This simple and delicious meatball soup recipe is perfect for a quick and easy dinner. With hearty meatballs, flavorful broth, and vegetables, it’s sure to be a hit with the whole family. It is lightly seasoned with Italian spices in a tasty, beefy, rich tomato broth.
This delectable tender meatball soup combines onions, carrots, celery, and green beans with Italian seasonings in a rich tomato beef broth with homemade meatballs and mini Farfalle Pasta. This soup is a complete meal, but sometimes I like to serve it with a garden salad and cheese garlic bread.
Get ready for a hearty and flavorful meal with this quick and easy meatball soup recipe. Packed with protein and veggies, it’s the perfect dish for a busy weeknight dinner. If your family is anything like mine, comforting soup recipes are a must.
Ingredients Notes and Substitutions
See the complete list of ingredients below on the recipe card.
- Ground beef: with a bit of fat in it for flavor
- Vegetables: onions, garlic, carrots, celery, green beans, and fire-roasted canned tomatoes
- Breadcrumbs: Italian, unseasoned, or homemade
- Egg: to help bind the meatballs
- Seasonings: salt, black pepper, fresh parsley for garnish, dried parsley, dried oregano, dried basil, garlic powder, and onion powder
- Olive oil: substitute vegetable oil or canola oil
- Beef broth: low sodium or beef stock
- Tomato sauce: canned or homemade
- Small pasta: Any small pasta or noodles will work, like Mini Farfalle, ditalini, acini de pepe, or orzo.
How to make Meatball Soup
This is the summary version; see the recipe card below for the complete list of ingredients and the instructions.
Make the meatball mixture and roll it into meatballs. Brown them in a skillet or bake them in the oven. Saute the onions, carrots, celery, and green beans until the onions and celery are soft. Add the spices and cook for another minute or so.
Add the beef broth, tomato sauce, and fire-roasted tomatoes, and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce and simmer for about 10 minutes. Add the pasta and cooked meatballs and simmer until the pasta is tender.
Recipe Tips
- Canned, fire-roasted tomatoes are charred over an open flame before being diced and canned. You can find them at your local grocery store, along with other canned tomatoes.
- Add 1-2 tablespoons of freshly grated Parmesan Cheese to each soup bowl for added flavor.
Storage, Reheat and Freezing
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. They can be reheated on the stovetop over low heat or in the microwave at reduced power.
To freeze, first cool to room temperature. Then spoon into freezer zipper bags, removing as much air as possible. Remember that liquid expands as it freezes, so do not fill the bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat on the stovetop over low heat or microwave at reduced power.
For best results, if you freeze or store any of this soup for later consumption, remove the portion you will save before adding the pasta. Hold back a proportionate amount of pasta and add it when you reheat the soup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Substitute ground chicken, pork, or turkey for the ground beef. They all make delicious meatballs. Substitute chicken broth if you are using ground chicken or ground turkey.
I prefer fresh veggies, but frozen veggies can also be used. Just add them to the simmering soup.
Save time with frozen premade meatballs, or make the meatballs ahead of time and freeze them. There is no need to thaw them. Just drop them in the simmering broth frozen.
Meatball Soup Recipe
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 1 ½ lbs ground beef
- ¼ cup finely minced yellow onions
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ⅓ cup Italian or plain breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
Meatball Soup
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 2 large carrots peeled and chopped
- 3 stalks celery chopped
- 1 ½ cups green beans trimmed and cut in one inch segments
- 1 ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 6 cups low sodium beef broth
- 1 can 8 ounce tomato sauce
- 1 can 14.5 ounce fire roasted tomatoes
- ¾ cup Mini Farfalle pasta ditalini, acini de pepe or orzo
- fresh parsley chopped
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Gently mix the ground beef, minced yellow onion, minced garlic, breadcrumbs, egg, Worcestershire Sauce, salt, and freshly ground black pepper in a large bowl. Using a 1 1/2 tablespoon scoop for equal proportioning, roll the meatballs and place them on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper.
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Add the meatballs to the skillet and brown them. Work in batches and do not crowd the pan. Add more oil if needed. Remove the meatballs to a plate and cover to keep warm.
- In a large, heavy stockpot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, carrots, celery, and green beans. Cook for 7-8 minutes or until slightly soft and fragrant. Add the parsley, oregano, basil, garlic powder, and onion powder. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Pour in the beef broth, tomato sauce, and fire-roasted tomatoes. Increase the heat to medium-high. Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce it to a simmer. Let everything simmer for about 7-10 minutes. Stir in the pasta and browned meatballs, simmer for an additional 10 minutes or until the pasta is tender. Serve it promptly, so the pasta does not overcook.
