This is one of those soups you just can’t stop eating. The idea first came to me because I wanted to make something reminiscent of those good old Spaghetti-O’s you probably had as a kid.
Except you know, I figured we’d elevate the flavor a bit with plenty of herbs, spices, pesto-infused mini turkey meatballs, orzo (cause we’re grown-ups now) and a creamy sweet coconut milk tomato broth that’s simply OUT OF THIS WORLD DELICIOUS.
I first shared this wonderful creamy tomato orzo soup recipe back in January of 2021 — the time of year when all of that annoying hype to “detox” and focus on what to stop doing seems to be everything. Whenever I see those types of messages, whether it’s in the new year or during the holiday season, I like to remind myself what I can add to my life. We can truly “reset” by slowing down, rejuvenating and grounding ourselves, moving more intentionally, finding ways to connect with people, and of course, nourishing our bodies with food that’s just as comforting as it is nutrient-dense. AKA it’s the perfect time to show ourselves some love with a big bowl of nutritious grown-up Spaghetti-O’s — are you down?
Trust your girl, and make this soup. You’ll love it and your kids will love it. The end.
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What is orzo?
Orzo is a type of pasta that’s cut short to look like long grain rice. It’s similar in texture to rice but I love the extra delicious chewiness that it gives to soups and traditional pasta dishes. I like to use it similarly to pearl couscous like in my famous chicken soup recipe.
Ingredients in this orzo tomato soup
This super creamy tomato orzo soup uses tons of pantry staples for a wonderful, easy weeknight dinner that’s basically a hug in a bowl. There’s truly nothing better than healthy comfort food when it’s cold outside. Here’s what you’ll need to make it:
- For the mini turkey meatballs: we’re using lean ground turkey, breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, salt & pepper. I also added in a bit of basil pesto and it was truly phenomenal! My son loved the meatballs on their own, too! Feel free to try my homemade pesto for the ultimate treat.
- Veggies: you’ll need an onion, carrot & spinach.
- For the broth: the creamy tomato broth is made with garlic, canned crushed tomatoes, light coconut milk (from the can), chicken broth, more Italian seasoning, salt & pepper.
- Orzo: you’ll also need some dry orzo to throw in and make the soup extra delicious.
Easy ways to customize this tomato orzo soup
This wonderful soup is easy to customize with different ingredient swaps to make it your own. Here’s what I can recommend:
- Go gluten free. Simply use a gluten free orzo or swap the orzo for rice, and use gluten free breadcrumbs in the meatballs.
- Keep it vegetarian. Feel free to omit the meatballs and add a can of rinsed, drained chickpeas if you’d like extra protein. Then be sure to use vegetable broth in place of the chicken broth.
- Try a new pasta shape. This orzo tomato soup would be delicious with your fav pasta shape like elbows or even spaghetti-o’s.
How to make creamy orzo tomato soup with turkey meatballs
- Make your mini meatballs. You’ll first form the meatballs by mixing the ingredients together in a large bowl and then rolling together ½ inch mini meatballs. Brown these cuties in a skillet and set them aside.
- Saute your veggies. Then you’ll cook down the garlic, onion and carrot a bit so that they soften.
- Put it all together. Stir in the rest of your ingredients besides the spinach, carefully stir in your meatballs, and let it all simmer and cook. Add your spinach right at the end just so that it wilts.
- Serve it up. Serve with extra pesto if you’d like, parmesan, crackers and maybe some homemade garlic bread!
Try it in your slow cooker
Yes, this easy turkey meatball tomato orzo soup can be made in your slow cooker for ease!
- Brown your meatballs as-directed and set aside.
- Add the rest of your ingredients besides the orzo & spinach to your slow cooker. Stir in the meatballs and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-7 hours.
- Once done cooking, add the orzo and spinach, cover and cook on high for 15-20 minutes or until the orzo is al dente.
Time-saving tip
If you’re crunched for time, you can also skip the meatball rolling and simply brown your ground turkey in a skillet completely with the same spices listed, then proceed with the recipe as directed. It will still be delicious!
You could also fully cook your meatballs 1-2 days beforehand and simply stir them into the soup when it’s about done cooking.
Storing & freezing
- In the refrigerator: this creamy tomato orzo soup will stay good in your fridge for about 3-5 days, though I doubt it will last that long! Once your soup is completely cooled, just place it in an airtight container (or multiple, if you’d like to meal prep it). To reheat it, simply do so in the microwave with a microwave safe bowl, or feel free to reheat it on the stovetop.
- In the freezer: follow the instructions above, but instead of placing the soup in the refrigerator just put it in your freezer for up to 3 months. To reheat, simply thaw the soup overnight and reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave when you’re ready to eat.
More delicious soup recipe
- Roasted Garlic Cheddar Cauliflower Soup
- Creamy White Bean Chicken Enchilada Soup
- Vegan Coconut Tomato Lentil Soup
- Healing Ginger Coconut Chicken Brown Rice Soup
- Slow Cooker White Wine Chicken Stew
Get all of my soup recipes here!
I hope you love this wonderful creamy turkey meatball tomato orzo soup! If you make it, be sure to leave a comment and a rating so I know how you liked it. Enjoy, xo!
Ambitious Kitchen
Cookbook
125 Ridiculously Good For You, Sometimes Indulgent, and Absolutely Never Boring Recipes for Every Meal of the Day
Creamy Tomato Orzo Soup with Mini Turkey Meatballs
Ingredients
- For the meatballs:
- 1 pound 93% lean ground turkey
- ⅓ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Optional (but recommended): 2 tablespoons basil pesto
- Freshly ground salt and pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, for cooking
- For the soup:
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 1 large carrot, sliced
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (15 ounce) can light coconut milk
- 4 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon italian seasoning
- 6 ounces uncooked orzo (or about 1 cup uncooked orzo)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- For mix-ins:
- 2-3 cups organic spinach
- For serving:
- Fresh shredded parmesan cheese
- Extra basil pesto
Instructions
- In a large bowl, use your hands to combine the turkey, breadcrumbs, italian seasoning, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, pesto, salt and pepper. Mix together until well combined and roll into approximately 40-45 1/2 inch mini sized meatballs.
- Place a large skillet over medium high heat and add in 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add meatballs in batches and brown on all sides. This will take about 5-6 minutes per batch. You don't need to cook them all the way through, as they will finish cooking in the soup. Once meatballs have browned nicely, transfer them to a large plate and set aside.
- In a large pot, add in ½ tablespoon olive oil and place over medium heat. Add in garlic, onion and carrot and saute until onion and carrots slightly soften, about 3-5 minutes. Next add in crushed tomatoes, coconut milk, chicken broth, Italian seasoning, orzo, salt and pepper and stir well. Add in browned meatballs back into the soup. Bring soup to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Finally stir in spinach and cook for another minute or until spinach wilts. Taste soup and adjust seasonings as necessary, adding more salt and pepper if you’d like.
- Serve soup immediately with extra basil pesto swirled in, parmesan, crackers and/or garlic bread. Serves 6.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | Photography by: Eat Love Eats
This post was originally published on January 31st, 2021, republished on October 31st, 2022, and republished on January 26th, 2025.
This looks incredible! I’m not a huge fan of coconut milk. Could I use almond milk instead?
I wouldn’t recommend almond milk, but regular milk would work well!
Evap milk worked nicely
Great to hear!
Do you think full fat coconut milk would also work?
Yes I do!
