• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Cooking On The Ranch logo

  • Home
  • About
  • Recipe Roundup
  • Contact Me
  • Join Community
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Soups, Stews, & Chilis
  • About
  • Recipe Roundup
  • Contact Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home > Soup, Stews, Chilis > Easy Turkey Lentil Soup with Barley

    Easy Turkey Lentil Soup with Barley

    Published: Dec 1, 2022 · Modified: Dec 12, 2022 by Lea Ann Brown · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Lentil soup with turkey graphic for pinterest.

    Turkey lentil soup is a perfect way to use up leftover cooked turkey. This soup requires minimal prep and delivers maximum flavor. Savory, herby and warming, quick cooking barley makes this one healthy and hearty.

    Lentil soup with turkey, barley and vegetables in a large white bowl.

    This mellow soup filled with vegetables, lentils, barley and plenty of flavor is a perfect place to use some of that leftover turkey or even leftover Turkey Breast.

    And if you’ve made your own stock from the turkey carcass, the flavor will be even richer. Canned chicken stock fills in nicely for this quick turkey lentil soup recipe.

    Tip: if you’re using canned chicken broth, place a leftover turkey wing or turkey leg into the soup while simmering. The flavor from the skin, bones and meat will elevate the flavor. Remove the wing or leg before serving.

    And no need to wait to reserve this as a Thanksgiving soup. Make this all season long using a rotisserie chicken.

    Let’s take a look.

    Ingredients You’ll Need

    Ingredients to make lentil soup with turkey.
    • Chicken Broth.
    • Canned Tomatoes.
    • Fresh Vegetables: Celery, carrots and onion.
    • Turkey: This soup is perfect to use left over Thanksgiving turkey.
    • Lentils.
    • Butter.
    • Quick Cooking Barley.
    • Seasonings: Basil, oregano, rosemary and thyme.

    Ingredient Substitutions

    • Broth: If you’ve made turkey broth from your Thanksgiving turkey carcass, please us it. Vegetable broth also works well here.
    • Lentils: If you can’t find Puy Lentils, choose any colored lentil from the bulk aisle section. Avoid red lentils as they cook too fast and will dissolve too quickly.
    • Turkey: Substitute cooked chicken or use meat from a rotisserie chicken.
    • Butter: Substitute olive oil or vegetable oil.
    • Barley: This recipe calls for quick cooking barley. If you use regular barley, adjust cooking time per package instructions.
    • Brown Rice: Brown rice is a good substitution for barley. Just adjust cooking time according to package instructions.

    About French Puy Lentils. Lentilles de Puy are known for their small size and refined taste. They are prized by chefs not only for their peppery flavor, but they also have less starch which make they sturdy. They won’t get mushy as easily. If you can find them, I highly encourage you to use them in this soup.

    How do you know if you’re getting official Puy lentils? Look for an AOP seal on the package, which certifies they’re truly Lentilles du Puy from France.

    Step by Step Instructions … It’s Easy

    Frying carrots, celery and onions for lentil soup with turkey.
    Adding broth to make lentil soup with turkey.
    Adding turkey and quick cooking barley to lentil soup.
    • Step 1: Melt butter or heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium high heat. Add sliced carrots and celery and cook, stirring occasionally for about 7 minutes. Add onion and cook for another 5 minutes.
    • Step 2: Add Chicken Broth, tomatoes, water and spices. Stir until all is mixed together. Add lentils and cook according to package instructions.
    • Step 3: 10 minutes before lentils are to be done, add quick cooking barley, and turkey or chicken. Simmer until barley and lentils are tender.
    What Kind of Canned Tomatoes Should I Use?

    I like to use petite diced tomatoes. Simply because they’re smaller cut in size. However, any brand of chopped tomatoes will work for this recipe.

    Can I Use Ground Turkey?

    Yes, if you want to make ground turkey lentil soup rather than using leftover Thanksgiving turkey, purchase 1 pound of ground turkey. Add the ground turkey at the same time you add the vegetables. You can also use ground chicken or a rotisserie chicken.

    Is This Turkey Lentil Soup Gluten Free?

    No, barley is a grain that contains the protein gluten. If you’d like to make this gluten free, double the amount of lentils and omit the barley.

    Do You Need To Soak Lentils Before Cooking?

    You don’t have to, but soaking them will reduce the cooking time for them to become tender. The recipe card for this recipe does not include Instructions for soaking. That decision is up to you.

    Storage and Reheating

    This recipe makes a large batch. Store any leftovers in an air tight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, or up to 4 days if you’ve just cooked your turkey within the past day. You can freeze Turkey Lentil Soup up to three months.

    TIP: Freeze soup in a freezer zip-lock type bag. That way you can easily squeeze out the air and store the bag flat in the freezer, which saves room.

    To reheat, that in the refrigerator overnight and reheat stovetop or microwave.

    Recipe for Turkey Lentil Soup

    Turkey soup with lentels and barley.

    The lentils and barley give this turkey soup an earthy down home flavor. A true comfort food recipe that your family will love. Bright and healthy with big chunks of carrot and celery, your family will love this recipe.

    Related Soup Recipes

    • Rotisserie Chicken Soup garnished with cilantro
      Rosa’s Mexican Rotisserie Chicken Soup
    • White Wine Chicken Potato Soup Recipe
    • Chicken butternut squash pasta soup with parmesan cheese for topping.
      Chicken Pasta Soup with Butternut Squash
    • Hearty Chicken Noodle Soup in a white bowl garnished with parsley
      Old Fashioned Hearty Chicken Noodle Soup

    And don’t miss my Soup Category, you’ll find lots of brothy goodness there. Including the most popular soup recipe on my site, Anthony Bourdain’s New Mexico Style Beef Chili.

    Turkey soup with lentels and barley.

