This Italian Meatball Soup recipe combines the savory goodness of homemade Italian-style meatballs with a flavorful broth and a variety of vegetables. Soup can be a hard sell to my kids, but a soup that’s loaded with meatballs and pasta is always a win around here! It’s a nutritious and balanced meal in one pot, perfect for busy weeknights for the whole family. Whether it’s a cold winter evening or a breezy summer night, this soup is a versatile dish that fits all seasons and occasions. The combination of beef and pork in these homemade meatballs gives them a depth of flavor and the addition of Parmesan cheese adds a hit of saltiness. This easy soup recipe is easy to adapt, whether you prefer using leaner meat or want to add a spicy kick to it! With ingredients like Italian seasoning, marinara sauce, and Parmesan cheese, this soup will bring the flavors of an Italian kitchen to your dining table. It’s like a little Italian holiday, but without leaving the comfort of your home! For more hearty soup inspiration, check out my Italian Sausage Gnocchi Soup, Italian Wedding Soup, this Chicken Rice Soup, and my Tomato Tortellini Soup. Below you’ll find all the tips and tricks you need to make the best meatball soup!
Ingredients Needed:
Homemade Meatballs
Bread: use a slice of soft bread to make fluffy bread crumbs to give the ground meat mixture more substance when making it into meatballs. Meat: I’ve used a combination of lean, ground beef and lean, ground pork for these meatballs. Cheese: freshly shredded parmesan cheese is best to add a great salty, umami flavor. Egg: helps to bind the meatball ingredients. Seasoning: use Italian seasoning with salt and black pepper to bring classic Italian flavors to this dish.
Meatball Soup
Vegetables: use a classic trio of onion, carrot, and celery to make a great savory base for the soup that’s also packed with essential nutrients. Tomatoes: use diced (or crushed) tomatoes as well as tomato paste for a tomato base in this soup that works well with the meatballs. Seasoning: fresh garlic cloves, Italian seasoning, salt, red pepper flakes, and a bay leaf will pack a ton of classic Italian flavor into this soup, with a bit of a kick too! Broth: I use low-sodium chicken broth to add a great depth of savory flavor, and also to better control the saltiness of the dish. Cheese: use a parmesan rind if you can, as it melts wonderfully into the soup, giving it a deep, rich, umami, cheesy flavor. Simply pull it out before serving. Pasta: I’ve used uncooked ditalini pasta here as I think it works well with the meatballs. You can use any small pasta that you have! Spinach: fresh spinach leaves add color, a fresh flavor, and nutrients to this soup. You can also swap with fresh kale if you have it on hand. Marinara Sauce: use your favorite brand of marinara sauce to add even more tomato flavor to the soup.
How to Make Italian Meatball Soup
This recipe takes a bit of time but is worth it all! Full instructions are included in the recipe card below.
Meatballs
Meatball Soup
Tips and Notes
Don’t overmix the meatballs. Achieving tender and juicy meatballs is the first step to a successful meatball soup. When combining the meat mixture, avoid overmixing as it can result in dense meatballs. A gentle stir is all you need to bring the ingredients together. Let the flavors meld. Letting the meatball mixture sit for 10-20 minutes before rolling it out into balls allows the flavors to meld, resulting in more flavorful meatballs. Adjusting the consistency. You might want your soup to be thicker or thinner. If the soup is too thick, adding a bit more broth can easily make it thinner. If you want it thicker, remove some of the soup, blend it with an immersion blender, and add it back in. Alternatively, use a cornstarch slurry to thicken it. Freshen the soup when reheating it. Add a splash of lemon juice, broth or a handful of fresh parsley to rejuvenate the flavors and bring back the vibrancy of this delicious meatball soup when reheating it.
Italian Meatball Soup Variations
Add some garnishes. Add an extra sprinkle of freshly shredded Parmesan cheese on top of the soup before serving can elevate the dish with a creamy texture and a salty kick. You can also sprinkle some fresh herbs like parsley or basil on top to add a burst of freshness and color to the dish. Use a different broth. Chicken, beef, or vegetable broth can be used interchangeably, depending on your preference or dietary restrictions. Add more veggies. This recipe is so versatile; you can add almost any of your favorite vegetables to enhance the nutritional value and flavor. Try mushrooms, zucchini, chopped bell peppers, sweetcorn, peas, or whatever seasonal vegetables you have a surplus of! Use other kinds of pasta. Small pastas like orzo or mini shells are excellent substitutes for ditalini, while brown rice or quinoa are great gluten-free options. Add extra flavor. Add a splash of lemon juice, a dollop of sour cream, some Worcestershire sauce, or additional herbs to add an extra layer of flavor to this already delicious soup.
Serving Suggestions
We always have bread on our dinner table, but it’s a perfect side to any soup. Try my Homemade Breadsticks, a slice of my No Knead Artisan Bread, some classic Garlic Bread, or these Cheddar Bay Biscuits for dipping!
More Easy Meatball Recipes To Try
One Pan Swedish Meatballs and Noodles
Slow Cooker Pineapple Brown Sugar Meatballs
Sweet and Sour Crockpot Meatballs + VIDEO
Instant Pot Swedish Meatballs and Noodles
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