This was very good. I used the slow cooker method. I was skeptical about the coconut milk in a soup with Italian flavors and it worked very well. I didn’t have the canned tomatoes but I had jarred tomato basil pasta sauce and dumped in that instead. Worked perfect.
So glad that worked out well! The coconut milk adds the best creaminess and cuts the acidity of the tomatoes, too 🙂 so delicious.
This is delicious. The meatballs are so tasty-don’t skimp on the pesto! I didn’t have orzo so I added pearl cous cous and orchietti pasta. I added about 2.5 cups dry pasta (way more than called for) because the soup seemed too thin. It worked well to thicken up the soup and who doesn’t like a little extra pasta? I also blended the soup with an immersion blender before adding the chicken broth to give it a creamier consistency. Recipe is super flexible and so delicious. Serving it tonight with a bake at home French bread loaf.
Perfect! Yes, this one’s great for customizing 🙂 Glad you enjoyed!
This dish was SO good! We made it in the slow cooker while we both worked from home, and the smells were incredible. My husband kept raving about this hearty meal. Thank you for the great recipe as always, Monique!
Perfect! So happy to hear that!
I can’t find the directions for using the slow cooker method. Can you please tell me where to find it? Thanks
It is above in the blog post!
LOVED this recipe. Making the meatballs sounds intimidating but it was really very easy and they were so good. The coconut milk is a strong flavor so recommend subbing if you don’t like that taste. Will for sure make again.
It’s easier than you think! Glad you enjoyed 🙂
Can’t wait to try this one! Could heavy cream be subbed for the coconut milk?
Yes that will work! Enjoy 🙂
Delicious recipe! Was easy to make and very flavorful. I only used half the amount of red pepper flakes, and I’m glad I did bc the little meatballs have quite a kick even w a half tsp. I also doubled the amount of garlic and added 1 tbsp of Locatelli pecorino romano cheese to the meatballs, bc well, I’m Italian! The dish is really thick. More like a consistency of a hearty stew than a soup, so if you’re not a fan of thick soup, maybe add more broth to it.
When I make this next, yes, there will be a next time bc it’s that delicious, I’m going to add fresh peas for sweetness and color.
Perfect! So glad you enjoyed!
Excited to try it out, I even have all the ingredients on hand already! Any tips on how to save the leftovers?
Perfect! Feel free to store in the fridge for 3-4 days or freeze in airtight containers 🙂
So delish and all the kids loved it! You definitely don’t taste to coconut milk at all. I added some tomato paste and Trader Joe’s Umami seasoning with shaved parm. Amazing!! Would you think it’s ok to freeze leftovers? Thanks so much!!
Sounds delicious! Glad it was a hit 🙂 and yes, should freeze well!
Well, this was delicious. I used to eat Spaghetti-Os a lot as a child. Now I live abroad and on occasion, I miss the processed stuff I ate in my younger years. It was so easy to make and it tasted amazing. I didn’t have Italian seasoning so I threw in a lot of dried basil, oregano, rosemary, and fresh thyme. This recipe is legendary and I will make it for my future children.
Absolutely! So glad you loved it!
Delicious! I used closer to 3 cups of chicken broth cause I wanted a thicker soup. It does have a coconut flavor but it was perfect for me as I love coconut. Will definitely be making again!
Perfect! Glad you loved it!
Rave reviews all around! The turkey was perfectly seasoned (love the pesto and spice!) and the soup was SO good! The coconut milk made it so fragrant and creamy. I only had diced tomatoes on hand, but it was still delicious. I will add this to my go-to recipes!
Perfect! So glad it was a hit!
I’ve been looking forward to making this for the last week and it didn’t disappoint! So comforting on a subzero MN night.
Amazing! So glad you enjoyed 🙂
I can’t wait to try this recipe. Can it be frozen for future consumption? Thanks.
So delicious! And yes, it should freeze well 🙂
Made this soup today and it is delicious! The meatballs are very tasty and I did use the pesto. Adding a dollop of pesto and Parmesan cheese to your bowl adds great flavour. So nice on this cold day. Definitely will be saving this recipe and making again.
Amazing! So glad you loved it!
DELICIOUS! Admittedly, I’m in my first trimester and can’t stomach raw meat so I cheated with frozen meatballs and swapped out small ring pasta (to get that spaghetti-o vibe!! Otherwise followed to a T. It tastes like spaghetti-os in the best way. My husband has said no less than a dozen times, ‘I love’. Will make this over and over! Especially when the nugget can start eating solids.
This soup was delicious, just right for a cold night. The pesto definitely gives a big flavor boost to the meatballs. The orzo really thickened up the soup nicely. LIke other posters I was a little skeptical of the coconut milk but it really worked. My 12 year old ate a huge bowl. Success!
Amazing! I took the shortcut and just added the Cooked ground turkey with spices to the soup without molding them into meatballs.
My kids asked for seconds and asked for it again the next day. Delicious. Thanks Monique!
Definitely add in the pesto for more added flavor. This soup was delicious!
This recipe was absolutely delicious!! My husband doesn’t enjoy turkey but he was obsessed with this meal. Fantastic work!
I made this soup the day Monique released it, for good reason! I followed the recipe pretty closely and it turned out awesome. It really was reminiscent of spaghettios, except fancy and grown up! Very much into it, and it showed because we gobbled it all up in a few days. Definitely going on the soup rotation! 10/10 – truly a unique and delicious recipe.
So easy and such a great recipe! Made it twice now and I love it enough to make time and time again.
I love all of your recipes and they never fail me, but this one was my absolute FAVORITE. I grew up eating spaghetti-o’s as a treat whenever I had a sleepover at my grandma’s house, but haven’t had them since – this was an elevated blast from the past! Followed the recipe exactly and made it on the stovetop – so easy, hearty and delicious. New staple in our house!
Made this and it was to die for! I subbed with shredded chicken breast and it was so tasty. Perfect with a crispy piece of garlic toast.
This was the first recipe of yours I tried. It was so good. I made the meatballs with 96% ground beef and I didn’t have pesto, but the meatballs were still some of the best I’ve ever made. Thanks so much for your recipes! I just had a baby, so easy to follow, delicious recipes are a life saver these days 😊
I skipped the coconut milk and used extra chicken stock. The pesto in the meatballs was the best part!
This recipe was so easy and tasty! The meatballs with the pesto were such a crowd pleaser and I made the soup with regular milk and was still great! Will def make again!
I made this recipe (stovetop) with frozen mini meatballs and HIGHLY recommend. I just added them to the soup, still frozen, when directed in the recipe and it turned out great! Kiddo and spouse loved it.
This was delicious! 🙂 I used the AK lightened basil pesto for the meatballs and it was perfect. Will definitely make again. Perfect for that cozy day in from cold weather.
This was the absolute coziest soup to make – my fiance and I both loved it! We used Banza pasta instead of orzo because that’s all we had on hand, and it turned out amazing.
Perfect! Glad you enjoyed!
This totally does taste like adult spaghettios! Such a quick, easy, and cozy recipe. I plan on experimenting next time by making some vegetarian “meatballs” using cannellini beans.
Absolutely! Let me know how it goes 🙂
If you are on the fence about making this, here is your sign you need too! I double this recipe for my weekly lunch meal prep and it was a 10. So good, I could have ate it for dinner too 😅 great macros and definitely left me full!
Love that! Perfect lunch & dinner 🙂
I made this soup for the first time this past weekend and WOW!! It’s the perfect soup for a cozy Sunday afternoon during the negative degree weather. We topped this with the Pesto and fresh Pram. Also, next time I think I will make some homemade sourdough croutons.