Notes
- Substitute ground chicken, ground pork, or ground turkey for the ground beef.
- I prefer fresh veggies, but frozen can be used as well
- In a pinch, you can use frozen meatballs.
- Substitute chicken broth if you using ground turkey.
- Canned fire-roasted tomatoes are tomatoes that are charred over an open flame before they are diced and canned. They can be found at your local grocery store with other canned tomatoes.
- Any small pasta or noodles will work, like Mini Farfalle, ditalini, acini de pepe, or orzo.
- For added flavor, add 1-2 tablespoons of freshly grated Parmesan Cheese to each soup bowl.
Nutrition
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Clarence Dodson
I decided to make meatball soup for dinner, using your recipe. I enjoyed the process of mixing the ingredients, shaping the meatballs, and simmering the broth, while listening to some relaxing music. I felt proud of the result, a delicious and hearty soup that filled the kitchen with a mouthwatering aroma.I shared the soup with my family, and we had a wonderful time talking, laughing, and complimenting each other’s cooking skills.
Beth Pierce
Sounds like good times, Clarence!
Janice W
My kids loved this so much! They want me to make it again already. Kids are hard to please so I am so glad that I found this recipe.
Beth Pierce
They are hard to please sometimes. I am so happy that they like it!
Karen Lockwood
This tasty meatball soup recipe was delicious and easy to follow. I love any soup with homemade meatballs. Do you have a recipe for Italian wedding soup?
Beth Pierce
Yes, I sure do! Here you go!
Callista
Just slurped the last spoonful of your Meatball Soup, and I’m already craving more! The meatballs were tender and flavorful, and the broth was just hearty enough without being too heavy.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Callista! We love it too!
Stella Ann
This was the perfect dinner last night! The meatballs were so juicy and had so much flavor! I love a good meatball soup and this one fit the bill.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Stella Ann! So glad that you liked the soup!
Erica D
So delicious and easy to make! Can’t wait to make this again! Does it freeze well?
Beth Pierce
For best results, if you are going to freeze or store any of this soup for later consumption, remove the portion you will save for a later date before adding the pasta. Hold back a proportionate amount of pasta and add it when you reheat the soup.
Aria Noonan
I love this recipe so much! I prefer to make my own meatballs, so as soon as I saw this version using homemade meatballs instead of frozen, I knew it would be a winner!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Aria! I am so glad that you liked the meatball soup!
Gigi Monahan
The meatballs, the bowties – the kids sure loved this one!
Kelly
The picture looked so good I had to try it. My creation looked exactly the same and was DELICIOUS! I shared it with friends and 3 days later they made a pot. It is definitely a keeper recipe!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Kelly! So glad that you liked the meatball soup.
Ned
We loved this meatball soup! It was delicious and easy to make with my favorite frozen meatballs. It is the perfect weeknight meal.
Vasu Devan
I stumbled upon your Meatball Soup recipe, and it’s an absolute winner! The savory flavors and hearty goodness make it the perfect comfort food for chilly days. Thanks for the great recipe. It is a new family favorite.
Beth Pierce
I am so glad that you like the meatball soup. It is easy and delicious!
Rosemarie
We love this meatball soup. It is hearty, delicious, and easy to make. We will make this often as it has become a new family favorite.
Lori
Looks like a great meal to warm up on a chilly night. Thanks for the recipie and suggestion, I will have to try this out.
Steph
Seriously the best meatball soup recipe I’ve made – and I even used frozen meatballs! This soup is full of flavor and perfect for the family to sit down to for dinner.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Steph!
Liz
This was soooo good! My husband is anti meatballs and really liked it too! I made a couple of adjustments based on how we prefer our soup(thicker). I decreased the beef broth to 4 cups and swapped the tomato sauce with tomato paste. I also measure spices with my heart and increased all. Thank you for a yummy recipe!
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome, Liz. I like a lot of spice too but I have to tame it a little for my readers.
Catherine Stephenson
Can you add potatoes and corn to this?
Beth Pierce
Yes you sure can. Sorry about the delay. It has been so busy lately!
Tammy
Can you freeze it with the pasta in it
Beth Pierce
You can but the better alternative is too the pasta when reheated.
Sheryl
This one of favorite soups. I even make this for my neighbor, she loves it also. So much flavor! We use frozen meatballs and use fresh vegetables they come out perfect every time!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Sheryl! So glad that you like the soup!