Italian Meatball Soup
This Italian meatball soup is a hearty, comforting one-pot meal made with juicy homemade meatballs, tender vegetables, pasta, and a rich savory broth. Perfect for cozy dinners, this easy soup recipe is packed with flavor and ideal for family meals or meal prep.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion diced
- 2 carrots sliced
- 2 celery stalks chopped
- 6 cups chicken or beef broth
- 1 can 14 oz diced tomatoes
- 1 cup small pasta orzo or ditalini
- Optional: spinach or kale
- Optional: extra Parmesan
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix ground meat, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, parsley, garlic, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Roll mixture into small meatballs.
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
- Add onion, carrots, and celery; cook for 4–5 minutes until softened.
- Pour in broth and diced tomatoes; bring to a simmer.
- Add meatballs gently and cook for 10–12 minutes.
- Add pasta and cook for 8–10 minutes until tender.
- Stir in spinach or kale if using.
- Let sit for 5 minutes, then serve with Parmesan on top.
Notes
- Avoid overmixing meatballs to keep them tender.
- Cook at a gentle simmer to prevent breaking.
- Add pasta later to avoid overcooking.
- Adjust broth if soup becomes too thick.