Knowing what vegetables go well in turkey soup is key to making a delicious, hearty soup.

And while you may be tempted to just throw in whatever you have in the fridge (I see you, leftover broccoli), I’m here to show you that there are certain veggies that work better than others.

So, whether you’re looking for a traditional turkey soup or something with a little bit of a twist, read on for my top 13 picks.

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What Vegetables Go in Turkey Soup?

The best veggies for turkey soup are carrots, celery, onion, and garlic. You can also add in some green beans, corn, peas, or whatever other veggies you like. Just make sure to chop them up into small pieces so they cook evenly.

Still looking for veggies to add to your soup?

Then keep scrolling!

Here are 13 vegetables that go good in turkey soup:

1. Carrots

Carrots add color, texture, and sweetness to turkey soup.

I like to use carrots that have been peeled and chopped into small pieces.

I find that they add a nice sweetness to the soup without being overpowering.

3 Easy Ways to Add This Veggie to Your Soup Recipe

Add carrots during the last hour of cooking.
Stir in some shredded carrots when you reheat the soup.
Top each serving of soup with diced carrots.

2. Celery

Celery has a leafy and earthy flavor that goes well with other vegetables in soup.

It has a crunchy texture that adds a nice contrast to the other ingredients in the soup.

Celery is also easy to prepare – simply wash and chop before adding to the pot.

3 Easy Ways to Add This Veggie to Your Soup Recipe

Add celery to your soup when you’re sautéing the aromatics. This will give the soup a nice flavor base.
Throw in some chopped celery towards the end of cooking. This will add a crunchy texture to the soup.
Use celery leaves as a garnish. This will add a touch of flavor and color to the soup.

3. Onion

Onions add flavor like no other vegetable can.

They can be eaten raw, sautéed, roasted, or caramelized.

They can be added to soups, stews, curries, stir-fries, and so much more.

3 Easy Ways to Add This Veggie to Your Soup Recipe

Sauté diced onions in olive oil until they’re softened, then add them to your soup.
Add a whole onion to your soup while it’s cooking, then remove it before serving. This will add a lot of flavor to the soup.
Roast a few onions in the oven, then add them to your soup.

4. Garlic

Garlic is like the superhero of flavor. It’s strong, but not overwhelming, and it can really enhance the taste of a dish.

It’s also super versatile in terms of texture.

You can chop it up, mince it, or even leave it whole.

And, it’s easy to prep.

Just peel and chop and you’re good to go.

3 Easy Ways to Add This Veggie to Your Soup Recipe

Add a few cloves of garlic to your soup pot when you’re sautéing the onions.
Throw in a head of garlic (yes, the whole head) when you’re simmering the soup. Just remember to take it out before you serve.
Stir in some roasted garlic at the end. This will give the soup a nice, mellow garlic flavor.

5. Potatoes

Potatoes add a filling, starchy element to turkey soup that helps to thicken the broth and makes the soup more satisfying.

They also absorb flavors well, so they’re a great way to add extra depth of flavor to your soup.

Plus, they’re easy to prepare – simply chop them into small pieces and add them to the soup pot.

3 Easy Ways to Add This Veggie to Your Soup

Dice a few potatoes into small pieces and add them to the soup pot when you’re cooking the turkey.
Peel and chop a few potatoes into small pieces and add them to the soup pot when you’re adding the vegetables.
Cut a few potatoes into small pieces and add them to the soup pot when you’re ready to serve.

6. Sweet Potatoes

If you don’t want to use regular white potatoes in your turkey soup recipe, sweet potatoes are a great alternative.

They have a sweetness to them that can really liven up a soup, and they also have a great texture.

I like to dice them up into small pieces so that they really soak up the flavors of the soup.

3 Easy Ways to Add This Veggie

Dice up a sweet potato into small pieces and add it to your soup pot when you’re sautéing the onions and garlic.
Peel and chop a sweet potato into larger pieces and add it to the soup pot when you’re adding the broth.
Cut a sweet potato into thin slices, roast in the oven, and then add as a garnish to your soup when you’re ready to serve.

7. Turnips

Turnips have a spicy undertone that can really liven up a soup recipe.

