Italian Meatball Soup
A comforting soup featuring tender meatballs, hearty vegetables, and a flavorful broth, perfect for cozy nights at home.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
- Ground beef (or a mix of beef and pork)
- Breadcrumbs (Italian-seasoned)
- Parmesan cheese, grated
- Egg
- Garlic, minced
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and pepper
- Olive oil
- Onion, diced
- Carrots, sliced
- Celery, chopped
- Garlic, minced
- Crushed tomatoes (canned)
- Chicken or beef broth
- Dried Italian seasoning
- Small pasta (like ditalini or orzo)
- Fresh spinach (optional)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined. Roll into 1-inch meatballs and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a stockpot over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery. Cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
- Pour in crushed tomatoes and broth. Stir in Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Bring to a gentle boil.
- Carefully drop meatballs into the boiling soup. Lower heat to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Stir in small pasta and cook according to package instructions, about 8-10 minutes. Add more broth if needed.
- If using, stir in fresh spinach during the last 2 minutes of cooking.
- Ladle soup into bowls and top with extra Parmesan and fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
Refrigerate meatball mixture for 15 minutes if too soft to roll. Cook pasta separately if freezing leftovers to prevent mushiness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 800
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 20
Keywords: Italian meatball soup, comfort food, cozy dinner, easy soup recipe, family-friendly meal