This Italian meatball soup is tender beef meatballs, vegetables and pasta, all simmered in a rich tomato broth. An easy dinner option that’s perfect for a busy weeknight!
My family happens to love meatballs, especially the kids. I make sure to put meatballs on our dinner menu on a regular basis. I often do cheesy meatballs or Greek meatballs with rice, but sometimes I like to mix things up a bit and serve this hearty meatball soup.
Soup is always a great option when it’s cold outside, and I find myself making this meatball soup constantly during the winter months. It has similar flavors to the classic spaghetti and meatballs, but in soup form. Best of all, my kids adore it and happily eat the veggies in this soup!
How do you make meatball soup?
The first step is to make your meatballs. We’re going Italian style here, and these meatballs contain seasoned breacrumbs, herbs and spices, parmesan cheese, garlic and an egg to bind everything together. I broil my meatballs to brown them, and this step ensures that the meatballs will hold their shape in the soup.
While the meatballs are in the oven, I make the base of the soup which includes carrots, onion, celery and plenty of tomato. After the meatballs come out of the oven, they go into the soup to simmer away with the vegetables. The final step is a handful of pasta, which cooks in the broth until tender.
Tips for Meatball Soup
- I use 90% lean ground beef. It has plenty of flavor but is not overly greasy.
- You can use any short pasta you like for this soup. I use ditalini, but other great choices are macaroni, rotini or orzo pasta.
- This soup makes great leftovers, but just be aware that the pasta will continue to soak up the broth as it sits in the fridge. You may need to add more broth when you go to reheat your soup.
- Meatball soup is hearty enough to stand alone as a complete meal, or you can serve it with a side of garlic knots.
- I like to make my meatballs on the smaller side (about 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch in size), it’s easier to eat them in the soup that way.
Meatball Soup Variations
There are so many different ways to customize meatball soup – you can use different types of meat, add more vegetables or change up the seasonings.
- Sausage & Mushroom: Use 50% Italian sausage, 50% ground beef in the meatballs, and add 8 ounces of sliced mushrooms when you stir in the pasta.
- Turkey & Spinach: Use ground turkey instead of beef, and swap out the beef broth for chicken broth. Add 2 cups of baby spinach leaves to the soup during the last few minutes of the cook time.
- Veggie Lovers: Add 1 cup of frozen mixed vegetables during the last 5 minutes of the cook time.
I serve this meatball soup with a sprinkling of parmesan cheese and fresh parsley for the perfect finish. Your family is sure to enjoy this soup as much as my family does!
More great soup recipes
Italian Meatball Soup
Ingredients
For the meatballs
- 1 pound ground beef I use 90% lean
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup parmesan cheese finely grated
- 1/3 cup Italian breadcrumbs
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- cooking spray
For the soup
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup onion finely diced
- 2 stalks celery sliced
- 2 carrots peeled and diced
- 15 ounce can crushed tomatoes do not drain
- 16 ounce can tomato sauce
- 6 cups beef broth
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- salt and pepper to taste
- 3/4 cup dry short pasta such as ditalini
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
- parmesan cheese for serving optional
Instructions
- Preheat the broiler.
- For the meatballs: place all of the meatball ingredients in a large bowl. Stir with a large spoon or use your hands to combine all the ingredients. You can add a few teaspoons of water if needed to make the process easier.
- Shape the meat mixture into small balls (1/2 inch to 3/4 inch in size). Place on a sheet pan lined with cooking spray. Coat the tops of the meatballs with cooking spray.
- Broil for 8-10 minutes until meatballs are lightly browned.
- While the meatballs are cooking, heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, celery and carrots.
- Cook the vegetables for 4-5 minutes. Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper.
- Bring to a simmer. Add the meatballs and pasta to the soup. Simmer for 10 minutes, or until pasta and vegetables are tender.
- Top with parsley. Serve with parmesan cheese if desired.
Susan says
Can this be made in an Instant Pot? Will it make it any better than the standard recipe?
Thanks!
Sara says
While you could technically make it in an Instant Pot I don’t think it would improve the flavor!
Sue says
Delicious!
Are used premade meatballs for a quick dinner served it with salad and rolls it was perfect
Lisa says
Could you make this recipe in a crockpot.
Sara says
Yes that should be fine, add the pasta during the last 30 minutes!
Tonya says
I am going to try this recipe soon. I have chicken meatballs would those be okay to substitute?
Sara says
That should be fine!
Charlotte says
A hearty, tasty soup. Followed the instructions and added the Swiss chard from my end of year garden and a Parmesan rind. My husband really enjoyed this. Will make again and freeze half as suggested.
Jhow says
Wonderful recipe! Made a double batch so I can freeze for a future meal. I only put pasta in the batch we ate and will add it again when I reheat in the future. I love prepped meals so this worked wonderfully. My family loves most soups, but this got rave reviews! Added a few extra vegetables(green beans and peas) as I love to sneak those in. Other than that followed the recipe exactly.
Weegie says
AMAZING!!! Was looking for a way to use up some tomato sauce that I had left over . So glad I found this recipe. Its so simple And quick due too I already had meatballs pre-made and frozen in the freezer.
Roslyn Ventrella says
Love all your recipes, this one a winner also.
Debbie says
Will this soup work with store bought meatballs?
Sara says
Yes that’s totally fine!
Felicia Zaffiro says
Love the recipe added more vegetables and no pasta…very yummy and healthy
Thanks
NANCY NOSEDA says
My kids and daughter in law loved it. My middle don is a picky eater. He does not like soup but this one he loved Thank you.
Brandi says
So hearty on a cold day. Delicious!
Kim says
Can I use chunky pasta sauce instead of crushed tomatoes?
Sara says
Yes that’s fine!
Freda says
My granddaughters loved this soup and they are picky eaters! It is so delicious … Thank you !
Laura says
I was wondering…how many meatballs does this generally make?
Sara says
About 18 meatballs!
Marisuz says
I just made this tonight. Excellent! My husband loves it. Thanks for sharing this.
Sheila says
I just made this tonight.Love it!
I added Hunts pasta sause with sausage flavor and sliced zucchini instead of celery. Thanks for sharing. Smells amazing!