Are you on the hunt for a meal that truly soothes the soul, fills your home with the most wonderful aromas, and saves you from a sink full of pots and pans? A dish that feels both wonderfully comforting and just a little bit special? If that sounds like what you’re craving, then we’ve got the perfect recipe for you. Allow us to introduce you to the ultimate comfort food: our magnificent Italian Meatball Soup Hearty One Pot Meal. This recipe masterfully brings together succulent meatballs, a rich and savoury tomato broth, wholesome vegetables, and pasta, all in a single pot of culinary delight. It is the perfect meal for gathering everyone around the table on a cool evening for a truly satisfying family dinner.

We firmly believe that the most memorable meals are born from love and simple, high-quality ingredients, and this soup is a perfect testament to that belief. It’s a rustic and flavourful dish that feels like a warm embrace in a bowl. You can forget about complicated recipes with countless steps; we have crafted this one to be straightforward and a genuine pleasure to prepare, and an even greater one to enjoy. So, let’s get ready to create something truly delicious together.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• A True One-Pot Wonder: From browning the meatballs to simmering the soup, every step happens in one pot. This ensures the flavours develop beautifully and, most importantly, makes the washing up remarkably quick and easy.
• Packed with Flavour: We employ a classic medley of herbs such as oregano and basil, combined with rich tomato passata and a savoury beef stock, to craft a broth that bursts with authentic Italian character. The homemade meatballs are the true stars, lending an incredible depth and texture to the dish.
• Completely Customisable: This recipe is wonderfully adaptable. Feel free to substitute the vegetables with whatever you have in your fridge, use a different variety of small pasta, or tweak the seasoning to suit your family’s tastes. It’s incredibly easy to make it your own.
• Perfect for Meal Prep: This soup is one of those magical dishes that tastes even more delicious the following day as all the flavours have had time to mingle. It’s a fantastic option for making ahead of time and freezes perfectly for those hectic weeknights when you need a wholesome meal without the fuss.
• Family-Friendly Fare: It’s a simple truth that almost everyone adores meatballs. This dish is a certified success with both kids and grown-ups, making it a dependable and welcome addition to your weekly meal plan.

Ingredients

• lean beef mince
• fresh breadcrumbs
• grated Parmesan cheese
• dried oregano
• salt and black pepper
• olive oil
• celery stalks
• tomato passata
• beef or vegetable stock
• dried basil
• small pasta
• fresh spinach
• fresh parsley or basil

To bring this wonderful soup to life, we’ll need a set of ingredients for the meatballs and another for the soup base itself. Opting for fresh, quality produce will elevate the final result significantly.

• For the Meatballs:
• 500g lean beef mince
• 60g fresh breadcrumbs
• 50g grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper
• For the Soup:
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 700g tomato passata
• 1.2 litres beef or vegetable stock
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 150g small pasta (like ditalini, orzo, or small shells)
• A large handful of fresh spinach (optional)
• Fresh parsley or basil, for garnish

How to Make Our Italian Meatball Soup Hearty One Pot Meal

Putting together this gorgeous soup is a straightforward, three-part process. We begin by crafting the meatballs, then we construct our fragrant soup base, and finally, we unite everything to simmer into a perfect harmony of flavours.

Step 1: Prepare the Tender Meatballs

1. In a spacious bowl, bring together the beef mince, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan, the beaten egg, 2 cloves of minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and pepper.
2. Gently combine the ingredients with your hands until they are just incorporated. Take care not to overwork the mixture, as this can result in tough meatballs.
3. Shape the mixture into small, bite-sized meatballs, approximately 1-inch in diameter. This should yield about 20-24 meatballs. Arrange them on a plate and set them aside.

Step 2: Build the Aromatic Soup Base

1. Select a large Dutch oven or a heavy-bottomed pot, place it over a medium-high heat, and add the olive oil.
2. When the oil begins to shimmer, gently place the meatballs in the pot in a single layer, working in batches if necessary. Brown them on all sides for around 4-5 minutes. This searing process is key for developing a rich flavour. The meatballs do not need to be fully cooked at this point. Use a slotted spoon to remove them from the pot and set them aside.
3. Turn the heat down to medium. Add the chopped onion, carrots, and celery to the same pot. Sauté for 6-8 minutes, stirring from time to time, until the vegetables have become tender. This combination, known as a ‘soffritto’, forms the flavour foundation of many traditional Italian recipes. To understand more about its significance, you can explore resources from culinary authorities such as La Cucina Italiana.
4. Stir in the remaining 2 cloves of minced garlic and continue to cook for one more minute until it becomes fragrant.

