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Italian Meatball Soup Recipe

Italian Meatball Soup Recipe
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★★★★★

4.7 from 14 reviews

A hearty and comforting Italian Meatball Soup featuring tender homemade or store-bought meatballs simmered in a flavorful tomato and beef broth with fusilli pasta, fresh basil, and a touch of spice. Perfect for warming up on a chilly day, this soup combines classic Italian flavors with easy preparation.

Ingredients

Scale

Meatballs

  • 1 pound meatballs (homemade or store-bought)

Soup Base

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 medium onion, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 (28 fluid ounce) can crushed tomatoes (fire roasted preferred)
  • 4 cups beef broth
  • 1/2 red bell pepper, chopped small
  • 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

Pasta & Garnish

  • 1.5 cups uncooked fusilli pasta
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil, torn or chopped
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Parmesan cheese, for serving (optional, to taste)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the meatballs: If making from scratch, prepare meatballs according to your preferred recipe or use store-bought meatballs.
  2. Sauté onions: Heat olive oil in a soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onions and sauté for 4-5 minutes until they become soft and translucent.
  3. Add garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant, taking care not to burn it.
  4. Add liquids and seasonings: Pour in the crushed tomatoes and beef broth. Add the chopped red bell pepper, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes if using, and meatballs. Increase heat to high and bring the mixture to a boil.
  5. Add pasta: Once boiling, add the fusilli pasta to the pot.
  6. Simmer: Reduce heat to low-medium, cover the pot with the lid slightly ajar, and simmer for approximately 15 minutes or until the pasta is cooked through. Stir occasionally to prevent pasta from sticking. Adjust broth thickness by adding more beef broth if necessary.
  7. Finish with basil and seasoning: Stir in fresh basil leaves and season the soup with salt and pepper to taste.
  8. Serve: Ladle soup into bowls and top with grated Parmesan cheese if desired. Serve hot.

Notes

  • Prep time does not include time to make meatballs from scratch.
  • Store-bought meatballs can be used to save time.
  • Adjust red pepper flakes according to your preference for spice.
  • If soup is too thick, add extra beef broth to reach desired consistency.
  • Use fire-roasted crushed tomatoes for enhanced flavor.
  • Stir occasionally during simmering to prevent pasta from sticking to the pot.

Nutrition

Keywords: Italian meatball soup, meatball soup, fusilli soup, tomato meatball soup, hearty soup, easy Italian soup

Find it online: https://lucabites.com/italian-meatball-soup-recipe/