Warm up with a bowl of homemade comfort! This meatball soup recipe is incredibly easy to make, packed with flavor, and perfect for chilly evenings or a satisfying weeknight meal. It is a family-friendly dish that brings everyone to the table, making dinner both delicious and stress-free. You will love how quickly this hearty soup comes together.
Why You’ll Love This Meatball Soup Recipe
This easy meatball soup recipe quickly becomes a family favorite for many reasons:
- Hearty and Satisfying: Each spoonful is packed with savory meatballs, tender vegetables, and comforting pasta, making it a complete meal.
- Simple, Wholesome Ingredients: You likely have most of these pantry staples already, ensuring a fresh and nutritious dish.
- Quick to Prepare and Cook: From start to finish, this soup is on your table in under an hour, perfect for busy evenings.
- Perfect for Meal Prep: The soup base and meatballs can be made ahead, saving even more time during the week.
- Family-Friendly Crowd-Pleaser: Kids and adults alike adore the delicious flavors and tender meatballs in this comforting soup.
- Versatile for Customization: Easily adjust vegetables or spices to suit your family’s preferences.
Ingredients
Gather these fresh ingredients to create your homemade meatball soup recipe. Each component plays a vital role in building rich, comforting flavors.
For the Meatballs
- 1 1/2 pound lean ground beef (or chicken/turkey)
- 1 egg, lightly whisked
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (plus more for serving)
- 1/3 cup unseasoned bread crumbs
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano, divided
- 1 teaspoon sweet paprika, divided
- 1 cup chopped parsley leaves, divided
- 3 to 5 garlic cloves, minced (divided)
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
For the Soup
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 small green bell pepper, chopped
- 5 to 6 cups (40-48 ounces) beef, chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 (28-ounce) can peeled tomatoes with juices
- 3/4 cup small pasta like ditalini or small shells (uncooked)
- Red pepper flakes (for serving (optional))
Notes & Substitutions
Feel free to customize your meatball soup with these simple swaps. For the ground meat, turkey or chicken are excellent lighter alternatives to beef. If you need a bread crumb substitute, try crushed crackers or gluten-free breadcrumbs. Vary the herbs with fresh basil or thyme for a different flavor profile. Small pasta shapes like orzo, acini di pepe, or even broken spaghetti work beautifully in this hearty soup. Swap Parmesan for Pecorino Romano or nutritional yeast for a dairy-free option.
Equipment
You only need a few basic kitchen tools for this delicious meatball soup recipe:
- Large mixing bowl
- Large pot or Dutch oven
- Sheet pan
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Cutting board and knife
Instructions
Follow these simple steps to create a delightful meatball soup recipe that your whole family will love. This recipe is designed to be beginner-friendly and efficient.
- Prepare Meatball Mixture: In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, lightly whisked egg, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, unseasoned bread crumbs, 2 teaspoons dried oregano, 1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika, 1/2 cup chopped parsley, and half of the minced garlic. Drizzle with a little extra virgin olive oil and season generously with kosher salt and black pepper. Mix gently until everything is just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the meatballs tender.
- Form Meatballs: Roll the meat mixture into uniform 1.5-tablespoon sized meatballs. Arrange them in a single layer on a large, lightly oiled sheet pan. Even sizing ensures they cook at the same rate in your delicious meatball soup.
- Brown Meatballs: Broil the meatballs for 5 to 8 minutes until they are nicely browned on the outside. This step helps them hold their shape and adds depth of flavor.
The Maillard reaction, a chemical process between amino acids and reducing sugars, is responsible for the delicious browning and enhanced flavor when cooking meat, as explained by Wikipedia’s detailed article on the Maillard reaction.
Remove the sheet pan from the oven and set the browned meatballs aside for a moment. They will finish cooking in the soup.
- Sauté Vegetables: Heat 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion, carrots, celery, bell pepper, and the remaining minced garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes until the vegetables begin to soften and become fragrant.
- Add Broth and Tomatoes: Pour in the beef, chicken, or vegetable broth along with the can of peeled tomatoes and their juices. Add the remaining 1 teaspoon of dried oregano and 1/2 teaspoon of sweet paprika. Season the soup base to taste with salt and black pepper. This forms the aromatic foundation for your comforting soup.
