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Comforting Italian Turkey Sausage and Orzo Soup

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Turkey sausage and orzo in a basil and thyme flavored broth with a bit of lemon that is so comforting on these cold winter days. It’s full of veggies too!!

Italian Turkey Sausage and Orzo Soup

I really appreciate a good bowl of soup these days. I always get anxious in the fall to start making all the soups my little heart desires but it is this time of year that I actually LOVE them!

Let’s be honest I get pretty excited when I get a new recipe together and my husband calls it a 10 (this one included!!) but I’m extra excited about this recipe because of all the flavor! I highly recommend using the fresh basil and fresh thyme on this one even though I’m one to substitute the dried versions every now and then. However, this time go ahead and grab the fresh basil and thyme at the store. The flavor is just unbeatable!

Italian Turkey Sausage and Orzo Soup

I have to say it…this soup is restaurant quality and is one of my top 5 favorite soups! Yes, it is that delicious. I wish you could just take a bite of it through this screen right now and see what I’m talking about.

I sure hope you aren’t getting sick of soups yet because with this crazy below zero weather it is just what I need to warm up. Plus it’s packed with nutrition from the fresh veggies including carrots, onion, celery, herbs, and kale! Your body NEEDS this soup! Trust me on this.

Italian Turkey Sausage and Orzo Soup

We didn’t have any good bakery bread around so we topped our bowls off with some shredded provolone cheese but some good ‘ol crusty bread would be so tasty with this soup as well!

I seriously can’t wait to make this soup again and just looking at these pictures makes me want to go make it right NOW!

Italian Turkey Sausage and Orzo Soup

Be sure to give this soup a try because I’m sure you and yours will love it as much as we do!!

Italian Turkey Sausage and Orzo Soup

Italian Turkey Sausage and Orzo Soup

Italian Turkey Sausage and Orzo Soup

Turkey sausage and orzo in a basil and thyme flavored broth with a bit of lemon that is so comforting on these cold winter days. It's full of veggies too!!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Dinner, Soup
Cuisine Italian

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 lb Italian turkey sausage
  • 1 whole yellow onion, small chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/4 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/8 tsp black pepper
  • 4 carrots sliced
  • 5 fresh basil leaves chopped or torn
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves only
  • 2 ribs celery chopped
  • 6 cups chicken broth low sodium
  • 1/2 lemon juiced
  • 3/4 cup orzo uncooked
  • 2 cups kale chopped

To Serve

  • shredded Parmesan cheese
  • crusty bread

Instructions
 

  • Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a large pot. Add turkey sausage and cook until browned throughout, about 6-8 minutes. 
  • Add chopped onion, garlic, salt, and pepper. Stir frequently until onion has softened, about 5 minutes. 
  • Add carrots, fresh basil, thyme, celery, chicken broth and juice of 1/2 lemon. Bring pot to a simmer and cook 15-20 minutes. Increase heat to medium high and add orzo. Cook until al dente. Reduce heat.
  • Stir in the chopped kale. Serve soup with shredded parmesan cheese and/or crusty bakery bread. Enjoy!

 

 

Italian Turkey Sausage and Orzo Soup

More Delicious Soup Ideas

 

Best Instant Pot Chicken Enchilada Soup

Best Instant Pot Chicken Enchilada Soup

 

Best Hamburger Soup with Quinoa

Best Hamburger Soup with Quinoa

 

Favorite Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

Favorite Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

Favorite Lasagna Recipe

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This lasagna is a classic and wins us over every time we have it. It’s quick, easy, and can easily feed a crowd!

I never used to be much of a lasagna lover. I think it was mainly because I could do without the lasagna noodles and just preferred the meat and sauce. This recipe has changed my thoughts on lasagna. It’s so delicious!!

It’s such a great recipe to make around the holidays when family and friends are around and you are needing food on the table and quick!

Favorite Lasagna Recipe

It has great flavor! I also prefer using cottage cheese in my lasagna rather than ricotta but that’s just me.

Serve this lasagna with a great salad on the side for some extra veggies rather than serving it with bread. You will feel much better afterwards too!

Favorite Lasagna Recipe

This recipe takes about 40 minute of prep time and then bakes for an hour at 375℉. It can also be prepped ahead of time and refrigerated until it’s time to bake it, which is a great way to get dinner on the table sooner after a long day at work.

The winter time is always when we like to eat a variety of Italian dishes because they are super yummy and comforting with the cold weather. I just make a point to always serve them with a delicious salad so our plates aren’t filled up with only lasagna and we have some nutrient dense greens on the side. My husband is always amazed at the salads I make, and I know he’s being honest because he always gets seconds (of the salad)!

Favorite Lasagna Recipe

So, if you’re looking for a go-to recipe for the day after Christmas when friends and family are still around give this one a try!!!

