Prepare Time
- Preparation Time: 20 minutes
- Cooking Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 1 slice soft bread (about ¾ cup fluffed bread crumbs)
- ½ lb ground beef
- ½ lb ground pork
- ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese (fresh if possible)
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Meatball Soup
- 2 large carrots, peeled and chopped
- 2 ribs celery, chopped
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 bay leaf
- 4 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1 can (28oz/798 ml) diced or crushed tomatoes
- 1 Parmesan rind
- 1 cup ditalini pasta (uncooked)
- 2 cups spinach, roughly chopped
- ½ cup marinara sauce
Directions
- Begin by preparing the meatballs. In a bowl, soak the bread slice in a little water or milk until soft. Squeeze out the excess liquid and crumble the bread into a large bowl. Add the ground beef, ground pork, Parmesan cheese, egg, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined.
- Form the mixture into small, bite-sized meatballs. Set aside.
- For the soup, heat a large pot over medium heat. Add the carrots, celery, and onion, cooking until softened. Stir in the tomato paste, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, red pepper flakes, and bay leaf. Cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Pour in the chicken broth and add the diced or crushed tomatoes and Parmesan rind. Bring to a simmer.
- Gently add the meatballs to the pot. Let the soup simmer for about 20 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through.
- Add the ditalini pasta and continue to simmer until the pasta is tender, about 10 minutes.
- Stir in the spinach and marinara sauce, cooking just until the spinach is wilted.
- Remove the bay leaf and Parmesan rind before serving. Adjust seasoning to taste.
- Serve hot, garnished with additional Parmesan cheese if desired.
Cook Notes
The meatballs can be made in advance and frozen for later use, making this soup an even quicker meal for busy nights.
Variations
- Gluten-Free Version: Use gluten-free pasta and ensure all other ingredients are gluten-free.
- Vegetarian Version: Substitute the meatballs with vegetarian “meat” balls and use vegetable broth.
Keto Version
Skip the pasta and increase the quantity of vegetables, or add cauliflower rice for a low-carb alternative.
Low-Carb Version
Reduce the amount of pasta by half and add more spinach or other low-carb vegetables like zucchini.
Nutrition Fact
This Italian Meatball Soup is rich in protein and vitamins, thanks to the meatballs and the variety of vegetables. The exact nutritional values will depend on the specific ingredients used, especially the types of meat and whether any substitutions are made. For a more accurate nutritional profile, calculate based on the exact ingredients and quantities you use.
