Turkey Veggie Zucchini Soup (Printer Friendly)

Nourishing soup with lean turkey, spiralized zucchini noodles, and vibrant vegetables for a healthy meal.

# What You Need:

→ Protein

01 - 12 oz ground turkey, lean (93% or higher)

→ Vegetables

02 - 2 medium zucchini, spiralized into noodles
03 - 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
04 - 2 celery stalks, sliced
05 - 1 small onion, diced
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 cup baby spinach
08 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved (optional)

→ Broth & Seasonings

09 - 5 cups low-sodium chicken or turkey broth
10 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
11 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
12 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
13 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
14 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
15 - Juice of 1/2 lemon, approximately 1 tablespoon
16 - Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

# Directions:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 4–5 minutes until vegetables begin to soften.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add ground turkey to the pot. Cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink, approximately 5 minutes.
04 - Pour in chicken or turkey broth, add thyme, oregano, crushed red pepper if using, salt, and black pepper. Bring mixture to a boil.
05 - Reduce heat to a simmer. Add cherry tomatoes if using and cook for 10 minutes until vegetables are tender.
06 - Add spiralized zucchini noodles and baby spinach. Simmer for 3–4 minutes until zucchini noodles are tender but not mushy.
07 - Stir in lemon juice. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
08 - Ladle soup into bowls, garnish with fresh parsley, and serve hot.

# Pro Advice:

01 -
  • Ready in 40 minutes total, with most of that time just letting the broth do its thing while you handle other tasks.
  • Packed with lean protein and vegetables, so you feel genuinely satisfied without the heaviness that lingers afterward.
  • Naturally gluten-free and low-carb, which means no awkward substitutions or apologies to friends with dietary preferences.
02 -
  • Add the zucchini noodles last and keep them in for the shortest time possible—I learned this the hard way by adding them too early and ending up with a pot of mushy disappointing texture.
  • Low-sodium broth is non-negotiable here because the turkey flavor is delicate and high-sodium broth drowns it out; this was a game-changer once I figured it out.
  • If you're making this ahead, store the broth and turkey separately from the zucchini noodles so you can add them fresh when reheating.
03 -
  • Taste the broth before you add the spinach and noodles so you know the flavor is exactly where you want it—easier to adjust at that point than after everything's in.
  • If your ground turkey feels watery when you're cooking it, that's normal, but tilt the pan slightly and let it drain off; drier turkey means better browning and better flavor development.
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