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How to make homemade egg pasta at home that you can then roll out and make into any shape you want. This is my foolproof ratio of flour to egg, so you can make as much or as little as you need. I've also included instructions on how to make it by hand, with a food processor, or a KitchenAid mixer.

I actually learned how to make this fresh egg pasta in Italy on a soul sisters trip. We took a wonderful cooking class from an Italian Chef at a local cooking school. It was wonderful to see this simple technique taught in real time and learn that making homemade egg pasta really isn't that complicated.

After making your pasta you can toss it with some fresh marinara and basic, mushroom cream sauce or make pretty much any kind of pasta dish you want.

Ingredients

In the world of professional pasta making, the standard starting point is based on the weight of the flour. When making pasta, we need to hydrate the flour with a liquid. In this case its in the form of an egg.

The Math: For every 100g of flour, use 1 egg (60g), and ¼ of a teaspoon of salt (1.5 grams). If you are making dinner for four people, you generally want 400g of flour and 4 eggs, and one teaspoon of salt. The exact weight of your egg may vary, so if you've never made pasta before, it's best to weigh the egg and flour the first time around so you know what the pasta should feel like.

How To Make Pasta Dough

We are using the "fountain method" (or la fontana in Italian) to make the pasta.  It requires patience and a bit of a workout for your forearms, but it is not hard to do.

Making pasta is essentially creating an emulsion, similar to preparing a creamy sauce or fluffy buttercream. The mixing is the most important part. Gradually adding the flour helps ensure the flour is hydrated properly and that you stop adding flour as soon as you're at the right consistency. Trying to mix eggs and flour all at once can result in crumbly and dry bits of flour in your pasta and an inconsistent texture.

1. Create the Flour Well - On a large, clean work surface (wood or marble is ideal), pile your flour into a mound. Use the bottom of a bowl or your fingers to create a wide, deep hole in the center. Make sure the walls are thick and sturdy so the eggs do not leak out.
2. Add the Eggs - Crack the eggs into the center of the well. If you are using salt in the dough, sprinkle it directly onto the eggs now.
3. Whisk the Center - Use a fork to gently beat the eggs in the center of the well. Be careful not to puncture the flour walls yet. Once the eggs are blended, begin flicking small amounts of flour from the inner rim of the well into the egg mixture.
4. Incorporate the Flour - Continue whisking in a circular motion, pulling more flour from the walls until the center becomes a thick, custard-like paste. Once the mixture is thick enough that it will not run across the table, use a bench scraper or your hands to fold the remaining outer walls of flour over the center.
5. Form the Shaggy Mass - Work the flour and egg together until a rough, shaggy ball forms. If there are dry bits of flour that will not stick to the ball, do not force them in. Simply brush them aside. If the dough is too sticky to handle, add a tiny dusting of extra flour.
6. Knead the Dough - This is the most important step. Use the heel of your hand to push the dough away from you, then fold it back over itself, rotate it 90 degrees, and repeat. Do this firmly for 8 to 10 minutes. The dough is ready when it is smooth, elastic, and bounces back slowly when poked with a finger.
7. Rest the Dough - Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap to prevent it from drying out. Let it rest on the counter at room temperature for at least 30 minutes. This allows the gluten to relax, so the dough does not shrink back when you roll it out. Or you can refrigerate it and let it rest for up to 24 hours.
8. Roll and Shape - After the rest, dust your surface with a little more flour. Cut the dough into four pieces and roll them out one at a time to your desired thickness. Cut into ribbons for fettuccine or leave in sheets for lasagna.

How To Make Pasta With A Food Processor

Using a food processor is the ultimate "cheat code" for pasta. It handles the heavy lifting of hydration and initial gluten development in about 60 seconds, which normally takes 10 minutes by hand. If you have a food processor, this is the easiest way to make your pasta.

