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    The BEST Meatball Soup | Everything Cooks In One Pot

    by Joe Duff 1 Comment

    Jump to Recipe

    This meatball soup recipe is the ultimate comfort food soup. It combines savory meatballs with a rich tomato broth, perfectly cooked pasta, and, of course, plenty of cheese. Plus, it's an absolute breeze to make. In fact, just 10 minutes of prep work is all that's required to make it and everything comes together in only 5 simple steps.

    Bowl of meatball soup with a second bowl of soup and a green salad in the background.

    Table of Contents

    • The Best Meatball Soup
      • Ingredients
        • Ingredient Substitutions And Suggestions
      • How To Make Meatball Soup
        • Step 1: Make The Meatballs
        • Step 2: Cook The Meatballs
        • Step 3: Make the Soup
        • Step 4: Finishing The Soup
        • Step 5: Assemble And Serve
      • How To Store Meatball Soup
        • How To Reheat Meatball Soup
      • Wrapping It Up
    • More Soup Recipes
    • The BEST Meatball Soup Recipe (Takes Just 10 Minutes To Prep)
      • Ingredients
      • Instructions
      • Nutrition
      • Did you make this recipe?

    The Best Meatball Soup

    Homemade soup recipes just hit different when it's cold outside, and, honestly, this easy meatball soup recipe might just become your new favorite to make during the winter months.

    It's basically like spaghetti and meatballs just in soup form.

    How great does that sound?

    Pretty great, right?!

    Anyway, this recipe consists of tender homemade meatballs, al dente pasta, tons of cheese, and an ultra-flavorful tomato broth you just won't be able to stop slurping on. My mouth is just water thinking about all of that deliciousness - it's seriously just one of the most satisfying soup recipes there is.  

    Plus, the process of making it is super simple too. You basically just have to make the meatballs and cook them, then make the broth, cook the noodles, and top the whole thing with cheese. Yup, it's that easy.

    Oh, and everything for this meatball soup recipe cooks in just one pot, so clean-up is a breeze too.

    By the way, if you're looking for something to pair with this soup, I highly recommend making this Italian cheese bread or garlic bread to go with it. Both are delicious recipes that taste even better dipped in the flavorful tomato broth. 

    Bowl of meatball soup with a second bowl of soup, a green salad, and two small bowls of cheese in the background.

    Ingredients

    The ingredient list for this recipe is pretty straightforward. It's basically the same ingredients you would use to make spaghetti and meatballs, with just a few additions to add some flavor and turn it into a soup.

    With that said, I wouldn't be surprised if you have the majority of these ingredients on hand already!

    Anyway, here's what you'll need to make the meatballs:

    • 1 egg, beaten
    • ½ cup heavy cream
    • ½ cup Italian breadcrumbs
    • ¼ cup parmesan cheese, finely grated into a powder
    • 3 cloves garlic, finely diced
    • 1 tsp. salt
    • ½ tsp. pepper
    • 1 lb. ground beef and pork (50%/50%, or the proportion of your liking)

    And here's what you'll need to make the soup:

    • 1 tablespoon butter
    • 1 yellow onion, diced
    • ½ cup red bell peppers, diced. 
    • ½ cup green bell peppers, diced
    • 1 tbsp. garlic, minced
    • 5 cups chicken broth
    • 2 (14.5 oz.) cans diced tomatoes, undrained
    • 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
    • 2 cups fresh spinach
    • 1 tsp. dried oregano
    • 1 tsp. dried basil
    • 1 tsp. dried parsley
    • 1 cup dried elbow pasta
    • Salt/Pepper, to taste

    An assortment of ingredients including bowls of raw meat, spinach, diced onion, broth, uncooked noodles, seasonings, and egg.

    And, lastly, some toppings to finish off your meatball soup with:

    • 8 oz. ricotta cheese
    • ½ cup parmesan cheese
    • Red pepper flakes

    Pretty simple stuff, right?

    By the way, you can use a lot of these same ingredients to make this meatball casserole. So, if you end up with some ground beef - and love meatballs - you definitely should give that a go next! It's another one of my favorite meatball recipes. 

    Mixing bowl filled with breadcrumbs, cream, and egg, which have not yet been mixed together.

    Ingredient Substitutions And Suggestions

    I highly recommend making this meatball soup with the exact ingredients listed above. But, if you'd like to substitute some of the ingredients with others, I have some suggestions on how you can go about that.

    So, as far as the meatballs go, you can swap either ground turkey or ground chicken - or both - for the ground beef and ground pork. I've made this meatball soup recipe with both turkey meatballs and chicken meatballs in the past and it turned out bangin' each time. Also, just so you know, you can skip making the meatballs from scratch altogether and use frozen meatballs to make the soup with too.

