Italian Meatball Soup
A savory soup that combines juicy meatballs with a rich tomato broth, vegetables, and pasta, making for a hearty and comforting meal. Perfect for any season, this Italian Meatball Soup will be loved by all.
Equipment
- Baking Sheet
- Large Bowl
- Heavy-Bottomed Pot or Dutch Oven
Ingredients
For the Meatballs
- 1/2 pound ground beef
- 1/2 pound mild Italian sausage
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 large egg beaten
- 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan
- 1/4 cup Italian breadcrumbs
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- kosher salt to taste
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
For the Soup
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion diced
- 2 large carrots diced
- 2 stalks celery diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 6 cups beef broth
- 1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
- 1 15-ounce can crushed tomatoes undrained
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 cup dry short-cut pasta see Notes
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped
- freshly grated parmesan for serving, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the broiler on high and lightly grease a baking sheet with butter or spray oil.
- Mix the meatball ingredients in a large bowl until well combined. Form the mixture into meatballs using about 2 tablespoons per meatball, and arrange them on the prepared baking sheet.
- Broil the meatballs for 6 to 7 minutes until browned but not fully cooked. They will continue cooking in the soup.
- Heat olive oil in a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add diced onion, carrot, celery, and minced garlic, cooking until softened, about 4 to 5 minutes.
- Add beef broth, tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, and Italian seasoning to the pot. Simmer for 5 to 6 minutes.
- Introduce the broiled meatballs and dry pasta into the soup, cooking until the pasta is tender and the meatballs are fully cooked. Stir in chopped parsley at the end.
- Serve the soup hot in bowls, garnished with freshly grated parmesan if desired.
Notes
For the pasta, choose a type that cooks in about the same time as it takes for the soup to simmer to ensure everything is perfectly tender.