So delicious! Glad you enjoyed!
The most time-consuming part of this recipe, in my opinion, is portioning out the meatballs. But that said, once you do, they cook up fast and the soup itself comes together quickly. A great recipe to make on a Sunday and then have in the fridge for your family’s weekday dinner/lunch. Just needs a quick reheat. And is very flavorful. I actually used full-fat coconut milk, as that is what I had in my cupboards, and it came out nice and creamy. Highly recommend!
Absolutely! Perfect to prep for the week after getting it together 🙂
Really tasty recipe. I’m not usually a fan of canned tomato soup, but this is absolutely delicious! Big fan with the picky boyfriend as well which is always a major win.
So happy to hear that!
This recipe is so good, and filling, and seems like it should be a “cheat meal” it’s so creamy and good! But it’s not, which I looove! I used a little less orzo, but other than that- everything is perfect as is!
My husband claims to “hate soup” and he ate it for dinner AND left overs the next day!
Perfect cold weather meal yummmmm
Perfect! So glad you both loved it!
Wow this was amazing! I followed the recipe except I left out the salt so my 10 month old could have it too. All three of us LOVED it! The little had seconds.
Amazing! So happy to hear that 🙂
Made this on a rainy day and it was so cozy and delicious. Will definitely be making again!
I couldn’t wait to make this when I saw the post and it did not disappoint! My new favorite soup 😍
This was so yummy! It came together easy and is the perfect cozy, filling dinner on a chilly night. Will defiantly put this soup into the dinner rotation!
This was so yummy! It lasted my mom and I three nights, and it was just as delicious every time. There are so many flavors in every bite. Definitely making this recipe again!!
Followed the recipe exactly! So easy and flavorful! I’ll definitely be making this again! (As with all your recipes!)
Fantastic!! My whole family loved this and that includes two toddlers and a baby. So delicious, filled us up for dinner and I felt happy about the nutritious ingredients for everyone. I didn’t have pesto so I added a little marinara to the meatballs for a little extra some thin’. It worked! Thank you.
This was delicious! Lots of flavor for simple ingredients and I loved the addition of the pesto in the meatballs. Even my husband who doesn’t like turkey thought this was great.
This was absolutely delicious and was so easy to throw together – thank you for the recipe!
This is so freaking delicious!! A new family favorite for sure. It will be going Into regular rotation at our house. Can’t say enough good things about. I will however double the meatballs next time. They are so damn good. 10/10 recommend
Amazing!! Coconut milk was not overpowering, it complimented the flavors really well. Will be making again very soon.
Delicious!! I used the slow cooker method and it turned out well! Great topped with Parmesan cheese and extra pesto
Made this soup for dinner this week and it was delicious! Comforting, filling and healthy. A winner in my book and will absolutely be making this again! I did find the meatballs a bit on the spicy side but didn’t mind that at all! Thanks for the perfect weeknight soup recipe!
This recipe is super easy, tastes great, and is filling. I loved adding the extra drizzle of pesto on top. The mini meatballs were so good. I meal prepped this last week for dinner, and I am tempted to have it again this week, it is that good.
This was soooo delicious – warm and creamy and the perfect thing for a cold day or night. To save time I did not make the meat into meatballs.
Perfect! Such a great dinner.
So good!! Used minimalist baker’s vegan pesto recipe to add to the meatballs. I found that 1 tsp was the perfect scooper for the meatballs. Soup is super flavorful, love the orzo texture (I used lentil pasta!), and a little spice from all the red pepper flakes.
So yummy! Absolutely loved it. I used shredded carrots and was unsure about the coconut milk only because my husband despises coconut, so I did half a can and about 1/4 cup of half and half and it was great! My husband didn’t notice any coconut flavor and I think next time I will go ahead and use the entire can, no half and half. I also used Banza rice instead of orzo cause I already had it, so I made that separate since it creates a ton of foam, worked perfectly. I will make this again and again!! Thanks, Monique for yet another perfect recipe!
Perfect! So glad it was a hit!
Fabulous recipe. We love tomato soup and I love the idea of adding in meatballs for protein. I swapped 1/2 cup of plain, non-fat greek yogurt for coconut milk and was still fabulous. Love this recipe. Will be a staple in our house moving forward!
Perfect! Great idea 🙂 Glad this one is a favorite!
I made this and it was bomb!
So happy to hear that!
did this last night and was able to make it completely dairy free thanks to TJ’s vegan pesto! also used full- fat Oatly instead of coconut milk and it was awesome. really thickened up. can’t wait for lunch leftovers!
Perfect! Such a great dinner & lunch 🙂
Perfect for a chilly, snowy day in Michigan! I followed the recipe exactly as written and it turned out creamy and hearty with delightful italian flavors. My grandmother is a notoriously picky eater and she ate every bite. Rolling the mini meatballs was labor intensive, but the rest of the soup comes together so quickly, so the flavor you get from browning them is really worth it. Will be adding to my family’s weeknight winter dinner repertoire.
Absolutely! So glad it was a hit 🙂
So Good!!! Definitely like the adult version of Spaghetti-O’s. I doubled the recipe so we could eat it throughout the week, and when I told my husband that we needed to roll 80 mini meatballs, he thought i was crazy. But they were actually really easy and quick to roll and cook! We both loved the recipe, and it is very filling as well. The parmesan topping is a must! Thank you!
Love that!! So glad it was a hit with both of you.
This soup is to die for! It will quickly become a very familiar meal in my house! My two year old can’t eat it fast enough too! I followed the recipe and also added zucchini. Love it so much!
Amazing! So glad it was a hit 🙂
Loved this recipe. Skipped the meatballs because we’re vegetarian but the soup came together quickly and was really good. I would definitely make it again. I used the immersion blender before adding the orzo to get it extra thick. Definitely don’t let this one pass you by.
Perfect! Glad you enjoyed!
This recipe was delicious! All the comfort from a warm, hearty soup—but pulled off in a much lighter way. We loved this and will definitely be making it again!
Absolutely! Glad you enjoyed 🙂
Perfect! The meatballs are sooo good and I highly recommend making them with the pesto. Quick and tasty weeknight dinner!
Absolutely! Glad you enjoyed 🙂
Loved this recipe! Perfect for the weather!
Aboslutely! Glad you enjoyed 🙂
This was great! I ended up not having orzo, so I used Israeli couscous. My husband, a self-proclaimed non-soup person, loved it! He said it was kind of like a grown up spaghetti-o’s but way better. It is delicious. The turkey meatballs are divine and the coconut milk adds a lovely creaminess.
Perfect! So happy to hear that!
Wow!! So delicious and hearty. Perfect meal prep for lunches throughout the week. Absolutely love how the pesto pairs with the rest of the flavors. Will be making this again soon!!
Aboslutely! Glad you enjoyed!
This recipe was so good! I was worried about the coconut milk but I didn’t notice it for the most part. It freezes really well (I wasn’t sure bc of the orzo). It’s pretty easy too. The longest time went into making the meatballs. I will definitely be making this again.
Absolutely! Such a great dinner. I’m glad it froze well!
What a perfect chilly winter night meal! This soup was delicious, hearty and flavorful. Those mini meatballs are the best! We made the recipe as is and will definitely save this one to make again!
Absolutely! The coziest dinner 🙂
Great soup! Super easy, and the flavours are great. I topped mine off with some pesto and parmesan as suggested, and it was amazing!
