occurred and I hear told it’s great with shrimp, mushrooms and even a bit of lemongrass. So happy to have been introduced to you and your site. Happy New Year, stay safe
Great!! That makes me so happy haha. Happy New Year, Trish! XO
Can leftover soup be frozen?
Thanks
The soup was a big hit by the way
Yes! So glad you liked it.
My family and I are very happy with this meal! I was a little nervous about so much curry paste, but it tastes great. Very easy to make. Thank you!
I’m so happy it was a hit!
Love this recipe as does everyone in my family. This year I am putting in jars, freezing and giving in baskets filled with fresh bread and a few jars of various hot sauces, limes with a note to enjoy during this busy time. Well maybe not as busy as prior years, but a treat to enjoy nevertheless!
What a sweet gesture!!
Any suggestions on how to alter the recipe if I only have raw turkey breasts & drumsticks?
Yup, you can just cook it right in the soup. I would add the meat in at step 4 but not add the noodles until the last 10 minutes or so of cooking (like the recipe suggests). It really depends on the size of the pieces/if you cut them up or not (you may want to since they may be quite large) so I don’t want to suggest a cooking time in case it’s way off. Just make sure the turkey is on its way to being cooked thru prior to adding noodles (by the end it should be kinda falling off the bone, but using a meat thermometer will tell you if it’s 165F). I also think adding another cup or two of broth is a good idea since it’ll take longer to cook that turkey.
I loved this recipe. I have made a few variations and used shrimp instead of turkey. There are so many options for this!
Yes! Good idea. So happy you liked it!
I never write reviews but felt compelled bc this is incredible! Added more of the curry paste (didn’t have a specific one that said Thai but it was still good), as well as broccoli and peas for more veggies. Soooo good- thank you!
Aww thank you!
A delicious and savory way to use leftover turkey. I didn’t have basil. Instead I used a Thai Basil Pesto that I made with the last of the Thai basil in my garden. Worked perfectly. Perhaps next time I might add some bean sprouts on top. Thank you!
I’m so glad you were able to tweak it. Love that you used homemade pesto.