Cozy Chicken Meatball Soup for Busy Nights
This cozy chicken meatball soup is made with spoon-dropped meatballs, hearty veggies, and pasta that come together in a warm, savory broth. It’s the kind of easy, from-scratch recipe that tastes like it simmered all day
Flavor: A light, savory broth with hints of garlic and herbs, juicy chicken meatballs, hearty veggies, and cozy pasta.
Time Saving Tip: Put the ground chicken mixture into a zippered bag and cut the corner off to pipe meatballs directly into the soup.
Serving Suggestions: I love serving this with some dinner rolls, a handful of crackers, or a simple fresh salad.
Easy Ingredients and Variations
Ground Chicken: Any ground chicken will work, or swap for ground turkey or pork. To keep the meatballs tender, gently mix and simmer (not a hard boil) once the meatballs are in.
Bread Crumbs: Seasoned bread crumbs add flavor and help keep the meatballs soft. If using plain breadcrumbs, add a pinch of Italian seasoning for extra flavor.
Seasoning: Swap the poultry seasoning for thyme and sage if you like.
Pasta: Small pasta shapes, like shells, elbows, or mini bow ties, cook quickly in the broth. If planning leftovers, prepare the pasta separately to keep it from getting soggy.
Variations: Stir in some spinach or kale at the end until just wilted, finish with a squeeze of lemon to brighten the flavors, and top each bowl with a sprinkle of Parmesan for a savory touch.
Your Simple Soup Game Plan
Combine the ground chicken mixture and set aside (full recipe below).
In a pot, sauté the onion, carrot, celery, and poultry seasoning.
Add water and broth to the pot. Bring to a boil.
Drop in meatballs and simmer. Season with salt and pepper.
For Tender Meatballs: Stop mixing as soon as the ingredients are combined.
For Even Meatballs: Use a small cookie scoop or two spoons.
Mixture Too Sticky? Chill 10 minutes or wet your spoon to keep it from sticking.
For Perfect Pasta: Cook pasta separately and add to individual bowls.
Leftovers That Stay Cozy
Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. It is best to store the pasta separately. It will keep in the freezer (without the pasta) for up to 3 months.
Thaw overnight in the fridge. Reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat. Add a splash of water or broth if it’s too thick, and add fresh pasta.
Cozy Soup Night Lineup
Did you enjoy this Chicken Meatball Soup Recipe? Leave a comment and rating below.
Prep Time 5 minutes minutesCook Time 12 minutes minutesTotal Time 17 minutes minutes
In a large bowl, mix together ground chicken, egg, bread crumbs, onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, salt, and pepper. Set aside.Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion, carrot, and celery, and cook until tender, about 3 minutes. Stir in the poultry seasoning and cook for 1 more minute.Add the chicken broth and water to the pot, and bring to a rolling boil.Use a small spoon* to scoop ½-inch bits of the chicken mixture directly into the boiling broth. The meatballs do not have to be rolled or round.Once all the meatballs are added, add the pasta*. Let the soup simmer uncovered for 8 to 10 minutes or until the pasta is tender and the meatballs are cooked through.Taste the soup and add salt and pepper as needed.
Planned Leftovers: If you plan to store leftovers, cook the pasta separately and add it to individual bowls when serving. Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Shortcut Meatballs: Combine the meatball mixture as directed and transfer to a freezer bag or piping bag, snip off the corner, and squeeze them directly into the broth.Frozen Meatballs: The homemade meatballs can be replaced with 16 ounces of small frozen meatballs. Simmer for 5 minutes before adding the pasta.
Calories: 400 | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 151mg | Sodium: 1832mg | Potassium: 978mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 6206IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 86mg | Iron: 3mg
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
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