Favorite Lasagna Recipe

Favorite Lasagna Recipe

Favorite Lasagna Recipe

Megan
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 each small onion chopped
  • 2 tbsp ground oregano divided
  • 1/4 tsp coarse salt
  • 3/4 tsp ground pepper divided
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 jar marinara sauce 24 oz
  • 2 1/2 cups cottage cheese low-fat
  • 9 each lasagna noodles oven ready
  • 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese shredded
  • 2 each eggs

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 375℉. 
    In a large skillet, cook ground beef. Drain grease. Add onion, 1 tbsp oregano, salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper. Mix together well. 
    Add marinara sauce and water to skillet. Stir in and increase heat to bring contents to a boil. Remove from heat. 
    In a medium-large bowl, add cottage cheese, 1 tbsp oregano, 2 eggs, Parmesan, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Mix well. 
    In about a 9x13 baking dish, begin layering. Start with a a thin layer of the ground beef mixture. Place 3 lasagna noodles on top of the beef mixture. Add cottage cheese mixture on top of the noodles and then 1/2 cup of the Mozzarella cheese. Add another 3 noodles, beef mixture on top of the noodles followed by cottage cheese mixture and another 1/2 cup of Mozzarella. Place 3 more lasagna noodles, remaining beef mixture, and the rest of the Mozzarella cheese. 
    Bake for 1 hour. Start with baking the lasagna uncovered and cover with foil for the last 20 minutes. 

Notes

Recipe may be prepped ahead of time up to 1 day, refrigerated, and then baked for 1 hour when ready. 
Adapted from Jo Cooks

 

 

Favorite Lasagna Recipe

 

More Great Recipe Ideas

 

Best Oven Baked Round Steak

Best Oven Baked Round Stead

 

Favorite Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

Favorite Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

 

Fall Kale & Walnut Salad

Fall Kale & Walnut Salad

Favorite Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

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Favorite Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

The days are short and the food is at its best around here!!

I try my best to serve some of the best comfort food this time of year while still being able to make it good for you.

This chicken noodle soup is a family favorite! It’s chicken noodle soup at its finest and you don’t need to be ill to want this soup. You will look forward to it all season.

No ad, I just really like these egg noodles…

Favorite Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

I hope you are all prepping for the winter season as we are! I love making soup this time of year so that I can freeze half of it and give myself some nights off from the kitchen. There is nothing like homemade soup.

I have found some pretty good canned soups I like over the years and they still don’t compare to the homemade version. And sometimes that’s still good enough for me because you don’t always have time to make a fancy dinner. A couple favorites include Amy’s Organic Soups Chunky Tomato Bisque and Wolfgang Puck’s Chicken and Wild Rice Soup. That list doesn’t compare to my list of homemade favorites.

Some homemade favorites of mine include:

  1. BEST HAMBURGER SOUP WITH QUINOA
  2. HEALTHY CHICKEN ENCHILADA POT
  3. CREAMY SHRIMP BISQUE
  4. MINESTRONE WITH QUINOA
  5. NEW ENGLAND CLAM CHOWDER

And now today, there is one more!!!

This homemade chicken noodle soup is fabulous. I have never wanted to make chicken noodle soup so much in one season. Usually they are just kind of blah to me. You know, like it’s good but I could do better by having a wrap or something that takes 10 minutes. Not this chicken noodle soup though!

Favorite Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

Favorite Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

This recipe is adapted from Budget Bytes. Beth just nailed this chicken noodle soup and I can’t stop talking about it since I first laid eyes on it a few months ago. I made it first for my son’s fall festival and I have made it several times since. It is still one of my favorites and our family can not get enough of it.

It’s a great one to freeze because it makes a big batch leaving plenty left over.

Favorite Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

I find it easy to make this soup on the weekends and then freeze it for later in the week. Lately my daughter has been really into watching Fancy Nancy. Maybe you can relate when I say this soup is superb which is fancy for really good.

I can’t help it I just walk around throwing Fancy Nancy lines all over the place and I’m like “Who am I?” I can’t make it stop! But really you might just stare at this soup for a few minutes after you make it because it’s 100% fancy looking.

Favorite Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

Ingredients

Chicken breasts
Olive Oil
Yellow Onion
Celery
Carrots
Garlic
Chicken broth
Water
Bay Leaf
Dried Basil
Dried Thyme
Dried Parsley
Salt/Pepper
Egg Noodles

 

Favorite Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

 

Favorite Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

Favorite Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

Megan
Favorite Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup that will win you and your family over! It's like no other chicken noodle soup.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Soup
Cuisine Healthy

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb cooked chicken breasts shredded
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 small yellow onion chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 5 stalks celery diced
  • 5 carrots diced
  • 6 cups low sodium chicken broth
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • fresh ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 6 oz wide egg noodles see post above for my favorite brand

Instructions
 

  • Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in large pot over medium heat.
  • Add onion and sauté for a couple minutes, stirring frequently. Add garlic, carrots, and celery to the pot and stir frequently for about 8 more minutes, until veggies have softened.
  • Pour in chicken broth, water, bay leaf, basil, parsley, thyme, and some fresh ground black pepper.
  • Bring pot to a boil, reduce heat to simmer and cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Increase heat to medium high in order to bring pot to a boil. Add egg noodles and salt and cook as directed on package instructions.
  • Reduce heat to medium low, add cooked, shredded chicken and stir well.
  • If needed, add additional salt.
  • Serve or add soup to slow cooker and set to warm until ready to serve to help bring out the flavor even more!

Notes

Adapted from Budget Bytes

 

Favorite Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

 

More Delicious Comfort Foods

 

Best Cheesy Pumpkin Mac and Cheese

Best Cheesy Pumpkin Mac and Cheese

 

Best Oven Baked Round Steak

Best Oven Baked Round Stead

 

Healthyish Rigatoni with Sausage & Fennel

Healthyish Rigatoni with Sausage and Fennel