This Creamy Mexican Turkey Soup is healthy, creamy and so delicious!
It’s nice to plan ahead for the day after you roast your turkey. You’re going to want some recipes for your turkey leftovers! This Creamy Mexican Turkey Soup is one recipe you’ll want to try using that leftover turkey. I make it every year after Thanksgiving, and it’s always a big hit in our house.
What makes this a “Mexican” soup? It can be described better as “Mexican-style.” Chiles, chili powder, cumin and fresh cilantro are included in this lightly spiced soup. It’s not spicy unless you use spicy chiles.
How to make Mexican Turkey Soup:
The first thing you’ll do is sauté your vegetables (carrots, celery, onion and garlic). Then you’ll add in the broth, bring it to boil and then turn down the heat and simmer. Canned chiles are added in too.
In a bowl, you’ll combine 1% milk (you can use 2%, whole or half and half as well), flour, salt and spices.
The milk mixture is added to the veggies and broth in the pot. The heat is turned up, and the soup is stirred until hot and bubbly and slightly thickened.
What kind of turkey should you use for this soup?
Turkey is then stirred into to the soup with corn cilantro and Monterey Jack cheese. Use shredded turkey breast for a lower calorie soup. Use dark meat, if you’d like. And you can certainly substitute chicken for the turkey to make a chicken soup instead.
TIP: If you do like things spicy, use pepper jack cheese instead of classic Monterey Jack.
And then you’ll end up with Creamy Mexican Turkey Soup!
Does this soup freeze well?
Yes, this soup freezes well. Make your soup as directed, and then you can ladle your soup into a freezer-safe container. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before heating up to serve.
I think you will find that this Creamy Mexican Turkey Soup is going to be a favorite soup recipe to make with leftover turkey. It has so much flavor, and it makes for a nice, light meal the day after eating a heavy holiday dinner. Enjoy!
Here are a few more soup recipes you might like to try:
- Butternut Squash Soup
- Caramelized Onion Soup with Cider Syrup
- Split Pea Soup with Rosemary
- Roasted Red Pepper Soup
- German Potato Soup
- Hot and Sour Soup
- Italian Sausage Soup with Orzo
- Herbed Tomato Soup
If you happen to be following the Weight Watchers WW plan, you will find a link to the WW Points on the recipe card below.
Creamy Mexican Turkey Soup
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon canola or vegetable oil
- 1 large carrot, peeled and chopped
- 1 stalk celery, chopped
- 1 cup chopped yellow onion
- 2 medium garlic cloves, minced
- 3 cups chicken or turkey broth
- One 4-ounce can diced green chiles, drained
- 2 cups 1% milk
- ¼ cup all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 cups shredded turkey
- 1 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese
- ¾ cup corn (fresh or frozen)
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
- In a large pot, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the vegetables and garlic and sauté for 5 minutes. Add the broth and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, for about 10 minutes. Stir in the chiles.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the milk, flour, salt, chili powder and cumin. Increase the heat to high and whisk the milk mixture into the soup. Stir until slightly thickened and bubbly, about five minutes. Reduce the heat to low. Add the turkey, cheese, corn and cilantro; stir until the cheese is melted and the soup is hot, 5 to 10 minutes.
Notes
- If preparing this recipe as gluten-free, substitute another thickener in place of the all-purpose flour- cornstarch or tapioca flour work well.
- You could certainly substitute shredded chicken for the turkey to make Mexican Chicken Soup.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
My hubby is not a soup fan, but he loved this! Said it was the best turkey soup I’d ever made.
Very flavorful and hearty. We loved it. Thank you
Very good use of leftover turkey and broth. We both loved it.
This soup has an amazing flavor. I make it after every turkey I cook. Freezes really well so I can enjoy it during the long, cold New England winter, warms you right up while bringing your taste buds to life! Thanks for sharing, Lori!
I have been making this for years since you first published it. A family favorite after Thanksgiving!
Glad to hear!
With Thanksgiving coming up in a few days this couldn’t have come at a better time. Soups are one of my favorite ways to use up leftovers and this looks positively scrumptious!. LOVE the Mexican twist on this wonderful creamy soup, I’m looking forward to making this, thank you! 🙂
So easy and SO much flavor in this turkey soup! Loving this unique way of using holiday turkey leftovers. Thanks for another winner, Recipe Girl!
Couldn’t find a can of chiles, but otherwise followed along nicely. I did add a can of rinsed pinto beans at the end to give a little more heft to it.