Description
A hearty and comforting Italian Meatball Soup packed with flavorful meatballs, crushed tomatoes, fusilli pasta, and fresh basil, simmered to perfection in a savory beef broth. This easy-to-make soup is perfect for a warming meal and can be customized with optional crushed red pepper flakes and parmesan cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 pound meatballs (see note)
Soup Base
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 medium onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes (fire roasted preferred)
- 4 cups beef broth
- 1/2 red bell pepper, chopped small
- 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Pasta & Garnish
- 1.5 cups uncooked fusilli pasta
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, torn or chopped
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Parmesan cheese, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare Meatballs: If making meatballs from scratch, prepare them according to your preferred recipe or use store-bought meatballs for convenience. Note that this recipe yields about half of the meatball batch for this soup, saving the rest for another meal.
- Sauté Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onions and sauté for 4-5 minutes until they become translucent and soft.
- Add Garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant, making sure not to burn the garlic.
- Combine Soup Ingredients: Add the crushed tomatoes, beef broth, chopped red bell pepper, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes (if using), and meatballs to the pot. Increase heat to high and bring the mixture to a rolling boil.
- Add Pasta: Once boiling, add the uncooked fusilli pasta directly into the pot.
- Simmer Soup: Reduce the heat to low and simmer the soup with the lid slightly ajar for about 15 minutes, or until the pasta is cooked al dente. Stir occasionally to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom. If the soup becomes too thick, add extra beef broth to maintain a brothy consistency.
- Finish and Season: Stir in fresh basil and season the soup with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot with optional grated Parmesan cheese on top for added richness.
Notes
- Prep time does not include making meatballs from scratch.
- You can use your favorite meatball recipe or store-bought meatballs for convenience.
- Some crushed tomato brands vary in thickness; adjust broth as needed for desired soup consistency.
- Crushed red pepper flakes are optional for a spicy kick.
- Parmesan cheese adds a nice finishing touch but is optional.