1. Prep the Dry Ingredients - Place the flour and salt into the bowl of a food processor fitted with the standard metal "S" blade. Pulse a few times to aerate the flour and distribute the salt evenly.
2. Add the Eggs - Turn the food processor on to a low or medium setting. While the motor is running, slowly pour the whisked eggs through the opening in a steady stream.
3. Process to "Wet Sand" Consistency - Continue processing for about 30 to 45 seconds. Watch the texture closely. You are looking for the mixture to transform from dry powder to small, pea-sized crumbs that look like wet, clumpy sand.
4. Test the Dough - Stop the processor and pinch a handful of the crumbs together. If the dough holds its shape and feels like Play-Doh, it is ready. If it is still powdery and falls apart, add a teaspoon of water and pulse again. If it is a sticky glob, add a tablespoon of flour and pulse.
5. Form the Ball - Turn the crumbly mixture out onto a clean work surface. Gather the crumbs with your hands and press them together into a solid ball. Because the processor did the mixing, you only need to knead this dough by hand for about 2 minutes to make it perfectly smooth.
6. Rest the Dough - Wrap the ball tightly in plastic wrap. Let the dough rest at room temperature for at least 30 minutes. This is even more important with the food processor method because the high-speed blades "stretch" the gluten quite aggressively, so it needs time to relax. Or you can refrigerate the dough overnight and use it the next day.
7. Shape and Cook - After the rest, your dough is ready to be rolled through a pasta machine or with a rolling pin.

How To Make Fresh Pasta In A Stand Mixer

Using a stand mixer is the perfect middle ground between the manual "well" method and the high-speed food processor. It saves your arms from the heavy kneading while still giving you that traditional dough texture.

Most people use the Paddle Attachment to mix and the Dough Hook to knead.

1. Combine Dry Ingredients - Place your flour and salt into the mixer bowl. Give it a quick stir with a whisk or the paddle attachment on the lowest speed to distribute the salt.
2. Add the Eggs - Create a small dip in the center of the flour. Pour in your lightly whisked eggs.
3. The "Shaggy" Phase - Attach the Paddle Attachment. Turn the mixer to the lowest speed (usually "Stir" or "1"). Mix until the flour and eggs start to clump together and the dough begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl. This should take about 30 to 60 seconds.
4. The Kneading Phase - Switch out the paddle for the Dough Hook. Turn the mixer to speed 2 (never go higher than speed 2 for heavy dough, or you risk damaging the mixer's gears).
5. Knead by Machine - Let the dough hook work for about 5 to 8 minutes.
   • The Goal: The dough should form a smooth, solid ball that is slightly tacky but doesn't stick to the bowl or your fingers.
   • The Adjustment: If the dough is sticking to the bottom, add a tablespoon of flour. If it looks like dry pebbles that won't form a ball, add a teaspoon of water or an extra egg yolk.
6. The Manual Finish - Take the dough out of the bowl and knead it by hand for just 1 minute on a clean surface. This helps you "feel" if the hydration is perfect and ensures the ball is tight and smooth.
7. Rest and Roll - Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and let it rest for at least 30 minutes before rolling it out with your machine attachments or a rolling pin.

Why Use the Stand Mixer?

• Consistency: The dough hook provides a very even, rhythmic knead that mimics a professional baker's hands.
• Cleanliness: Unlike the "well" method, there is zero risk of an "egg volcano" leaking onto your floor.
• Cooler Dough: Unlike the food processor, the stand mixer doesn't generate heat, which keeps the egg proteins from getting too warm before the rest phase.

Pro-Tip for Attachments

If you have the Pasta Roller Attachment for your stand mixer, it is much easier to use than a hand-crank machine because you have both hands free to guide the long sheets of dough. Just remember to keep the mixer on a low speed (usually 2 or 3) while rolling.

How To Roll Out Pasta

Using a pasta machine attachment if you have a kitchenaid mixer is the best way to get those professional, paper-thin sheets that are nearly impossible to achieve with a rolling pin. Whether you have a hand-crank model or an electric attachment, the process is exactly the same.

1. Prepare the Dough

After your dough has rested for at least 30 minutes, cut it into 4 equal workable pieces. Keep the pieces you aren't using wrapped in plastic wrap so they do not develop a dry crust.

