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Easy Creamy Italian Meatball Soup: Restaurant-Quality Comfort Food in 1 Hour

This Creamy Italian Meatball Soup is the ultimate one-hour comfort meal — combining tender homemade meatballs, a rich tomato-cream broth, and tender pasta for a hearty Italian-inspired dish that feels like it simmered all day. Perfect for cozy weeknights or family dinners.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 380
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb ground beef or a mix of beef and pork
  • 1 small onion finely diced
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs
  • 1/4 cup whole milk
  • 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion diced
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • 6 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup marinara sauce
  • 2 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
  • 8 oz rotini penne, or ditalini pasta
  • 8 oz fresh spinach
  • 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Fresh parsley for garnish

Method
 

  1. Prepare Meatballs: Combine ground beef, diced onion, egg, bread crumbs, milk, Parmesan, garlic, salt, pepper, and Worcestershire. Mix gently and form into 24 walnut-sized balls.
  2. Brown the Meatballs: Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown meatballs on all sides for 2–3 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.
  3. Sauté Vegetables: In the same pot, add onion and cook until translucent. Add garlic and Italian seasoning; sauté for 1 minute.
  4. Build Broth Base: Pour in broth and marinara sauce, scraping up browned bits. Return meatballs to pot and simmer 10 minutes.
  5. Cook Pasta: Add pasta and cook 7–8 minutes until al dente.
  6. Add Cream & Spinach: Lower heat, stir in cream and spinach until wilted.
  7. Finish: Stir in Parmesan, taste, and adjust seasoning. Serve garnished with parsley and extra cheese.

Notes

For a lighter version, use ground turkey and half-and-half instead of heavy cream. Add extra vegetables like carrots or zucchini for more fiber. Always add cream off the heat to prevent curdling.