    Another thing this recipe calls for is chicken broth, but you can easily swap this for vegetable broth or beef broth. 

    For the pasta, I like to use smaller noodles like elbow pasta or orzo pasta, but really anything you want/prefer will work.

    Lastly, if you'd like to add some additional flavor to your meatball soup, I recommend adding some minced garlic - or garlic powder - to the meat mixture. It really turns the flavor up to 11 on them.

    Also, if you have any fresh parsley lying around, it goes great on top of the soup as a finishing element.

    A mixing bowl filled half with raw meat and half with a bread crumb mixture, with a bowl of raw spinach and a small bowl of breadcrumbs next to the mixing bowl.

    How To Make Meatball Soup

    Alright, now for the fun part, it's time to make some meatball soup!

    Again, As I mentioned earlier, this recipe is a breeze to make. You basically just make and cook the meatballs, then make the soup broth, cook the noodles, and then top everything with cheese. It's easy-peasy!

    Anyway, let's stop wasting time and get into the recipe!

    Red Dutch oven filled with raw meatballs.

    Step 1: Make The Meatballs

    First things first, you'll want to make the meatballs. So, you'll want to take out a large mixing bowl and add the egg, heavy cream, breadcrumbs, and grated parmesan cheese to it. Then, mix everything together for about a minute or so until it combines into a paste-like mixture.

    Now, when you've got a thick, pasty consistency going on with those ingredients you'll want to add the ground beef, ground pork, minced garlic, salt, and pepper to the bowl and gently combine everything together.

    Next, you'll want to take the meat mixture and roll it into about 12 one-inch-sized meatballs.

    Red Dutch oven filled with browning meatballs.

    Step 2: Cook The Meatballs

    Now that you have the meatballs ready to go, you can add the olive oil to a Dutch oven - or large pot - and put it over medium-high heat.

    Then, once the oil is hot, you'll want to add the meatballs to it and cook them for about 2-3 minutes to brown them on all sides. Just keep in mind that you might have to cook the meatballs in batches depending on the size of your pot. 

    Also, don't worry about fully cooking the meatballs at this time, as that will happen when they're in the soup later on.

    Anyway, once all of the meatballs are all fully browned, you can set them aside.

    Red Dutch oven filled with diced and sautéed vegetables.

    Step 3: Make the Soup

    Ok, now it's time to make the soup broth!

    So, to make the broth, the first thing you'll want to do is melt the butter in the same pot you made the meatballs in. Then, you'll want to add the diced onions and peppers and cook them for 10 minutes, giving them a stir every few minutes so they can cook evenly.

    Next, you can add the garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and all of the seasonings to the pot and cook them for about 1 minute. Then, after you've done that you can add the chicken broth and tomatoes to the pot as well. Now you'll want to bring the soup mixture to a boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer uncovered for about 15 minutes.

    Red Dutch oven filled with meatballs in a tomato sauce and raw pasta noodles freshly added to the pot.

    Step 4: Finishing The Soup

    Once 15 minutes is up, you can raise the heat of the burner up to high, and bring the soup to a gentle boil. Then, after you've done that, you can add the partially cooked meatballs and pasta of your choice to the pot.

    Now you'll want to let the soup continue to boil until the pasta noodles are fully cooked. Just refer to the package instructions for specific cooking times, or just taste test the noodles every so often until they reach your desired doneness.

    Anyway, once the noodles are fully cooked, you can reduce the heat to low, add the spinach, and cook it for about a minute - or until the spinach is wilted.

    Red Dutch oven filled with meatballs in a tomato sauce and spinach has been added to the pot.

    Step 5: Assemble And Serve

    Finally, you'll want to transfer this Italian meatball soup to a couple of bowls and serve it warm.

    To finish it off, top each bowl with ricotta cheese, freshly grated parmesan cheese, and red pepper flakes if you want to add a little heat.

    Enjoy!

    Two white bowls of meatball soup, both topped with cheese and red chili flakes. Two spoons are next to the bowls.

    How To Store Meatball Soup

    This recipe for meatball soup makes about 6-8 servings, so it's really great for a big family dinner or to have as leftovers for the week. There's seriously nothing better than leftover soup, so you'll want to try and save some if you can!

    With that said, if you do end up with leftovers, you can store your cooled leftover soup in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for 3-4 days.

    Alternatively, if you want to store your soup for even longer, you can freeze the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

    Bowl of meatball soup with a second bowl of soup, a green salad, and two small bowls of cheese in the background.

    How To Reheat Meatball Soup

    Once you're ready to enjoy this Italian meatball soup again, you'll want to reheat it.

    So, to reheat, simply transfer your leftover meatball soup to a small saucepan set to medium heat. Then, just warm the soup up for a few minutes, stirring frequently, until it reaches your desired temperature. 

