This turkey meatball soup is hearty, chock full of diced chicken breasts, mini turkey meatballs, and what my husband seriously calls “a man’s soup”! It’s a one-pot wonder meal bursting with tender homemade meatballs and chicken.
While growing up, mamma would make the most delicious and yet very simple chicken broth with these very tiny meatballs. It was usually served as a primo piatto, the first-course meal, following the antipasti, a course of appetizers.
I’ve since jazzed it up a little by making it more hearty with the addition of chicken, tomatoes, celery and onions. All you need really to make a complete meal is a crispy salad and some crusty Italian bread to round it off. It’s simply delicioso!
A bowlful of goodness with flavourful meatballs and a sprinkle of Parmesan love.
Let’s get cooking.
Ingredients for Turkey Meatballs
- Ground turkey meat
- Egg, large
- Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, freshly grated for optimal taste.
- Gluten-free flour or all-purpose flour acts as a binding agent.
- Fresh Italian flat-leaf parsley. Fresh is always best.
- salt and pepper for optimal flavour.
Ingredients for Turkey Meatball Broth
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Large onion
- Diced celery
- Garlic cloves, minced
- 398ml canned chopped tomatoes or 2 cups chopped fresh tomatoes
- 2 chicken breasts
- salt and pepper
- 8 cups chicken stock (I used low sodium & gluten-free)
- 1/2 cup white wine
How to Make an Italian Turkey Meatball Soup
Tip: To effortlessly roll the meatballs, fill a small bowl with approximately two tablespoons of olive oil and grease your hands in between rolling batches of meatballs.
- Mix the ground turkey with the beaten egg, grated cheese, flour, parsley, salt and pepper in a medium-sized bowl.
- Grease the palm of your hands with some oil and start rolling the meat mixture into mini meatballs about 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch in size. Transfer onto a plate and set aside.
- Heat the olive oil in a large stock pot.
- Sauté the onions, celery, garlic, tomato and chopped chicken breasts, with a pinch of salt and pepper, for about 10 minutes.
- Add in the white wine, stirring to release any brown bits at the bottom of the pan.
- Next, add in the chicken stock, cover the pot and bring to a boil then lower the heat and let it simmer over medium heat for about 10 minutes.
- Add the mini meatballs to the soup, cover and cook over medium heat for about 20 minutes.
- Scoop ladle-fulls of this hearty turkey meatball and chicken soup into a serving bowl and serve alongside some crusty bread and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese if you wish but highly recommended.
Helpful note:
You can substitute ground chicken or ground veal for the turkey. Ground veal is my go-to when making a Stracciatella Soup with Mini Meatballs. If you decide on the ground veal, add an extra beaten egg into the mixture for tenderness.
I opted to use gluten-free flour and chicken broth as I have a sibling who is gluten intolerant. I wanted to show her how easy and delicious it is to modify recipes to adapt them for special diets.
But if you favour meatless soups then do try my Gnocchi Soup with Butternut Squash and Kale. It’s just as hearty and fulfilling as this soup with turkey meatballs.
Enjoy and happy cooking!
Turkey Meatball Soup
Equipment
- 1 Large Stock pot
Ingredients
For The Meatballs
- 1 pound lean ground turkey meat
- 1 large egg (lightly beaten)
- 2 tablespoons Parmigiano Reggiano cheese (freshly grated)
- 2 tablespoons flour (I used gluten-free)
- 1/4 cup chopped Italian parsley
- 1¼ teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
For The Broth
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 large onion (chopped)
- 2 cups diced celery
- 3 garlic cloves (minced)
- 1 398 ml can diced canned tomatoes (or 2 cups of diced fresh tomatoes)
- 2 chicken breasts (diced into small pieces)
- salt and pepper (to taste)
- 1/2 cup white wine
- 8 cups chicken stock (I used low sodium and gluten free)
- chopped parsley (for garnish)
- freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese (for sprinkling)
Instructions
For The Mini Turkey Meatballs
- In a medium-sized bowl, mix together the ground turkey, beaten egg, grated cheese, flour, parsley and salt and pepper.
- Use a small coffee spoon to scoop out the turkey meat mixture and shape it into round balls. (about ½ inch to ¾ inch round) Set aside.
Start The Broth
- Heat the oil in a large stock pot and sauté the onions, celery, garlic, canned tomatoes and chopped chicken breasts with a pinch of salt and pepper for about 10 minutes.
- Add in the white wine while stirring to release any brown bits at the bottom of the pan.
- Next, add the chicken stock, cover and bring to a boil then lower the heat and let simmer for about 10 minutes.
- Add in the meatballs, cover and cook over medium heat for about 20 minutes.
- Plate and serve topped with some chopped parsley and grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
Tasty Eats Ronit Penso says
Such a hearty, yet light soup! Love the idea of chicken bits in the soup itself, on top of the mini meatballs. 🙂
Marisa's Italian Kitchen says
Yes Ronit, actually it is light considering it’s chock full of chicken and turkey meatballs. Yum 🙂
lapetitepaniere says
Fabulous soup Marisa. Love the flavors and the addition of Parmesan cheese! 🙂
Marisa's Italian Kitchen says
Thank-you Linda…enjoy your weekend 🙂
carmie says
tku marisa,what an excellant idea for a sunday lunch meal!!!! i’m definatly makind it!!!! a perfect soup for these beautiful autumn days!!!!!big tku!!!!! x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0
Marisa's Italian Kitchen says
Lol….hi Carmie, I agree! Just wonderful this time of the year. Enjoy 🙂
Fourth Generation Farmgirl says
Looks like the perfect meal on a cool, fall day. 🙂
Marisa's Italian Kitchen says
That it most definitely is! ?
SweetRevelations says
This sounds fabulous! I love turkey meatballs! And so hearty for fall and winter! Renee
Marisa's Italian Kitchen says
Delicious and fun to make….thanks Renee ?
thehealthyfoodblogger says
Your soup looks so delicious! Great soup for fall!
Marisa's Italian Kitchen says
Thank-you…..it really is wonderful for those colder days?
Lynz Real Cooking says
wow Marisa this sounds so good! I really want to come see you and have some!! Yummm
Marisa's Italian Kitchen says
Lol….come on over Lynz, I will make a fresh pot 🙂
Lynz Real Cooking says
yumm I wish! 🙂
Marisa's Italian Kitchen says
🙂 🙂
Lynz Real Cooking says
🙂
Jasline @ Foodie Baker says
This soup looks so comforting and delicious! Will definitely be trying it out, thank you for the recipe!
Marisa's Italian Kitchen says
Thanks for visiting Jasline….and you are most welcome 🙂
New Journey says
thanks for another great recipe….my husband won’t know what hit him….LOL
Marisa's Italian Kitchen says
LOL…that is just too funny!!! Enjoy and thank-you 🙂
dulce says
a perfect soup for a fall day like today…yummy Marisa..congrats again!!!
Marisa's Italian Kitchen says
Thanks Dulce. The winds sure where wicked today!!
Jhuls says
I wish I have a bowl of this soup right now. 😀 So delicious!
Marisa's Italian Kitchen says
Thank-you, growing up we loved anything with these mini meatballs 🙂
Kouzounas Kitchen says
Merry Christmas!! Happy Holidays From Kouzounas Kitchen!
Marisa says
Thank-you and the same to you 🙂
Kouzounas Kitchen says
Thank you!
Kouzounas Kitchen says
Thank you for the likes and for following!