Step 3: Simmer to Perfection

1. Pour both the tomato passata and the beef stock into the pot. Sprinkle in the dried basil and bring the liquid to a gentle simmer, using a wooden spoon to scrape up any flavourful browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pot.
2. Carefully reintroduce the browned meatballs to the simmering soup. Lower the heat, pop on the lid, and allow the soup to simmer gently for 20 minutes. This gives the meatballs time to cook through completely and lets the flavours meld together beautifully.
3. Add the small pasta and let it continue to simmer, this time without the lid, for about 10-12 minutes, or until the pasta is cooked al dente.
4. If you are including spinach, add it during the final 2 minutes of cooking time, just long enough for it to wilt into the broth.
5. Have a taste of the soup and adjust the seasoning with a little more salt and pepper if you think it needs it. Serve your Italian Meatball Soup steaming hot, garnished with fresh parsley or basil and an extra dusting of Parmesan cheese.

Tips for the Perfect Meatball Soup

While this recipe is wonderfully simple, a few of our favourite tips can take your Hearty Soup from simply great to truly unforgettable. If you delight in making comforting dishes with an Italian flair, you may also adore our Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta Recipe, which delivers a similarly satisfying culinary experience.

• Don’t Skip Searing: Browning the meatballs is an essential first step. This process triggers the Maillard reaction, creating a delicious crust that infuses a deep, savoury flavour throughout the entire dish.
• Use a Good Quality Stock: As the stock forms the majority of the soup’s liquid base, its quality really does matter. A rich beef or a flavour-packed vegetable stock will create a far superior foundation compared to a thin, watery one.
• Choose the Right Pasta: Smaller pasta shapes like ditalini, orzo, or tiny shells are the best choice here. They cook quickly and are perfectly sized to share a spoonful with a meatball and some delicious broth.
• Let it Rest: If time permits, allow the finished soup to stand for 10-15 minutes before serving. This brief rest lets the flavours settle and deepen, making it even more delicious.

Customise Your Hearty One Pot Meal

One of the most appealing aspects of this meal is its sheer versatility. It serves as an excellent foundation for using up any stray vegetables you might have or for tailoring the dish to your family’s preferences. The blend of classic Italian flavours is a fantastic starting point, much like in our beloved Bruschetta Chicken recipe.

• Add More Veggies: Don’t hesitate to throw in some chopped courgette, mushrooms, or even kale at the same time as the spinach.
• Make it Spicy: For those who enjoy a little warmth, a pinch of red pepper flakes added to the soup base with the garlic will do the trick.
• Try Different Meats: While beef is the traditional choice, this recipe is also delightful when made with pork mince, turkey mince, or a combination of beef and pork for added tenderness.
• Go Low-Carb: To create a version with fewer carbohydrates, you can simply leave out the pasta. The soup remains incredibly flavourful and satisfying all on its own.

FAQ

The Ultimate Comfort in a Bowl

So there we have it—a simple, delectable, and profoundly satisfying Italian Meatball Soup Hearty One Pot Meal that we’re certain will become a staple in your home. This is more than just a recipe; it’s a method for bringing warmth, comfort, and extraordinary flavour to your dinner table with very little fuss. This wonderful bowl truly embodies the spirit of rustic home cooking, demonstrating that you don’t need elaborate techniques to produce something genuinely special.

We wholeheartedly encourage you to try making this recipe. Whether you’re an experienced home cook or are just beginning your culinary adventures, this dish is approachable, rewarding, and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. So, gather your ingredients, pop on an apron, and prepare to create a meal that will surely earn a cherished place in your recipe repertoire. We’d love for you to leave a comment below to tell us how it turned out, or to share any of your own creative adaptations!

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Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 45 mins
Serves: 6

Ingredients

• For the Meatballs:
• 500g lean beef mince
• 60g fresh breadcrumbs
• 50g grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper
• For the Soup:
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 700g tomato passata
• 1.2 litres beef or vegetable stock
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 150g small pasta (like ditalini or orzo)
• Large handful of fresh spinach (optional)
• Fresh parsley or basil, for garnish

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, combine the beef mince, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, 2 cloves of minced garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined, then shape into 1-inch meatballs.
2. Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium-high heat. Brown the meatballs on all sides (4-5 minutes), working in batches if needed. Remove meatballs and set aside.
3. Reduce heat to medium. Add the onion, carrots, and celery to the pot and sauté for 6-8 minutes until tender. Stir in the remaining 2 cloves of minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute until fragrant.
4. Pour in the tomato passata and stock. Add the dried basil and bring to a simmer, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
5. Return the browned meatballs to the soup. Lower the heat, cover, and simmer gently for 20 minutes to cook the meatballs through.
6. Stir in the small pasta and continue to simmer, uncovered, for 10-12 minutes, or until the pasta is al dente.
7. If using, add the fresh spinach during the final 2 minutes of cooking, allowing it to wilt.
8. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed. Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley or basil and extra Parmesan.