Turkey Meatball Soup {Ukrainian Recipe} - iFoodReal.com (2024)

Turkey Meatball Soup Recipe with pasta and vegetables is super easy to make and is healthy. Kids love anything with meatballs, so this soup should be a crowd pleaser.

Turkey Meatball Soup {Ukrainian Recipe} - iFoodReal.com (1)

Do you love meatballs? We sure do! I make Mexican meatballs, porcupine meatballs in slow cooker and even Thai meatballs (yes!). And soup with meatballs. Childhood favorite!

I posted this turkey meatball soup a while back, but since then a Martha Stewart part of me grew up. This meatball soup with pasta and vegetables is great any time of the year! I have a vivid memory of my grandma making it during hot summer days.

We would play outside all morning, then she would call us for lunch. You come in the kitchen and here it is – a bowl homemade chicken noodle soup, buckwheat soup or borscht. Steam going up in the air, the smell of fresh herbs, with a piece of fresh and soft Ukrainian rye bread. Take me back!

Turkey Meatball Soup {Ukrainian Recipe} - iFoodReal.com (2)

My absolutely favourite part of this meatball vegetable soup is leftovers. I usually double the recipe and we eat it for a few days. Usually twice on the day I make it. Kids love this healthy soup and have some right away after school and later on for dinner.

Ingredients for Turkey Meatball Soup

  • Meatballs: Meatballs are super versatile! You can use any ground meat like chicken, beef or pork to make meatballs. Onion adds flavor and makes meatballs juicy. And egg holds meatballs together.
  • Veggies:Carrots, celery, potatoes.
  • Pasta: Any short pasta works – white, whole wheat or gluten free. I love using brown rice pasta for when making a soup because I feel like kids are eating brown rice and not pasta.
  • Broth: You can use chicken or vegetable stock, homemade or from cartons. I dilute organic low sodium bouillon cubes with water because they are cheap and convenient. Or learn how to make chicken broth – so easy! Grandma also always made soup with water.
  • Fresh herbs:Fresh parsley or dill are my top two flavor boosters for broth based soups. They add another layer of flavor. Green onion is good too!
Turkey Meatball Soup {Ukrainian Recipe} - iFoodReal.com (3)

How to Make Turkey Meatball Soup

I am using 5-6 quart Dutch oven because it makes this soup one pot meal. Alternatively you can use skillet for frying and then large pot for soup.

Make meatballs: In a food processor or blender, puree onion, egg, 1/4 tsp salt and pepper to taste. Alternatively, you can use grater to grate an onion. Then mix with ground turkey and fry meatballs for 1 minute per side in batches, removing onto a plate and setting aside.

Saute carrots and celery:Add a bit more oil and saute veggies in the meat drippings, this will make them more flavorful. Turkey Meatball Soup {Ukrainian Recipe} - iFoodReal.com (4)

Deglaze pot with broth: Now we want to add broth and bring it to a boil. First of all, to incorporate delicious drippings and brown bits. Secondly, we always want to add veggies and pasta to a boiling liquid in order to cook properly.

Add potatoes, meatballs and pasta: Once you add them to a boiling broth, you want to wait for mixture to boil again. Then cover, reduce heat to low and cook for 12 minutes. Turkey Meatball Soup {Ukrainian Recipe} - iFoodReal.com (5)

Let soup rest and add fresh herbs: Turn off heat, so cooking slowly subsides. Let it rest for 10 minutes for flavours to marry each other and then add fresh parsley or dill. Turkey Meatball Soup {Ukrainian Recipe} - iFoodReal.com (6)

Variations

  • Spinach: Like with lentil spinach soup or chicken lentil soup recipe, you can throw in a few handfuls of fresh or frozen spinach at the end, stir and it will wilt. My kids are not fans and my grandma never had it on hand, that’s why I skipped this time.
  • Orzo: You can use orzo pasta that will make this soup an Italian wedding soup. especially if you add spinach and Parmesan cheese.
  • Skip browning meatballs: Original recipe I had posted for a while didn’t call for browning meatballs. You can totally skip it in a rush, I like a bit more flavor. In a step where broth is boiling with veggies, drop meatballs carefully as you roll them into boiling broth.
  • Leftover cooked grain: Skip pasta and add about 3 cups of any leftover cooked grains you have in the fridge. Like quinoa, buckwheat kasha, couscous or even cooked pasta.
Turkey Meatball Soup {Ukrainian Recipe} - iFoodReal.com (7)

Storing and Reheating

Storing: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days. If you have room in the fridge, store right in the pot. Pasta does get more soggy with time and soaks up liquids. You might have to add more broth or water and a bit more seasonings to taste to compensate for added liquid, when reheating.

