Print

Creamy Italian Meatball Soup

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

Ingredients

Scale

Gather these ingredients to make your Creamy Italian Meatball Soup:

For the Meatballs:

  • 1 lb ground beef or ground turkey
  • ½ cup breadcrumbs
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

For the Soup:

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 2 carrots, diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup small pasta (such as ditalini or orzo)
  • 1 cup spinach or kale, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese, for garnish

Instructions

Prepare the Meatballs:

  1. Mix Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the ground meat, breadcrumbs, egg, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined.
  2. Shape the Meatballs: Form the mixture into small, bite-sized meatballs (about 1 inch in diameter). Place them on a baking sheet or plate.
  3. Brown the Meatballs: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the meatballs in batches, cooking until browned on all sides (they do not need to be fully cooked). Remove and set aside.

Make the Soup Base:

  1. Sauté the Vegetables: In the same pot, add the remaining olive oil and sauté the onion, carrots, and celery until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
  2. Add Garlic and Herbs: Stir in the minced garlic, dried basil, and oregano, cooking until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Combine and Simmer:

  1. Add Broth: Pour in the chicken or vegetable broth and bring to a boil.
  2. Cook the Pasta: Add the pasta to the pot and cook according to package instructions, reducing heat to medium-low.
  3. Add Meatballs: Return the browned meatballs to the pot, allowing them to finish cooking in the soup for about 10 minutes.

Finish the Soup:

  1. Add Spinach and Cream: Stir in the chopped spinach and heavy cream, cooking for another 2-3 minutes until the spinach wilts and the soup is heated through.
  2. Season and Garnish: Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Garnish with fresh parsley and grated Parmesan before serving.

Nutrition