Go Back

Hearty Meatball, Bean & Pasta Soup

A comforting and hearty soup filled with savory meatballs, protein-packed beans, and cozy pasta, perfect for busy nights.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Course, Soup
Cuisine: American
Calories: 400
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Meatballs
  • 1 pound ground beef or turkey
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ cup breadcrumbs
  • 1 large egg
  • to taste Salt and pepper
For the Soup
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 medium carrots, diced
  • 2 stalks celery, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 cups vegetable or chicken broth Adjust based on preference
  • 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes
  • 1 can (15 oz) cannellini beans or kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup small pasta (like ditalini or elbow)
  • 2 cups spinach (optional) Highly recommended for nutrition
  • to taste Salt and pepper

Method
 

Make the Meatballs
  1. In a bowl, combine the ground meat, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, breadcrumbs, egg, salt, and pepper. Roll into bite-sized meatballs (around 1 inch) and set aside.
Sauté the Veggies
  1. In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, diced carrots, and diced celery. Sauté for about 5 minutes until they’re soft and starting to smell heavenly. Then, toss in the minced garlic and sauté for another minute.
Add the Goodness
  1. Pour in the vegetable or chicken broth, diced tomatoes, and the cannellini beans. Bring to a gentle boil.
Cook the Meatballs
  1. Gently drop the meatballs into the pot with the sizzling broth. Cover and simmer for about 15 minutes.
Pasta Time
  1. Stir in your pasta of choice and let it cook according to the package instructions. Sneak in some spinach towards the end for an extra nutritional boost.
Final Touches
  1. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Once the pasta is cooked and the meatballs are tender, ladle that goodness into bowls and serve hot.

Notes

Make a double batch of this soup; it freezes beautifully. Cook the pasta separately if you plan to freeze it. Customize with your choice of beans or add veggies like zucchini or bell peppers.