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    Home » Recipes

    Turkey Meatball Soup

    Published: Feb 9, 2018 / Updated: Jul 24, 2021 / 4 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my affiliate disclosure for more details.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This turkey meatball soup is hearty, filling, and delicious! Tender turkey meatballs, pasta, and fresh herbs in a tomato broth make this one tasty soup.

    bowl of turkey meatball soup with spoon

    I didn't have a turkey meatball recipe on this blog until now, so I figured it was time. They're leaner and lighter than your traditional beef/pork meatballs, and some people prefer white meat. I like to have plenty of options available.

    I didn't originally plan on making this a soup, actually, but it turned out nicely. I made these on a weekend where I had a stinker of a cold. I was pretty out of it, but I had recipes to make.

    I was attempting to make a sauce, and somehow decided that adding a 28 ounce can of diced tomatoes and 4 cups of veggie broth was a good idea. It was more like soup, so I just went with it.

    Try my Italian Meatball Soup.

    stoneware bowl of easy turkey meatball soup

    How to make tender ground turkey meatballs:

    process photos collage of turkey meatball soup with ingredients in glass bowl

    The key to making these meatballs really tender is by using bread soaked in milk instead of breadcrumbs. These meatballs melt in your mouth. Using soaked bread to make a paste (called a panade) is an old trick that helps keep ground meat tender in recipes like meatballs.

    I used really lean ground turkey meat, so the panade is particularly important since lean meat is even more prone to drying out (especially if you over-cook it).

    I baked the turkey meatballs for 10 minutes to ensure they would hold their shape when added to the soup. Simmering them in the soup finishes cooking them and gives the soup better flavor and texture.

    a yellow pot with turkey meatball soup

    The healthy turkey meatball recipe can be used by itself (or you can make a separate sauce for it) if you don't want to make it as soup. Just make sure you cook the meatballs fully (I only pop them in the oven for 10 minutes before finishing the cooking off in the soup).

    I'd bake them for about 20 minutes or so, depending on their size, to ensure they're cooked through.

    You may also like...

    • Easy Meatball Recipe
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    • Ground Turkey Soup with Vegetables and Pasta
    • The Best Ground Turkey Recipes

    a bowl of turkey meatball soup topped with fresh herbs

    Hope you love this soup with easy turkey meatballs! Questions? Ask me below!

    This turkey meatball soup is hearty, filling, and delicious! Tender turkey meatballs, pasta, and fresh herbs in a tomato broth make this one tasty soup.

    Turkey Meatball Soup Recipe

    This turkey meatball soup is hearty, filling, and delicious! Tender turkey meatballs, pasta, and fresh herbs in a tomato broth make this one tasty soup.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 25 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Total Time 55 mins
    Course Soup
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 6
    Calories 251 kcal
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    Ingredients
     

    Meatballs:

    • 2 slices whole wheat bread
    • 1/4-1/2 cup skim milk
    • 1/2 pound lean ground turkey
    • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
    • 4 cloves garlic minced
    • 1/2 small onion grated
    • 1 egg
    • 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt
    • Salt & pepper to taste

    Soup:

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1/2 medium onion chopped
    • 5 cloves garlic minced
    • 1 (5.5 ounce) can tomato paste
    • 1 (28 fluid ounces) can diced tomatoes with juices
    • 4 cups vegetable broth
    • 2 cups water
    • 3/4 cup macaroni (or other tubular pasta)
    • Salt & pepper to taste
    • Handful basil torn
    • Parsley chopped, to taste (optional)

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 375F and move the rack to the middle position. 
    • Tear the bread into small pieces and add them to a large bowl. Add 1/4 cup of the milk to the bowl and give it a stir to coat the bread (add more milk if bread seems dry). Let it soak for a few minutes. 
    • Using a fork, mash the bread until it makes a paste. Add the other meatball ingredients to the bowl and gently mix using your hands. Form into 1" balls and add them to a foil-lined baking sheet.
    • Bake the meatballs for 10 minutes (just enough for them to firm up without cooking fully).
    • Meanwhile, start cooking the soup. Add the olive oil and onion to a large pot over medium-high heat. Sauté for 5-7 minutes. 
    • Add the garlic to the pot and cook for 30 seconds.
    • Add the tomato paste, diced tomatoes, vegetable broth, and water. Increase the heat to high and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce heat to medium-high (turn it down to medium if needed) and simmer for 10 minutes. 
    • Add the macaroni and meatballs to the pot. Give it a good stir so the pasta doesn't stick to the bottom. Cook the soup for another 15 minutes over medium heat, stirring occasionally, or until the pasta and meatballs are cooked though. 
    • Season with salt & pepper as needed. Stir in the basil and top bowls with extra parmesan cheese and parsley (optional).

    Notes

    • Meatballs can be made by themselves and frozen or made with another sauce etc. Just make sure to bake them in the oven until they're fully cooked (20 minutes or so, will vary based on their size) if you don't plan on finishing cooking them in some type of sauce etc.
    • Serves 4-6.
    • Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
       

    Nutrition

    Calories: 251kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 19gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 56mgSodium: 1420mgPotassium: 765mgFiber: 4gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 1086IUVitamin C: 21mgCalcium: 195mgIron: 3mg
    Keyword turkey meatball soup
    Author Natasha Bull
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    1. Debs says

      February 9, 2018 at 6:58 AM

      5 stars
      Perfect mid winter warmer! Love the meatballs too!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        February 9, 2018 at 8:49 AM

        Thanks, Debs!! 😘

        Reply
    2. Sarah Coal says

      February 9, 2018 at 5:53 AM

      I love your blog. I have followed for a bit now, but I haven't commented. I just want to say that your photos are beautiful and the recipes sound and look delicious. I am just beginning to cook more and will be trying a few of your recipes in the near future. And when I do I'll definitely tag you.

      Oh, and beautiful site as well. 🙂

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        February 9, 2018 at 8:49 AM

        Aww thanks, Sarah! Hope you enjoy the recipes. Let me know if you have any questions. ❤️

        Reply

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    Natasha Bull, founder and author of Salt & Lavender, in the kitchen

    Hi! I'm Natasha. Salt & Lavender is a recipe blog with a focus on delicious comfort food using everyday ingredients. Beat the weekday grind with hundreds of easy-to-follow and hassle-free recipes!  Read more...

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