Description
Warm up with a comforting bowl of Creamy Italian Meatball Soup. This hearty soup is loaded with savory meatballs, tender vegetables, pasta, and a rich, creamy broth. Perfect for a cozy night in or a family meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Meatball Soup:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound Italian-style meatballs (store-bought or homemade, bite-sized)
- 1 small yellow onion (diced)
- 2 carrots (peeled and sliced)
- 2 celery stalks (sliced)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup small pasta (like ditalini or orzo)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups baby spinach
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Chopped fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Brown Meatballs: In a large soup pot or Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the meatballs and brown on all sides until mostly cooked through, about 6–8 minutes. Remove and set aside.
- Sauté Vegetables: In the same pot, sauté the onion, carrots, and celery for 4–5 minutes until softened. Add garlic, oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes, and cook for 1 more minute until fragrant.
- Cook Soup: Pour in the chicken broth and water, and bring to a boil. Return the meatballs to the pot, reduce heat, and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the pasta and cook until tender, about 8–10 minutes.
- Add Cream and Cheese: Stir in the heavy cream and Parmesan, and simmer for another 2–3 minutes. Add spinach and stir until wilted. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve: Serve hot, garnished with chopped parsley if desired.
Notes
- Use turkey or chicken meatballs for a lighter version.
- To make it gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta and meatballs.
- This soup reheats well and thickens slightly the next day.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
