Leftover Turkey Barley Soup - Easy Budget Recipes (2024)

The recipe prices will vary based on fluctuating grocery costs. Please use what is posted as a guide.

Turkey Barley Soup is a great way to use leftover turkey. It takes just 20 minutes to make, it’s nutritious, and it’s the best turkey soup ever!

Our Leftover Turkey Barley soup serves six and costs about $5.52 to make, which is only $0.92 per serving.

We love this soup after the holidays, but you can easily swap out the turkey for chicken and enjoy it all soup season long. For more soup recipes, do not miss out on our Slow Cooker Gnocchi Soup, Chicken Noodle Soup, or our Slow Cooker Italian Harvest Soup.

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Table of Contents

Leftover Turkey Soup

There is an unwritten rule that the day after a holiday is for relaxing and eating leftovers.This Turkey and Barley Soup is the perfect solution for the day after a holiday meal. It is easy to make and uses up your leftover turkey, giving you another option besides turkey sandwiches.

Our Leftover Turkey Soup recipe is packed full of veggies and herbs. The soup is not only healthy but also filling. It takes just a few minutes to prepare, so you are not spending another full day in the kitchen prepping meals.

Now you can veg out and still get your veggies in with this Turkey Soup!

What is the difference between pearl barley and quick barley?

Quick barley has been quick steamed, allowing it to cook in just 15 minutes compared to pearl barley, which can take hours. For this recipe, I recommend quick barley since it is a quick and easy meal.

Is Barley Soup healthy for you?

Barley is a good source of vitamins, fiber, and minerals, making it a healthy grain. Add in with the veggies in this soup, and you have a healthy soup to enjoy.

Does barley need to be cooked before adding to soup?

You do not need to pre-cook the barley before adding it to the soup. The barley will cook in the broth while making the soup.

How much will this Turkey Barley Soup recipe cost to make:

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RECIPE COST: $5.52

PRICE PER SERVING: $0.92

1 Tablespoon vegetable oil –$0.03
1 small onion –$0.28
2 large carrots –$0.28
2 celery stalks –$0.18
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning –$0.13
6 cups chicken broth –$1.86
2/3 cup quick-cooking barley – $0.32
2 cups leftover Turkey –$2.08
1/4 cup fresh parsley –$0.22

To find out more about how we price our recipes, check out Budget Recipes Explained.

How to make Turkey Soup from leftovers:

STEP ONE:First, heat oil in a large dutch oven over medium heat. Then add in the veggies to cook.

STEP TWO:Next, add in the garlic and Italian seasoning to cook for one minute. After that, pour in the broth and barley.

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STEP THREE:Allow the soup to cook for 15 minutes. Then add the turkey and parsley and cook for another two minutes.

STEP FOUR: Add salt and pepper to taste before serving.

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Cook’s Tools:

Soup Ladle
Dutch Oven
measuring cups
cutting board
knives
measuring spoons
liquid measuring cup

The Flavor and Recipe Variations

Instead of leftover turkey, you can use chicken or leftover ham.

If you don’t have Italian seasoning, then you can use poultry seasoning.

Chicken Broth Alternatives

This quick and easy recipe uses boxed chicken broth, which is excellent if you are in a hurry. However, you can easily make your own turkey broth using the carcass from your leftover turkey.

To make your own broth, combine the carcass with some onions, carrots, celery, parsley, garlic, peppercorns, and bay leaves in a stockpot. Cover with cold water and simmer for 2 hours, skimming away any foam or fat as needed.

How long is it good for:

Serve: As with most recipes, you shouldn’t leave this soup out for longer than 2 hours.

Store:Like most soups, this recipe warms up nicely. When using leftover turkey from the day before, this soup can be enjoyed up to four days when properly stored in an airtight container. Barley does soak up the broth, so sometimes I add a little extra chicken broth with leftovers.

Freeze: Once the finished soup has cooled, place the soup in freezer-safe Ziploc bags or freezer-safe containers. Freeze for up to 6 months. To reheat: Thaw the soup in the refrigerator overnight and then heat in a saucepan until heated through. You may need to add more chicken broth when reheating.

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How to get the kids involved with this recipe:

Ages 2-3: Let your little one put the veggies in the pot. They can also help put the garnishes on top for the finishing touch!

Ages 4-5:Have your little one practice measuring and counting skills by pouring in the chicken broth. Your kiddo can also measure and pour in the seasoning and barley.

Ages 6-8: Teaching proper knife safety; let your child chop up the veggies. We love this Kids’ Starter Knife set.

