Skip to main content

Meatball Soup

A hearty meatball soup loaded with veggies, Italian herbs and flavorful broth.
Bowl of meatballs, rice and vegetable soup served with lime and cilantro.
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 45 minutes
Makes: 9 cups
Nutrition Facts: View label

Ingredients

2 Tablespoons uncooked white rice
¼ cup grated carrot or zucchini
½ cup finely chopped onion, divided
1 ¼ cup finely chopped tomato, divided
1 egg
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon chopped fresh oregano or ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon chopped fresh mint or ¼ teaspoon dried mint (optional)
8 ounces ground meat, 15% fat or less (beef, chicken, turkey or pork)
¼ cup plain bread crumbs (optional)
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
6 cups low-sodium broth (any type)
1 or 2 sprigs fresh oregano or ½ teaspoon dried oregano
¼ teaspoon garlic powder or 1 clove garlic, minced (optional)
2 cups chopped vegetables (fresh, frozen or canned)

Directions

  1. Wash hands with soap and water.
  2. Rinse or scrub fresh vegetables under running water before preparing.
  3. For meatballs: In a medium bowl, mix together the rice, carrot, ¼ cup onion, ¼ cup tomato, egg, salt, oregano and mint, if desired. Mix in ground meat. Add bread crumbs to help the mixture stick together, if desired.
  4. Using the palms of your hands or a scoop, roll the mixture into balls about 1 ½ inches in diameter. Set the meatballs aside and wash your hands with soap and water after handling raw meat.
  5. In a large saucepan, heat oil on medium heat. Add ¼ cup onion and 1 cup tomato and cook for 1 minute.
  6. Stir in broth, oregano and garlic powder, if desired. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer.
  7. Add meatballs to the broth.  Cover and simmer until the internal temperature of a meatball reaches 165 degrees on a food thermometer, about 20 minutes.
  8. Add vegetables to the soup and simmer, covered, until the vegetables are tender, about 10 to 15 minutes.
  9. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.

Notes

  • Top with a squeeze of lime juice and chopped cilantro.
  • No breadcrumbs? Use 1 Tablespoon cornstarch instead.

Thanks to the OSU Extension Latin Heritage Workgroup for this recipe.

Comments

This is a simple and tasty recipe. I was happy to have both herbs growing in pots. We loved the mint in the meatballs. We used ground beef and beef broth.

You might also like...

Recipes A to Z (without photos)

Turkey Stroganoff
Casserole dish of creamy noodles with peas and turkey topped with crushed corn flakes.

Turkey Stroganoff

Comforting macaroni with a creamy mushroom sauce and tasty peas. Ready in under an hour!
Prepare:
15 minutes
Cook:
30 minutes
Makes:
8 cups
Apple Spice Oatmeal
Homemade oatmeal with chopped apple and warm spices are shown in bowls.

Apple Spice Oatmeal

Make your own quick breakfast with apple, spices and whole-grain oats.
Prepare:
5 minutes
Cook:
10 minutes
Makes:
2 Cups
Broccoli and Everything Salad
Chopped broccoli, mixed with vegetables, chopped nuts and dressing, is displayed in a serving bowl.

Broccoli and Everything Salad

Fresh vegetables and your choice of protein combined with a creamy dressing. You'll love it as a side or on its own!
Prepare:
15 minutes
Makes:
5 Cups
One-Pan Spaghetti
Big bowl of spaghetti topped with grated parmesan cheese.

One-Pan Spaghetti

Spaghetti ingredients simmer together in one pot for a simple and tasty meal.
Prepare:
10 minutes
Cook:
30 minutes
Makes:
10 cups
Harissa Spice Mix
Small bowl of a red spice mix.

Harissa Spice Mix

This homemade spice blend is great on meats and veggies.
Prepare:
5 minutes
Makes:
2 Tablespoons
Baked Tomatoes with Cheese
Sliced tomatoes with herbs and broiled cheese are shown on a serving platter.

Baked Tomatoes with Cheese

A great summer recipe for your garden tomatoes! Easy-to-make appetizer or snack!
Prepare:
5 minutes
Cook:
10 minutes
Makes:
8 slices
Was this page helpful to you?
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.