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Lemon Orzo Soup with Turkey Mini Meatballs

October 6, 2015 by jessfuel 14 Comments

Tracking PixelThis Lemon Orzo Soup with Turkey Mini Meatballs is bright, flavorful and the perfect healthy meal for a cozy fall evening. Thank you Foster Farms for sponsoring this post.

Lemon Orzo Soup with Turkey Mini Meatballs

All summer we seem to eat a lot grilled foods, or foods that require minimum cooking and time in the kitchen. Who wants to be chopping and sweating over the stove when it’s 100 degrees out? Once fall rolls around though, I am all about the soups, stews and casseroles. One-pot meals are just so cozy and comforting, perfect for the changing weather.

I’m sure for some people summer is a big season for ground meat. Lots of burgers, of course! But I seem to use more ground meat when my soup and casserole season rolls around. Especially since the hubs is a huge chili fan. Though I try to mix it up with all different kinds of meat—we even had the year of never-ending ground venison when we lived in Mississippi—I always seem to come back to ground turkey.

Lemon Orzo Soup with Mini Turkey Meatballs

We try to eat as healthy as possible, and since ground turkey has less calories and saturated fat than beef, it’s great for swapping into recipes that traditionally call for ground beef. I’m usually making comfort food, so it’s nice to take a little of the guilt out of it.

My latest grocery store find is Foster Farms Organic Ground Turkey. I love that it’s grown locally in California, so it doesn’t have to travel a million miles to get to my kitchen. Plus, it’s USDA Certified Organic, antibiotic free, steroid and hormone free, and raised free-range on organic land. Definitely food I can feel good about eating. I love that Foster Farms really spends the time to raise great quality meat.

Lemon Orzo Soup with Mini Turkey Meatballs

I’m easing myself into comfort food slowly this year. To be completely honest, it’s still really hot here. We’ve had a lot of 90+ degree days in the last couple weeks, and quite frankly I’m over it. Summer has been my favorite season my entire life, but this year was just really, really brutal.

I’m more than ready for cool weather and cozy food, so I’ll just crank up my air conditioner, throw on a sweatshirt and pretend it’s fall while I eat a nice bowl of soup! Who’s with me?

I thought a light, really bright and flavorful soup would be a perfect transition from hot weather. This Lemon Orzo Soup is super peppy with lots of fresh lemon tang and bright parsley. The meatballs smell amazing while they’re baking, and the milder turkey flavor really pairs well with the lemon and orzo.

Lemon Orzo Soup with Mini Turkey Meatballs

If you’ve never added lemon to your chicken or turkey soup, you’re missing out. It does something magical. And the fresh parsley in this soup brings so much flavor. Parsley is an herb I seem to forget about, but whenever I do use it I remember how great it is!

I also love how easy this soup is to throw together. The meatballs don’t take long to bake, and while they’re baking you can work on the soup. I’m all about easy, healthy meals during the week. Foster Farms Organic Ground Turkey was a great way to get some lean protein into dinner.

Lemon Orzo Soup with Turkey Mini Meatballs
 
Print
Author: Flying on Jess Fuel
Recipe type: Entree
Cuisine: Soup
Serves: 6
Ingredients
  • 1 lb Foster Farms Organic Ground Turkey
  • ¼ cup bread crumbs
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
  • ¼ cup chopped flat leaf parsley, plus more for serving
  • 1 egg
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced, divided
  • Salt & pepper
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 3 large carrots, sliced
  • 2 (32 oz) containers chicken broth
  • 6 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tsp fresh lemon zest
  • 1 cup orzo
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. In a large bowl, combine turkey, bread crumbs, ¼ cup Parmesan, ¼ cup chopped parsley, egg, and 2 minced garlic cloves. Use your hands to mix everything together really well. Season with salt & pepper and mix.
  3. Scoop tablespoons of turkey mixture and form into balls. Place on a baking sheet.
  4. Bake meatballs 12 minutes until cooked through.
  5. Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large soup pot or dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion, carrots and remaining garlic and sauté until beginning to soften, about 8 minutes. Pour in chicken stock, lemon juice and zest, and stir. Bring to a boil, then stir in orzo. Cook at a light boil 8-9 minutes, until orzo is tender. Season with salt & pepper.
  6. To serve, place 4-5 meatballs in a bowl, and ladle soup over top. Top with chopped parsley and Parmesan.
3.4.3177

