Extra soft, extra juicy and extra tasty meatballs, served up in a cheesy tomato spaghetti soup that’s all made in one pot! By cooking them in the same pot the soup is made in, it adds incredible extra flavour into the soup.
Here by popular demand! Because I’ve given this out to so many readers by email, I thought I’d better just share it!
My Classic Italian Meatballs are one of the most popular recipes here on RecipeTin Eats. With good reason I think, in my humble opinion.:-) They are softer, juicier and have extra flavour crammed into them thanks to a couple of small but key things I do differently to the usual:
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Adding grated onion to soften the bread and add extra flavour into the meatballs, while avoiding chunks of uncooked onion in the meatballs which can happen if you use diced onion; and
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Using bread, not breadcrumbs, that are soaked in the grated onion. It literally disintegrates when mixed through and when the meatballs are cooked, the little bits of bread sort of “puff” which creates little air pockets in the meatballs which makes them the meatballs extra soft inside.
I’ll leave it at that because I went into some detail behind my logic in the Classic Italian Meatballs recipe! And here they are….don’t you think they even look soft and juicy?? 🙂
These meatballs are destined to be used in a soup. The extra flavour in the meatballs is key to an extra flavourful soup. Not a drop of flavour is wasted in this recipe! All those gorgeous brown bits in the pot from browning the meatballs are mixed into the soup, and the meatballs are plonked in the soup to finish cooking so all those juices mix in as well.
Oh! Have I mentioned that this is all made in one pot? 🙂 In fact, cooking the spaghetti in the soup thickens it even more thanks to the starch. Ooooh, and I especially love how the spaghetti soaks up all the tomato soup flavour!
I make the meatballs a tiny bit smaller than the recipe for my Classic Italian Meatballs. I just feel that it makes the soup slightly easier to eat. I mean, long strands of spaghetti in a bright red tomato sauce with melted cheese on top is already a challenge to eat as it is without making the meatballs giant size.
You know that this is going to be a mess to eat, right? A beautiful, enjoyable mess. Tomato splattered on your face, some might even make it into your hair. I strongly recommend wearing black and if you are feeding kids, consider dinner outdoors? 😉
PS You could be sensible and use macaroni or risoni/orzo, or another type of pasta that is easier to eat. But where’s the fun in that??
I know that half the world is heading into summer, but for us folks in Australia, what seemed like an Endless Summer is officially over as of yesterday when Daylight Saving ended. Autumn is really here. The evenings are cooler, the days are noticeably shorter. In fact, as I hit Publish, it’s pouring with rain outside.
And because I’m pouting that every weekend may no longer be spent at the beach, I’m consoling myself at the thought that winter = comfort food. And really, right at this moment, I can’t think of anything more comforting that this Italian Meatball Soup! – Nagi x
Soup Dippers
Quick Cheesy Garlic Bread • Better-Than-Dominos Garlic Bread • Soft No Knead Dinner Rolls • Focaccia
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Italian Meatball Soup
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 1 lightly packed cup of sliced white sandwich bread , torn into small pieces, crusts removed (Note 1)
- 1/2 cup grated onion (brown, white or yellow)
- 14 oz / 400 g ground beef (beef mince)
- 3 oz / 100g ground pork (mince) or more ground beef (Note 2)
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley , finely chopped (Note 3)
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 1/4 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano (or parmesan), freshly grated
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Soup
- 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup onion , finely chopped (white, brown or yellow)
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 2 cups chicken broth / stock (or water)
- 1 cup water
- 24 oz / 700g passata (pureed tomato) (Note 4)
- 28 oz / 800g canned tomato
- 1 tbsp Italian mixed herbs (Note 5)
- 2 tsp garlic powder (or onion powder)
- 1 - 2 tsp red pepper / chilli flakes (optional)
- 8 oz / 250g spaghetti (dried, not fresh or cooked)
Garnish (optional)
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves , torn
- 1/2 - 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Parmigiano-Reggiano (or parmesan), freshly grated
Instructions
- Place the bread and onion in a large bowl. Mix to combine so the onion juice soaks the bread.
