Creamy Italian Meatball Soup Recipe
This Creamy Italian Meatball Soup is a comforting and flavorful dish featuring tender homemade or frozen meatballs simmered in a rich tomato and chicken broth base with rotini pasta, spinach, and a touch of heavy cream. Garnished with shaved Parmesan and fresh parsley, it’s a hearty soup perfect for cozy dinners.
- Author: Victoria
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Low Salt
Meatballs
- 1 recipe of homemade Italian meatballs or 18–20 oz. bag of frozen meatballs, thawed
Soup Base
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 32 oz. chicken broth
- 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes
- 8 oz. uncooked rotini pasta (about 2 1/2 cups)
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Fresh cracked pepper, to taste
Finishing Touches
- 2 cups baby spinach
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- Shaved Parmesan, for garnish
- Freshly chopped parsley, for garnish
- Prepare the Meatballs: Make your preferred homemade Italian meatballs, use an air fryer meatballs recipe, or thaw and cook an 18-20 oz. bag of frozen meatballs according to package directions or overnight in the fridge.
- Sauté Onions: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the diced yellow onion with a couple large pinches of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 6-8 minutes until onions begin to caramelize and brown slightly.
- Add Garlic and Seasoning: Stir in minced garlic, Italian seasoning, tomato paste, and additional salt and pepper. Cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently to enhance the flavors.
- Deglaze the Pot: Add a few splashes of chicken broth to the pot and scrape the bottom with your spoon to release any browned bits for extra flavor.
- Add Remaining Ingredients: Pour in the remaining chicken broth, crushed tomatoes, uncooked rotini pasta, and cooked meatballs. Season with more salt and pepper to taste. Stir to combine.
- Simmer Soup: Bring the soup to a simmer over medium-high heat. Then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 12-15 minutes or until the pasta is cooked al dente.
- Add Spinach and Cream: Stir in baby spinach and heavy cream. Cook for a few minutes until the spinach has wilted and the soup is heated through evenly.
- Season and Garnish: Taste the soup and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Serve hot, garnished with shaved Parmesan cheese and freshly chopped parsley.
- Enjoy and Review: If you enjoy this recipe, consider leaving a 5-star rating and a review to support the recipe and share your feedback.
Notes
- You can substitute the rotini pasta with other small pasta shapes like ditalini or small shells.
- For a lighter version, substitute the heavy cream with half-and-half or omit it entirely.
- Fresh spinach can be swapped with baby kale or Swiss chard if preferred.
- Use low-sodium chicken broth to better control the saltiness of the soup.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stove.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (approx. 1.5 cups)
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg
Keywords: Italian meatball soup, creamy meatball soup, rotini pasta soup, tomato meatball soup, comfort soup recipe