21 Protein Thanksgiving Soups Anyone Can Make
Introduction
Amp up your Thanksgiving menu with these 21 protein-packed soups—each one hearty, nourishing, and simple enough for any cook to master. Combining classic holiday flavors with high-protein ingredients like turkey, chicken, lentils, beans, and nuts, these soups won’t just warm up your guests—they’ll provide a satisfying and balanced course to fuel your festivities. Perfect for welcoming the season or serving as a lighter main at your Thanksgiving table, these recipes work for everyone from novice home cooks to experienced hosts.
Why Include Protein Soups in Your Thanksgiving Menu?
Thanksgiving meals can be carb-heavy—protein-rich soups offer the perfect way to balance out your feast with muscle-fueling goodness and lasting satisfaction. These soups not only help keep everyone full, but they also showcase festive ingredients like turkey, squash, and beans in a flavorful, creative way. Plus, with most formulas being one-pot wonders, prep and cleanup are easier than ever, making them a favorite for busy holiday schedules.
How to Build the Best Protein-Packed Soups
A strong Thanksgiving soup begins with a quality protein base—think roasted turkey breast, rotisserie chicken, lean ground turkey, or plant-based stars like lentils, chickpeas, and tofu. Complement these with seasonal vegetables, hearty grains (like quinoa or farro), and bold fall spices (sage, thyme, nutmeg). For a creamy finish, stir in a touch of Greek yogurt or pureed white beans for added protein and velvety texture—without excess fat.
Top 21 Protein Thanksgiving Soups Anyone Can Make
Here’s a roundup of protein-rich soups that are simple to prep—and crowd-pleasing enough for any holiday gathering:
1. Classic Turkey & Wild Rice Soup
2. Creamy White Bean & Turkey Sausage Stew
3. Chicken and Pumpkin Soup with Quinoa
4. Hearty Lentil & Roasted Vegetable Soup
5. Leftover Turkey Chili with Pinto Beans
6. Butternut Squash and Chickpea Chowder
7. Ground Turkey and Black Bean Chili
8. Roasted Chicken & Sweet Potato Soup
9. Turkey Meatball Soup with Spinach
10. Pumpkin and Red Lentil Soup
11. Chicken and Brown Rice Autumn Stew
12. Spicy Turkey & Kale Soup
13. White Bean & Smoked Turkey Drumstick Soup
14. Harvest Farro and Chickpea Soup
15. Creamy Broccoli & Turkey Soup
16. Mushroom and Turkey Barley Soup
17. Sweet Corn and Chicken Chowder
18. Sage-Rubbed Tofu & Vegetable Soup
19. Curried Pumpkin & Lentil Soup
20. Quinoa, Turkey & Black Bean Soup
21. Vegan Split Pea and Tempeh Soup
Ingredients
💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe collection with CookifyAI to automatically generate organized shopping lists for all your Thanksgiving soups—streamlining grocery trips and making meal planning a breeze.
Instructions
- In a large soup pot or Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery; sauté 5-6 minutes until softened.
- Add garlic and cook an additional minute until fragrant.
- Stir in your soup’s main protein (turkey, chicken, lentils, etc.), beans, broth, and herbs. Bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer 20-25 minutes.
- Mix in leafy greens and cooked grains. Heat 2-3 minutes more until greens are wilted and everything is hot.
- Optional: For creamy soups, stir in Greek yogurt or coconut milk just before serving. Season with salt and pepper.
- Ladle into bowls and garnish with fresh herbs or toasted nuts for extra flavor and texture.
Serving Suggestions for a Festive Soup Course
Offer your soups alongside mini rolls, cornbread, or a crisp salad for a well-rounded first course. For added Thanksgiving flair, serve garnished with fresh sage, roasted pumpkin seeds, or a swirl of cranberry sauce.
Nutritional Information and Serving Size
Most of these soups serve 4-6 and provide 20–30g of protein per portion, depending on protein choice and add-ins. They’re hearty enough for a main meal or a satisfying starter—without weighing guests down before the big feast.
Protein Thanksgiving Soups: Why They’re a Holiday Win
Each of these 21 soups delivers the triple win: big flavors, balanced nutrition, and stress-free prepping. Perfect for feeding a crowd or stretching leftover turkey into something new, they’ll quickly become a Thanksgiving tradition.
Weekly Meal Planning
Thanksgiving isn’t just a day—it’s a week, and these soups work beautifully for meal prep and batch cooking. Save and schedule these soup recipes with CookifyAI. The platform calculates total ingredient needs, organizes shopping by store section, and reduces duplicate purchases.
Meal planning benefits:
- Consolidates shopping lists for streamlined grocery runs
- Eliminates forgotten items and food waste
- Makes feeding a house full of guests easier and more organized
- Helps batch-cook dinners to get ahead of the holiday rush
Pro tip: When using CookifyAI, schedule all your Thanksgiving recipes together to see overlapping ingredients (like broth, carrots, and herbs). This ensures you buy just what you need—saving time, money, and stress.
Cook and Prep Times
Prep Time: 10-15 minutes per soup
Cook Time: 25-40 minutes per soup
Total Time: 35-55 minutes per soup
Warm, nutritious, and brimming with holiday flavor, these protein-rich Thanksgiving soups are as easy to make as they are to enjoy. Happy cooking!