    Alternatively, if you're just reheating a single bowl of soup, you can reheat it in the microwave in 30-second intervals until warmed through. 

    Oh, and for the frozen soup, just let it thaw in the fridge, and then you can reheat it as described above.

    Bowl of meatball soup with a second bowl of soup and a green salad in the background.

    Wrapping It Up

    Well, that's how to make meatball soup in just a few quick and easy steps!

    If you love spaghetti and meatballs, and soup, then you absolutely must try this recipe. It's the best of both worlds, and it's made even better by conveniently being a one pot soup recipe! 

    Honestly, this Italian meatball soup has become one of my family's go-to Sunday night dinners during the winter, and it just keeps getting better every time. We're honestly obsessed with it, and I have a feeling your family will be too.

    Anyway, if you give this recipe a try, be sure to leave a comment below and let me know how it went.

    More Soup Recipes

    If you love easy soup recipes - like this meatball soup recipe - and you're looking for some to make next, then you've come to the right place!

    Here are some of our favorites:

    • Fideo soup
    • Beef noodle soup
    • Crack chicken noodle soup
    • Ground beef vegetable soup
    • 4 ingredient potato soup
    • Chicken and dumpling soup

    Also, don't forget to follow us on Youtube, Instagram, and TikTok for more daily recipes.

    Print

    The BEST Meatball Soup Recipe (Takes Just 10 Minutes To Prep)

    Two white bowls of meatball soup, both topped with cheese and red chili flakes. Two spoons are next to the bowls.
    Print Recipe

    ★★★★★

    5 from 1 reviews

    This meatball soup recipe is the ultimate comfort food soup. It combines savory meatballs with a rich tomato broth, perfectly cooked pasta, and, of course, plenty of cheese. Plus, it's an absolute breeze to make. In fact, just 10 minutes of prep work is all that's required to make it and everything comes together in only 5 simple steps.

    • Author: Joe Duff
    • Prep Time: 10 minutes
    • Cook Time: 40 minutes
    • Total Time: 50 minutes
    • Yield: 8 servings 1x
    • Category: Dinner
    • Method: Stovetop
    • Cuisine: Soup

    Ingredients

    Scale

    Meatballs:

    1 egg, beaten

    ½ cup heavy cream

    ½ cup Italian breadcrumbs

    ¼ cup parmesan cheese, finely grated into a powder

    3 cloves garlic, finely diced

    1 tsp. salt

    ½ tsp. pepper

    1 lb. ground beef and pork (50%/50%, or the proportion of your liking)

    Soup:

    1 tablespoon butter

    1 yellow onion, diced

    ½ cup red bell peppers, diced. 

    ½ cup green bell peppers, diced

    1 tbsp. garlic, minced

    5 cups chicken broth

    2 (14.5 oz.) cans diced tomatoes, undrained

    1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

    2 cups fresh spinach

    1 tsp. dried oregano

    1 tsp. dried basil

    1 tsp. dried parsley

    1 cup dried elbow pasta

    Salt/Pepper, to taste

    Toppings:

    8 oz. ricotta cheese

    ½ cup parmesan cheese

    Red pepper flakes

    Instructions

    1. For the meatballs, combine the egg, heavy cream, breadcrumbs, and parmesan cheese and stir for 1-2 minutes to form a paste. Add the ground meat, and garlic, season with salt and pepper and gently combine everything together.
    2. Roll the meat mixture into 1-inch balls.
    3. Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
    4. Brown the meatballs in batches for 2-3 minutes (the inside of the meatballs will finish cooking in the soup).
    5. Remove the meatballs and set aside. 
    6. For the soup, melt the butter in the same pot over medium-low heat. Add the diced onions and peppers and cook for 10 minutes. Stir every few minutes.
    7. Add the garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and all of the seasonings. Cook for 1 minute.
    8. Add in the chicken broth and tomatoes.
    9. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Let it simmer uncovered for 15 minutes. 
    10. Stir the soup and bring the soup to a gentle boil. Add the meatballs and the pasta and return it to a gentle boil. Cook until pasta is cooked through (refer to package for cooking time).
    11. Reduce heat to low, add the spinach and cook until wilted, about 1 minute.
    12. Transfer to serving bowls and top with ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese, and red pepper flakes.

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 serving
    • Calories: 272
    • Fat: 11
    • Carbohydrates: 28
    • Protein: 14

    Keywords: meatball soup, meatball soup recipe, easy meatball soup recipe, Italian meatball soup, Italian meatball soup recipe, how to make meatball soup, meatball soup recipe easy, homemade meatballs soup, meatball soup recipe with spinach, meatball recipes, easy meatball soup,

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    Comments

    1. Dave

      December 07, 2022 at 1:09 pm

      Very good soup.

      ★★★★★

      Reply

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