Crockpot Turkey and Rice Soup (Cozy Slow Cooker Recipe)

Crockpot Turkey and Rice Soup is the kind of recipe you make when you want comfort food without putting in actual effort. You know those days when you want to feel like a cozy, responsible adult… but also don’t really want to chop, sauté, whisk, or do anything fancy? Yeah. Same. This hearty slow cooker turkey soup tastes like a warm hug, smells like pure comfort, and requires the absolute bare minimum from you. Your crockpot does the work, and you get all the applause.

Picture it: tender turkey, cozy rice, soft veggies, and a rich broth that basically whispers, “Look at you being all nutritious and responsible.” Spoiler: your crockpot is doing the work, and you still get the credit. High-five.

Let’s dive in and make your kitchen smell like comfort and victory — because slow cooker soup season just hit its cozy peak.

Why This Crockpot Turkey and Rice Soup Is Awesome

You know when you find a recipe that checks all the boxes? This soup does that and does a little chef’s-kiss flourish on top.

• Effort level: tiny. Results: huge.
  Toss it in the crockpot, live your life, come back to magic.
• Budget-friendly comfort food.
  Turkey + rice + veggies = affordable goodness. Take that, overpriced takeout.
• Meal-prep hero energy.
  Make a big batch and eat like a soup-loving king for days. Your future self will be so proud.
• Warm, cozy, soothing vibes.
  Sick day? Rainy day? Lazy Sunday? This soup doesn’t judge—just comforts.
• Customizable like your favorite Starbucks order.
  White rice? Brown rice? Veggies? Got picky eaters? This soup flexes.
• Pinterest-friendly, family-approved, cozy dinner core.
  Just imagine the steam lifting off the bowl like a soft little foodie halo.

Basically, this is the recipe you keep forever and whip up when life calls for warmth—without the drama.

Ingredients You’ll Need for Crockpot Turkey and Rice Soup

Stock that crockpot like the culinary boss you are:

Protein

• 2–3 cups cooked turkey (shredded or chopped — leftover Thanksgiving turkey totally counts)

Veggie Squad

• 3 carrots, sliced (they add color and trick you into thinking you’re eating super healthy)
• 2 celery stalks, chopped (you’ll barely notice them, but they matter)
• 1 yellow onion, diced (crying optional but recommended)
• 3 garlic cloves, minced (always measure garlic with your heart)

Carb Comfort

• 1 cup uncooked rice (white, jasmine, or brown — choose your adventure)

Broth & Flavor

• 8 cups chicken or turkey broth
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp dried parsley
• 1 tsp dried basil
• Salt & black pepper, to taste
• 1–2 bay leaves (Fancy? Sure. Worth it? Always.)

Optional Add-Ins

• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1 cup frozen corn
• Fresh lemon juice (for brightness — aka “soup glow-up juice”)

Pro tip: If your turkey feels a little boring, add a splash of soy sauce near the end for umami magic.

Curious about turkey nutrition? The USDA FoodData Central breaks down protein, vitamins, and minerals in turkey.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Slow cooker = culinary autopilot. Let’s go!

1. Dump the veggies

Add carrots, celery, onion, and garlic to your crockpot.
Don’t overthink it — this is a “toss and go” situation, not a food styling class.

2. Add turkey and rice

Place the shredded turkey and uncooked rice on top.
You’re already halfway to glory and didn’t even sweat. Nice.

3. Pour in broth

Pour in all the broth. Yes, all eight cups. Soup needs soup things.

Tip: If you love thicker soup, start with 7 cups and add more later.

4. Season like you mean it

Sprinkle in thyme, parsley, basil, salt, pepper, and bay leaves.
Stir it like you’re auditioning for Best Supporting Stirrer.

5. Cook

Let your crockpot do its slow-cooker superhero thing:

• Low: 6–7 hours
• High: 3–4 hours

Try not to open the lid every 10 minutes. I know—it’s tempting.

6. Check rice + taste test

When time’s up, stir and check rice tenderness.
Add peas/corn here if using (they only need 10 minutes).

Taste. Add salt. Add pepper. Add lemon if you’re feeling fancy.
Taste again—because snacking while cooking is a lifestyle.

7. Serve

Ladle into bowls.
Top with fresh parsley or a squeeze of lemon.
Sit down. Exhale. Feel like a cozy kitchen wizard.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Thinking you don’t need seasoning.
  “Broth has flavor already” — that’s how sad soup happens. Season, friend.
• Adding too much rice.
  You toss in an extra handful “for luck” and suddenly it’s turkey porridge.
• Using raw turkey.
  Wrong recipe. This is a leftover hero soup. Go roast a turkey first, champ.
• Opening the lid 12 times.
  It’s a slow cooker, not a TV show. Let it live its slow life in peace.
• Skipping lemon.
  Don’t be afraid of citrus — lemon brightens life AND soup.

Alternatives & Substitutions

Here comes the fun part — swap things like the rebel chef you are:

Ingredient	Swap Ideas
Turkey	Shredded chicken, ground turkey, rotisserie chicken
Rice	Brown rice (cook longer), wild rice, quinoa
Broth	Veggie broth (hello plant friends)
Veggies	Sweet potatoes, zucchini, kale, spinach, mushrooms
Add-ins	Cannellini beans, chickpeas, leftover veggies
Seasoning	Italian seasoning blend, poultry seasoning

My personal hot take:

• Wild rice > white rice for texture
• Baby spinach at the end = chef’s kiss nutrients

And if you don’t have turkey?
This soup works beautifully with leftover rotisserie chicken. Boom. Dinner solved.

Want more budget-friendly meal inspiration? Peek at our Easy Weeknight Recipes section—because dinner should be delicious and stress-free.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Can I use uncooked turkey?

Short answer: no.
Long answer: you’ll cry, the turkey will cry, the soup will cry. Cook it first.

Brown rice or white rice — what’s better?

Do you want soup in 4 hours or 7 hours?
White rice = faster, cozier
Brown rice = hearty, takes longer

Can I freeze it?

Yes! But rice gets mushy in the freezer. Freeze without rice, then cook fresh rice when reheating like a pro.

How thick should this soup be?

Whatever your heart desires.
Too thick? Add broth.
Too thin? Add… you know… more soup vibes (or rice).

Can kids eat this?

Absolutely. It’s kid-friendly, cozy, and veggie-sneaky. Parents: you’re welcome.

What if my soup turned mushy?

Congrats, you invented savory oatmeal!
Next time, reduce rice or stir it in later.

Do I have to use a crockpot?

Technically no — you can simmer on the stove 45–60 min.
But… crockpot = no supervision. And we like that.

Final Thoughts

And there you have it — a steaming bowl of warm-you-from-the-inside happiness without lifting more than a finger (or three). For those days when life feels chaotic, this soup shows up like:

“Breathe. I got you.”

Pin it. Bookmark it. Make it again and again until it becomes your cozy cooking legacy.

Go on… your crockpot is waiting.
Dinner is calling. And it smells amazing already.

Warm, affordable, and loaded with goodness… this Crockpot Turkey and Rice Soup is comfort in a bowl. Pair it with a cozy dessert like our Soft Christmas Sugar Cookies for the ultimate cozy-night-in vibe.

Crockpot Turkey and Rice Soup (Cozy Slow Cooker Recipe)