2. The Initial Flattening

Set your pasta machine to the widest setting (usually labeled "0" or "1"). Flatten one piece of dough with the palm of your hand into a rough oval shape. Dust it lightly with flour.

3. The First Pass and the "Lamination"

Run the dough through the widest setting. Now, perform a letter fold: fold the dough into thirds (like a piece of mail) and run it through the widest setting again, perpendicular to the fold.

• Why? This step, called lamination, further aligns the gluten and ensures a uniform rectangular shape for your sheet. Repeat this fold 2 or 3 times on the widest setting.

4. Narrowing the Gap

Once the dough is smooth and rectangular, stop folding. Turn the dial to the next narrowest setting and run the dough through once.

• The Rule: Pass the dough through each setting only once. Do not skip settings, as this can overstress the motor (if electric) or tear the delicate dough.

5. Managing the Length

As the dough gets thinner, it will become very long. Use the back of your hand to support the sheet as it exits the rollers so it doesn't stretch or fold over on itself.

• Pro-Tip: If the sheet becomes too long to handle, feel free to cut it in half crosswise and continue rolling the two smaller sheets separately.

6. The "Transparency" Test

Continue rolling until you reach your desired thickness.

• Fettuccine/Tagliatelle: Usually setting 5 or 6.
• Ravioli/Linguine: Usually setting 7 or 8.
• The Test: You should be able to see the silhouette of your hand through the sheet of pasta when you hold it up to the light.

Troubleshooting the Machine

Issue	Solution
Dough is "shredding" at the edges	The dough is too dry. Fold it up, add a drop of water, and start back at the widest setting.
Dough is rippling or sticking	The dough is too wet. Dust the sheet generously with flour before the next pass.
Dark streaks on the pasta	This is usually machine oil. Wipe the rollers with a dry paper towel (never use water to clean a pasta machine!).

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Note: Never wash your pasta machine with water or soap. It will rust the internal gears. Simply let any stray bits of dough dry out, then brush them away with a dry pastry brush or a toothpick.

Troubleshooting Problems

Even with a perfect ratio, variables like the humidity in your kitchen or the size of your eggs can throw things off. Here is how to handle the two most common "disasters":

The Dough is Too Dry (Crumbly/Sandy)

If you've been kneading for 5 minutes and the dough still looks like a dry sponge or won't stay in a ball, it needs moisture.

• The Fix: Do not pour water directly onto the dough. Instead, dip your hands in warm water and continue kneading. This adds moisture in tiny, manageable increments. Repeat until the dough gathers all the stray flour.

The Dough is Too Sticky (Tacky/Stretching)

If the dough is sticking to your hands or the countertop like glue, it's over-hydrated.

• The Fix: Lightly dust your work surface with flour and knead it in. Only add a tablespoon at a time. The goal is a dough that feels like "earlobe" or "play-dough" consistency-soft but not sticky.

The Most Important Step: The Rest

The biggest mistake people make is trying to roll out the dough immediately after kneading. The gluten is "tight" and angry at this stage.

Crucial Rule: Wrap your dough tightly in plastic wrap and let it sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes (up to 2 hours). This allows the flour to fully hydrate and the gluten to relax, making it easy to roll paper-thin without it snapping back.

How To Store Fresh Pasta

If you are cooking the pasta later the same day, you can leave it out at room temperature.

1. Toss with Flour: Generously dust the cut pasta with semolina or all-purpose flour so the strands do not stick together.
2. Make "Nests": Twirl small portions of the pasta into loose bird-nest shapes on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
3. Cover: Drape a clean, dry kitchen towel over the nests to keep dust off and prevent them from becoming too brittle

Refrigerating fresh pasta is tricky because the moisture in the eggs can make the dough gummy.

1. Air Dry First: Let the pasta nests sit out on a tray for about 30 minutes to "surface dry."
2. Airtight Container: Place the semi-dry nests into an airtight container or a sealed freezer bag.
3. Chill: Store in the fridge for no more than 1 day. If you wait longer, the dough often turns an unappetizing gray color due to oxidation.

Freezing fresh pasta is actually the preferred method for most chefs because it preserves the "fresh" flavor better than the fridge does.