Love it! Such a great dinner.
SO insanely delicious. I tried it when I finished cooking and went “OH yeah.” Another winner by Monique.
I made this for meal prep and recommend undercooking the pasta just a tad so it is al dente when you’re ready to eat it, having continuing to soak up liquid in the fridge as it cools.
*Having continued to soak up liquid. Also, I used the same pot to brown the meatballs and make the rest of the soup, and everyone loves a one pot dish!
Perfect! Great idea to make this all in one pot. So glad you loved it!
We made this tonight and it was so delicious! Little meatballs are full of flavor. We added homemade pesto from the freezer (made over the summer) to the meatballs. It was super creamy like a tomato soup, and love that it doesn’t have heavy cream. Ambitious Kitchen never disappoints!
So delicious! Glad it was a hit 🙂
Made this last night with what I had on hand- ground chicken, gluten free bread crumbs, vegan pesto and a lentil orzo. Finished with kale. Delicious and it did have some spaghetti O vibes! Next time I’ll make the meatballs smaller and lessen the pepper flakes in an attempt to feed it to my 3 year old. 🤞🏼❤️
Perfect! This one’s great for customizing 🙂 glad you enjoyed and hope your kiddo does, too!
This recipe is everything moms need!!!! One pot, fast, nourishing and everyone loves it!!! Not to mention makes incredible leftovers! I wanted to keep this gluten free so I used chickpea shell pasta over orzo and it was amazing. My only mistake was not doubling the recipe! Thanks so much for this new recipe that I will be sure to make again and again!
Absolutely! Great idea to swap the noodles. So glad you love it!
This recipe will come back to haunt your dreams until you make it again. Utterly delicious. I saved a step by browning spicy sausage instead of making meatballs. And great for leftovers, I added the spinach right before serving in individual bowls as my daughter doesn’t like spinach.
Love it! So glad it’s a favorite 🙂
Ok, so I dramatically modified this recipe but oh my goodness so delicious! I’m vegan so I decided to switch out the mini meatballs for lentils seasoned with similar spices while cooking (I also think Trader Joe’s vegan meatballs would work well). I switched out the chicken broth for veggie broth and because my store didn’t have orzo that day, I used mini farfalle. After all that, I added a bunch of nutritional yeast for a little bit more cheesy flavor because I didn’t have pesto and cooked it in the Instant Pot for 3 minutes because your girl is too impatient for a soup simmer for 25 minutes. Would 100% recommend and will be recreated again!
I’m glad that worked out well! Great dinner 🙂
Could you make this in an instant pot?
I have not tested this recipe in the instant pot, but you could use your slow cooker method on your instant pot as directed in the blog post above.
This recipe checks all the boxes – Flavorful, comfort, easy, and nutritious!
We substitute impossible meat and a few other swaps to make this recipe plant based friendly and it is so tasty!
Absolutely! Great idea for a swap 🙂
this recipe is great! easy to make and packed with flavor. ingredients yield enough for four people.
Absolutely! Glad you enjoyed 🙂
This was delicious! Will definitely be making it again.
Is there a good GF substitute for the orzo?
Thanks!
Glad you liked it!
This was so good! The meatballs alone were amazing. My kids and husband loved this! My mom was over when I made it and about lost her mind because she couldn’t believe how good it was haha
So glad it was a hit!!
Another great recipe from Monique. I subbed ground beef for ground turkey and it came out great! 10 out of 10.
Perfect! So happy to hear that 🙂
My husband and I both loved this! I will make it again and again. Delicious!
The perfect dinner! Happy you both loved it 🙂
So easy and so delicious. Not gonna lie, I am lazy and just browned the turkey rather than making meatballs. Still so delicious and healthy. Used whole wheat orzo. Will absolutely be a new regular dinner!
Perfect! Easy and delicious 🙂
This was AMAZING. It tastes like spaghetti and meatballs but in healthy soup form. Loveee the coconut milk to make the base thicker. SO GOOD.
Absolutely! Glad you loved it!
This is a total slam dunk! Didn’t have to make any modifications to it and is definitely a keeper.
Love it! Glad you enjoyed!
I truly enjoy all you recipes
Great base recipe! I omitted all animal products, all oil and coconut milk. I replaced the coconut milk with oat milk and blended white beans. Gave it a rich taste without the excess fat. I used vegetable stock and instead of the meatballs I just used sliced shitake and oyster mushrooms along with some minced sundried tomatoes and miso for more depth. Turned out delicious. Thanks for the inspiration!
Really awesome tasting soup love, love this recipe!!!!
Easy to make
So glad you enjoyed!
This soup was so flipping good! Might use a smidge less red pepper flakes next time 🙂. But boy was it 😋 tasty. Followed the recipe to a “t”.
Glad you loved it! And yes, feel free to reduce the heat a bit 🙂
Really good! Baby loved it (did not put hot pepper flake) pesto adds lots of good flavor
Perfect! So happy to hear that 🙂
This was very tasty! I was a bit worried that it wouldn’t thicken, but it thickened right up after I added the orzo. I blended the soup before adding the orzo to make it creamier and less chunky. I used organic whole wheat orzo for added fiber and protein. I used fat free half and half and left out the olive oil, but only because I have trouble digesting too much fat. I also added extra spinach. I would 100% make this again, maybe with a little less half and half and a little more tomato. But even without any changes, this is delicious. Thanks for the recipe.
Perfect! So glad you enjoyed 🙂 this one’s great for customizing!
Made with just browning the ground turkey with the spices (no bread crumbs) and adding into the soup. Also used 1% milk instead of the coconut milk because we didn’t have any on hand, but between the liquids being partially absorbed by the orzo and the cook time, it came out creamy. Also used extra Italian seasoning instead of the pesto, probably about another tsp at least. Made garlic cheese bread to go along with, and another delicious dinner by AK!
Perfect! So glad it was a hit!
Hi, can I use plant base meatballs or lamb meatballs
Hi can I use lamb meatballs or plant base meatballs with the creamy Tuscany tomato soup
Hi! Yes, either will work 🙂
Have made this recipe multiple times and it is SO GOOD! My husband also loves it and I make it for meal prep delivery. Would 100% recommend!
*make it for meal prep FREQUENTLY
So happy to hear that! One of our favs, too!
Most delicious satisfying meal!! And super kid friendly, definitely making this again!!
Absolutely! Perfect dinner for the kiddos 🙂
Super yummy, hearty, healthy and easy. Will be making this again soon!
Absolutely! Glad you enjoyed.
Wow, so good! My husband said it’s one of the best soups he has had! Love that it isn’t heavy (since using coconut milk versus heavy cream). Next time, going to pair it with a thick melty grilled cheese.
Amazing! And sounds delicious with a grilled cheese on the side 🙂
Make this ASAP! It is so, so delish and is the perfect meal for hot and cold weather. We have started doubling the recipe because my boyfriend and I are obsessed and love to eat it, and we now are going to have to start quadrupling the recipe because we compete for who gets the leftovers haha! I have celiac disease and I use a rice substitute that’s made by Banza Beans and it tastes JUST like orzo! I can’t recommend this recipe enough!
So glad you both love this one! Such a great lunch or dinner (and makes the best leftovers!)
This has become one of my go to recipes. It’s incredibly flavor. The mini pesto meatballs are wonderful and the coconut milk cuts the acidity of the tomatoes perfectly. It tastes indulgent but is a nice hearty & healthy dinner. I am a huge fan of a lot of AK recipes but this one just hits a home run every time.