Ages 9-11: Supervise them while they prepare the entire recipe. Remember to have them read it twice before beginning the recipe.

Ages 12+: Let them prepare the entire recipe, unsupervised, while you do the happy dance in the corner!

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1 Hour French Bread
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Chick-Fil-A Copycat Frosted Lemonade
Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Bites
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Turkey Barley Soup

Recipe Cost 5.52

Serving Cost 0.92

Course Main Course, Soup

Cuisine American

Turkey Barley Soup is a great way to use leftover turkey. It takes just 20 minutes to make, it’s nutritious, and it’s the best turkey soup ever!

Servings: 6 people

Equipment

soup ladle
Dutch oven
measuring cups
cutting board
knives
Measuring spoons
Liquid measuring cup

Ingredients

1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 small yellow onion chopped
2 large carrots chopped
2 large celery stalks chopped
2 large garlic cloves minced
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
6 cups chicken broth
⅔ cup quick-cooking barley
2 cups leftover turkey chopped
¼ cup fresh parsley chopped

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

Heat oil in a large dutch oven over medium heat. Cook onion, carrots, and celery stalks for about 5 minutes or until tender.
Add garlic and Italian seasoning and cook for 1 additional minute.
Pour in chicken broth and add barley. Cover and cook for 15 minutes.
Add the turkey and parsley and cook for 2 more minutes or until heated through.
Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve.

Notes

Crockpot Instructions:
You can make this meal in the crockpot too! Start by sweating the veggies in the microwave for 5 minutes before adding them to the slow cooker. Next, add the seasonings and broth. Cook on high for 2 hours. Add the turkey, barley, and parsley and cook an additional hour before serving.

Nutrition

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Leftover Turkey Barley Soup - Easy Budget Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Can you use 5 day old turkey in soup? ›

USDA recommends using cooked turkey within 3 to 4 days, kept refrigerated (40°F or less).

Tell Me More ›

Is barley soup good for a diet? ›

Apart from this, barley is rich in iron, magnesium and several other minerals that help in boosting immunity. Barley keeps you satiated for a longer duration of time and curbs odd hunger cravings, which help in managing weight effectively and improve metabolism as well.

What happens if you don't soak barley? ›

Do you have to soak barley before cooking? Pearl barley does not need to be soaked prior to cooking because it cooks quickly. Hulled barley benefits from soaking in water for a few hours before cooking. However, you should still budget more time for the hulled grain to cook (about 35 to 40 minutes).

What are the side effects of too much barley? ›

However, if you consume too much of it, its fiber content can cause stomach cramps, constipation, bloating, and gas. Unwanted weight gain. Barley water is high in calories per serving. You can further increase the calorie count if you add fruit juices or sweeteners like honey to your barley water mix.

Show Me More ›

Is barley good for diabetics? ›

Barley may help lower blood sugar and insulin levels, which may reduce your risk of diabetes. Whole-grain barley is a good source of fiber, including the soluble fiber beta-glucan, which slows the absorption of sugar by binding with it in your digestive tract ( 7 ).

Tell Me More ›

What is the difference between pearl barley and hulled barley? ›

The main difference between hulled barley and pearl barley is how they are processed. Hulled barley is made up of grains that have only had their outer husks removed, which are indigestible. Hulled barley has a darker and slightly tan color. Pearl barley grains have had both their outer husks and bran layers removed.

Learn More Now ›

Why is my barley gummy? ›

For starters, make sure you're cooking your barley correctly — if you don't love its texture, you might be either undercooking or overcooking it. Remember that when cooking barley on the stove, it will take a while: bring the barley to a boil then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for at least 30 minutes.

Discover More Details ›

How long can you eat turkey in soup after Thanksgiving? ›

Turkey: 3-4 days.

If you use the turkey in a new dish like a soup or casserole, only consume within those initial four days. Another option is freezing the cooked turkey. Turkey can last up to four more months if frozen.

Get More Info ›

Can I eat chicken soup after 5 days? ›

For best safety and quality, plan to eat refrigerated soup within 3 to 4 days or freeze it. And avoid letting soup set at room temperature for more than TWO hours. Don't put a large pot of hot soup directly into your refrigerator.

Keep Reading ›

Is 5 day old soup OK? ›

A general rule of thumb is that soup can be stored in the refrigerator for about three days, but you should always taste your dish before deciding to reheat. A clear, vegetable-based soup with some acidity, such as tomatoes, may last longer. Chicken soup usually lasts three to five days.