1. Flash Freeze: Place your flour-dusted nests on a baking sheet in a single layer. Put the whole tray in the freezer for 1 hour until the nests are frozen solid.
2. Bag It: Transfer the frozen nests into a heavy-duty freezer bag. Squeeze out as much air as possible.
3. Cook from Frozen: Do not thaw the pasta before cooking. Drop the frozen nests directly into boiling salted water. They will only need about an extra minute of cook time compared to fresh.

If you want to dry pasta, you need a very dry environment and a pasta drying rack. However, for egg-based pasta, home-drying can be risky due to the raw eggs. Stick to freezing for the safest and best-tasting results.

How To Cook Fresh Pasta

Cooking fresh pasta is a "blink, and you'll miss it" situation. Unlike dried boxed pasta, which can take 10 to 12 minutes, fresh egg pasta usually cooks in 2 to 4 minutes.

The exact timing depends on the thickness of your dough and the shape you created.

Cooking Times by Shape

• Angel Hair or Thin Tagliolini: 1 to 2 minutes
• Fettuccine or Pappardelle: 3 to 4 minutes
• Hand-shaping (Orecchiette or Gnocchi): 4 to 5 minutes
• Filled Pasta (Ravioli or Tortellini): 4 to 6 minutes

How to Tell When It Is Done

There are three main signs that your pasta is ready to meet the sauce:

1. The Float Test: As the proteins in the egg coagulate and the starches swell, the pasta becomes more buoyant. When the noodles or ravioli rise to the surface of the boiling water and stay there, they are almost finished.
2. The Color Change: Fresh pasta will turn a shade or two lighter as it cooks. It loses that "translucent" raw dough look and becomes opaque.
3. The Taste Test: This is the only foolproof method. Take a strand out with tongs, dip it in cool water for a split second, and bite. It should be tender but still have a slight "spring" or resistance in the center.

Two Critical Rules for Fresh Pasta

• Use a Huge Pot: Fresh pasta is starchier than dried pasta. If you use a small pot, the water will turn into a thick "slurry" and your noodles will stick together in a giant clump. Use at least 4 quarts of water for every pound of pasta.
• The "Carryover" Cook: Always pull your pasta out of the water about 30 seconds before you think it is perfect. It will continue to cook when you toss it in the hot sauce.

Pro-Tip: Save a mug of the starchy pasta water before you drain it. If your sauce looks too thick or dry when you add the noodles, a splash of that "liquid gold" will create a silky, restaurant-quality finish.

Recipe

Speculaaskruiden is a cozy, old-school Dutch spice blend that's basically made for baking season. It's most famously used in speculaas cookies - those crisp, buttery shortbread-style cookies you might also know as speculoos or classic windmill cookies.

In the Netherlands, this spice mix shows up every year around Sinterklaas and Christmas, and once you smell it baking, it instantly feels like the holidays.
I first used this spice when re-creating the famous amsterdam dutch apple pie from Winkels.

Ingredients

Recipes for speculaaskruiden vary slightly by household and baker, but these are the usual spices.

• Cinnamon (the dominant flavor)
• Cloves
• Nutmeg
• Ginger
• Mace
• Cardamom
• White pepper
• Anise seed (optional, for an extra licorice note)
• Coriander seed (optional) 

History

Speculaaskruiden has its roots in the Dutch Golden Age, back when the Netherlands was a major trading power, and spices were luxury items. During the 1600s, the Dutch East India Company brought cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, and cardamom from Asia into Europe. These warm spices were expensive and highly prized, so using them was a sign of wealth and celebration.

Over time, Dutch bakers began combining these spices into a signature blend that became known as speculaaskruiden. It was most commonly used in speculaas cookies, which were traditionally baked for Sinterklaas celebrations in early December. The cookies were often pressed into carved wooden molds depicting windmills, saints, or everyday scenes, turning them into both food and storytelling.

Because spices were costly, speculaas was originally reserved for special occasions. As spices became more accessible, the blend stuck around and became a nostalgic staple of Dutch holiday baking. Every family and bakery had their own preferred ratios, which is why no two speculaaskruiden blends are exactly the same.