Freezing? Because of soggy pasta, I do not recommend to freeze this soup. If you plan on freezing, you can cook pasta separately and add to individual bowls.

Reheating: Reheat desired amount of soup in a small pot by simmering on low for 5-7 minutes. Don’t let soup boil vigorously to disturb already delicate structure of potatoes and pasta.

More Favorite Soup Recipes

  • Turkey noodle soup
  • Turkey chili
  • Turkey taco soup
  • Zuppa toscana (pressure cooker)

You may also love to browse these 45 ground turkey recipes!

Turkey Meatball Soup {Ukrainian Recipe} - iFoodReal.com (8)

Turkey Meatball Soup {Ukrainian Recipe} - iFoodReal.com (9)

Turkey Meatball Soup

Turkey Meatball Soup Recipe with pasta and vegetables is super easy to make and is healthy. Kids love anything with meatballs, so this soup should be a crowd pleaser.

Servings 6 servings

Calories 324

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes minutes

Total Time 50 minutes minutes

Print RecipeSave RecipeRate Recipe

Ingredients

For Meatballs:

For Soup:

  • 2 large carrots chopped
  • 2 large celery stalks chopped
  • 2 cups potatoes 11 oz, cubed
  • 8 cups water + bouillon cubes or vegetable/chicken stock low sodium
  • 2 tsp oil for frying
  • 2 cups short pasta like shells, elbows 6 oz, uncooked
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • Ground black pepper to taste
  • 1/3 cup fresh parsley, dill or green onions finely chopped

Instructions

  • Make meatballs: In a food processor or blender, puree onion, egg, 1/4 tsp salt and pepper to taste. Alternatively, you can use grater to grate onion and mix with other meatball ingredients.

  • Transfer to a medium bowl along with ground turkey and mix well with your hands.

  • Preheat 5-6 quart Dutch oven or skillet on medium heat and swirl 1 tbsp of oil to coat. Alternatively you can use skillet for frying and then large pot for soup. Dutch oven makes this soup one pot.

  • Using a small scoop or tablespoon, form golf size meatballs and add in a single layer to the pot with oil, leaving some room between balls for easy flipping.

  • Fry for a minute or so or until browned (happens fast), carefully flip with small silicone spatula, and fry for another minute. Transfer to a plate and repeat this step with remaining meat and adding more oil. Set meatballs aside.

  • Make soup: Add 2 tsp oil, carrots and celery; saute for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.

  • Add bouillon cubes + water or stock, cover and bring to a boil.

  • Add potatoes, meatballs, pasta, bay leaves, 3/4 tsp salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat to very low and cook for 12 minutes.

  • Turn off heat and let soup sit for 10 minutes covered. Flavours will really "marry each other" and soup will thicken a bit and pasta "get there".

  • Add parsley, stir and serve hot.

Notes

  • Store: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Reheat desired amount by simmering on low heat while covered.
  • Freeze: I do not recommend to freeze this soup because it contains pasta. If you plan on freezing, you can cook pasta separately and add to individual bowls.
  • Spinach: If you like, you can throw in a few handfuls of fresh or frozen spinach at the end, stir and it will wilt.
  • Other meat: You can also use ground chicken, beef or pork instead of turkey.
  • Pasta: I used brown rice pasta this time. Any pasta works! Even long pasta like spaghetti can be broken and used. You can use orzo pasta that will make this soup an Italian wedding soup.
  • Soup thickens with time: It is normal to see the soup thickening more in a few hours and next day. You can always add more broth to thin it out.
  • Skip browning meatballs: Original recipe I had posted for a while didn’t call for browning meatballs. You can totally skip it in a rush, I like a bit more flavor.
  • Leftover cooked grain: Skip pasta and add about 3 cups of any leftover cooked grains you have in the fridge.

Nutrition

Serving: 2cups | Calories: 324kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 69mg | Sodium: 469mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g

Course: Soup and Stew

Cuisine: Ukrainian

Author: Olena Osipov

Did you make this recipe?Mention @ifoodreal or tag #ifoodreal!

Categories:
Cuisine, Dinner Recipes, Freezer Meal Recipes, Gluten Free Recipes, Kid Friendly Recipes, Lunch, One Pot Meals, Pantry Staples, Soup and Stew Recipes, Turkey Recipes, Turkey Soup, Ukrainian

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About Olena

Welcome! I grew up in Ukraine watching my grandma cook with simple ingredients. I have spent the last 11 years making it my mission to help you cook quick and easy meals for your family!

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Turkey Meatball Soup {Ukrainian Recipe} - iFoodReal.com (2024)

FAQs

Where did meatball soup originated? ›

While meatball soup can be traced back to ancient Persia, Spanish colonizers brought it to the Americas. In Honduras, this soup is made with chayote, tomatoes, potatoes and zucchini.

