Description
A warm and hearty soup featuring flavorful homemade meatballs, cheesy tortellini, and a rich tomato-based broth—perfect for chilly days and comfort food cravings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef (or a mix of beef and pork for extra flavor)
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (plain or Italian-seasoned)
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 4 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth for a vegetarian version)
- 2 cups water
- 1 can (14 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for a little heat)
- 9 oz fresh or frozen cheese tortellini
- 2 cups fresh spinach (or kale, chopped)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, egg, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined but don’t overwork the meat.
- Use a small scoop or spoon to form the mixture into 1-inch meatballs. Place them on a plate or tray while you prepare the soup base.
- Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently to avoid burning.
- Pour in chicken broth, water, and crushed tomatoes. Stir in dried basil, parsley, and red pepper flakes (if using). Bring to a gentle boil.
- Carefully add the meatballs to the pot. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
- Add tortellini and cook according to package instructions (usually 5-7 minutes). Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Once the tortellini is tender, add fresh spinach and stir until wilted, about 2 minutes.
- Taste the soup and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
- Serve hot and garnish with extra Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
[‘Don’t overwork the meatball mixture to keep them tender.’, ‘You can lightly brown the meatballs in a skillet for deeper flavor.’, ‘Add tortellini towards the end to prevent overcooking.’, ‘Customize the spice level by adjusting red pepper flakes.’, ‘Spinach can be swapped for kale or other greens.’]
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 350400
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 800
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 20
Keywords: meatball soup, tortellini soup, comfort food, easy soup recipe, hearty soup, Italian soup