Today, speculaaskruiden is still deeply tied to holiday traditions in the Netherlands, but it's also traveled far beyond cookies. You'll find it in cakes, breads, coffee, and even savory dishes - basically anywhere those warm, spiced, wintery flavors feel right. It's one of those blends that instantly connects food to history, trade, and celebration, all in one bite.

Common Uses

While best known for speculaas cookies, the spice mix is versatile and can be used in a variety of other dishes:

• Baked goods: Pepernoten, kruidnoten, cakes, Dutch apple pie, and gingerbread.
• Beverages: Added to coffee, tea, or hot chocolate.
• Other uses: Mixed into oatmeal, pancakes, or even savory beef stews and roasted vegetables. 

You can purchase ready-made mixes in Dutch supermarkets or easily make your own at home to adjust the flavor profile to your preference. 

How To Make Speculaaskruiden

1. Simply mix all your spices together and store them in a jar!

Recipe

Every year when the holidays roll in, my kitchen basically turns into Santa's workshop… if Santa ran a bakery and had an unhealthy attachment to sheet pans and parchment paper. Homemade edible gifts are my go-to because they feel thoughtful, personal, and honestly way more special than anything store-bought. You can batch a few of these ahead of time, wrap them up beautifully, and suddenly you're the person everyone quietly hopes draws their name for Secret Santa.

Here are my favorite edible gifts, from easy classics to show-stoppers that make people gasp when they unwrap them.

1. French Macarons

Just a few pastel French macarons in a clear box and you instantly look like a fancy pâtisserie. They're customizable, impressive, and surprisingly addictive. Some of my favorite flavors are chocolate macarons, pistachio macarons, Italian macarons, and strawberry macarons!

2. Homemade Chocolate Bars

Melt, decorate, chill. That's it. Add nuts, dried fruit, candies, or edible glitter, and they look like gourmet chocolate from a boutique shop. Homemade chocolate bars recipe.

3. Pâte de Fruit

These jewel-toned fruit jellies are sweet on the inside and tart on the outside. Like a gorgeous sparkly sweet and sour gummy! Pate de fruit look stunning and are incredibly simple to create.

4. Gummy Bears

Gummy bears are so fun to make! Start with your favorite juice, rose wine, or candy flavoring, and done! Place them in a cute jar with a ribbon and you have the perfect gift.

5. French Butter

Homemade French butter molded into beautiful flowers or wrapped in some parchment paper with some twine? Ridiculously charming and so easy to make!

6. Sourdough Bread

A warm loaf wrapped in parchment with a ribbon feels like the coziest gift imaginable. Rustic sourdough, soft sandwich bread, honey wheat bread, sourdough blueberry focaccia, or crusty focaccia are all amazing ideas that everyone will love as a gift.

7. Homemade Vanilla Extract

Homemade vanilla extract is one of those gifts that everyone loves because they know it takes time and patience to make. I love these bottles with custom-dated labels! So cute!

8. Homemade Italian Limoncello

Limoncello is bright, citrusy, and perfect for gifting! Super easy to make too!

9. Caramel Sauce

Thick, buttery, and smooth salted caramel sauce. Perfect for drizzling on everything. A small jar makes a huge impression. You can make a bourbon caramel by adding a couple of Tablespoons of the good stuff right at the end.

10. Soft Caramels

Soft and chewy homemade caramels wrapped individually in parchment feel nostalgic and luxurious-exactly what an edible gift should be.

11. Rosemary Salt (Very Easy)

Rosemary salt only takes a minute to make and tastes amazing on roasted potatoes, chicken, steak, popcorn-everything. Package it up with a cute little jar and a gift tag, and you have the perfect gift for anyone.

12. Gingerbread Cookies

Warm spices, crisp edges, and a chewy center. These soft gingerbread cookies smell like Christmas the moment they come out of the oven and are so fun to gift in pretty little boxes.

13. Sugar Cookies

Sugar cookies are classic and so versatile! These no-spread cookies are fun for the whole family to decorate and then gift together.

