Healthy Turkey Meatball Soup (One Pot Recipe) - Give it Some Thyme (2024)

Loving healthy, comfort food with this turkey meatball soup recipe! This one-pot meal is a spicy tomato-based soup loaded with tender turkey meatballs, butternut squash, cauliflower and carrots. A hearty, easy and flavorful stew the whole family will devour!

This is one of our favorite soup recipes centered around hearty turkey meatballs and lots of veggies! It’s wholesome and comforting, a total crowd-pleaser and will last in the fridge five days, making it perfect for meal prep too.😉

Lean ground turkey is a more affordable and healthier alternative to ground beef and it’s so versatile! Be sure to check out our Copycat Panera Turkey Chili, Cheesy Turkey Meatball Skillet and Turkey Sliders with Apple Rainbow Slaw!

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

• Healthy, hearty and even better the next day!
• Done in one pot in one hour
• Customizable with vegetables you have on hand
• Budget-friendly using pantry ingredients
• Great for meal prep and freezer-friendly!

Main Ingredients

For the Meatballs

• Ground Turkey – I used lean white meat, but you can also use a blend of white with dark meat.
• Breadcrumbs – Whole-wheat panko was used here, or you can use plain.
• Seasoning – Roasted cumin, kosher salt and black pepper.
• Fresh Herbs – Parsley and thyme, or add fresh basil as well.
• Large egg

For the Soup

• Vegetables – Butternut squash, carrots, cauliflower and onion.
• Tomatoes – Crushed and diced tomatoes, or you can use tomato sauce.
• White wine – Used for deglazing the pot.
• Chicken broth – Turkey stock or vegetable broth can also be used.
• Seasoning – Lots of garlic, crushed red pepper flakes and bay leaves.
• Fresh Herbs
• Parmesan cheese

Cooking Steps

Make meatballs: Combine all the meatball ingredients in a large bowl. Form the turkey mixture into small meatballs, about 1 ½ inches in diameter and place on a prepared baking sheet.

Brown meatballs: In a Dutch oven or large pot, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add meatballs to the pot in a single layer and brown on all sides. With a slotted spoon, transfer them to a clean plate and cover with aluminum foil to stay warm.

Cook Vegetables: Add all the veggies to the soup pot, season with salt and pepper and cook until softened. Add garlic and red pepper flakes and cook a minute or two until fragrant.

Deglaze: Pour in white wine and scrape bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon. Then stir in chicken stock, tomatoes, and add the bay leaf. Bring soup to a boil then reduce to medium heat.

Add back meatballs: Return meatballs to the pot and simmer until they’re cooked through and vegetables are tender. When done, adjust seasonings to taste.

Serve: Remove the turkey meatball soup from heat, stir in fresh herbs and lots of parmesan cheese. Now you just have to grab some bowls and a big ladle. Enjoy!

Turkey Meatball Soup Recipe Tips

1. Have a cup of water nearby to dip your fingers in occasionally when making the meatballs. It’s easier to roll the meatballs with wet hands to help keep the meat mixture from sticking to you.
2. I like searing the meatballs in the pot for extra crispiness on the outside, but you can bake them instead in a 400°F oven for ten minutes.
3. Let the meatballs sit at room temperature for 20-30 minutes before cooking so they cook more evenly.
4. The uncooked meatballs can be made and refrigerated a day before making the soup or frozen up to three months. Let them thaw before proceeding with the recipe.
5. Pinched for time? Store-bought frozen mini turkey meatballs will work in the recipe too.😉

Variations

As with all recipes, nothing is set in stone! You can turn this turkey meatball soup into one with pork meatballs, pasta and broccoli if you so choose.😉

• Protein – Use a different ground meat such as ground chicken, pork, veal or traditional beef meatballs.
• Pasta – Add cooked egg noodles or small pasta like orzo or ditalini. If you wilt in fresh spinach too, you’ll have classic Italian wedding soup!
• Carbs – You can toss in white beans, cooked rice or quinoa.
• Vegetables – Change up the veggies with mushrooms, zucchini, broccoli, kale or bok choy.
• Make it Creamy – Add some heavy cream or coconut milk to the tomato-based soup for richness.
• Spiciness – There’s so much flavor in this soup as it’s written, but individual servings can easily be kicked up with a few dashes of hot sauce.

Sides Dish Suggestions

While this healthy turkey meatball soup can certainly stand on its own as a complete meal, you may want to expand the menu. Here are a few side dish ideas!

• Italian Grilled Cheese Sandwich
• Sweet Potato Fries

Recipe FAQs

More Amazing One-Pot Meals!

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