by Holly
Meatball Soup is a hearty and satisfying soup that is both easy and delicious! Tender ground beef meatballs, pasta, mixed vegetables and, a beefy, tomato broth are cooked together to create a luscious soup that, as the saying goes, really does eat like a meal!
I love serving this meatball soup recipe with some 30 minute dinner rolls to soak up whatever I can’t get with my spoon. It is the ultimate winter meal!
Meatball Soup
I love making soup, and winter is the absolute perfect time to try new soup recipes! This meatball soup is fast becoming my family’s meal time favorite as it is truly belly-warming!
Meatballs are so versatile from Grape Jelly Meatballs as an appetizer to Crockpot Meatballs for dinner! And of course, they are found in soups, like this tomato Meatball Soup.
I use homemade meatballs because they taste so much better but of course, you can use frozen meatballs instead if you’re short on time. If you prefer you can of course, use Turkey Meatballs in place of beef.
How to Make Meatball Soup
I don’t think I have come across a soup that is as easy as this one! Especially if you use pre-made meatballs (store bought or homemade)!
- Saute aromatics in a large soup pot.
- Add prepared meatballs (or use prepackaged or homemade meatballs) and broth. Simmer 10 minutes to allow the meatballs to cook and the flavors to blend.
- Add veggies and pasta. Cover and cook till pasta is done.
While I make these meatballs a regular 1″ size, you can most certainly make little bitty meatballs too (and make them Italian wedding soup meatball sized). I like to make meatballs in a big batch and freeze them. Frozen meatballs (either homemade or store bought) do not need to be defrosted or pre-cooked for this meatball soup recipe.
How Long do you Cook Meatball Soup?
Total cook time for this easy meatball soup is no more than 25 to 30 minutes! This makes the perfect weeknight meal when time is tight, or even a quickly made lunch.
Meatball soup also freezes like a dream, making it ideal for a quick meal during the busy holidays. I like to freeze it in individual servings (although I skip the pasta when freezing and add it while heating it up).
More Amazing Soups You’ll Love
- Easy Crock Pot Ham and Potato Soup
- Hamburger Soup – Classic!
- Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
- Beef Stew Recipe – The perfect cold weather stew.
- Chicken Rice Soup
- Zuppa Toscana – Copycat recipe!
Meatball Soup
Prep Time 10 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Ingredients
- 1 onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 ½ pounds meatballs frozen or homemade
- 6 cups beef broth
- 28 ounces diced tomatoes undrained
- 1 teaspoon italian seasoning crushed
- ⅔ cup ditalini or orzo pasta
- 2 cups frozen vegetables
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Instructions
- In a large saucepan or pot saute onion and garlic.
- Add prepared meatballs and beef broth to pot and cook 10 min.
- Add tomatoes, seasoning, pasta and frozen veggies. Simmer covered 15 minutes or until pasta is cooked.
Nutrition Information
(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.)
Hi Holly,
I am wondering if I can add instant rice to this recipe?
Just like the Uncle Ben’s 90 second rice you put in the microwave.
Thanks Holly!
Hi Mariah, I think that sounds like a great addition.
my parents were both raised during the great depression so i learned from an early age to appreciate good food that was not expensive to make-than you for this site
You’re welcome Diane. Enjoy the recipes!
This soup was delicious and perfect for my son who just got braces put on today! I used frozen meatballs to save time and it turned out so yummy. The kids loved it!
I made this soup tonight because we are having the usual cold snap at Easter. My husband and I loved it! Will put leftovers in freezer.
Hey Holly, long time fan, first time commenter. I wanted to make this today but in the crock pot (I have a ninja foodi, which may help with your reply), any recommendations as to how long and what to change? Thanks so much.
Hi Andrew, thank you for following! I haven’t tried this in the slow cooker before but I would suggest about 7-8 hours on low or about 4 hours on high. You’ll want to make sure the meatballs reach 160°F. I have better success when cooking the pasta separately (instead of cooking in the slow cooker) however you can try adding in the pasta in the last 15-20 minutes if you’d like. Let us know how it goes!
Made your meatball soup this chilly afternoon. Smells wonderful. Used the crockpot since we weren’t in a hurry.
Thanks!
This is a perfect soup for a cold day. Glad you enjoyed it, Cheryl!
I have found some very wonderful and exciting new recipes on this it’s just that sometimes it takes me of all to find the recipe of the ingredients and stuff but it’s so funny and I love fun cooking and tasting them and seeing the expressions on my friend’s face when I tell them what it is I love them
What a waste of good meatballs! I guess it is a good recipe for people that don’t know how to actually cook.
Did you cook this? Or are you going by just the ingredients?
Deb,
Very Rude Comment….
Yummy
I’m wondering if I could omit the diced tomatoes and pasta and just have it as a beef broth soup? I’m trying to replicate an Italian meatball soup I used to have at a cafe that was so delicious. I think this will do it, but wanted to ask. If so, should I add more beef broth?
Sure that would work! You can add more broth as needed.
The starches from the pasta do thicken the broth a little bit so you could add a tiny bit of cornstarch slurry just to give the broth a bit of body.
I made this sauce but made the meatballs with your stuffed meatball mozzarella recipe. It was delicious.
This recipe is super easy and my family loves it! I only found this last month and we’ve already had it at least three times. Definitely worth a try!
You didn’t include a recipe for the meatballs? I don’t care for frozen prepackaged. Do you have one?
I sure do, I use this meatball recipe.
Do you have a recipe homemade meatballs.
Hi Salli, we love this easy meatball recipe.
I added a couple of tablespoons of tomato paste,fresh parsley and basil from the garden ,and dried oregano, lots of fresh ground pepper. Really good and quick using frozen Costco Italian meatballs. Served with fresh grated parmesan cheese. Mmmmm
Those sound like tasty additions to this soup Carol!
Hi Holly,
I saw this recipe and would love to try it out… I was jus wondering if the meatballs need to be cooked (pan fried) or raw?.
Thanks
Hi Christy-Anne, the meatballs should be cooked before they are added to the soup. Enjoy!
Hi! I was wondering if I made this with the turkey meatballs does it still work well with beef broth or should I switch to something like vegetable broth?
Both will work Cass. Enjoy!
HELLO, TO INTRODUCE MYSELF, WANDAMAE HERE, 75YR YOUNG, TRIED TO BE RETIRED BUT HAVING WORKED ALL MY LIFE, I HAVE RETAINED THE NEED FOR CONTINUED STIMULATION, SO I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH THE JOB OF COOK FOR THE CROWDER SENIOR CENTER. HAVING FOUND YOUR RECIPES, LOVE MOST OF THEM, FEEL I CAN USE THEM IN MY MEAL PREP AND SERVE LUNCH. I HAVE LEARNED TO UTILIZE THE SLOW COOKER, BUT NEVER THOUGHT OF A MEATLOAF, SO READY SET GO.
THANK YOU, WM
Nice to meet you Wandamae. I’m so happy you’ve enjoyed my recipes and are able to share them with your senior center. Enjoy!
This comment made me so happy! So glad you are feeding people wonderful food, Wandamae!