14. Candied Almonds

Candied almonds are sweet, crunchy, and completely irresistible. Ideal for jars or small treat bags.

15. Homemade Lemon Curd

Nothing says luxury and love like a small jar of homemade lemon curd with a pretty bow. Perfect for serving with homemade scones.

16. Hot Chocolate Bombs

Hot chocolate bombs are fun, trendy, and perfect for kids, teachers, neighbors… basically everyone.

17. Butter Cookies

I LOVED getting a tin of Danish butter cookies when I was a kid and making them from scratch is my new obsession. Easier than you think and tastes INCREDIBLE!

18. Kohakutou

Japanese crystal candies that look like edible gemstones. Kohakutou crystal candies have gone viral on TikTok for a good reason! They are totally unique and shockingly simple to make.

19. Homemade Marshmallows

Homemade marshmallows are fluffier, softer, and way more magical than store-bought. These look so cute in a gifted mug with hot cocoa mix!

20. Chocolate Truffle

Silky ganache rolled in cocoa powder, nuts, sprinkles, or crushed candy canes. Elegant, decadent, and surprisingly simple. Chocolate truffles are SO easy to make and look so pretty in a gift box!

21. Lemon Loaf

Wrap slices of delicious lemon loaf in parchment and tie with twine for a bakery-style gift or bake inside a decorative loaf pan and top with candied lemons for a jaw-dropping gift!

22. Christmas Crack

Named Christmas Crack because it's so hard to stop munching on once you start! Buttery toffee over salty crackers topped with chocolate and festive sprinkles. Truly addictive and practically effortless.

23 Panettone

Panettone is a gorgeous, fluffy Italian Christmas bread. Soft, buttery, fluffy, and packed full of Christmas flavor like candied oranges, dried cranberries, currents and more! Making them in small panettone wrappers makes them easy to gift!

24. Candied Pecans

Sweet, crunchy, and addictive! Candied pecans are perfect for topping salads… or eating by the handful. They gift beautifully in small jars.

25. Copycat Crumbl Chocolate Chip Cookies

These giant bakery-style chocolate chip crumbl cookies are soft in the middle, golden on the edges, and absolutely loaded with melty chocolate chips. They make such a fun homemade gift. Handing someone a warm, oversized cookie that tastes exactly like the real thing is basically an automatic best-friend maker. You can switch up the chips with chunks, mini chips, or even swirl in a little dulce de leche for a holiday twist.

26. Homemade Brownies

Classic, fudgy brownies wrapped in parchment squares make such a cozy, personal gift. Top with some chocolate ganache and festive sprinkles for extra fun!

27. Dulce de Leche

Slow-cooked caramelized milk that's rich, creamy, and unbelievably good. Package this dulce de leche in pretty jars, and it becomes the gift everyone fights over.

28. Copycat Lofthouse Cookies

Soft, cakey, and topped with that nostalgic swirl of frosting-these are always a hit. Copycat lofthouse cookies feel playful and cozy, and they're perfect for boxing up as a sweet, colorful gift. You can customize the frosting color for any holiday or theme, which makes them extra fun to give.

29. Lemon Shortbread Cookies

Buttery, crisp, and bursting with lemon zest, these lemon shortbread cookies feel elegant and timeless. They pack beautifully, last for days, and only get better as they sit. A simple dusting of sugar or a light lemon glaze makes them look gift-ready instantly.

Turkey soup is honestly one of my favorite parts of the whole holiday. I know the leftover Thanksgiving turkey moment is supposed to be about sandwiches, but once you've simmered a big cozy pot of delicious turkey soup on the stove top, you'll see why this is the best way to turn turkey leftovers into something you'll crave the next day. This homemade turkey soup recipe has tender turkey, carrots, celery, fresh thyme, and a rich, delicious broth made from turkey broth, chicken broth, or even homemade turkey stock, depending on what you've got. It's hearty, comforting, and the perfect way to stretch every part of your roast turkey.

