Want to change up that leftover turkey? This turkey chowder is the ticket! Creamy and flavorful and a welcome change for leftovers.
We love a good chowder recipe, this turkey chowder is unique, but also try my easy clam chowder!
If you are like me you like to use up all the leftover turkey. Roasted turkey is such a nice change from the rest of the year’s meals and I always want to make as many meals as possible with it.
We often make turkey noodle soup, but this year I went in a different direction. I made creamy decadent turkey chowder that has chopped leftover turkey and small diced vegetables. This chowder is as good as any fancy restaurant!
How to make turkey chowder in the crockpot:
- Leftover turkey – Use up that extra turkey. Note that I DO NOT use turkey more than 3 days old. It tends to get a stale taste if left too long in the fridge.
- Vegetables – Carrots, celery, onion, red potatoes
- Corn – One can of cream-style corn and one can of drained kernel corn.
- Broth – I make turkey stock from the leftover turkey bones (or you can use chicken broth).
- Cornstarch – This will give the soup a thick chowder like consistency. Make a slurry from cold water and cornstarch and add at the end of the cooking time. Cook for 30 more minutes.
- Heavy Cream – Adds flavor and helps to thicken the soup more.
How long do I cook?
- Place the lid on the slow cooker.
- Cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 8 hours.
- Now you will need to add a cornstarch slurry and continue cooking until thickened. See the next step on how to do this.
How do I add cornstarch to a soup in the slow cooker?
- Mix equal parts of cold water and cornstarch and whisk together, this is called a cornstarch slurry.
- Add to the hot soup in the slow cooker. Stir.
- Add the heavy cream along with the cornstarch slurry to make this chowder creamy.
- Turn the slow cooker to HIGH and cook for 30 minutes more, this will get the soup up to temperature so the cornstarch will activate and thicken.
- Serve and enjoy!
Can I use chicken instead of turkey?
- Yes, you can use raw chicken breasts or cut up leftover chicken in this recipe.
- The same amount of cooking time for raw or cooked, for the vegetables take just as long to cook.
More turkey soups to make in your crockpot:
- Slow Cooker Turkey Stock
- Slow Cooker Turkey Noodle Soup
- Slow Cooker Southwest Turkey Soup – Recipe from A Mindful Mom
- Slow Cooker Turkey and Brown Rice Soup
- Slow Cooker Turkey Dumpling Soup – Recipe from Mildly Meandering
- Slow Cooker Cajun 15 Bean Soup with Turkey
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Slow Cooker Turkey Chowder
Equipment Needed:
- Slow Cooker- 6 quart or larger
Ingredients:
- 2 cups cubed leftover turkey
- 1 cup diced celery
- 1 cup diced onion (or diced leeks)
- 1 cup diced carrots
- 2 cups red potatoes
- 15 oz. can cream-style corn
- 15 oz. can whole kernel corn drained
- 1 tsp. basil
- 1/4 tsp. thyme
- 2 tsp. dried parsley
- 4 cups turkey or chicken broth
- 1 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. pepper
- 1/4 cup cornstarch (WAIT TO ADD)
- 1/4 cup cold water (WAIT TO ADD)
- 1 cup heavy cream (WAIT TO ADD)
Instructions:
- Add the turkey, veggies, seasonings, and broth to the slow cooker (WAIT TO ADD THE CORNSTARCH, WATER AND HEAVY CREAM).
- Stir.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker. Cook for 4 hours on HIGH or 8 hours on LOW.
- When the cooking time is up, whish together the cold water and corn starch, stir into the chowder. Stir in the heavy cream.
- Cook on HIGH for 30 minutes longer or until soup thickens.
- Serve and enjoy!
How to Video:
Recipe Notes:
- Yes, you can use raw chicken breast or cut up leftover chicken in this recipe.
- The same amount of cooking time for raw or cooked, for the vegetables take just as long to cook.
Nutrition:
Recipe adapted from Just a Pinch – Turkey Soup Continental
Can I use regular whipping cream instead of heavy cream?
Yes, will work fine. Won’t be quite as thick but will work.
Thank you for the amazing recipe!!!! I made it today and I love it!!!!!
This recipe is awesome! I rarely follow recipes without changing a little something to my liking. I followed it exactly as instructed, it was perfect! I just made it today with leftover turkey from our Christmas dinner yesterday. Will definitely be making it again! Thanks!
Can you use 2 cans of whole instead of cream corn
Yes, that will work fine.
Can’t wait to try this! Think russets would be comparable? I prefer the others but have these on hand.
I think they will do fine!
Hi, Sarah! I’m a long-time fan and first time poster. This recipe came out so unbelievably good that I wanted to share my results with you. I started with leftover smoked turkey and turkey bone broth I made after Thanksgiving. Then, I made your recipe exactly as written. The chowder is flavorful and a perfect comfort food for the cold winter weather we’re having. It’s better than any chowder I have had before and is perfect to curl up with on a cold pandemic day. I’m not gonna lie: I’m feeling super gourmet and kitchen-accomplished right now; my chowder looks like it should be in a magazine. I ordered another smoked turkey online to be delivered in a few weeks from now since I finally have a way to use up leftovers and not waste anything. Thank you for your website and especially your videos. I’m learning to cook more at home and the videos help a lot. I cannot wait to check out your other leftover turkey recipes! #Winning
So great to hear! Now I need to order myself a smoked turkey. Great idea.
What size of crock pot
Hi, in the recipe card you will find that information. 6 quart or larger.
This is delicious. Made it tonight with our leftover turkey.
Made this tonight and it was delicious! We will definitely be making it again! Thanks for sharing!
What would you suggest instead of cream for dairy free
If you are used to dairy free cooking you would have better idea than me. You could leave it out and it would still be good though.
If I don’t have potatoes, what can I put instead ?
I used about 1/2 cup of uncooked Aborio Rice (Rice I use to make Risotto). I added it about 1/2 hour before the slurry and heavy cream. It was delish!
such a great idea. It’s a great base recipe. Would be good with dumplings or over biscuits too!
Is a slow Coker the same as a crock pot?j
Yes, crock-pot is a brand of slow cooker.
Hi,
If I chose to substitute the turkey, about how much raw chicken would this recipe require?
Thanks!
Hi! I’d do 2-3 breasts or about 1.5 lbs.
Hi Sarah, what’s cormstarch, not sure they have that in Ireland.
I believe in Ireland it’s called cornflour? Is that what you use to thicken soups and gravys when you aren’t using wheat flour?
Hi Sarah,
Can in freeze the Turkey chowder afterwards?
Hi Tim, I did not try freezing this. I gave some away to my mom and grandpa. I’ve never had luck freezing dairy or potato soups.
I love your recipes
Thank you Mary! Glad to have you here as a viewer.