So happy to hear that! It quickly became one of our favs, too 🙂
One of my favs. I didn’t have coconut milk at home, but it was delicious! (As everything from Monique) It’s one of my top recipes and a must. I love the combination, it’s super healthy and good!
Perfect! So glad you loved it!
This was so good! I didn’t have crushed tomatoes so used tomato sauce and it worked out well. We also added peas at the end for an extra boost for my toddler!
So happy to hear you guys enjoyed it, Jessica! Good to know that tomato sauce works well in here–thanks 🙂
I thought this, as well as most of your recipes, was mostly delicious! You explain things well and promote a made-from-scratch yet simple approach. That said, not sure the coconut milk added to this one– I’m curious as to whether you’d recommend making it with milk as an alternative, or some form of cream for the creaminess? For me the coconout flavour overpowered and didn’t “go” well with the otherwise Italian vibes.
Hi, there! So glad you enjoyed it. I personally enjoy the coconut milk flavor, and love that it adds creaminess without dairy, but totally fine to use milk, cream, or half & half in here if you prefer that!
Another fantastic soup recipe. So, so yummy. Please never stop creating these delicious recipes!
Aw thank you! I’m so glad you loved it so much!
My favorite soup recipe. I make this all the time, my husband and I love how filling the soup is without it feeling too heavy.
Omg amazing! So happy you guys love this one 🙂
I love the recipe, I make it once a month.i enjoy all the ingredients and it was very easy to prepare. I love spinach, coconut milk and the meatballs. All the ingredients compliment each other. Love love love!
Yay! So happy to hear that, Joyce 🙂
Hi Monique! Would this be freezer friendly if you pre-cooked the ground turkey? Then just dump the ingredients + the orzo in the slow cooker? Trying to prep freezer meals as a fist time mom due in a 3 weeks!
Oh congrats, mama!! So excited for you. I haven’t tried that but I think that should be fine! Or you could make the whole thing ahead of time and freeze it, and just reheat to serve.
Can we make this with rice instead of orzo?
Yes for sure! That would be delish 🙂
THE MOST AMAZING SOUP!! With only like an hour of cooking (bc I’m a slow prepper) and such a RESTAURANT QUALITY TASTE my life is change!
I accidentally only did 13.5 oz of coconut milk but it still tasted pretty balanced <3
YAY! I’m so glad you loved it so much, Molly!!
MONIQUE! Of all things holy, this recipe lives among them. I have been a long time fan of yours, and have been eyeing this recipe for a while and let me tell you — This did the opposite of disappoint.
I have shared the recipe to all of my close friends within minutes of eating this buzzworthy soup.
Will be making this ALOT this winter. I praise you! Thanks,
A recipe that will be saved for the fall and winter seasons in my family. My family is trying some new recipes and when I found Ambitious Kitchen I knew I was going to find so many delicious meals! My older brother is hard to please, but he enjoyed this meal a lot. I didn’t use all of the coconut milk (only about half) because my dad doesn’t really like coconuts. The creamy soup was delicious and the spiciness from the red pepper flakes hit home for me. I recommend only using less than 1 cup of orzo because I did a little more than one cup and (with no experience of orzo) we had so much in our soup, but still delicious! The colors pop out and we truly rate this meal 10/10!
Aw thanks so much for leaving a review, Lexi! I’m so happy you guys all loved it 🙂
Soooo good! A new staple in our house for sure! I used Arborio (spelling? Lol) rice instead and it worked perfectly! Thank you ☺️
Oh, awesome! So happy that worked well and that you guys loved this one!
Like a healthy spaghetti o’s! I skipped the meatball part and just browned the meat.. much faster for a time saver!
I can’t stop making this recipe! So cozy and yummy. Truly the most labor-intensive part is rolling the bitty meatballs. Otherwise, it’s a snap of a one-pot recipe to put together.
I’m so glad to hear that you love it!
Could I use chicken breast pieces instead of meatballs?
Yes that should work well!
Really yummy! A more “sophisticated” version of tomato soup. My husband and I both loved it.
This soup was SOOO good! You’re right, it did remind me of spaghetti-O’s, but with some extra veggies snuck in there. The only thing I did differently was sub kale for spinach since that’s what I had on hand, and it was delicious! The turkey meatballs were also so fun and made the soup next level. This soup may be my new winter staple. Thanks for the fun and tasty recipe!
Warm, hearty, and filling. My trouble with soup is there isn’t a carbohydrate so I’m often left hungry. Love the use of orzo because we love orzo pasta salad but those don’t work as well in the colder months. I chose to bake my meatballs just to be more hands off and that worked fine! I also had never tried coconut milk in a soup and was hesitant, but it’s great! I think a little cream could cut some of the acidity of the tomatoes, but I love this and will definitely be adding it to the rotation! I did find my orzo kept sticking to the bottom of my pot so I had to make sure to stir a few times, but I’d rather do that than cook it separately!
So happy you loved this one! Totally agree that the orzo makes it filling 🙂 Good call on baking the meatballs, too!
Amazing soup recipe! We are officially in soup season and this was the first one I made! Really creamy, flavorful, and those meatballs were the best part!
Yaaay soup season! I’m so glad you tried and loved this one, Hailey! Thanks!!
Currently heating up leftovers and the smell is DIVINE. This soup was absolutely delicious and will definitely be a new staple in our house this winter. I subbed pearled couscous because it’s what I had on hand and doubled the recipe. So glad I did because we can’t wait to have it again tonight!
Wonderful!! I’m so happy to hear you all loved it. Great idea to use pearl couscous!
This was so yummy and easy to make! I’ve never thought to add pesto to meatballs but totally will from now on. Thanks!
Isn’t that pesto flavor awesome?! I’m so glad you loved it, Peyton!
Both my husband and my 18 month old son loved this. I’ll be making it again for sure!
Aw I’m so happy to hear that, April! Can’t wait for you to make it again 🙂
This soup is delightful! Don’t skip the pesto, its a must in these meatballs. Love that it has spinach and just a touch of spice from the red pepper flakes. My only problem is that both times I’ve made it my orzo insists on sticking to the bottom of the pot, I stirred it obsessively this last time and was still always scraping.
This soup was delicious! I made the recipe exactly as is – no it is not coconuty!!! If you want it thinner, then definitely omit some orzo or add more broth. However, I’d love it as is. This was filling, fantastic, and easy!
This soup is incredible- wouldn’t change a thing about it. Will be making on repeat all winter!
SO glad you’re loving it, Lauren!
UMM this soup is unreal. Packed with flavor and feels extremely light and healthy. I agree that the pesto is a MUST. I’m gluten free, so instead of making meatballs I browned the Turkey with the listed seasonings and pesto, and also used GF orzo. I will be making this again and again. Thank you Monique for yet ANOTHER killer recipe.
SO happy you loved it, Anna! Great to hear it worked well with the browned turkey + GF orzo 🙂
This was so yummy! Followed the recipe exactly – just perfect on a chilly night.
Cozy, right?! Happy you enjoyed it, Karol!
My family loved this recipe. The only change I would do is to cut down on the chile flakes. We are not one for spicy dishes. Otherwise I am definitely making this dish again.
Good call! So glad you guys enjoyed it 🙂
This recipe is amazing! I made it when my in laws came to dinner and served it with some dinner rolls on the side. Making the meatballs from scratch takes some time but it is so worth it! I will definitely be making this again!