The first time I made turkey noodle soup was years ago when I was staring at a turkey carcass the morning after Thanksgiving and thinking, "this has to be good for something." I tossed the turkey bones into a large stock pot with enough water, a bay leaf or two, celery stalks, and some black pepper, and by the time it finished simmering on medium-low heat, I had the most flavorful homemade turkey stock.

Since then, it's become my great way to turn holiday leftovers into a hearty soup that everyone actually looks forward to. And honestly, chicken stock or vegetable broth from the grocery store works perfectly too, so don't feel like you need to get fancy unless you want to. If you do want to make your own turkey carcass soup, I'll link my favorite slow cooker and instant pot options below.

Ingredients

Classic soup ingredients are used here. Nothing crazy, and of course, you can switch out pretty much anything with what you have on hand and make a million variations!

• I start with one medium onion, diced into small pieces so they melt into the soup. Onion is the base of so much flavor and works beautifully with poultry seasoning, fresh thyme, and turkey meat.
• Carrots bring that sweet earthy flavor and gorgeous color. I dice four large carrots the same size so they cook evenly in the large pot.
• Celery stalks add the aromatic backbone that every delicious soup needs. Three stalks, diced, are enough to perfume the entire large soup pot without overpowering the turkey
• Butter gives the vegetables richness, especially since we're building a roux with all-purpose flour.
• Garlic cloves are essential. Two is perfect for deep savory flavor without becoming too intense.
• All-purpose flour thickens the soup just enough so it feels cozy and satisfying without turning into gravy. You want a soft velvety texture. If you want it even thicker, you can stir in a cornstarch slurry at the end.
• Turkey meat is the star. You'll need two to three cups of cooked chopped turkey, shredded or diced. Leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken also works if your turkey leftovers are running low. Leftover gravy can be whisked in too-seriously, it adds so much flavor.
• Turkey broth or chicken broth forms the base, about eight cups total. Homemade turkey stock, turkey broth from a box, chicken stock, vegetable broth… anything works. Cold water plus turkey bones works if you want to make your own.
• Italian seasoning gives the soup warmth, and poultry seasoning also works beautifully here if that's what you've got on hand. You can also use fresh herbs.
• Bay leaf or bay leaves give that classic comforting taste, especially in turkey noodle soup or hearty wild rice versions.
• Mushrooms add deep umami. I love cremini mushrooms in this because they stay firm and give the soup so much flavor. You can use egg noodles instead if you like!
• Fresh parsley brings brightness at the end, totally optional but worth it.
• Salt, pepper, garlic salt, Worcestershire sauce, and chili oil balance everything and help bring out the best flavor.
• Leftover soup stores beautifully in an airtight container and tastes even better the next day.

Step-by-Step Instructions

This recipe comes together in a flash! A fantastic way to use leftovers and when you're short on time.

1. Set a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add a splash of olive oil and half the butter. Sauté the sliced mushrooms until they are golden brown, then set aside.
2. Add the rest of the butter and then sauté the onion, carrots, celery, and garlic until softened.
3. Sprinkle in the flour and stir for about a minute. Let it coat the vegetables and cook off the raw taste.
4. Slowly whisk in the turkey broth or chicken broth, scraping the bottom of the pot.
5. Add the Italian seasoning, poultry seasoning (if using), bay leaf, mushrooms, salt, pepper, garlic salt, Worcestershire, and chili oil.
6. Stir in the cooked chopped turkey and let everything simmer on medium-low heat for about 20-25 minutes until the veggies are tender and the soup is thickened slightly.
7. Taste and adjust seasonings, then stir in fresh parsley.
8. If you're adding egg noodles, white rice, or wild rice blend, do that at the end and simmer just until tender.
9. Remove the bay leaf and serve hot with crusty bread.

Final Thoughts

Turkey soup is truly the perfect way to use holiday leftovers without feeling like you're eating the same meal over and over again. Whether you start with leftover Thanksgiving turkey, leftover chicken, rotisserie chicken, or a full-on turkey carcass soup, you end up with a delicious turkey soup that feels like a warm hug in a bowl.

Frequently Asked Questions

Recipe