Why are my turkey meatballs tough? ›

Meatballs get tough when they are overmixed. The mixing of meat causes the myosin in the muscles to form protein strands. These act like gluten in bread dough, trapping liquid and firming the texture. You want to mix the meatballs until the meat just starts to seem a little fibrous.

What are turkey meatballs made of? ›

Mix turkey, bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, egg, parsley, and salt together in a large bowl. Form meat mixture with wet hands into balls about 1 1/2 inches in diameter without handling or packing too hard. Bake in the preheated oven until browned, about 20 minutes.

What country is famous for meatballs? ›

In the Abruzzo region of Italy, especially in the Province of Teramo, the meatballs are typically the size of marbles and are called polpettine [polpetˈtiːne]. In the Netherlands, meatballs are called gehaktbal, and are often served with boiled potatoes and vegetables.

What country made the first meatball? ›

However, the meatball is thought to have originated in ancient Persia. The earliest recorded meatball dish, called kofta, was created by rolling leftover ground lamb into large balls (we're talking orange-sized or bigger). The balls were glazed with egg yolk and saffron before cooking.

Why do turkey meatballs fall apart? ›

Because meat shrinks when cooked, mince proteins are likely to separate and crumble unless bound together. Whether it's breadcrumbs or egg (or both), or simply salt, binding the mince is a crucial step in maintaining the softness of your meatballs while preventing them from falling apart.

Do meatballs get more tender the longer they cook in sauce? ›

You want the oil to be about half a fingernail deep in the pan. Usually, I'm making meatballs with Sunday sauce. I simmer them in the sauce for 2-3 hours. The longer you simmer them, the softer they will be.

Why are turkey meatballs mushy? ›

Ground turkey has a finer texture than beef or pork which means it needs structure to prevent it from becoming mushy. Switching from breadcrumbs to panko aids against mushy meatballs because the breadcrumbs are larger. The finer consistency of ground turkey also means the it has a harder time holding onto moisture.

Why does my turkey soup taste bland? ›

Not Adding Acid

If a soup is tasting bland in the bowl, consider adding acid rather than salt. A squeeze of lemon or lime, or a dash of yogurt or sour cream can add brightness to the bowl. Our Lemony Chicken Soup will make your mouth water.

Why is my turkey soup foaming? ›

When soups and stocks are about to boil, proteins start to congeal and create foams that rise to the surface. It's usually whitish or brownish and you need to remove the form as quickly as possible before it boils and mixes up the scum with the soup/stock.

Why does my turkey soup taste greasy? ›

It happens. One common error is letting soup boil, not simmer. With boiling, any fat rendered by the meat or bones will be churned back into the broth instead of floating to the top where it can be skimmed off. Broth that has been boiled turns cloudy and has a greasy taste and feel.

Are turkey meatballs healthier than beef? ›

Turkey is generally lower in saturated fat than beef. As such, it may be a better choice for heart health. Fat-free turkey is also the lowest calorie option if you're interested in weight loss. However, if your main goal is flavor, ground beef may outshine turkey in some dishes.

Are turkey meatballs healthier than regular meatballs? ›

Leaner than beef, turkey meatballs are healthier, packed with protein and flavor, and very moist. Turkey also provides a number of vitamins and minerals, including iron, zinc, potassium, phosphorus, vitamin B6, and niacin, essential for the body's energy production.

How do you keep turkey meatballs from falling apart? ›

  1. Use extra eggs as a binder. I doubled the egg binder to make sure the meat held together. ...
  2. Add melted butter to the meat if it's less than 80/20. Low fat meatballs fall apart in the cooking process. ...
  3. Chill the meatballs or freeze them. Cold meatballs hold together better.
Jun 12, 2021

What is the most famous soup in Italy? ›

Minestrone is a classic Italian soup known worldwide as one of the best Italian soups. It's got a flavorful broth and a variety of slow-cooked vegetables like potatoes, peas, and carrots. Adding Italian sausage gives it a kick of flavor and a shot of protein, so it's a complete meal all by itself.

Where was meatballs founded? ›

Many places will claim that meatballs originated in Italy, while others say that they were an American creation. The answer to this question is actually neither! The earliest known origins of meatballs can be traced back to ancient Rome, with several meatball-like recipes originating in a very old cookbook.

Where did soup originate? ›

In Xianrendong Cave, Jiangxi Province, China, the first example of a soup bowl was discovered and thought to date back to 20,000 BC. The ancient pottery showed scorch marks, which would suggest the user was making a hot soup of some kind.

What is the history of Mexican albondigas? ›

While the true origin of the meatball is a mystery, we do know that it made their way to Mexico from the Middle East by way of Spain (likely sometime after the 6th Century, during Muslim rule in Spain).

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