Description
This hearty Italian-inspired Meatball Soup recipe combines tender homemade meatballs with a savory broth packed with vegetables, diced tomatoes, and optional pasta. Perfect for a comforting one-pot meal, it’s rich in flavor, nutritious, and easy to prepare on the stovetop.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 lb ground beef or a mix of beef and pork
- 1/3 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Soup
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
- 2 celery stalks, sliced
- 1 zucchini, diced
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes with juice
- 6 cups beef or chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup small pasta (such as ditalini or orzo) – optional
- 1/4 cup chopped parsley
Instructions
- Make the meatballs: In a large bowl, combine ground meat, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, egg, milk, garlic powder, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Mix gently until just combined to avoid dense meatballs. Roll the mixture into 1-inch meatballs and set aside.
- Sauté the vegetables: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, minced garlic, sliced carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5 to 6 minutes or until the vegetables become soft and fragrant.
- Add remaining soup ingredients: Stir in diced zucchini, canned diced tomatoes with their juice, beef or chicken broth, and Italian seasoning. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer on medium heat.
- Cook the meatballs: Carefully add the raw meatballs into the simmering soup. Allow the soup to simmer uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through and the vegetables are tender.
- Add pasta (optional): If using pasta, stir it in during the last 10 minutes of cooking. Continue cooking until the pasta is al dente.
- Season and serve: Taste the soup and season with salt and pepper as needed. Stir in chopped parsley just before serving for fresh flavor.
Notes
- This soup freezes well; however, for best texture, cook pasta separately and add when serving to prevent mushiness.
- For a leaner version, substitute ground beef with turkey or chicken.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