    Easy Turkey Lentil Soup

    The lentils and barley give this turkey soup an earthy and down-home flavor
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Soup, Stews and Chilis
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 40 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour
    Servings: 10
    Calories: 186kcal
    Author: Lea Ann Brown

    Ingredients

    • 1/2 cup Lentils French, regular green or red lentils
    • 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter or vegetable/canola oil
    • 2 carrots peeled and thick sliced
    • 2 ribs celery sliced cross ways
    • 1 cup yellow onion diced
    • 3 1/2 cups chicken broth
    • 3 cups water 2 – 3 cups water, depending on how brothy you want the soup.
    • 1 turkey wing or leg
    • 16 ounce Canned chopped tomatoes undrained
    • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
    • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
    • 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary
    • 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
    • 2 cups Roasted Turkey or Chicken Cut into bite sized pieces
    • 1/2 cup Quick Cooking Barley
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Rinse lentils in a colander before using.
    • Melt butter or heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium high heat. Add sliced carrots and celery and cook, stirring occasionally for about 7 minutes. Add onion and cook for another 5 minutes.
    • Add Chicken Broth, tomatoes, water and spices. Stir until all is mixed together. 
    • If you want, add a whole turkey wing or leg. The bone and remaining meat will add flavor to the broth. You'll remove it when ready to serve.
    • Add lentils and cook according to package instructions. 10 minutes before lentils are to be done, add quick cooking barley, and turkey or chicken. Simmer until barley and lentils are tender.
    • Serve and garnish with chopped fresh parsley. Some grated Parmesan cheese is nice here. These are both optional.

    Notes

    This recipe calls for quick cooking barley which cooks in roughly 10 minutes. If using pearl barley, adjust cooking time instructions accordingly. 
    If you want to make this without using leftover Thanksgiving turkey, purchase 1 pound of ground turkey. Add the ground turkey at the same time you add the vegetables. You can also use ground chicken or a rotisserie chicken.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 186kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 672mg | Potassium: 466mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 3720IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @lannisam or tag #CookingOnTheRanch!

    Lentil Soup with Turkey … It’s what’s for Dinner

    More Soup Stew and Chili Recipes

    • Two bowls of spicy tomato soup served with bread.
      Spicy Tomato Soup From Canned Tomatoes
    • Fingerling potatoes and sausage soup.
      Easy Creamy Sausage Potato Soup
    • Black bean soup with ham and carrots.
      Sherried Black Bean And Ham Soup
    • Red wine beef stew with carrots and mushrooms.
      Jacques Pepin’s Beef Stew In Red Wine

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Susan says

      November 09, 2017 at 11:11 am

      Sometimes the leftovers recipes are the best part of making Thanksgiving dinner. Your soup sounds delicious! Finding real Lentils du Puy is difficult nearby so I usually buy them online. So worth the effort!

      Reply
    2. Agness of Run Agness Run says

      November 09, 2017 at 3:04 am

      I’m definitely going to prepare this soup from a leftover turkey which always stays! Is it possible to use plain water instead of white wine, Lea?

      Reply
    3. John/Kitchen Riffs says

      November 08, 2017 at 8:47 am

      Love any and all lentils (red ones are particularly nice, although I agree the French ones are in a class of their own). We’re making a lot of soup at the moment, and I know I’ll be doing some sort of soup with leftover turkey — probably this one! Thanks so much.

      Reply
    4. Larry says

      November 06, 2017 at 3:46 am

      Good looking bowl of soup LA. After our soup bar evening and eating the leftovers, I’m about souped out.

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    I'm Lea Ann, Welcome to my Colorado kitchen. I'm a Culinary School Grad with a passion to inspire you to cook as often as you can. Here you'll find Wild West Colorado inspired recipes along some Southwestern and Mexican food favorites. I also share some special recipes from school along pro cooking tips. If you're an adventurous cook looking to spice up your meal plans, you'll find plenty of reliable, approachable, easy to follow recipes.

    More about me →

    Reader's Favorites

    • Chunky Homemade blue cheese dressing to serve on a wedge salad
      Thick and Chunky Blue Cheese Dressing Recipe
    • Cubed potatoes cooked in a cast iron skillet with rosemary
      Savory Cast Iron Skillet Potatoes
    • Old fashioned broccoli casserole recipe
      Broccoli Cheez Whiz Rice Casserole
    • crispy baked wings with celery sticks and ranch dressing.
      Crispy Baked Wings in Santa Fe Sauce

    Soups & Stews

    • Cream of chicken soup with ground chicken and vegetables.
      Creamy Southwestern Chicken Soup
    • Southwestern-Chickpea-Soup
      Southwest Garbanzo Bean Soup with White Beans and Chicken
    • Lemon ginger chicken soup with a bowl of oyster crackers.
      Lemon Ginger Chicken Soup Recipe
    • Best slow cooker beef stew recipe
      The Best Slow Cooker Beef Stew With Mushrooms

    Glazed Corned Beef Sliders

    Instant Pot Corned Beef Sliders with melted Swiss cheese.

    Dessert Recipes

    • Chile Chocolate Bourbon Cake with Chocolate Bourbon Frosting
    • No bake key lime pie garnished with whipped cream and limes
      Key Lime Pie Recipe – No Bake
    • Strawberry tart recipe with lemon cream filling
      Strawberry Tart Recipe with Lemon Cream Cheese Filling
    • Cream Cheese Cherry Delight.
      Cherry Delight, No Bake Old Fashioned Cream Cheese Cherry Dessert

    Footer

    Featured in and partnered with

    Privacy Policy

    • Privacy Policy

    Accessibility Statement

    Copyright © 2023 Cooking On The Ranch • Privacy Policy

    • 5
    260 shares
    260 shares