Cozy Homestyle Chicken Meatball Soup Recipe

Hearty and comforting, this chicken meatball soup delivers a burst of flavor that warms you from the inside out.

Tender, juicy meatballs dance in a rich, aromatic broth packed with wholesome vegetables.

Each spoonful blends perfectly seasoned chicken with vibrant herbs and spices.

The homemade meatballs create a delightful centerpiece for this soul-soothing dish.

Lighter than traditional beef versions, these chicken meatballs offer a healthier twist on a classic comfort meal.

Nutritious and satisfying, this soup promises to become a staple in your weekly meal rotation.

Get ready to savor every delicious bite of this nourishing culinary creation.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 60 minutes

Calories: 270 kcal

Servings: 7

Chicken Meatball Soup Ingredient Breakdown

• Ground Chicken: Lean protein that creates tender, juicy meatballs with mild flavor.
• Breadcrumbs: Helps bind ingredients and provides light, airy texture to meatballs.
• Egg: Acts as a natural binder to hold meatball mixture together.
• Parmesan Cheese: Adds rich, savory depth and helps enhance overall meatball flavor.
• Garlic Powder, Onion Powder: Concentrated seasonings that deliver robust, aromatic taste without chunky texture.

• Onion, Carrot, Celery: Classic soup base vegetables that build deep, complex flavor foundation.
• Butter: Creates rich, smooth base and helps vegetables caramelize beautifully.
• Garlic: Intense flavor booster that elevates entire dish's taste profile.
• Flour: Crucial thickening agent that provides silky, substantial soup consistency.
• Bay Leaf: Adds subtle herbal undertone and enhances overall soup complexity.

• Chicken Broth: Primary liquid that creates soup's fundamental flavor and consistency.
• Italian Seasoning: Blend of dried herbs that introduces Mediterranean-inspired taste.
• Heavy Cream: Adds luxurious, velvety smoothness and rounds out soup's flavor.
• Frozen Peas: Bright, sweet vegetable that provides color and nutritional boost.
• Fresh Parsley: Vibrant garnish that adds fresh, herbaceous final touch.

Cooking Tool for Chicken Meatball Soup

• Large bowl: Perfect for mixing meatball ingredients thoroughly without overmixing.
• Dutch oven: Essential for browning meatballs and creating the soup base with even heat distribution.
• Slotted spoon: Helps remove meatballs from the pot while draining excess oil.
• Rubber spatula: Ideal for stirring vegetables, scraping pot bottom, and incorporating flour smoothly.
• Cutting board: Needed for dicing onions, slicing carrots, and chopping parsley.
• Chef's knife: Sharp tool for precise vegetable and herb preparation.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Ensures accurate ingredient measurements for consistent results.
• Ladle: Helps serve soup evenly into individual bowls.

How to Make Chicken Meatball Soup

• Meatball Creation

Gently mix ground chicken with breadcrumbs, egg, cheese, and seasonings. Form tiny round bites about the size of a tablespoon. Keep these tender morsels ready on a baking sheet.

• Golden Browning

Warm a deep pot and add a splash of olive oil. Cook the meatballs until they develop a beautiful caramel-like exterior. Remove and set aside, keeping them warm and crispy.

• Vegetable Foundation

Melt butter and introduce diced onions, sliced carrots, and celery. Let them dance and soften, releasing their sweet aromatics. Sprinkle minced garlic for an extra layer of flavor.

• Liquid Magic

Dust vegetables with a light coating of flour. Stir gently to create a golden base that will thicken the soup’s character. This step builds depth and richness.

• Broth Symphony

Pour chicken broth into the pot, stirring and lifting all the delicious browned bits from the bottom. Let the liquid tell its own delicious story.

• Flavor Infusion

Add seasonings and let the soup simmer gently. Allow the herbs and spices to mingle and create a harmonious blend of tastes.

• Creamy Finale

Introduce heavy cream and return meatballs to the pot. Sprinkle in frozen peas for a burst of color and freshness. Let everything cuddle together warmly.

• Serving Celebration

Ladle the soup into waiting bowls. Scatter fresh parsley on top for a bright, fresh finish. Enjoy the comforting embrace of this heartwarming meal.

Tips and Swaps for Chicken Meatball Soup

• Swap ground chicken with ground turkey or lean beef for different flavor profiles and textures. Mix in finely chopped herbs like basil or thyme to enhance the meatball taste.
• Incorporate grated zucchini or finely minced spinach into meatballs for extra nutrition without changing the overall texture. Use lean meat and whole wheat breadcrumbs to create a healthier version.
• Control thickness by adjusting flour amount or using cornstarch as a lighter alternative. Add more broth for a thinner soup or simmer longer to create a heartier, more robust liquid.
• Swap peas with diced butternut squash, chopped kale, or green beans. Roast vegetables before adding to intensify their flavors and bring depth to the soup.
• Cool soup completely before refrigerating in airtight containers. Meatballs and broth keep well for 3-4 days. Freeze individual portions for quick weeknight meals, reheating gently to maintain texture.

