Turkey Lentil Soup

This healthy Turkey Lentil Soup is hearty, flavorful, nourishing and full of fiber and protein — perfect for a cozy dinner or easy meal prep!

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Despite it’s simplicity, this turkey lentil soup is so flavorful, with the garlic, herbs, and balsamic. Plus it’s incredibly nourishing and filling, with all of its protein and fiber!

Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe:

• Minimal Prep: prep for this soup requires some chopping and that’s about it!
• Delicious Flavor: Italian herbs, garlic, a tomato broth, and everything simmered with a splash of balsamic? So much yum!
• Packed with Protein: one meal-sized serving contains 34 grams of protein!
• Full of Fiber: with plenty of fiber to keep you satiated, one serving provides 10 grams of fiber!
• Meal Prep-Friendly: we love to make a large pot of this soup and double it as meal prep, with several soup lunches ready to go the next few days!
• Freezer-Friendly: Turkey and lentil soup freezes beautifully!

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions:

For a full ingredient list with quantities, please check out the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

• Ground Turkey – you need one pound of lean ground turkey, 93% lean.
• Lentils – one pound of lentils — these add a substantial amount of plant-based protein, as well as fiber!
• Vegetables – onion, celery, and carrots create the veggie base that we build our flavors on.
• Crushed Tomatoes – these combine with the broth to create a savory tomato broth that’s absolutely delicious.
• Kale – kale is chopped and added for another vegetable addition. If you don’t have kale, you can skip or add chopped spinach or another hearty dark leafy green.
• Broth – You need vegetable or chicken broth. I recommend using a low sodium or unsalted broth so that you can control the saltiness.
• Garlic – always adds the best flavor!
• Italian Seasoning – I’m always looking for shortcuts and how to make recipes simpler, and using a seasoning blend like Italian seasoning allows the flavor from multiple herbs at once.
• Bay Leaf – love the subtle flavor it adds to soup, but you can omit if you don’t have any.
• Balsamic Vinegar – a splash of balsamic vinegar adds a great contrast of flavor, with a subtle acidity and sweetness that pairs wonderfully with the crushed tomatoes, garlic, and Italian seasoning.
• Salt and Pepper – to bring all the flavors together. I have amounts listed in the recipe card, but flavor according to your personal tastes (especially because broth saltiness can vary so much!)

How to Make Turkey Lentil Soup

For complete instructions, please check out the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

To a large pot or Dutch oven, heat oil and sauté onions until translucent. Add garlic, ground turkey, and seasonings and brown the turkey.

Add celery and carrots and sauté for 2-3 minutes. Next, add the lentils, crushed tomatoes, broth, balsamic vinegar and the bay leaf. Once simmering, reduce the heat to medium and maintain a simmer for 30 minutes, or until lentils and vegetables are tender.

Add the chopped kale and simmer another 5-10 minutes, until tender. Once done, don’t forget to remove the bay leaf!

Tips and Variations

• If your simmering uncovered or too much liquid has evaporated out, you may need to add another 1-2 cups of broth or water.
• Adjust seasonings – adjust seasonings to your preference, especially salt! I prefer using unsalted or low sodium broth so I can control the sodium content and saltiness, so adjust your own use accordingly.
• Swap a different protein – ground chicken, ground pork, and even lean ground beef all work deliciously in this lentil turkey soup.
• Add more vegetables – have other vegetables you need to use up? Add them in! Some of my favorite additions include diced bell pepper, zucchini, and mushrooms.

Meal Prep: Storing & Reheating

This turkey lentil soup is absolutely perfect for meal prep! I recommend storing in individual airtight containers that can be easily grabbed for a quick meal. They can be refrigerated for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months.

To reheat, add to a small pot over medium heat until heated through, about 10 minutes. Alternatively, you can also heat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, until warmed through. Note that with either method, you may need to add an additional tablespoon or two of water or broth to account for liquid lost while reheating.

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More Soup Recipes to Love

• Bone Broth Chicken Soup
• 5-Ingredient Taco Soup
• Chicken Minestrone Soup
• Salsa Black Bean Soup
• Roasted Red Pepper and Gouda Soup
• Pesto Tortellini Soup

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