Lemon Orzo Soup with Mini Turkey Meatballs

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Foster Farms Organic Ground Turkey.

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Filed Under: Chicken & Poultry, Soups Tagged With: soup, sponsored, turkey

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Comments

  1. Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says

    October 6, 2015 at 9:46 am

    I’m so happy soup weather is here! Don’t you love being cozy on the couch and smelling the delicious soup simmering away. The best! Can’t wait to add this lemon orzo soup to our menu rotation : )

    Reply
    • jessfuel says

      October 6, 2015 at 10:58 am

      Yes, it’s just the best!! Thanks, Natalie! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says

    October 6, 2015 at 1:37 pm

    Mmm this soup looks so good, Jess! I eat soup even when it’s 90 degrees out, so I love that the cooler weather is finally here to that I can indulge even more. Love the mini meatballs in here, too!

    Reply
  3. Annie says

    October 6, 2015 at 5:02 pm

    We are the same way! We grill all summer but as soon as it cools down it is all about the comfort food!! I really love everything about this soup!

    Reply
    • jessfuel says

      October 9, 2015 at 10:34 pm

      Thanks, Annie! It was perfect for a breezy night! Bring on the cool weather. 🙂

      Reply
  4. marcie says

    October 6, 2015 at 5:26 pm

    Ground turkey is my go-to for almost everything — I love these mini meatballs! It was such a great idea adding them to this delicious soup — orzo is the best! 🙂

    Reply
  5. Denise @ Sweet Peas & Saffron says

    October 6, 2015 at 7:35 pm

    I’m never really ready for summer to end, but somehow I’m always ready for fall soups and comfort food! Love the looks of this soup, Jess, I have been loving ground turkey lately! It’s such a great sub for ground beef in so many recipes!

    Reply
    • jessfuel says

      October 9, 2015 at 10:34 pm

      Thanks, Denise! I’m ready for comfort food, too!

      Reply
  6. Sam @ SugarSpun says

    October 7, 2015 at 1:15 pm

    I love the idea of lemon in soup! So refreshing, yet cozy at the same time. This recipe is such a great combo of flavors, Jess, I can’t wait to try it out! 🙂

    Reply
  7. Kelly says

    October 7, 2015 at 8:39 pm

    I am so ready for soup season. Love how cozy and delicious this soup is! The turkey meatballs make a great addition!

    Reply
  8. Sarah @Whole and Heavenly Oven says

    October 8, 2015 at 5:42 am

    I for real have an obsession with orzo and meatballs, so this gorgeous soup is right up my alley! I can only imagine how awesomely the lemon and herbs brighten up ALL the flavors!

    Reply
    • jessfuel says

      October 9, 2015 at 10:32 pm

      Yes, it’s soooo yummy!! Hope you try it! 🙂

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 25 Hearty & Healthy Soups, Stews and Chillis says:
    December 31, 2015 at 10:23 pm

    […] 7. Lemon Orzo Soup with Turkey Meatballs […]

    Reply
  2. Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup - My Kitchen Craze says:
    April 5, 2016 at 3:02 am

    […] Lemon Orzo Soup with Turkey Mini Meatballs by Flying on Jess Fuel […]

    Reply

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Jess is home cook, foodie and proud Navy wife. She grew up in Boston and now lives on the West Coast. She loves to blog, travel, read and write. When she's not working or blogging, she can be found running or relaxing with a glass of wine. Read More…

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