- Add all the remaining Meatball ingredients. Use you hands to mix well.
- Roll a slightly heaped tablespoon of mixture into a ball. Repeat with remaining mixture. Should make around 24. (Note 6) Refrigerate meatballs for 30 minutes (Note 7)
- Heat 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium high heat. Add the meatballs in a single layer and brown all over (still raw inside) - I do this in 2 batches. Remove meatballs onto a plate and set aside.
- If the pot is looking dry, add a touch more olive oil. Add onion and garlic and cook for 2 minutes.
- Add chicken broth, bring to simmer and scrape the bottom of the pot to mix the brown bits into the liquid.
- Add remaining Soup ingredients except spaghetti. Bring to simmer, turn heat down to medium and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, scraping the bottom of the pot.
- Take the lid off and add spaghetti. Use tongs to push it all under the liquid as it starts to soften. Once the spaghetti is submerged, add the meatballs. Cook for around 12 minutes, or until spaghetti is just cooked but still firm (al dente). Remove from stove.
- If using cheese, sprinkle on the surface of the soup after you take it off the stove, put the lid back on and let the heat melt the cheese (~2 minutes).
- Ladle soup, spaghetti and meatballs into bowls. Garnish with basil leaves and serve with Parmigiano-Reggiano, if using.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
I Get A Round: More Meatball Recipes
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LIFE OF DOZER
PS The moment when I wished I had a little handbag dog instead of an abnormally large golden retriever: when Dozer lifted his head and the meatballs went flying. He inhaled 3 before I got over my shock and busted him!
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Helen @ scrummy lane says
Oooh Nagi, I LOVE that piccy of your adorable doggie. I can just imagine all the amazing cooking smells you torture him with daily, the poor thing!!!
As for your weather, I’m afraid I’m not listening. Just listening to Sydney radio and hearing about your horrendous rain, but just console yourself with the fact that we’ll probably have at least 2 more months of up and down winter here in the UK while you’ll be enjoyable a mostly glorious Autumn. Can’t wait to get back to that!
As for the soup… of course it looks and sounds incredible and I really appreciate those simple meatball tips. Oh, and I ADORE your last 2 photos. Gorgeous!
Have a great evening, dear Nagi! Stay dry!
Nagi says
Wait – you mean you’re coming back for good in 2 months???!!!
April | April Everyday says
Oh my gosh! I absolutely love spaghetti and meatballs, but to make it into a kind of soup?! It looks amazing!
xo April | April Everyday
Nagi says
YES YOU MUST!!! It is a killer!!! 🙂
Marissa says
oh Dozer, you steal my heart…along with your momma. 🙂
You crack me up – “A beautiful, enjoyable mess.” 🙂 My favorite kind… And grated onion makes so much sense! We eat a lot of meatballs around here, and I’m always up for a new recipe – especially from you.
Nagi says
I swear, the best food is always the messiest!!!!
Evelyne CulturEatz says
Dozer is so cute, he is stealing the show there at the end of the post. But wow what a great dish/soup! Looks amazing and yeah messy lol. Will have to try this. Litty here is not doing well at all, I am afraid the final days are arriving.
Nagi says
No no no….. 🙁 I wish I could give you a big hug right now, I am so sad to hear that…?
Evelyne CulturEatz says
Thank you Ngi, it is very much appreciated, he is free from suffering now.
Nagi says
Oh no…..I’m so sad for you Evelyne…..Dozer and I send condolences your way. As a fellow pet lover, I really feel for how you ? N x
Dorothy Dunton says
Hi Nagi! Yes to grated onion and fresh bread! I usually bake my meatballs on a rimmed sheet pan with broth – they brown but also stay juicy and soft. I hate dry fried meatballs! Our spring is here, getting fresh asparagus and herbs from the gardens YAY! And the girls have resumed laying eggs so tomorrow we are having an asparagus omelet! Want to join us for brunch? 🙂