Turkey Meatball and White Bean Spinach Soup
A cozy, hydrating soup featuring homemade turkey meatballs, tender white beans, and fresh spinach. This comforting bowl is packed with protein and iron to keep you energized.
Prep
15 min
Cook
20 min
Total
35 min
Makes
4 servings
The feel-good payoff
Why this meal can feel especially good in perimenopause
Think practical wins: steadier energy, comfortable fullness and one less food decision. Your response is personal, so use the prompts below to notice what works for you.
Perimenopause symptoms and relief · Office on Women’s HealthSteadier energy
Feel fueled, not flattened
A complete meal with protein, carbohydrates and fats is designed to offer more staying power than a quick carb-only fix.
Notice: energy 1–3 hours later
Digestive comfort
A portion that works for you
Fiber and plants can support digestion, but more is not always better overnight. Start with a comfortable portion and build gradually.
Notice: comfort + portion
More staying power
Make the next few hours easier
This meal is built to be more sustaining than a snack-sized stopgap, with enough substance to carry you into the next part of the day.
Notice: energy + fullness later
Clearer, simpler choices
Let the recipe do the thinking
Clear steps and a complete plate mean fewer decisions when focus is in short supply—and a more substantial meal once you are done.
Notice: focus + energy later
Setup
Get set up
Choose your servings, gather what you need, then cook along below.
Prep
15 min
Cook
20 min
Total
35 min
How many are you cooking for?
The ingredient amounts update automatically.
Equipment
Oven · Large pot
Time saver
Batch prep: This soup tastes even better the next day as the flavors meld. Store it in airtight glass containers in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Do these three things first
- 1Prep cannellini beans (rinsed)
- 2Set out all ingredients before cooking
- 3Measure the pantry ingredients before heating the pan
Ingredients
Gather as you go
Ingredients
From Your Pantry
Cook along
Instructions
0 of 7 steps complete
Next: Mix the ground turkey with a generous…
- 01
Mix the ground turkey with a generous…
In a bowl, mix the ground turkey with a generous pinch of salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Roll into small, 1-inch meatballs.
Tap card to mark done - 02
Heat the olive oil in a large…
Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the meatballs and brown them on all sides for about 5 minutes. Remove them from the pot and set aside (they will finish cooking later).
Allow: 5 minutes
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Add the sliced carrots along with the…
In the same pot, add the sliced carrots along with the dried oregano and onion powder. Sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until they begin to soften.
Look for: they begin to soften
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Pour in the chicken broth
Pour in the chicken broth, using a wooden spoon to scrape up any flavorful browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Stir in the drained cannellini beans and bring the broth to a gentle simmer.
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Return the browned meatballs to the pot
Return the browned meatballs to the pot. Let everything simmer together for 10 minutes, or until the carrots are tender and the meatballs are cooked through.
Look for: the carrots are tender and the meatballs are cooked through
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Turn off the heat and stir in…
Turn off the heat and stir in the fresh spinach, letting it sit for 1 minute until just wilted. Taste the broth and adjust the salt and pepper if needed.
Look for: just wilted
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Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish…
Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish evenly with the grated parmesan cheese before serving.
Ready when: everything is assembled and ready to enjoy
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