I’m so glad it was worth it!! Thanks for leaving a review 🙂
When I saw this recipe as one of the top recipes in 2021 I had to try it! The mini meatballs with the red pepper flakes is such a great way to add a kick to this soup. This is a perfect recipe for a cold winter night dinner – so cozy and warms you up. Would make this again for sure!
Yay!! So happy you enjoyed it, Shannon! Thanks 🙂
Love this soup! So delicious and filling. My husband called it high end Chef Boyardee 😂 Definitely making it agin.
HAHA love that description 😂 Happy you guys enjoyed it!
My husband and I both really liked this soup!! I’d forgotten to get pesto, so added a bit more basil and parmesan. I will be sure to add pesto next time for a 5 star soup. Thanks!!
So glad you loved it!
Gosh this is good and so quick to make. I prepped earlier in the day and tossed the meatballs in without even searing them and let them cook for about 15 min and then they will finish cooking when I reheat. I added in some tortellini for my son so it will pass as pasta. Will definitely make it again!
Awesome!! So glad you loved it — thanks for leaving a review!
We loved this recipe! Even my 2 year old! It’s a comforting soup and easy to make.
I’m so happy to hear that!! Thanks, Jessica 🙂
Absolutely delicious! I made this as written, including putting the pesto into the meatballs. I did add an extra cup of fresh spinach, and the broth can easily accommodate that.
I weighed the meat, measured all ingredients and I think I eyeballed the 1/2-inch size size correctly, but I ended up with 71 meatballs… so don’t panic if you come out with more than the recipe stated. And it’s perfectly wonderful to have that many meatballs — their ratio to stock is great.
I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Lisa! The number of meatballs doesn’t really matter; happy the size you made worked well 🙂
This was delicious and so easy to make. I’ll definitely be making it again. The only thing I changed was only using half the amount of red pepper flakes in the meatballs so they wouldn’t be too spicy for my 3 year old.
Good call! So happy you enjoyed it 🙂
This was well loved by my whole family, especially my little meatball loving two year old! I made it in the slow cooker. What I love most about this soup is it’s basically a full meal. I didn’t have to make any sides!
Totally agree about it being a balanced meal! So glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Delicious soup! It reminded us of Spaghettios from childhood in a good way.
The tomato orzo soup with mini turkey meatballs is so good. We have made it 3 times already and plan on making it many more.
I’m SO happy to hear that, Jenny! Thank you!
I made this soup this week for lunch meal prep and we loved it! My husband text me at work and said “this is so flippin’ good and maybe the best lunch I have ever had”! I enjoy making people happy through food and love it when my hubby is pleased with meal prep (especially a new recipe). I did take a shortcut and used frozen mini meatballs because I was pressed for time but look forward to trying the homemade meatballs in the future because I love pesto. Thanks so much for great recipes, Monique!
Ahh that’s such a great review, I’m so happy you both loved it! And those frozen meatballs are a time saver — glad that worked well 🙂
So easy and so delicious! Recommended this recipe to my friend and she also loved it! The coconut milk was a great touch. Thanks!
SO delish!!! Made exactly as written 🙂
I’m happy you loved it!
I actually didn’t make this yet, but I wanted to know if I could sub regular milk for the coconut milk. I’m going to try that, but someone please stop me if I shouldn’t! Lol thank you.
Hi, Marie! I think it should work ok, I just would add it in closer to the end (don’t boil it) to avoid curdling.
I loved this recipe! It tasted JUST like SpaghettiO’s but with much better flavor and much better ingredients. I like my soups a little thicker, so I added a cornstarch slurry with 2 Tbsp cornstarch and let it reduce a bit longer. I also added more spinach. I will definitely be making this one again!
Haha yes exactly!! I’m so happy you loved it. Good call on using cornstarch to thicken, too 🙂
Made this last minute and have now included it my recipes. It was absolutely delicious and my husband loved it. Will definitely be making again. It was easy, quick and worth the work. I’m always happy when I try new recipes and they’ve turned out to be your favourite. Thank you
I’m SO glad you loved both it, Carol! Glad it was worth the effort 🙂 Can’t wait for you to make it again!
Loved this! So easy and one of my favorite AK recipes!
Very delicious! The meatballs are insanely good. Great flavor, besides making the meatballs it was not very labor intensive. Family has asked me to make again!
Yay!! So glad the whole fam loved this one 🙂 Thanks for leaving a review!
This is the most yummy soup recipe! Made it multiple times 🙂
I’m glad you’re a fan!!
I follow the recipe exactly and comes out amazing every single time. I think I’ve made this recipe about 8 times now. So crazy how something so simple/easy can be so delicious!
I think I’ll be making this for the rest of my life. I’ve made it 3+ times now. In the heat of summer. It’s THAT good. Thank you ambitious kitchen!
I skip the mini meatballs and go with the simplified version – browning and seasoning the ground Turkey and just tossing it in. Saves a bunch of time!!
Woohoooo!! SO glad you love this one 🙂 And great call to simply brown the ground turkey 🙂
Perfect! So flavorful! My 2 year old also inhaled this
Hahaha LOVE THAT! Thanks, Tess!
The whole family loved this dish, but my picky one year old devoured 4 bowls! So yummy and flavorful! Will definitely be making again!
Totally yummy and really easy to do! I made it exactly as per the recipe and it had a ton of flavour.. totally recommend.
Yay!! Happy it turned out amazing 🙂 Thanks, Dani!
So good!! Amazing flavours. Followed everything including the basil pesto. Only thing is my orzo doesn’t look like the pictures and turned a little mushy. Any advice? Otherwise amazing!
So happy you enjoyed it! And hmmm wondering if it got overcooked. Did you cook it for more than 20 minutes (step 3)?
So delicious!
Elevated Tomato Soup for the Win! I love soup, but husband doesn’t because he thinks it’s not filling, BUT this soup with its meatballs hearty while being healthy too. Was asked if we could have this again multiple times before the meal was even over.
LOVE this recipe! I make it all the time. I half the orzo tho and store it separately from the soup otherwise the orzo takes over and absorbs a lot of the broth. Otherwise – it’s perfect!
That’s a good idea! SO glad you love it 🙂
We made this tonight and used gf breadcrumbs. I cooked the pasta separately as I am gf and the rest of family is not. We doubled the meatballs!
It came out beautifully, I forgot to add the spinach at the end. Next time I would some chopped zucchini. Also, I was wishing the broth would be a tad bit thicker, I may leave out a little of the broth next time and see if it matters.
SO glad to hear this recipe was a hit!
Overall we enjoyed the soup. The meatballs seemed a little tough…not sure if that is just how ground turkey turns out or not? I did add the pesto to the meatballs. Definitely would add more salt next time!
Can you use Cashew Milk instead of Coconut?
I have not tested this recipe with any other milks, but I am sure cashew milk will work just fine. Enjoy! 🙂
I made this vegetarian by using my favourite veggieballs and veggie stock and it is SO darn good! It’s really filling with the orzo but I found it stuck to the bottom of the pot so I stirred it quite often to fix that. But all and all a solid recipe that I will be making again and again.
So happy to hear it worked out! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Such a great flavourful soup! I swapped out chickpea pasta for the orzo, it was a hearty and very filling meal. Definitely adding it to the rotation!
Yay, sounds amazing! SO happy you’re a fan 😊
This was so delicious. I made the slow cooker version and instead of making meatballs I just browned the Turkey with some spices and pesto and dumped it in. This was the perfect cold fall night dinner. I didn’t have low sodium broth on hand so I used regular broth and omitted any extra salt. Truly such a comforting meal.
