This simple homemade ground turkey soup recipe combines tender meat with lots of fresh produce and pantry staples for a comforting, cozy meal. Ground turkey vegetable soup has a similar flavor to my stuffed pepper soup and perfect for customizing with your favorite veggies, broth and seasonings. Best of all? Soup with ground turkey cooks fast and stores well! Instead of using precooked turkey like my leftover turkey soup, this is the perfect healthy soup recipe when you have ground meat in the fridge to use up.
Ingredients & Substitutions
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for ground turkey vegetable soup, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
Olive Oil – This recipe uses extra virgin olive oil, but use any cooking oil you like.Ground Turkey – Choose any level of leanness you prefer.Diced Vegetables – I use diced yellow onion and an orange bell pepper, but you can swap in whichever kind of onions and peppers you like best.Garlic – Fresh garlic tastes best, or use jarred minced garlic to save time.Italian Seasoning – Make it at home for fresher taste, or use store-bought seasoning. You can also substitute poultry seasoning instead.Sea Salt & Black PepperFire Roasted Tomatoes – With lightly charred skins, fire-roasted tomatoes bring a mild, caramelized sweetness to this soup. Be sure to add the whole can, including the liquid. Regular canned diced tomatoes would work as a substitute, but fire-roasted tastes best.Canned Chickpeas – I prefer chickpeas over standard noodles in this soup because they hold up better and are a healthier choice. Drain and rinse first. You can omit them for a low carb option.Chicken Broth – This recipe uses low sodium broth since I can adjust the salt content elsewhere in the recipe. You can also use homemade bone broth or vegetable broth.Aromatic Herbs – Bay leaf for light flavor, and optional fresh parsley to garnish.
How To Make Ground Turkey Soup
This section shows how to make soup with ground turkey, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
Recipe Variations
Change the meat – Ground turkey in soup tastes great, but you can easily substitute other meats. Try ground beef, chicken, or even sausage with casings removed.Ground turkey rice soup – After simmering, add up to 1 cup of white rice to the pot and continue cooking for 10-15 minutes, or until tender.Add or swap vegetables – Try celery, mushrooms, green beans, carrots, or even a bag of frozen veggies. Add any to the pot during simmering and cook until tender. Add leafy greens (such as spinach) to wilt in the pot just before serving.Swap beans – Trade chickpeas for your favorite drained and rinsed beans. You could also use potatoes instead of beans and just simmer until they are tender.
Storage Instructions
Store: Leftover ground turkey soup can store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days.Reheat: Place leftovers in a pot and reheat on the stove, or in bowls in the microwave for single portions.Freeze: Store soup in the freezer up to 2 months. Thaw from frozen, on the stovetop, or in the microwave.
More Healthy Soup Recipes
If you like soup recipes with ground turkey, you’ll love these easy ones too! Share your recipe picture by tagging @wholesomeyum and hashtag it #wholesomeyum on Instagram, or in our Facebook support group, too – I’d love to see it!
