Flexible Smoked Turkey and Bean Soup

Flexible Smoked Turkey and Bean Soup is a medium American recipe that serves 4. 350 calories per serving. Recipe by Alton Brown on YouTube.

Prep: 25 min | Cook: 45 min | Total: 1 hr 25 min

Cost: $12.59 total, $3.15 per serving

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Onion (diced)
  • 0.5 cup Carrot (diced, cut slightly smaller than onion)
  • 0.5 cup Celery (diced)
  • 2 tablespoons Avocado Oil (for sweating aromatics)
  • 1 teaspoon Salt (plus additional to finish)
  • 1 teaspoon Dried Oregano
  • 0.5 teaspoon Dried Thyme
  • 4 cups Chicken Stock (homemade or high‑quality store‑bought)
  • 1 cup Dry White Wine (dry, such as Sauvignon Blanc)
  • 2 cups Smoked Turkey (shredded leftover smoked turkey)
  • 15 ounces Butter Beans (drained, reserve liquid for thickening)
  • 28 ounces Whole Peeled Tomatoes (canned, whole; break up during cooking)
  • 1 tablespoon Sumac (for finishing acidity)
  • 2 tablespoons Pecorino Romano (freshly grated)
  • 0.5 cup Croutons (store‑bought or homemade)
  • to taste Freshly Ground Black Pepper

Instructions

  1. Prep Aromatics

    Dice the onion, carrot, and celery. Cut the carrots slightly smaller than the onion pieces so they cook evenly.

    Time: PT10M

  2. Sweat Aromatics

    Add avocado oil to the cold stockpot, then add the diced aromatics and a heaping pinch of salt. Heat over medium‑low and stir occasionally for about 5 minutes until the vegetables are softened but not browned.

    Time: PT5M

    Temperature: Medium low

  3. Add Herbs

    Stir in 1 tsp dried oregano and 0.5 tsp dried thyme. Let them hydrate for 1 minute.

    Time: PT1M

  4. Introduce Flavorful Liquids

    Pour in 4 cups chicken stock and 1 cup dry white wine. Increase heat to medium‑high and bring to a gentle simmer.

    Time: PT5M

    Temperature: Medium high

  5. Add Chunkies

    Add the shredded smoked turkey, drained butter beans (reserve the bean liquid), and the whole canned tomatoes. Using a cocktail strainer, add about six whole tomatoes, breaking them up with the spoon as they enter the pot.

    Time: PT3M

  6. Simmer Soup

    Reduce heat to medium‑low, cover, and let the soup simmer gently for 30 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and the turkey to become tender.

    Time: PT30M

    Temperature: Medium low

  7. Break Down Tomatoes

    After 30 minutes, use a potato masher to crush any whole tomato pieces that have not broken down.

    Time: PT2M

  8. Season and Finish

    Turn heat to the lowest setting. Add an additional 1 tsp salt (adjust to taste) and a pinch of freshly ground black pepper. Stir in the reserved bean liquid if you desire a thicker broth.

    Time: PT5M

    Temperature: Low

  9. Table‑Side Garnish

    At the serving bowls, sprinkle 1 tbsp sumac, 2 tbsp grated Pecorino Romano, and a handful of croutons. Optionally add a drizzle of olive oil.

    Time: PT2M

Nutrition Facts

Calories
350
Protein
25 g
Carbohydrates
30 g
Fat
12 g
Fiber
8 g

Dietary info: Contains meat, Contains dairy

Allergens: Dairy, Gluten (if croutons contain wheat)

Last updated: March 12, 2026

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Flexible Smoked Turkey and Bean Soup

Recipe by Alton Brown

A hearty, one‑pot soup that turns leftover smoked turkey, beans, and canned tomatoes into a comforting meal. Built on Alton Brown’s six‑category soup framework—aromatics, herbs, flavorful liquid, chunkies, acid, and garnish—this recipe is flexible, flavorful, and perfect for a quick dinner.

MediumAmericanServes 4

Shop all ingredients on Amazon in one click • Printable PDF with shopping checklist

Source Video
18m
Prep
45m
Cook
10m
Cleanup
1h 13m
Total

Cost Breakdown

$12.59
Total cost
$3.15
Per serving

Critical Success Points

  • Sweating aromatics without browning
  • Hydrating dried herbs before simmering
  • Gentle simmer to keep turkey tender
  • Mashing tomatoes for proper texture
  • Final seasoning adjustment at low heat

Safety Warnings

  • Handle hot liquids carefully to avoid burns.
  • Use oven mitts when moving the pot.
  • Be cautious when using a wooden spoon near open flame; it can scorch.

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