Description
A comforting and flavorful Creamy Italian Meatball Soup featuring tender homemade meatballs, aromatic herbs, and a rich creamy broth with pasta. Perfect for a hearty family meal, this soup blends Italian spices, fresh tomatoes, and cream to create a deliciously satisfying dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 12 meatballs
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Sauté Base
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Soup Ingredients
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 1/2 cups pasta (rigatoni or small shells)
- 1 cup heavy cream
Garnish and Seasoning
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Brown the Meatballs: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the 12 meatballs and brown them on all sides for about 5-7 minutes until they’re nicely seared. Remove the meatballs from the pot and set aside.
- Sauté Aromatics: In the same pot, add the diced onion and minced garlic. Sauté over medium heat until the onion becomes translucent and the garlic is fragrant, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add Tomato Base and Broth: Stir in 2 tablespoons of tomato paste and cook for 1 minute to enhance its flavor. Then add 1 cup of halved cherry tomatoes, 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, and 6 cups of chicken or vegetable broth. Bring the mixture to a simmer and let it cook gently for 10 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Cook Meatballs and Pasta: Return the browned meatballs to the pot. Add 1 1/2 cups of rigatoni or small shell pasta, and cook until the pasta is al dente, typically around 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Add Cream and Simmer: Lower the heat, then stir in 1 cup of heavy cream. Allow the soup to simmer gently for 3-4 minutes so the cream can heat through without boiling, which will enrich the broth and make it creamy.
- Garnish and Season: Remove from heat and stir in 1/4 cup of chopped fresh basil and 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh parsley. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Serve warm and enjoy your creamy Italian meatball soup!
Notes
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or a dairy-free cream alternative.
- Meatballs can be homemade or store-bought for convenience.
- Use chicken broth for a richer flavor or vegetable broth to keep it vegetarian-friendly (without meatballs).
- Choose small pasta shapes that cook quickly to ensure they’re al dente by the time the soup is ready.
- This soup can be prepared in advance; store separately from the pasta to prevent it from becoming mushy.