Ahh this is awesome! SO glad you enjoyed this recipe 😊❤️
Delicious! My daughter has a dairy allergy, so this recipe was perfect for our family. I hate the mess of cooking meatballs in a skillet, so I just cooked them on parchment at 375F in the oven. Easy!
So happy to hear that you and the fam are loving this recipe ❤️🙂
This was so yummy! I didn’t have spinach on hand so had to go without and used frozen turkey meatballs. It was so good, and was kid and husband approved too! Reminds me of a healthy homemade spaghetti-o. Will definitely make again and have already shared with a couple friends/family.
Yess! So glad you and the family are loving this recipe ❤️
This soup is lovely! I didn’t have pesto so I used extra Italian seasoning and some oregano and basil in the meatballs. Otherwise I followed the recipe and it turned out great! I try to avoid dairy so I loved the creaminess without any added dairy. And mine did not have a strong coconut flavor at all- I think it is probably dependent on which brand of coconut milk you use.
Definitely. So glad you are loving this recipe ❤️
This is without question my new favorite soup! I am not exaggerating when I say “I could not stop eating this.” I kept going back for another scoop, and then kept getting little spoonfuls as it cooled down on the stove before going into the fridge. The meatballs are totally worth the time to make because they become so tender and flavorful in the broth. I cannot wait to eat these leftovers!
Ahh this is amazing! So glad you are loving this recipe ❤️
10/10. My husband said “it tastes like upscale spaghetti o’s”, it was a big hit. I did use Italian sausage instead of turkey because that’s what I had on hand and I used less crushed red pepper to compensate for the seasoned sausage so no one could say it was “spicy”.
Ahh I am so happy to hear that you both love this recipe! ❤️🙂
I Love your tomato soup recipe
My question is what can I substitute for the coconut milk
Our cardiologist recommends not using this product
Thank You
You can swap with regular milk!
This is my second time making this soup and my husband and I really love it. The only thing I did differently was to use full-fat coconut milk instead of light because that’s what I had. I also had diced tomatoes rather than crushed ones, and they were fine! This is now a staple in our rotation.
Love this! So glad you both are enjoying this recipe 🙂
Delicious!! Perfect hearty soup for a cold night!
Absolutely love this recipe. I made it for the first time about 2 months ago and my toddler (who is currently in the skipping dinner phase 🙄) devoured it. What I love is that it is actually very filling for a soup and it doesn’t leave you hungry 2 hours later. I am so excited to be making it tonight for dinner while I host people. Oh and for anyone sitting on the edge, the pesto addition to the meatballs and the soup at the end is a must. Truly enhances the flavors and is so so delicious.
My meatballs turned out rubbery which was so sad because the rest of the soup is amazing. What did I do wrong? I followed the recipe exactly. Should I add an egg?
I’m pretty sure this is the best soup I’ve ever had! It is so cozy and hearty without being too filling and still feeling so fresh! It is heaven in a bowl. We made a double batch and I’ve been looking forward to it every day for lunch this week. We even shared some with my parents who both raved about it as well!
This was SO GOOD! Your recipes NEVER disappoint!
The only thing I changed in the recipe was using 2% milk instead of coconut milk and I forgot to add parmesan when serving but this was delicious so I’m not sure we missed it. I have two more meals worth in the freezer and can’t wait till we have it again!
I started out cooking the meatballs as directed but they were sticking to my pan pretty badly so I reverted to cooking them in the microwave- just a couple minutes on high, flipping them mid-way through- and they were still great.
Thank you for another awesome recipe- more than half of the meals we have on our regular rotation are from you and I keep finding new ones all the time!
My second time making this delicious, “comfort-food” recipe! The first time I made it, I didn’t have basil pesto on hand- and wow what a difference it made to the flavors in the meal the 2nd time around! I love how warm and creamy the soup is with that little kick from the red pepper flakes. My fiance could not stop saying how good it was as we had dinner. So delicious!
So so so good! Monique has hit another home run with this one. It’s like comfort in a bowl!
I made the creamy tomato orzo soup and it was amazing! I followed recipe and the pesto in the meatballs was so good! Will be making this again!
So yummy and comforting! And very reminiscent of spaghetti o’s!
This. Was. Amazing. The coconut milk was the perfect addition, adding just a little bit of sweetness and the meatballs were oh, so tender. Big hit with the fam!
I would leave out the carrot as it didn’t soften that well but other than that amazing!!!
We enjoyed the taste of this soup, although somewhat more bland than the typical AK recipes. The big issue with this one was that the orzo was wayyyy overcooked by the time the soup was ready/according to the recipe’s instructions. We do use stainless steel pots and pans, which tend to cook slighter quicker, but the orzo was several minutes overcooked when the recipe was followed. This one was just an “eh” from us!
love this recipe and so comforting
Yum! So glad you’re loving this recipe ❤️
This soup is to die for!!! This is one that I will be saving, printing & sharing with all of my family and friends. The best part might be the pesto, so do not omit. 11/10.
Ah thank you so much- SO glad you are loving this recipe ❤️
I’ve made this recipe twice and am planning to make it tomorrow. First time I substituted the coconut milk for milk and butter (and the spinach with beet leaves because it seems like a shame to toss them). It came out REALLY good.
Second time I had the coconut milk but I substituted the Turkey meatballs for “impossible meat” turkey meat balls to see if a vegan version would work. It was good but the impossible meat does not work well in soup. (Also, I think my brain so strongly associates coconut milk with Tom Kha that I really wanted to add lemon the whole time).
This time I’m going back to milk and butter and sticking with Turkey meatballs. (And Italian bread.) I also might toss some red wine in but I’m not sure how that would work with the milk so maybe not.
Only thing to note, the orzo DEFINITELY absorbs liquid through out the night so the next day the leftovers will be much thicker and the orzo softer.
Wow. Really, wow! This is now my favorite soup. Everything about it is so comforting and fulfilling. I used fresh homemade pesto. Simply the best.
Ahhh so happy to hear that, Alexandra!! Isn’t it so hearty and delicious?!
not a fan of coconut milk, so subbed with 2/3 cup dairy free heavy cream. I also added 2 bay leaves and 1/2 cup white wine. love this soup!!!!
Yay! SO glad you are loving this recipe, Emily, thanks for sharing your changes, sounds delicious 🙂
is the pistachio cilantro pesto recipe you link to the intended pesto for this recipe? thx
If you prefer to make your own pesto, that is the one I recommend, but I have also made this recipe with THIS pesto and which is also amazing!
I’ve made this soup a few times and it’s so good! It’s the reason I keep a can of coconut milk in the pantry! We prefer it without the pesto.
SO good! Glad you all are loving this recipe and it is a hit 🙂
Followed the recipe exactly except that I did 3 carrots instead of one. DELICIOUS!!! This will be a regular in the fall/winter rotation. Full of flavor and nourishment.
YUM! Glad you are loving this recipe, perfect for this time of year
OK this is the best! But did I do something wrong or does this make way more than 45 meatballs? It took me so long and it made like 95!! Did I make them too small? The recipe says 1/2 inch.
Oh goodness, that is SO many! What did you use to scoop them?
This is my go-to recipe ! This soup is amazing, the seasoning is perfect and i cook it once a month since 🙂
This is the best soup! My husband’s favorite.
