Meatball soup is a delightful and comforting dish featuring tender meatballs, fresh vegetables, and flavorful broth. It’s easy to make and customizable to your tastes, making it a must-try for cozy nights and gatherings.

Prep time: 5–10 minutes, depending on whether you use frozen or homemade meatballs.

Cook Time:

Serves:

You can buy frozen or make your own meatballs.

For the meatballs:

1 lb. ground chicken, turkey or beef

1 lb. ground sausage

2/3 cup panko bread crumbs

2 tsp. minced garlic (2- 3 cloves)

3 T. chopped fresh parsley leaves or 1 T. dried

1 T. dried basil

1 T. dried oregano

1/2 C. freshly grated Parmesan

3 T. milk

2 eggs, lightly beaten

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

For the meatballs, place the ground meat, sausage, and breadcrumbs in a bowl. Add garlic, parsley, basil, oregano, and Parmesan cheese. Pour in the milk and add an egg. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Combine everything. Using a teaspoon, drop 1- to 1 1/4-inch meatballs onto a sheet pan lined with parchment paper or cooking spray. (They don’t have to be perfectly round.) Bake for 20–30 minutes, until cooked through and lightly browned. Set aside.

For the Soup:

2 tablespoons cooking oil

1 medium onion chopped

2 large carrots peeled and chopped

3 stalks celery chopped

1 1/2 cups green beans, trimmed and cut into one-inch segments, or any vegetable you prefer.

1 1/2 teaspoons dried parsley

2 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon dried basil

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

6 cups low sodium beef broth

1 can 8 ounce tomato sauce

1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes with chili’s

1 cup mini farfalle pasta, ditalini, acini di pepe, orzo, macaroni, etc. Any small pasta will do.

salt and pepper to taste

Parsley and Parmesan for garnish

What to do:

In a large, heavy stockpot, heat cooking 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 diced tomatoes, and watch the magic happen! Increase the heat to medium-high and bring the mixture to a boil before reducing it to a gentle simmer. Let everything bubble away for about 7–10 minutes, filling your kitchen with delicious aromas. Then, stir in the pasta and those perfectly browned meatballs. Let it simmer for an additional 10 minutes. Cook until the pasta is tender and delightful. You might find that adding a little more broth enhances the flavor as it absorbs! Serve it up promptly so the pasta remains perfectly cooked, and enjoy every bite!