- Simmer Soup Base: Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Cook for about 10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and deepen slightly. This step develops the rich broth of the classic meatball soup.
- Cook Meatballs and Pasta: Carefully add the browned meatballs and the uncooked small pasta (like ditalini or small shells) to the simmering soup. Continue to cook for approximately 10 minutes, or until the pasta is tender to your liking and the meatballs are cooked through. Ensure the pasta is al dente for the best texture.
- Finish and Serve: Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the remaining 1/2 cup of chopped fresh parsley. Ladle the hearty meatball soup recipe into serving bowls. Garnish each bowl with a sprinkle of extra grated Parmesan cheese and, if you enjoy a little kick, a dash of red pepper flakes. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Pro Tips & Troubleshooting
Mastering this meatball soup recipe is simple with a few tricks. Meatball Tips: Avoid overmixing the meatball mixture; gentle handling keeps them tender. Ensure all meatballs are roughly the same size for even cooking. Flavor Boosters: Always use good quality broth, as it’s the foundation of your soup’s taste. Taste and adjust seasonings throughout the cooking process. Pasta Perfection: For the best texture, add pasta just before serving or cook it separately and add it to individual bowls to prevent it from becoming soggy. Cook pasta to al dente for a pleasant bite. Make Ahead: Prepare the meatballs and even the soup base (without pasta) in advance to save time.
Serving, Storage & Variations
This versatile meatball soup recipe is easy to adapt and enjoy in many ways.
- Serving Suggestions: Serve this comforting soup with a side of warm, crusty bread for dipping. A simple green salad makes a perfect light accompaniment.
- Storage: Store any leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Freezing: For longer storage, freeze the cooked soup (without the pasta) in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months. When reheating, cook the pasta fresh.
- Reheating: Gently reheat refrigerated soup on the stovetop over medium-low heat until warmed through. Add a splash of broth or water if it seems too thick.
- Variations:
- Vegetable Additions: Stir in fresh spinach or kale during the last few minutes of cooking, or add diced zucchini.
- Spice Level: Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes to suit your preference for heat.
- Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free breadcrumbs and your favorite gluten-free pasta.
- Dairy-Free: Simply omit the Parmesan cheese from the meatballs and garnish.
Nutrition Information
This homemade meatball soup recipe provides a balanced and nourishing meal. The values below are estimates and can vary based on specific ingredients and brands used.
| Nutrient | Amount Per Serving |
|---|---|
| Calories | 450-500 kcal |
| Protein | 35-40 g |
| Fat | 20-25 g |
| Carbohydrates | 30-35 g |
Estimated per serving (6 servings)
FAQ
Can I use ground turkey or chicken?
Yes, absolutely! Ground turkey or chicken are excellent lean alternatives for this meatball soup recipe. They cook similarly and absorb the delicious soup flavors.
How do I prevent meatballs from falling apart?
Ensure you gently mix the ingredients, but don’t overmix. Also, browning the meatballs under the broiler beforehand helps them hold their shape when added to the soup.
Can I freeze meatball soup?
Yes, you can! For best results, freeze the soup without the pasta. Cook the pasta fresh when you reheat the defrosted soup.
What kind of pasta works best?
Small pasta shapes like ditalini, small shells, or orzo are ideal. They cook quickly and fit well on a spoon with the other ingredients.
Is it possible to make this soup gluten-free?
Definitely! Just swap the traditional breadcrumbs for gluten-free breadcrumbs and use your favorite gluten-free small pasta.
Conclusion
This hearty and comforting meatball soup recipe truly embodies simplicity and deliciousness. It’s a wonderful way to bring warmth and flavor to your table without spending hours in the kitchen. With its wholesome ingredients, easy steps, and customizable options, this family-friendly dish is perfect for any night of the week. Give this satisfying soup a try; you will love how effortless it is to create such a flavorful meal!
When preparing ground meat, it’s crucial to follow food safety guidelines to prevent foodborne illness, which includes cooking ground beef to an internal temperature of 160°F and properly storing leftovers according to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service.
