Hearty Ground Turkey Soup with Beans and Spinach Recipe

Introduction

This hearty Ground Turkey Soup with Beans & Spinach is a quick and comforting meal perfect for busy weeknights. Made with simple pantry staples, it’s flavorful, healthy, and ready in under 30 minutes—no long simmering required.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
• Ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
• 1 can (15 ounces) Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 4 cups baby spinach leaves
• 4 cups chicken broth or stock
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt, to taste (optional)

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add ground turkey, chopped onion, minced garlic, red pepper flakes, and black pepper. Cook, breaking up the meat and stirring occasionally, until the turkey is no longer pink and onions are translucent, about 7 minutes.
2. Step 2: Stir in the diced tomatoes with their juice, rinsed beans, dried oregano, and dried basil. Mix well to combine.
3. Step 3: Add the baby spinach in batches if necessary. Cover the pot and allow the spinach to wilt, stirring occasionally for about 2 minutes.
4. Step 4: Pour in the chicken broth and bring the soup to a simmer. Let it heat through and become steaming hot.
5. Step 5: Remove the pot from heat and stir in the grated Parmesan cheese. Taste the soup and add salt if needed, keeping in mind the cheese adds saltiness.
6. Step 6: Serve the soup hot and enjoy a nourishing, homemade meal in minutes.

Tips & Variations

• Use ground beef, ground chicken, or Italian sausage in place of ground turkey for a different flavor.
• Swap baby spinach for baby kale, Swiss chard, or escarole. If using regular kale, simmer an extra 5 minutes.
• If you prefer, substitute the beans with small pasta like ditalini; cook pasta separately or add with extra broth and cook until tender.
• Look for low-sodium broth to control salt levels better.

Storage

Store leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. To reheat, warm individual portions in the microwave or heat larger amounts on the stovetop over medium heat until hot throughout.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make this soup ahead of time?

Absolutely. This soup tastes even better the next day as the flavors meld. Prepare it ahead and store in the fridge, then reheat when ready to serve.

What can I substitute if I don’t have Parmesan cheese?

If you don’t have Parmesan, you can leave it out or use another hard cheese like Pecorino Romano. The soup will still be delicious without the cheese.

Hearty Ground Turkey Soup with Beans and Spinach Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 64 reviews

This Ground Turkey Soup with Beans & Spinach is a hearty, healthy, and easy-to-make soup perfect for busy weeknights. Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s a flavorful, comforting meal made from pantry staples like ground turkey, canned beans, diced tomatoes, spinach, and chicken broth. The addition of grated Parmesan cheese adds a delicious savory touch, making this homemade soup far superior to any canned alternative.

• Author: nova
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 6 servings 1x
• Category: Soup
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Low Fat

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Soup Base

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper (adjust to taste)

Vegetables and Beans

• 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes (with juice)
• 1 (15 oz) can Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained
• 4 cups fresh baby spinach

Seasonings and Broth

• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 4 cups low sodium chicken broth or stock
• Salt, to taste (added after cheese)

Topping

• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Brown the meat and sauté aromatics: Heat olive oil in a soup pot over medium heat. Add ground turkey, chopped onion, minced garlic, red pepper flakes, and ground black pepper. Cook, breaking up the meat with a spatula, until the turkey is no longer pink and onions are translucent, about 7 minutes.
2. Add tomatoes, beans, and herbs: Stir in the canned diced tomatoes with their juice, rinsed and drained Great Northern beans, dried oregano, and dried basil. Mix well to combine all flavors.
3. Wilt the spinach: Pile fresh baby spinach into the pot. It may seem like a lot at first, but it will quickly wilt down. Cover the pot for a couple of minutes, stirring occasionally to help the spinach cook down evenly.
4. Add broth and simmer: Pour in the chicken broth and bring the soup to a simmer. Heat until steaming hot and flavors meld, about 5 minutes.
5. Finish with Parmesan and season: Remove the pot from heat. Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the soup and stir until melted and incorporated. Taste and add salt if needed, keeping in mind that Parmesan adds saltiness.
6. Serve: Ladle the hot soup into bowls and enjoy immediately for a comforting, nutritious meal.

Notes

• Any ground meat can substitute ground turkey, including ground beef, chicken, or Italian sausage.
• If you don’t have baby spinach, other tender greens like baby kale, Swiss chard, or escarole work well; cook 5 minutes longer if using tougher greens like regular kale.
• You can substitute different canned beans such as cannellini or navy beans, or use small pasta like ditalini instead (adjust cooking time accordingly).
• Leftovers can be refrigerated in a covered container for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
• Reheat soup on the stove over medium heat or in the microwave for individual servings.

Keywords: ground turkey soup, healthy soup recipe, easy weeknight meal, soup with beans and spinach, turkey and bean soup, quick homemade soup