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Delicious Minestrone Soup made with ground turkey, veggies and topped with delicious pesto. This soup is 10/10 and the entire family will love it. The broth is extremely flavorful, hearty and the veggies add so much color, texture and nutrition. It’s topped with fresh pesto which brings out the flavors even more. You will CRAVE this soup on a chilly day and it gets better and better if you have leftovers.
What’s To Love About This Recipe
This soup is hearty, healthy and all around a knockout dish. My husband isn’t a big soup guy but he told me he wanted this one on the regular rotation.
- It gets better if you have leftovers making it a perfect meal prep meal.
- Make a batch for friends or family to throw into the freezer.
- Use up leftover veggies. This soup is great to add any veggies to, the sky is the limit.
Ingredient Notes
All other ingredients and measurements can be found in the recipe card towards the bottom of this post.
- Ground Turkey. This is the protein for the soup, you can make it vegetarian, use beef or ground chicken.
- Olive Oil. To sauté the turkey in since there isn’t much fat.
- Seasonings. Salt, pepper, Italian seasonings, red pepper flakes.
- Onions. I like to use yellow or white onions.
- Zucchini. Chopped zucchini or squash for color and nutrition.
- Chicken or Veggie Broth. Use either one, I use low sodium.
- Canned Tomatoes. Use regular or fire roasted tomatoes.
- Beans. I use canned beans, pinto and garbanzo beans for this recipe.
- Frozen Peas. You can also use frozen green beans, or a mix of both!
- Dry Pasta. I use a small pasta like shells or elbow pasta.
- Fresh Spinach. This adds color and more nutrition to the soup.
- Pesto. I make my homemade pesto and it’s easy. You can use premade/store bought pesto. A dollop of this in the soup just takes it over the top!
Steps To Make Minestrone Soup with Ground Turkey
Ready to cook up Minestrone Soup with Ground Turkey? Let me walk you through the recipe. For your convenience, there is a full ingredient list and detailed instructions in the printable recipe card below.
- Step One. Brown the turkey meat with the onions, zucchini, salt and pepper. Let it brown for a few minutes, be sure to mince it well. It will still cook throughout the rest of the process.
- Step Two. Add tomatoes, broth, beans, seasonings, frozen veggies and pasta. Bring to a simmer. Make the pesto now if making it homemade.
- Step Three. Once the pasta is al dente, add the spinach in and let it wilt a little. Take the soup off the heat and serve into bowls. Add a hefty dollop of pesto and parmesan – enjoy!
Minestrone Soup with Ground Turkey Pairings
This soup is quite filling on it’s own. You can enjoy it on it’s own or pair it with some apps or side dishes.
Recipe Tips
- Don’t overcook the ground turkey, it will continue to cook throughout the soup process. You can also use beef or ground chicken.
- Smaller pasta works best so stick to shells, elbows or shellbows (which is what I used)
- Add veggies you like. You can add squash, potatoes, or carrots if you want.
- The pesto is optional but HIGHLY recommended for the ultimate meal. It will elevate the soup so much.
- Use my homemade Spinach Walnut Pesto
- Top with croutons, or crusty bread and a pinch of parmesan to make it garnished and beautiful.
Other Yummy Soups To Try
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Minestrone Soup With Ground Turkey
Delicious Minestrone Soup made with ground turkey, veggies and topped with delicious pesto. This soup is 10/10 and the entire family will love it.
Equipment
- large 5-6 oz soup pot
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 small white onion, diced
- 1 small zucchini, diced
- 1 lb ground turkey, or beef
- 1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 1 15 oz can kidney beans, drained
- 1 15 oz can garbanzo beans, drained
- 6 cup chicken broth, low sodium , or veggie broth will work
- 2 tsp italian seasonings
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp each salt & black pepper, more as needed
- 2 cups dry shells or shellbow pasta , elbows will also work.
- 1 12 oz bag frozen peas , or frozen green beans
- 4 cups fresh baby spinach
- 6 Tbsp pesto , make my homemade pesto or use store bought
- grated parmesan for garnish
Instructions
- Add olive oil to a large soup pot or dutch oven and place over medium high heat. Add in diced onions, zucchini and ground turkey, add a big pinch of salt and pepper. Sauté for 3-5 minutes or until onions soften and turkey is browned and minced.
- Next add in crushed tomatoes, kidney beans, chickpeas, broth, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, garlic, salt and pepper, pasta. Cover and cook on medium low for 15 -20 minutes or until the pasta is cooked al dente. Make the pesto while it simmers if making my spinach walnut pesto.
- Next stir in the frozen peas, spinach. Simmer on medium/low uncovered for 4-6. If you want more broth to the soup, add 1/2 cup of water and bring it to heat.
- Next, ladle into a bowl and serve with parmesan cheese and a scoop of pesto. I also like to serve mine with garlic bread or crackers.
Notes
- Don’t overcook the ground turkey, it will continue to cook throughout the soup process. You can also use beef or ground chicken.
- Smaller pasta works best so stick to shells, elbows or shellbows (which is what I used)
- Add veggies you like. You can add squash, potatoes, or carrots if you want.
- The pesto is optional but HIGHLY recommended for the ultimate meal. It will elevate the soup so much.
- Use my homemade Spinach Walnut Pesto (linked here!)
- Top with croutons, or crusty bread and a pinch of parmesan to make it garnished and beautiful.
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Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can freeze these for up to 2 months.
- Pesto (full recipe linked above):
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Nutrition
Serving: 1.5 cups of minestrone soup | Calories: 513kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 43mg | Sodium: 279mg | Potassium: 811mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 2348IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 91mg | Iron: 3mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Like this recipe? Leave a comment below!
You are going to LOVE this cozy soup. xoxo – Bailey