Turkey Broth Egg Noodles: Savoury One-Pot Noodle Soup
Classic American turkey noodle soup often relies on boiling the pasta in a separate pot of salted water before combining the ingredients in the bowl. For these turkey broth egg noodles, you simmer the 250 g dried wide egg noodles directly in 1500 ml rich homemade turkey broth instead. Cooking the pasta straight in the stock releases starch into the liquid, giving the soup a naturally velvety body while saving you an extra pan to wash.
The finished bowl delivers tender ribbons of pasta, soft 5 mm carrot rounds, and 300 g shredded cooked turkey breast or thigh meat in a deeply savoury, golden broth. Two steps decide the texture and balance of the pot: fold the already cooked turkey in for only 2 to 3 minutes at the end so the meat warms to 74°C (165°F) without drying out, then stir in 15 ml fresh lemon juice off the heat to brighten the rich stock.
Turkey Broth Egg Noodles: Savoury One-Pot Noodle Soup
Recipe cardIngredients
Watch how it's made
Instructions
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Heat the oil and butter
Place a large heavy-bottomed stockpot over medium heat and add the 30 ml olive oil and 15 g unsalted butter. Wait until the butter melts and begins to foam gently, then tip in the finely diced onion, 5 mm carrot rounds, and thinly sliced celery. Combining oil with butter raises the smoke point so the butter adds richness without burning.
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Soften the aromatic vegetables
Saute the vegetables for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon. Stop once the onion turns translucent and the carrot edges begin to soften without taking on colour. Gentle sweating releases sweetness into the fat while keeping the finished broth clear and golden.
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Bloom the garlic and thyme
Stir in the minced garlic and 1 tsp finely chopped fresh thyme leaves. Cook for 1 minute until the aroma rises from the pot, stirring continuously so the garlic does not brown. Scorched garlic turns bitter and spoils the clean savouriness of the turkey broth.
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Boil the turkey broth
Pour in the 1500 ml rich homemade turkey broth and drop in the 1 dried bay leaf. Increase the heat to high and bring the liquid to a rolling boil. Bringing the stock to a full boil ensures the noodles begin cooking the moment they hit the pot.
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Simmer the egg noodles
Reduce the heat to medium and stir in the 250 g dried wide egg noodles. Simmer uncovered for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally so the ribbons do not clump together, until the pasta is tender with a slight bite. Cooking the noodles directly in the stock releases starch that gives the broth a silky body.
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Warm the shredded turkey
Fold the 300 g shredded cooked turkey breast or thigh meat into the simmering pot. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until the turkey is heated through and reaches an internal temperature of 74°C (165°F). Adding already cooked turkey at the end prevents the fibres from turning dry and stringy.
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Season with lemon and pepper
Remove the pot from the heat and fish out the dried bay leaf. Stir in the 15 ml fresh lemon juice, 1 tsp fine sea salt, and 0.5 tsp freshly ground black pepper, then taste and adjust the salt. Adding lemon juice off the heat preserves its bright acidity to balance the rich stock.
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Garnish and serve hot
Scatter the 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley over the surface of the soup. Ladle the wide egg noodles, shredded turkey, and golden broth into warm bowls and serve immediately. Serving straight away stops the noodles from soaking up too much liquid.
Overcooking the egg noodles turns them mushy and drains the broth of liquid. Start checking a strand at 8 minutes; if the pasta swells quickly and turns pale and soft, pull the pot off the heat immediately, as residual warmth finishes the cooking.
How it differs from the traditional method
Cooking the 250 g dried wide egg noodles directly in the 1500 ml turkey broth releases pasta starch into the stock, giving the soup a silky, velvety body. Keep the traditional method of boiling noodles separately in salted water when you plan to store leftovers, because pasta cooked in the broth continues absorbing liquid and turns soft.
Storing and reheating
Never leave the cooked soup at room temperature for more than 2 hours. Cool it completely, then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To freeze for up to 3 months, freeze the turkey broth and vegetable base without the noodles, thaw overnight in the fridge, and simmer with fresh egg noodles.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 485
- Protein
- 34.5 g
- Carbs
- 51.0 g
- Fat
- 14.2 g
- Fiber
- 3.4 g
- Sugar
- 4.8 g
Estimated, and offered as a guide rather than a medical figure.
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Questions people ask
Can I use turkey thigh meat instead of breast meat?
Yes, use either 300 g cooked turkey breast or thigh meat shredded into even pieces. Dark thigh meat stays particularly tender during the 2 to 3 minutes of warming and adds a slightly richer savoury flavour to the broth.
Why is lemon juice added after removing the pot from the heat?
Stirring in the 15 ml fresh lemon juice off the heat preserves its clean acidity. Boiling citrus juice dulls its fresh edge, whereas adding it at the end cuts through the richness of the turkey stock without making the soup taste sour.
Can I freeze the soup once the egg noodles are already cooked in it?
No, freeze only the turkey broth and vegetable base before adding the noodles. Egg noodles swell, break apart, and turn mushy after freezing and thawing, so always simmer fresh dried noodles in the thawed base when ready to eat.