They also have a firm texture that holds up well in soups, stews, and chilis.

And, they’re relatively easy to prepare – simply peel and dice them into bite-sized pieces.

3 Ways to Add This Veggie to Your Soup

Sauté diced turnips in a bit of olive oil until they’re slightly softened. Then, add them to your soup pot along with the other ingredients.
Roast diced turnips in the oven until they’re golden brown. Then, add them to your soup at the end of cooking.
Peel and dice turnips, then add them to your soup pot at the beginning of cooking.

8. Rutabaga

Rutabagas have a slightly bitter flavor that I think would go well in a turkey soup.

They’re also quite starchy, so they’ll help thicken up the soup.

And, they’re easy to prep – just peel and chop them into small pieces.

3 Easy Ways to Add This Veggie to Your Soup

Chop up the rutabaga into small pieces and add it to the soup pot when you’re sautéing the onions and garlic.
Peel and chop the rutabaga into small pieces and add it to the soup pot when you’re adding the broth.
Shred the rutabaga into thin strips and add it to the soup pot when you’re adding the vegetables.

9. Parsnips

The flavor of parsnips is starchy like potatoes, sweet like carrots, and slightly peppery.

They have a firm texture that can hold up in a soup, and can be easily prepped by peeling and chopping.

3 Easy Ways to Add This Veggie to Your Soup

Peel and chop parsnips into 1-inch pieces. Add to soup pot along with other chopped veggies like carrots, celery, and onion.
Spiralize parsnips into noodles and add to soup in place of pasta or rice.
Shred parsnips into thin strips and use as a garnish on top of soup.

10. Squash

Squash comes in many different varieties, each with their own unique taste and texture.

But in general, squash is a sweet and earthy vegetable that can add a lot of depth to a soup recipe. It’s also a very versatile veg when it comes to prep.

You can roast it, sauté it, or even puree it into a soup.

3 Easy Ways to Add This Veggie to Your Soup

Roasted Squash: Roasting squash is a great way to bring out its natural sweetness. Simply cut the squash into cubes, toss with some olive oil and sea salt, and roast in a preheated oven until tender. Then, add the roasted squash to your soup recipe.
Sautéed Squash: Sautéing squash is a quick and easy way to add it to your soup. Simply diced the squash and sauté in a pan with some olive oil until tender. Then, add the sautéed squash to your soup recipe.
Pureed Squash: Pureeing squash is a great way to add thickness and creaminess to your soup. Simply roast or sauté the squash, then puree in a blender until smooth. Then, add the pureed squash to your soup recipe.

11. Zucchini

Zucchini might not pack a lot of flavor on its own, but that’s what I like about it in terms of soup

It’s a versatile veg that takes on the flavors of whatever it’s cooked with.

It’s also nice and tender, so it doesn’t need to be cooked for long.

And, it’s easy to prep – just give it a quick chop and you’re good to go.

3 Easy Ways to Add This Veggie to Your Soup Recipe

Chop it up and add it in at the beginning of cooking.
Spiralize it into noodles and add it in at the end.
Shave it into ribbons and add it in as a garnish.

12. Kale

Kale has a strong and earthy taste that I think works really well in turkey soup.

It’s also a hearty vegetable, so it will help to bulk up the soup and make it more filling.

And, kale is super easy to prepare – all you need to do is wash it and chop it up.

3 Easy Ways to Add This Veggie to Your Soup

Add a handful of chopped kale to your soup pot when you’re sautéing the onions and garlic.
Throw a bunch of kale into the blender with some of the broth to make a kale puree, then add this back into the soup.
Stir in a bunch of chopped kale at the end, just before you serve the soup.

13. Spinach

Spinach is healthy, delicious, and easy to prepare.

It’s a great source of vitamins and minerals, and it’s also low in calories.

I like to use spinach in soups because it adds a nice, earthy flavor and a pop of color.

It’s also a great way to get my daily dose of greens.

3 Easy Ways to Add This Veggie to Your Soup

Add a handful of spinach leaves to your soup pot when you’re simmering the broth.
Stir in a bag of frozen spinach when you’re adding the other frozen veggies to the pot.
Use baby spinach leaves as a garnish when you’re serving the soup.

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