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Turn your Thanksgiving leftovers into a delicious soup that everyone will love! Made with leftover turkey, jasmine rice and veggies, this Leftover Turkey and Rice Soup recipe is a great weeknight dinner that only takes 30 mins to make and a great way to avoid wasting food!

overhead image of leftover turkey and rice soup with bread, wine, and fresh thyme on the side

When the holidays come around, so does a lot of food. It’s all too easy to cook more than what is needed, so there’s always leftovers to figure out what to do with. Is there a way I can convince Aunt Susan to take this huge load of turkey with her? Knowing her, she’ll say that she’s too stuffed and can’t even think about food for the next week!

I don’t like it when food goes to waste, and like to use up as much as I can before it does, so if my family or friends aren’t going to take it home with them, I need to figure out some good recipes, and fast.

This Thanksgiving Leftover Turkey and Rice Soup is loaded with turkey, veggies, flavorful broth and finished with a splash of fresh lemon and parsley, all made in one pot and in under 30 minutes. What can be better than that for a quick and hearty leftover meal?

MAIN INGREDIENTS NEEDED TO MAKE Leftover Turkey and Rice Soup

  • Cooked Turkey – chopped or shredded.

  • Rice – I used jasmine rice. You can also use brown rice, but it will have a longer cooking time.

  • Broth – chicken or turkey.

  • Olive Oil

  • Veggies – carrots, celery stalks, yellow onion, garlic cloves.

  • Herbs – thyme, rosemary & parsley.

  • Lemon & Salt

TIPS FOR MAKING THIS RECIPE

  • Rinse your rice if you like a brothier soup as the outer starch will thicken the soup, particularly if you reheat it. 

Leftover Turkey and Rice Soup

5 from 1 vote
Recipe by Samantha Course: MainCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

10

minutes
Cooking time

30

minutes
Calories

300

kcal
Total time

40

minutes

Turn your Thanksgiving leftovers into a delicious soup that everyone will love! Made with leftover turkey, jasmine rice and veggies, this Leftover Turkey and Rice Soup recipe is a great weeknight dinner that only takes 30 mins to make.

Ingredients

  • 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

  • 3 Whole Garlic Cloves (minced)

  • 1 Small Yellow Onion (chopped)

  • 2 Whole Carrots (peeled & chopped)

  • 2 Whole Celery Stalks (chopped)

  • 3 Fresh Thyme Stems

  • 2 Teaspoons Fresh Rosemary (finely chopped)

  • 1/4 Cup Jasmine Rice

  • 1 1/2 Teaspoons Salt

  • 2 Cups Cooked Turkey (chopped or shredded)

  • 1 Quart Chicken or Turkey Broth

  • 1 Whole Lemon (juiced)

  • 1 Whole Fresh Parsley (chopped)

Directions

  • Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add in garlic, onion, carrots, and celery, sauté for 3-5 minutes or until onions are soft.
  • Add thyme, rosemary, rice, and salt, cook for 2-3 minutes or until fragrant.
  • Add in cooked turkey, chicken or turkey broth, and juice from one lemon. Bring to a boil before reducing to a simmer. 
  • Cover pot with lid and cook for 15-20 minutes or until rice is tender. Remove from heat and serve with fresh chopped parsley.

Recipe Video

Notes

  • Storage: keep in the fridge for up to 5 days.

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This vegan baked mac and cheese recipe is made with a dairy-free “cheese” sauce and topped with a delicious panko breadcrumb topping that is perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner.

MMM, mac and cheese is one of my favorite comfort meals. Even though this isn’t the classic Kraft mac and cheese dish you might have had growing up, it sure is healthier and tastes even better! If you’re searching for last-minute dinner inspiration, this vegan mac and cheese dish is a perfect option.

MAIN Ingredients Needed TO MAKE This Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe

  • Macaroni – Make sure to get 12 ounces. If you’re following this vegan recipe, use gluten-free noodles.

  • For the “Cheese” Sauce – you’ll need to grab a whole bunch of different ingredients to create a “cheese-like” sauce:
    • Olive oil
    • Yellow Onion
    • Russet Potatoes – make sure you peel and chop them!
    • Carrots
    • Garlic Cloves
    • Onion Powder
    • Vegetable Broth
    • Milk (non-dairy) – Use any plant based milk variety of your choice.
    • Nutritional Yeast (see tips) – This is an amazing ingredient for adding a cheesy flavor to the sauce!
    • Dijon Mustard
    • Lemon Juice
  • Breadcrumbs – My usual go-to is Panko breadcrumbs.

TIPS ON MAKING Vegan Baked Mac and Cheese

  • If you are not dairy-free, you can sub ½ cup of cheddar cheese (or any cheese you’d like) in place of nutritional yeast for a lightened up/veggie-packed mac & cheese. If using cheese, do not incorporate in the blender, instead add it into a pot with the sauce over low heat until the cheese melts, turn off the heat and add in your cooked pasta.

Vegan Baked Mac and Cheese (Gluten-Free)

0 from 0 votes
Recipe by Samantha Course: MainCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Medium
Servings

6

servings
Prep time

15

minutes
Cooking time

45

minutes
Calories

300

kcal
Total time

1

hour 

This vegan baked mac and cheese recipe is made with a dairy-free “cheese” sauce and topped with a delicious panko breadcrumb topping that is perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

  • 12 Ounces Macaroni, I used gluten-free

  • For the “cheese” sauce:
  • 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

  • 1 Cup Yellow Onion, diced

  • 1 Cup Russet Potatoes, peeled & chopped

  • 1 Cup Carrots, chopped

  • 3 Cloves of Garlic, minced

  • 1 Teaspoon Salt

  • ½ Teaspoon Garlic Powder

  • ½ Teaspoon Onion Powder

  • ½ Cup Vegetable Broth

  • ½ Cup Non-Dairy Milk

  • ½ Cup Nutritional Yeast, see Notes

  • 1 Teaspoon Dijon Mustard

  • 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice (about ½ lemon)

  • For the breadcrumb topping:
  • 1 cup Panko breadcrumbs, I used gluten-free

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 400° Fahrenheit and cook macaroni in a pot of salted boiling water until al dente, then drain and set aside.
  • Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat, add in the diced onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes.
  • Add in the potatoes, carrots, garlic, salt, garlic powder, and onion powder – cook for another 2-3 minutes.
  • Now add in the vegetable broth, cover with a lid, reduce heat to a simmer, and cook for about 10 minutes or until the vegetables are soft.
  • Once cooked, remove from the heat and let cool for 10-15 minutes before transferring to a blender along with the dairy-free milk, nutritional yeast, Dijon mustard, and lemon juice. Blend everything until completely smooth.
  • Toss vegan “cheese” sauce with pasta then transfer to a 9×13-inch baking dish.
  • Mix together breadcrumbs and olive oil in a bowl then sprinkle over top of pasta and bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly.

Recipe Video

Notes

  • Nutritional Yeast: If you are not dairy-free, you can sub ½ cup of cheddar cheese (or any cheese you’d like) in place of nutritional yeast for a lightened up/veggie-packed mac & cheese. If using cheese, do not incorporate in the blender, instead add it into a pot with the sauce over low heat until the cheese melts, turn off the heat and add in your cooked pasta.

Did you make this recipe?

Share it and tag @samdoesherbest on Instagram!

Like this recipe?

Follow us @samdoesherbest on Pinterest

MORE HEALTHY DINNER RECIPES