Fall Favorite: Turkey White Bean and Kale Soup

Turn leftover turkey into a healthy, flavorful soup. This hearty bean soup is perfect for a cool fall night and is an easy and filling meal to whip up. 

Kale and Leftover Turkey Soup

Leftover Turkey Soup with Kale

Add bacon to a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook for 3-5 minutes or until brown. Drain the bacon and remove all but 1 teaspoon of rendered bacon fat. Add the olive oil and the onion. Cook the onion for 3-5 minutes or until softened and translucent. Add the garlic and cook 1-2 minutes more or just until the garlic is slightly softened and fragrant. Add about a cup of chicken stock and use the edge of a wooden spoon to deglaze the bottom of the pan. Add the remaining stock, beans, turkey, kale, bay leaves, thyme, salt, and pepper. Bring the soup to a boil, stirring occasionally, and then reduce heat to medium-low. Continue cooking the soup at a simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove the bay leaves and serve warm with a sprinkling of the crisp bacon bits.

Photo by: Sam Henderson

Sam Henderson

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Ingredients:

  • 4 slices of bacon, chopped into small pieces
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 8 cups chicken stock
  • 4 cans cannellini beans, rinsed
  • 2 cups roasted turkey, cubed
  • 4 cups kale, thinly sliced
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon thyme
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1: Add bacon to a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook for 3-5 minutes or until brown. Drain the bacon and remove all but 1 teaspoon of rendered bacon fat.

2: Add the olive oil and the onion. Cook the onion for 3-5 minutes or until softened and translucent. Add the garlic and cook 1-2 minutes more or just until the garlic is slightly softened and fragrant.

3: Add about a cup of chicken stock and use the edge of a wooden spoon to deglaze the bottom of the pan.

4: Add the remaining stock, beans, turkey, kale, bay leaves, thyme, salt, and pepper. Bring the soup to a boil, stirring occasionally, and then reduce heat to medium-low. Continue cooking the soup at a simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

5: Remove the bay leaves and serve warm with a sprinkling of the crisp bacon bits. 

Hearty, Healthy Turkey Soup

Healthy, Hearty Turkey Soup

Add bacon to a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook for 3-5 minutes or until brown. Drain the bacon and remove all but 1 teaspoon of rendered bacon fat. Add the olive oil and the onion. Cook the onion for 3-5 minutes or until softened and translucent. Add the garlic and cook 1-2 minutes more or just until the garlic is slightly softened and fragrant. Add about a cup of chicken stock and use the edge of a wooden spoon to deglaze the bottom of the pan. Add the remaining stock, beans, turkey, kale, bay leaves, thyme, salt, and pepper. Bring the soup to a boil, stirring occasionally, and then reduce heat to medium-low. Continue cooking the soup at a simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove the bay leaves and serve warm with a sprinkling of the crisp bacon bits.

Photo by: Sam Henderson

Sam Henderson

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