Slow Cooker Turkey Chowder


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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!

close up of turkey chowder on wooden spoon.
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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!

corn, spices, vegetables, cream, turkey broth, and turkey in front of the slow cooker.

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 slow cooker 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.
ingredients for turkey chowder in slow cooker

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.
turkey chowder before being cooked

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.
turkey chowder in slow cooker before cream is added
  • 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!
wooden spoon scooping turkey chowder out of slow cooker

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:

white bowl full of turkey chowder

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wooden spoon scooping turkey chowder out of slow cooker

Slow Cooker Turkey Chowder

4.94 from 31 votes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
Total Time: 4 hours 45 minutes
Servings: 8
Make that leftover turkey into something completely different with my easy turkey chowder recipe.

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

Sarah’s Notes

Can I use chicken instead of turkey?
  • 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

Calories: 310kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 79mg | Sodium: 1013mg | Potassium: 586mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 3367IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 53mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.

Made this recipe? Leave a comment below!

Recipe adapted from Just a Pinch – Turkey Soup Continental

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Recipe Rating




48 Comments

  1. Jordie says:

    5 stars
    HIGHLY recommend making her turkey stock recipe with this chowder! People have commented that it is one of the best soups they have ever had. I only use The Magical Slow Cooker for all of my creations!!

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      We love this recipe too! Thanks for the kind comment.

  2. Lisa says:

    5 stars
    Accidentally left out the cornstarch, water & cream but still was delicious and enjoyed by my family! Made sweet potato corn bread to serve with it! Yum!

  3. Anonymous says:

    4 stars
    Easy to make .. Enjoyed it .. My only change was a little poultry seasoning .. Thank you

  4. Amber says:

    Just made this soup. We found it to be pretty bland, flavor wise. Added some chicken bouillon and it helped some. Overall warming and filling, but flavor needs help.

  5. Natasha Hill says:

    Can I freeze this??

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      Sometimes potatoes and cream don’t thaw well. I wouldn’t freeze this recipe myself.

  6. Dana Johnson says:

    5 stars
    I made thr recipe as written. However, it never thickend up!? I don’t know why!

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      You can always add more cornstarch and let the slow cooker get back to temperature.