Smoky Leftover Turkey Tortilla Soup

Recipe at a glance

Smoky Leftover Turkey Tortilla Soup gives holiday food a distinct second meal instead of simply reheating the original plate. Food Network’s collection of post-Thanksgiving ideas shows how turkey, stuffing, potatoes, vegetables and cranberry sauce can move into casseroles, sandwiches, soups, snacks and other formats; this version is an original formulation built around 3 cups turkey and 1 cup leftover corn. ^[1]

Yield: 6 servings. Preparation time: 15 minutes. Cooking time: 30 minutes. Use leftovers that were refrigerated promptly. FoodSafety.gov lists cooked meat and poultry leftovers at three to four days in a refrigerator kept at 40°F or below. ^[2]

Ingredients

1. 2 tablespoons oil 2. 1 onion, diced 3. 2 garlic cloves, minced 4. 1 tablespoon chili powder 5. 1 teaspoon cumin 6. 1 can fire-roasted tomatoes 7. 6 cups turkey stock 8. 1 can black beans, drained 9. 1 cup corn 10. 3 cups shredded turkey 11. lime, avocado and tortilla strips for serving ^[1]

How to make smoky leftover turkey tortilla soup

1. Heat oil in a pot and cook onion until soft. 2. Add garlic, chili powder and cumin for 30 seconds. 3. Stir in tomatoes, stock, beans and corn and simmer for 15 minutes. ^[1]

4. Add turkey and simmer until it reaches 165°F. 5. Finish with lime and serve with avocado and crisp tortilla strips. ^{[1] [2]}

Make-ahead, storage and useful substitutions

Add turkey near the end to keep it tender. If the Thanksgiving bird was heavily seasoned, taste the soup before adding salt. Use pinto beans instead of black beans, or add leftover roasted squash. ^[1]

Refrigerate smoky leftover turkey tortilla soup within two hours in shallow covered containers. Count storage time from when the original Thanksgiving food was first refrigerated, not from when it was transformed into this recipe. Eat refrigerated cooked turkey and other perishable leftovers within three to four days, or freeze sooner. Reheat hot portions to 165°F and discard food that has spent too long at room temperature. ^[2]