Quick and Easy Vegetable and Meatball Soup

The idea of this recipe for vegetable and meatball soup was born after cooking this Ground Beef Casserole. Take a peek, and you will understand.

Tender little beef meatballs simmer with carrots, zucchini, green beans, tomatoes, and macaroni in a flavorful tomato-based broth. It is hearty without being heavy, and the combination of vegetables, pasta, and meatballs makes every spoonful satisfying.

This is the kind of meatball soup that feels wonderfully homemade. The ingredients are simple, the preparation is straightforward, and everything comes together in one pot for a comforting family meal.

Why You’ll Love This Vegetable and Meatball Soup

It is a meal in a bowl. The beef meatballs provide protein, while the vegetables and macaroni make the soup filling and satisfying.

It is packed with vegetables. Carrots, zucchini, and green beans add color, flavor, and texture to the tomato broth.

The meatballs are easy to make. They require only a handful of simple ingredients and can be prepared while the soup is coming together.

It is comforting and flavorful. Tomatoes, garlic, onions, herbs, and a little sugar create a savory broth that complements the tender meatballs and vegetables.

Ingredients You’ll Need

The meatballs are made with ground beef, finely chopped onion, garlic, a little soy sauce, salt, pepper, and flour. The flour helps coat the small meatballs before they are added to the soup.

For the soup, you’ll need onion, garlic, carrots, zucchini, green beans, macaroni, tomato paste, and chopped tomatoes. A little sugar balances the acidity of the tomatoes, while Italian herbs or your favorite combination of herbs adds extra flavor.

Tips for Making Vegetable and Meatball Soup

Keep the meatballs small

Shape the meatballs into approximately ½-inch balls. Their small size allows them to cook quickly and makes them easy to enjoy with the vegetables and pasta.

Mix the meatball ingredients gently and avoid overworking the beef, which can make the meatballs dense.

Add the meatballs carefully

The meatballs are added when the vegetables are almost cooked. Add them slowly, almost one at a time, and avoid stirring immediately.

This is important because the small meatballs are delicate and may fall apart if stirred too vigorously before they have had a chance to firm up.

If you prefer, you can lightly fry the meatballs first. This gives them a firmer exterior and makes them less likely to break apart in the soup.

Use your favorite small pasta

Elbow macaroni works particularly well, but you can substitute another small pasta shape. Keep in mind that cooking times vary between pasta shapes, so check the pasta as the soup cooks.

Adjust the amount of water

The recipe does not require an exact amount of water because you can adjust the broth according to how thick or soupy you prefer it. Add enough water to give the vegetables room to simmer, then add more if necessary.

Can I Fry the Meatballs Before Adding Them?

Yes. Although the meatballs can be added directly to the simmering soup, lightly frying them first is an easy way to make them more sturdy. It also adds another layer of flavor.

If you fry the meatballs first, they only need about a minute of simmering in the soup to finish cooking.

Can I Use Other Vegetables?

Absolutely. This vegetable and meatball soup is flexible, so you can substitute or add vegetables based on what you have available. Peas, potatoes, celery, or corn can also work well.

Just consider the cooking time of each vegetable and add firmer vegetables earlier than softer ones.

What to Serve With Meatball Soup

This soup is filling enough to serve as a meal on its own. For an even heartier meal, serve it with crusty bread, dinner rolls, or a simple side salad.

Because the soup already contains vegetables, meatballs, and pasta, you don’t need many accompaniments.

Frequently Asked Questions

A Simple Soup for Any Day

This vegetable and meatball soup proves that you don’t need complicated ingredients to make a satisfying homemade meal. Tender beef meatballs, colorful vegetables, macaroni, and a rich tomato broth come together in one comforting pot.

It is simple enough for a regular weeknight dinner, yet cozy enough for a weekend family meal. Serve it hot with some crusty bread on the side, and let this hearty meatball soup warm you from the inside out.

Similar to this soup recipe, but it is not tomato-based is our macaroni soup. I find that this macaroni soup is more popular with my kids.

Quick and Easy Vegetable and Meatball Soup

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

A cozy vegetable and meatball soup that’s hearty, flavorful, and ready fast—perfect for busy days or comforting family meals.

• Author: Magida
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Category: Soups
• Method: cooking

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x

For the meatballs

• 1/4 kg ground beef
• 1/2 cup onions, cut finely
• 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
• 1/4 tsp soy sauce
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tbsp flour

For the soup

• 1 small onion chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 carrot peeled and diced
• 1 zucchini, peeled and diced
• about 6 pieces green beans, cut up
• 1/2 cup macaroni pasta (elbow, or any small types)
• 6 ounces tomato paste
• 1 can chopped tomatoes or 5 fresh tomatoes, chopped
• water
• 1/2 tsp sugar
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• Your choice of herbs or 1 tsp Italian herbs

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Instructions

1. In a bowl and using your hands, mix all the meatball ingredients, except the flour,  and shape them into 1/2-inch balls. Roll them in the flour and set aside.
2. In a cooking pot, sautee garlic, and onions and stir for a minute. Add vegetables and stir for a couple of minutes, then add tomatoes, herbs, sugar, and water. Let boil.
3. Lower the heat and add tomato paste, then stir.
4. Simmer until the vegetables are almost done. Slowly, almost one by one, add the meatballs. Do not stir or the meatballs might fall apart. To prevent this, you may opt to fry the meatballs first.
5. Simmer for additional 5 minutes (1 minute if the meatballs were pre-fried) and the soup should be ready to serve.

Notes

You can replace vegetables here with your own choice, or add them, to achieve this hearty tomato-based soup.

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