My family loved this soup. Day 2 leftovers were reminiscent of seriously elevated spaghettio’s, in the best possible way. Delicious!!
Love that!! You’ll have to try my new Homemade Spaghetti-Os next 🙂
This soup is delicious! I make it the ‘lazy’ way. No meatballs, just brown the meat with the spices. It never disappoints!
Perfect! So glad you loved it!
I love this, and most importantly my toddler loves this! To save time, I usually skip rolling meatballs and brown the meat in the skillet. Might try frozen meatballs next time to get dinner on the table even faster. Thanks AK for another hit!
Perfect! So glad it’s a hit!
Such a delicious alternative to your standard broth or creamy soups! The tomato base is so warm and comforting, and the meatballs make it super filling and satisfying. Make sure you have crunchy bread to dip in the sauce- it’s almost more like a cross between a soup and a stew? I also have used frozen store bought meatballs and it still came out great.
Absolutely! And great idea to use frozen meatballs – so easy!
This soup is incredible! I’ve made it a few times and it’s a consistent hit every time. My daughter requests it when she comes home from university!
So happy to hear that!
This soup was so easy to make and packed with flavor! My partner already requested to take leftovers for lunch. It was definitely a hit. Love the basil pesto in the meatballs ❤️
So glad it was a hit! One of our family favs, too 🙂
I just finished eating a bowl of this soup and I cannot tell you how good it tasted on this cold day. My highest compliment is that I will make it again. I added chickpeas instead of the meatballs. It was very easy to make. I love the taste! I bet it will be even better tmorrow when all the flavors mingle.
One of my favorites, too! Glad you love this one!
Overall I thought it was very tasty although I did feel like the coconut milk added a bit of a funky flavor. I generally do not cook with coconut milk though so it may just be a personal preference. The meatballs were amazing. I will definitely make it again but likely will sub the coconut milk next time. Thanks for sharing!
Just made this — love! I upped the veggies, but otherwise followed the recipe exactly. It reminds me of grown-up spaghetti-o’s. Made me feel super nostalgic and all warm inside. Monique, I don’t know what I would do without your recipes. Been using them for years and I’m so happy to see you finally have your cookbook out. Thank you!
Amazing! So glad you enjoyed, and that you’re loving the recipes here + in the cookbook!!
Yum!! I didnt have enough coconut milk so subbed in some whole milk and may have added too much because the soup was very light in color, didnt make meatballs and just browned the meat instead, very good!!
I’m glad it was still delicious!!
I *really* liked this recipe. I made it vegetarian by throwing in a can of white beans vs. turkey meatballs. I was worried about losing out on the seasonings from the meatballs, however, and so added those to the soup at the same time as the other seasonings. Since I didn’t make the meatballs, this came together in no time. Easy peasy. I added 10oz of chickpea orzo (boosting the protein & GF for my husband!) b/c that was the size of box & I can’t stand partial boxes of pasta – I never use them. The extra orzo made for a thicker consistency, not quite stew but heartier than soup. This made a big pot of soup and I am loving the leftovers.
Love that! Great idea to add white beans and chickpea orzo — YUM.
This tomatoe soup is to die for.
My family said it’s the best they have ever tasted. Thank you sooooo much.
I really look forward to your daily recipes.
I’m so glad! One of our fav soups, too 🙂
So so so good. I had to go back for seconds. The flavors are perfect. Will be added to our rotation of recipes.
One of our favs, too! Glad you loved it!
Tried this today, but with store bought turkey meatballs . It turned out very nice but I doubted the 1 cup of orzo. It didn’t look like enough so I added a half cup and starch took over. I would try this again.
Great idea to use store-bought meatballs! Glad you enjoyed 🙂
This was so freakin’ good! Man, that broth is tasty, hubs loved this, too. Making the meatballs is wicked time consuming (get two sets of hands!), but the rest of it came together in no time. Subbed in the anelli (ring) pasta for that authentic feel, but definitely recommend doubling if others do the same, it was a bit too brothy. Or, I loved someone’s idea of adding zucchini! And even though I forgot the dang pesto in the meatballs, they were very tasty. Next time, tho, I may just brown the meat straight up as others did, or veg it up with cannellinis. Customizable and delicious, I’ll for sure make this over and over. Going to try the hidden veggie spaghetti-O recipe first, though!! Thanks as always for your magical recipes. 🙂
This one’s great for customizing! So glad you both loved it!
This recipe is SO tasty!! I absolutely loved it! I used pre-made plant based meatballs as I’m vegetarian and I had them in the freezer. It’s filling, healthy, delicious and easy to make. Thank you for your amazing food and inspiration.
Perfect! So glad you loved this one!
Absolutely phenomenal! I hit with the whole family. Added extra orzo to suit our personal preferences but the flavor was out of this world:)
Love that! such a great dinner 🙂
This is such a great meal! Made this Sunday night and it was lunch for my husband and I Monday-Wednesday. To make it bigger, I just did the whole bag of orzo. Also, we dont really like green pesto so I used red pesto instead and it was delicious.
Perfect! So glad you both enjoyed!
Made the soup recipe exactly stated and it was delicious. It makes a good amount. no need to really double it. But next time I’m gonna double it and freeze it. It was delicious.
Perfect! Glad you enjoyed!
Super tasty! I baked the mini meatballs so I had a little less hands on time and otherwise followed the directions. It was so yummy, I froze some for future meals!
Perfect! So glad you enjoyed!
We absolutely love this recipe and it’s on our regular rotation. Our three kids (6, 2, 11m) also love it. I’ve used ground beef with chicken broth and ground turkey with beef broth and love it as well. I often make a fresh loaf in my bread maker and it’s such a hearty, satisfying dinner!!
One of our favorites, too! So glad it was a hit with the whole family!
Amazing soup! Followed the recipe to a tee and it turned out fabulous! Husband approved as well.
For those skeptical of the coconut milk, you don’t even taste it, it helps cut the acidity and creates a creamy base.
So happy to hear that! And yes, coconut milk adds the perfect amount of creaminess 🙂
Holy AMAZING!! Seriously, you knocked it out of the park with this one. The flavors were so balanced and comforting- I had to stop myself from eating bowl after bowl (only because it’s coming to work with me tomorrow for lunch!!). I will be making this again and again. The only thing I edited was I got protein orzo which surprisingly did not become mush! Bravo Monique, you’re a genius.
One of our favorites, too! Glad it was a hit!
One THOUSAND percent will make again! This was a flavor slam dunk in the mouth. We were so excited to have plenty of leftovers on this one 🙂 Thanks for the awesome recipe!
So happy to hear that!!
Perfect soup to keep you warm & full during the cold winter months! I recommend making Monique’s garlic bread to go with it 🙂
Absolutely! Such a great combo!
This is a go to favourite soup now in our house. My husband can’t stop eating it. Great flavour, perfect for the winter.
I’m so glad!
Looks amazing! Can I substitute the coconut milk for oat milk?
The oat milk might be a bit thin and not as flavorful as coconut milk, but the soup should still simmer together!
Make sure you stir a lot cause I followed all the steps and my orzo burned to the bottom
So strange! I haven’t had that issue before with adding grains to soup, but yes, giving it a stir will help!
This was really flavorful, filling and fairly easy to make but when I make it again, I I’ll sub half & half for the coconut milk. There was just a slight taste of the coconut that didn’t pair that well with the Italian flavors. Loved the mini meatballs.
Such a cozy dinner! This will work just as well with half and half 🙂 Let me know how you like it the next time!