Main Dish, Savory, Soup, How To Brenda Drake + Chelsea Kasen Main Dish, Savory, Soup, How To Brenda Drake + Chelsea Kasen

HOW TO: Turkey Bone Broth

Don’t throw away that turkey carcass! Instead, make Turkey Broth or Stock with the leftover carcass, then use this broth to make Turkey Gravy or Turkey Noodle Soup. Yum!

Thanksgiving is a beautiful time where we remember, gather, celebrate, and eat! Turkey is a traditional favorite, and if you’re the one privileged to roast the big bird, Brenda recommends that you also make Turkey Bone Broth. You can use Turkey Bone Broth for these recipes:


HOW TO: Turkey Bone Broth

Make Turkey Broth or Stock with the leftover carcass

*Turkey has been carved, leaving the stripped bones.

  • Prepare a large stockpot or 8-qt pot by adding ~2-qt’s water

  • Remove turkey skin and discard immediately

  • All those bones and anything clinging to them go into the pot

  • Sprinkle in some rosemary and thyme, add a clove or two of fresh garlic

  • Cover and set to low and let it be for the next 12-24 hours

  • Drain & strain

    • set up a mesh strainer over a 4-qt pot & pour the broth through the strainer

    • for refrigeration, transfer to quart jars

  • Refrigerate for up to 1 week or use immediately

Prefer stock over broth? Throw some veggies or veggie scraps in the pot before cooking.


Thanksgiving Dinner Bonus Tip

Keep the carved turkey hot in a slow cooker

This is the best Thanksgiving trick Brenda ever learned since it keeps the turkey hot without drying it out.

  • The turkey just finished roasting = internal temp 165F

    • Insert instant-read thermometer in the thickest part of the breast or the innermost part of the thigh to test

  • Remove turkey from oven and let rest, 10-30 minutes

  • While waiting, prep a slow cooker, set to “warm” or “low” with about 1/2 cup broth or water added to the pot

  • Drain & strain cooking broth from the cooked turkey (use for gravy)

    • set up a mesh strainer over a 4-qt pot & pour the broth through the strainer

  • Carve turkey, placing beautiful slices directly in the warmed slow cooker

  • The turkey will stay hot, without drying out, and can be transferred to a platter for Thanksgiving dinner

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Main Dish, Savory, Pasta, Soup Brenda Drake + Chelsea Kasen Main Dish, Savory, Pasta, Soup Brenda Drake + Chelsea Kasen

Turkey Noodle Soup

Still have leftover turkey from Thanksgiving? Look no further! Make this delicious Turkey Noodle Soup to warm your soul.

Still have leftover turkey from Thanksgiving? Look no further! Make this delicious Turkey Noodle Soup to warm your soul.


Turkey Noodle Soup

In a large soup pot, sauté:

1 tsp oil

1/2 cup onions, finely diced

1 clove garlic, minced

Then add:

6-8 cups turkey broth

1/2 tsp dried rosemary, crushed

1/4 tsp dried sage, ground

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

Bring to boil, then add:

8 oz pasta

Cook until tender (7-12 minutes), stir in:

1-2 cups turkey, chopped

Serve hot.


Brenda’s tips:

  • Serving Size: 4 servings

  • This is the best way to use leftover turkey.

  • Always taste-test soup. Salt is a bit finicky in broth and sometimes more will be needed than the recipe suggests.

  • Brenda often makes the noodles from scratch because that is the way her mother always made turkey noodle. Here is how.

  • You can always make Turkey Bone Broth from your Thanksgiving turkey bones, or replace with chicken broth.

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Main Dish, Soup Brenda Drake + Chelsea Kasen Main Dish, Soup Brenda Drake + Chelsea Kasen

Homemade Soup Noodles

Have Thanksgiving leftovers? Make homemade turkey soup with homemade soup noodles. The noodles are easier to make than you’d think!

Homemade Soup Noodles

In a medium bowl, whisk together:

1 egg

2 Tbsp water

1/4 tsp salt

3/4 cup flour

Dough should be shaggy. Knead, sprinkle regularly with:

1 Tbsp flour, repeating, to total 1/4-1/2 cup

Once smooth, cover and let rest 15 minutes. On a lightly floured surface, roll out as large sheet, about 1/16”-1/8” thick. Cut 1/4” rows to form noodles. Or use a pasta machine for same results.

Drop into boiling broth, keeping noodles separated to prevent clumps that won’t cook. Stir periodically.

Noodles need to boil 8-12 minutes. 


Brenda’s tips:

  • Serving Size: 4 servings

  • Brenda often made this with her mother and learned that fresh noodles require more careful care. She learned to have broth at a rolling boil and to drop the noodles in one by one. You may question if the first-in will be entirely cooked and the last-in will be raw? Practice, you’ll get an entire batch added in less than a minute, even adding individually.

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