Grandma’s Slow Cooker Turkey Noodle Soup
32 Comments Nov 05, 2024
Updated May 31, 2025
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With a soup named Grandma’s Slow Cooker Turkey Noodle Soup, you know you’re in for a treat! This soup features tender shreds of leftover Thanksgiving turkey (or Christmas), aromatic herbs, hearty vegetables, and comforting egg noodles, all simmered to perfection in a rich, homemade turkey stock.
My grandma always had some soup to heat up when we visited her, and my favorite was her turkey noodle soup. I recreated my grandma’s soup the best I could and the flavors are spot on.
It’s the ultimate comfort food, perfect for those chilly winter evenings or whenever you need a little pick-me-up. Plus, it’s a brilliant way to make the most of your leftover turkey, ensuring that no part of that delicious bird goes to waste. Whether you’re feeding a crowd or craving a cozy meal for one, this recipe has you covered.
Recipe Ingredients
- Turkey Stock: You can use my slow cooker turkey stock (made from a leftover holiday turkey carcass) or use store bought. Chicken broth may be used as well.
- Turkey (cooked): Tender shreds or chunks of leftover turkey add a meaty heartiness to the soup. You can used any cooked turkey or rotisserie chicken.
- Vegetables: Sliced celery, diced white onion, and chopped carrots offer a veggie flavor and refreshing crunch to the soup.
- Seasonings: Bay leaves, thyme, salt (to taste), and black pepper are all you need to obtain the perfect flavor, just like my Grandma’s classic recipe.
- Fettuccine Noodles: These will be broken up and cooked separately.
- {Full recipe is in the recipe card below the images}
How to Make Crockpot Turkey Noodle Soup
- Add the turkey, carrots, celery, onion, bay leaves, thyme, and pepper to the slow cooker.
- Pour in the turkey stock.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours.
- After the 8 hours are up, cook the noodles for about 1-2 minutes shy of package directions in salted boiling water on the stove top. Add the noodles to the slow cooker with the soup, and continue to cook on HIGH for about an 1½ hours more, this will soften the noodles to perfection, and make the soup thicker. Serve and enjoy.
Serving Suggestions
Here is how we love to enjoy this soup:
- Pair a steaming bowl of of this turkey noodle soup with crusty bread for dipping. There’s nothing quite like soaking up that flavorful broth with a slice of fresh bread.
- For a heartier meal, pair the soup with a crisp green salad dressed in a tangy vinaigrette. The salad’s fresh flavors balance the soup’s richness, creating a well-rounded meal.
- A dollop of sour cream or a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese also takes this soup to the next level.
Featured Comment
“What’s the best thing to do with leftover turkey and a crockpot? This soup of course! I doubled the celery and carrots and used Vegetable stock. Delicious!:)”
– Lisa
Slow Cooker Grandma’s Turkey Noodle Soup
Ingredients
- 7 cups turkey stock, or broth (chicken broth may be used)
- 3 cups turkey, cooked leftovers; shredded or diced
- 1 cup carrots, sliced
- 1 cup celery, sliced
- 1 cup white onion, diced
- 2 bay leaves
- ½ tsp. thyme
- ¼ tsp. pepper
- 8 oz. fettuccine noodles, broken up, cooked separately
- ½ tsp. salt, to taste
Instructions
- Add the stock or broth, turkey, carrots, celery, onion, bay leaves, thyme, and pepper to the slow cooker.
- Cover, and cook on low for 8 hours.
- After the 8 hours are up, cook the noodles for about 1-2 minutes shy of package directions in salted boiling water on the stove top.
- Once the noodles are cooked, drain.
- Add the noodles to the slow cooker with the soup, and continue to cook on HIGH for about an 1½ hours more, this will soften the noodles to perfection, and make the soup thicker.
- Serve and enjoy.
Sarah’s Notes
- To ensure perfectly cooked noodles, cook them separately according to the package instructions until they’re just shy of al dente. Add them to the soup during the last 15 minutes of cooking, allowing them to finish cooking and soak up all the delicious flavors without becoming overly soft.
- Allow the soup to cool down to room temperature, transfer it to airtight containers, and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days. Alternatively, freeze the soup in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating gently on the stove or in the microwave until heated through.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
More slow cooker soups to make:
Warm up with Turkey Chowder or keep things light and hearty with Weight Loss Soup, both great for cozy weeknight dinners.
If you’re craving comfort food, Crack Potato Soup and Slow Cooker Cheeseburger Soup are rich, creamy favorites loaded with flavor.
Try Slow Cooker Minestrone when you’re in the mood for something wholesome and full of veggies.
For something a little more filling, Steak and Potato Soup is a satisfying option that’s sure to hit the spot.
There shouldn’t be any evaporating of liquid if the lid was left on, your slow cooker may cook too fast as well.
OK, that’s probably on me. I hadn’t done slow cooker soup before and I stirred it several times during cooking. I should have left it alone, but I was home all day and bored.
No worries, I used to do the same!
Can you use egg noodles instead?
Yes! cook them according to the package directions
Thank you Ms. Sara
Excellent recipe as is. My 3 grandkids love it. They enjoy the soup more than the Thanksgiving Day meal. The grandkids asked for more veggies in the soup. So I double up on the carrots & celery. On occasions they also have asked to add green peas or green beans or some other veggie. I look at it this way. Any recipe that has young kids asking to eat veggies-add the veggies. Job well done. Happy holidays.
Can I use chicken or do I have to use Turkey?
Yes precooked chicken would be fine! I tested this recipe with raw chicken before, tasted good, but the raw chicken leaves floaties in the soup, not great for guests.
My family LOVED this recipe! Thank you so much for sharing. I’m just wondering if it is possible to freeze it?
I have not tried to freeze this one. If you do try, let me know how it reheats! 🙂
Yes, you can freeze this. I do it all the time.With all kinds of soups. I would recommend that you freeze it without the noodles. I am not saying that you can’t but I find they are mushy once defrosted. Cook them separately when you are ready to defrost, reheat and serve – if you want noodles in your soup.
Oooh. Now I’m craving for some Turkey noodle soup.
What a great pot of Turkey Noodle Soup, it is wonderful that it cooks in the Slow Cooker. Thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday, it is so nice to have you with us today. Have a great weekend and come back soon!
Miz Helen
Is there anything better than chicken soup made with homemade stock? Thanks for sharing at Simple Supper Tuesday.
Sarah, this looks wonderful- and I know it must smell and taste incredible! Like you said, it is definitely “love in a bowl”! ♥ Thank you for bringing this to Treasure Box Tuesday- I have pinned and tweeted! 🙂
I’ll try anything Grandma makes 🙂 Thanks again for stopping by MUNCHING MONDAYS!!! Warmest, Nic