Serving Chicken Meatball Soup

• Cozy Bread Companions: Serve alongside crusty sourdough or garlic bread to soak up the rich, creamy broth and add delightful texture to each spoonful.
• Winter Warmth Bowl: Create a hearty meal by pairing the soup with a small side salad featuring crisp greens and a light vinaigrette to balance the creamy chicken meatball soup.
• Cheese Lover's Topping: Sprinkle extra grated parmesan or sharp cheddar on top just before serving to enhance the savory flavors and add a delicious melty element to the soup.
• Fresh Herb Finish: Garnish with additional chopped fresh parsley or a few leaves of fresh thyme to brighten the dish and add a pop of color and aromatic freshness to the comforting soup.

Storing and Reheating Chicken Meatball Soup

• Smart Batch Cooking: Prepare double the meatball quantity and freeze half for future quick meals. Separate raw meatballs on a baking sheet, freeze solid, then transfer to freezer bags for convenient storage up to 3 months.
• Refrigerator Storage Strategy: Keep leftover soup in airtight containers, maintaining freshness for 3-4 days. Cool soup completely before sealing to prevent bacterial growth and maintain optimal taste quality.
• Freezer-Friendly Preparation: Soup can be frozen minus the cream for up to 2 months. When ready to serve, thaw slowly in refrigerator, reheat gently, and stir in fresh cream for best texture and flavor restoration.
• Meal Prep Efficiency: Create meatball mixture ahead of time and store covered in refrigerator for 24 hours before cooking. This technique allows flavors to develop and saves precious cooking time during busy weeknights.

Hearty Chicken Meatball Soup

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4.7 from 29 reviews

• Total Time: 60 minutes
• Yield: 7 1x

Print Recipe

Description

Comforting chicken meatball soup delivers hearty Italian-style flavors with tender, herb-infused meatballs nestled in a rich, aromatic broth. Delicious warmth awaits when you ladle this satisfying meal into bowls for an authentic, nourishing dining experience.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 recipe chicken meatballs
• 6 cups (1.4 liters) chicken broth
• 0.5 cup (120 milliliters) heavy cream
• 2 tbsps (30 milliliters) butter
• 4 tbsps (30 grams) all-purpose flour
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 3 medium carrots, peeled and sliced to 0.5 inches (1.3 centimeters)
• 3 stalks celery, sliced to 0.5 inches (1.3 centimeters)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 0.67 cup frozen peas
• 2 tsps Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 0.5 tsp ground pepper
• 1 bay leaf
• Chopped parsley, to taste

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Instructions

1. Meatball Preparation: Combine ground chicken, breadcrumbs, egg, parmesan, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt in a mixing bowl. Gently blend ingredients to maintain a delicate meatball texture, then form compact, bite-sized spheres.
2. Browning Technique: Heat olive oil in a dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sear meatballs in batches, rotating to achieve a golden crust, then transfer to a separate plate using a slotted spoon.
3. Vegetable Foundation: In the same pot, melt butter and sauté diced onions, carrots, and celery until softened. Add minced garlic and sprinkle flour, stirring to eliminate raw flour taste and create a rich base.
4. Liquid Integration: Deglaze the pot with chicken broth, scraping browned bits for depth. Add remaining broth, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and bay leaf. Bring to a gentle simmer, allowing flavors to meld for 15 minutes.
5. Creamy Finalization: Remove bay leaf and stir in heavy cream. Reintroduce meatballs and frozen peas, simmering for an additional 5 minutes to ensure thorough cooking and warming.
6. Serving Presentation: Ladle soup into bowls, garnish with freshly chopped parsley, and serve hot, offering a comforting and flavorful meal.

Notes

• Prevent Tough Meatballs: Gently mix ingredients and avoid overworking the meat mixture to ensure tender, soft chicken meatballs that melt in your mouth.
• Batch Browning Technique: Brown meatballs in batches to develop a golden, flavorful exterior without overcrowding the pot, which can lead to steaming instead of caramelization.
• Flour Trick: Dust flour over sautéed vegetables and cook briefly to eliminate raw flour taste and create a thickening base for a rich, smooth soup.
• Flavor Layering: Deglaze the pot with broth to capture and incorporate those delicious browned bits, maximizing the depth and complexity of the soup’s flavor profile.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 7
• Calories: 270
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 900 mg
• Fat: 16 g
• Saturated Fat: 9 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 24 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 10 g
• Cholesterol: 45 mg