Description
Italian Meatball Soup is a hearty and flavorful dish made with tender meatballs, vegetables, and pasta simmered in a rich tomato broth. It’s a comforting, family-friendly meal perfect for chilly evenings.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef or pork (or a mix)
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 2 celery stalks, sliced
- 6 cups beef or chicken broth
- 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes
- 1/2 cup small pasta (like ditalini or orzo)
- 2 cups fresh spinach or kale
- Fresh parsley and grated Parmesan for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine ground meat, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix until just combined and form into small 1-inch meatballs.
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Brown meatballs in batches until golden on all sides (they don’t need to be fully cooked). Remove and set aside.
- In the same pot, add onion, carrots, and celery. Cook for 5 minutes until softened.
- Stir in broth and diced tomatoes. Bring to a simmer.
- Return meatballs to the pot and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Add pasta and cook until tender, about 8–10 minutes.
- Stir in spinach and cook for 1–2 more minutes until wilted.
- Taste and adjust seasoning. Garnish with parsley and Parmesan if desired, and serve hot.
Notes
- Use store-bought frozen meatballs for a quicker version.
- Can substitute kale or escarole for spinach.
- Leftovers thicken as the pasta absorbs broth; add extra broth when reheating.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 740mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 27g
- Cholesterol: 85mg