Forget ground beef—try turkey for a leaner spin on this hearty Meatball Soup!
Let’s be honest: We all have a favorite comfort food dish that’s big on flavor, but perhaps not the healthiest option. The good news is, there are often ways to get a similar experience with better-for-you alternatives. Take meatballs as an example. If you swap in ground turkey, it can surprisingly hold its own in the traditionally beefy recipe.
Let’s take it one step further: Have you ever considered swapping ground beef for ground turkey in a classic meatball soup? This recipe does exactly that. Since this version is full of fresh veggies, herbs, and spices, it’s easy to transition to turkey without making serious sacrifices on flavor.
If you’re looking for a way to sneak leaner meats into your diet, this comforting turkey meatball soup will certainly surprise your taste buds.
Is Meatball Soup Healthy?
One of the main arguments for switching from ground beef to turkey is that turkey has less saturated fat, so this soup can be considered a healthier version of the classic recipe. As for other health benefits, the recipe also contains nutritious ingredients like fiber-rich whole-wheat pasta and vitamin-filled veggies like spinach, celery, and carrots.
That said, I know low-carb dieters won’t like some ingredients, like pasta and breadcrumbs. If that’s the case, you could take out the pasta and swap in zucchini noodles, ladling the soup over top of them when done cooking. You could also consider swapping the breadcrumbs for a keto-approved option, like ground pork rinds.
Anyone on a gluten-free diet needs to find alternatives to the breadcrumbs and pasta in this meatball soup recipe. You can typically find gluten-free pasta and breadcrumb options at most grocery stores.
How Do You Keep Turkey Meatballs Flavorful?
Turkey may be lean and nutritious, but it has a bad reputation for blandness. Don’t let that unfair assumption stop you from trying it. The cheese, spices, and herbs in this meatball mix help significantly bump up the flavor with minimal effort.
If you still find that these seasonings aren’t giving your soup enough flavor, you can spice up your meatball mix with extra ingredients like shredded Asiago cheese, minced sun-dried tomatoes, or chopped shallots. Although a bit of Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce adds extra sodium, these condiments can give a kick of complexity to your turkey meatballs if you want to take the savory factor to the max.
It’s also essential to recognize that the fat content of your ground turkey will impact its taste. Although I used turkey for its relative leanness, you’ll notice that meat with an 85/15 fat content holds onto moisture noticeably better than 90/10.
How To Make Ahead And Store
Don’t know when you’ll have the time to cook a pot of meatball soup? No worries! You can cook the meatballs well ahead of time, wrap them in cling wrap after they’ve cooled, and put them in freezer-safe bags for up to 3 months. That way, when it’s time to make your soup, you just have to boil all the ingredients in the broth and drop your thawed meatballs in to warm through. It’s also easy to store your turkey meatball soup in an airtight container for super simple lunches or dinners. It can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Serving Suggestions
Soups and sandwiches are BFFs at lunchtime, and this meatball soup is no exception. Sure, turkey meatball soup is savory enough on its own, but you could reduce the portion size and serve it with half of a Pesto Chicken Sandwich, Tuna Salad With Egg, or Healthy Egg Salad Grilled Cheese Sandwich for a lovely lunch.
If you’re looking for a lighter option, consider making a side salad like this Kale Salad With Cranberries or Healthy Chicken Cobb Salad to add health benefits (and bite!) to your turkey meatball soup. Lastly, for those who want a little extra crunch, why not make some Homemade Potato Chips for a perfectly crisp pairing?
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup whole-wheat breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion diced
- 2 medium carrots peeled and diced
- 2 celery stalks diced
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes no salt added
- 1 cup whole-wheat pasta such as shells or ditalini
- 2 cups baby spinach leaves
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine ground turkey, egg, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, oregano, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix well and form into 1-inch meatballs.
- In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onions, carrots, and celery, and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add chicken broth and diced tomatoes to the pot, and bring to a simmer.
- Gently add meatballs to the simmering broth. Cook for 10 minutes.
- Stir in pasta and continue to simmer until pasta is tender and meatballs are cooked through, about 10-15 minutes.
- Add spinach to the pot and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes. Season with additional salt and pepper if needed.
- Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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