Tummy-Warming Mini Chicken Meatballs ‘n Vegetable Soup

With winter schedules ramping up, leaving precious available time for meal prep, you will appreciate the simplicity of this tummy-warming one-pot meal. And everyone loves meatballs, right? Just add these easy to make mini morsels to a pot of simmering broth. Toss in a bunch of nutrient-packed veggies plus brown rice for added “staying power” and you’ve created a satisfying meal your family will ask for again and again.

 

Mini Chicken Meatballs ‘n Vegetable Soup

Yield: about 6 servings
 

Click HERE for the full recipe, but in the nutshell, here is what you do:

Make the Meatballs

Assemble all the ingredients for the meatballs.

 

Sauté chopped onions, garlic and carrots for about 5 minutes or until softened and just beginning to brown. Set aside to cool.

 

In a large bowl, mix together remaining meatball ingredients plus reserved sautéed vegetables. (Mixture may need some additional breadcrumbs or ground oats to form meatballs.)

 

Form mixture into 1-inch sized meatballs. (will make 24-36)

 

In a large frying pan, brown meatballs on all sides, about 3 minutes.

 

Remove from heat; drain on paper towels. (Meatballs will finish cooking in soup.)

 

Make the Soup

In a medium stockpot (about 6 quarts), bring chicken broth (or stock), salt, pepper and Italian seasoning to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; add meatballs. Simmer, uncovered for about 10 minutes or until meatballs are cooked through, with no pink color remaining.

Reduce heat to low. Stir in carrots, snow peas, broccoli, bok choy, asparagus, green onions and rice. Cover; simmer for about 3 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender. Taste; adjust seasonings as desired.

 

As this soup is a hearty one-pot meal, simply serve with salad, crackers or bread sticks with fruit for dessert and dinner is done!

 

Mini Chicken Meatballs ‘n Vegetable Soup

With autumn and winter schedules ramping up, leaving precious available time for meal prep, you will appreciate the simplicity of this tummy-warming one-pot meal. And everyone loves meatballs, right? Just add these easy to make mini morsels to a pot of simmering broth. Toss in a bunch of nutrient-packed veggies plus brown rice for added “staying power” and you’ve created a satisfying meal your family will ask for again and again.

Yield: about 4 servings
Author: Linda Shapiro, © Meal Planning Maven

Ingredients

Meatballs

  • 4 teaspoons olive oil divided
  • 1 medium onion finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 large carrot peeled and finely chopped
  • 1 pound ground chicken or ground turkey or lean ground beef
  • 1 large egg beaten
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley or 1 teaspoon dried
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt or as desired
  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper or as desired
  • 1/2 cup whole wheat or gluten-free breadcrumbs or ground oats may need more if mixture is loose

Soup

  • 8 cups all-natural reduced-sodium chicken broth like Saffron Road or Imagine or homemade chicken stock
  • ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 2 large carrots peeled and sliced
  • 1 cup snow peas trimmed and sliced into thirds
  • 2 cups broccoli florets
  • 2 cups baby bok choy or regular size, trimmed and coarsely chopped
  • 2 cups sliced asparagus
  • ¼ cup sliced green onions
  • 1 cup cooked brown rice or brown rice couscous, whole wheat orzo or quinoa

Instructions

Meatballs

  • In a medium pan, heat 2 teaspoons olive oil over medium-high setting until hot. Sauté chopped onions, garlic and carrots for about 5 minutes or until softened and just beginning to brown. Set aside to cool.
  • In a large bowl, mix together remaining meatball ingredients plus reserved sautéed vegetables. (Mixture may need some additional breadcrumbs or ground oats to form meatballs.)
  • Form mixture into 1-inch sized meatballs. (will make 24-36)
  • In a large frying pan, heat remaining 2 teaspoons of olive oil over medium-high heat. Brown meatballs on all sides, about 3 minutes.
  • Remove from heat; drain on paper towels (Meatballs will finish cooking in soup.)

Soup

  • In a medium stockpot (about 6 quarts), bring chicken broth (or stock), salt, pepper and Italian seasoning to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; add meatballs.
  • Simmer, uncovered for about 10 minutes or until meatballs are cooked through, with no pink color remaining.
  • Reduce heat to low. Stir in carrots, snow peas, broccoli, bok choy, asparagus, green onions and rice. Cover; simmer for about 3 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender. Taste; adjust seasonings as desired.
  • As this soup is a hearty one-pot meal, simply serve with salad, crackers or bread sticks with fruit for dessert and dinner is done!

Notes

Make Ahead and Storage Tips: soup may be prepared up to 3 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Reheat over medium-low setting for 5 minutes or until hot. Soup may be frozen for up to 3 months.

 

Notes

Can’t find ground chicken? These meatballs will be equally delicious made with lean ground beef or turkey.

Have you ever tried baby bok choy? More tender and sweet than regular-sized baby bok choy, this versatile Asian veggie is a wonderful addition to stir-fries and soups. Look for baby bok choy in natural food stores such as Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, farmers markets and some supermarkets. To prepare baby bok choy, simply trim off the ends and roughly chop the stems and leaves .

 

Mix up your veggies! Feel free to add different veggies according to taste preferences and availability. Zucchini, yellow squash, sugar snap peas, parsnips…they’re all good!

Loaded with tummy-filling meatballs and veggies, this soup is really a “one-pot” meal. Simply serve it with a salad and fruit and your dinner is complete.

 

Other “meal-in-a-pot” soups you may enjoy: Crockpot Chicken Fajita Soup and Turkey-Vegetable-Barley Soup.
 

 

 

Coming to the Blog: My Sweetie’s Favorite Cheesecake + a Lovely Valentine’s Menu

 

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Linda Shapiro, Meal Planning Maven

29 Responses

  1. Wow Linda, this soup looks amazing!
    • Linda Shapiro (Meal Planning Maven)
      Thanks Nancy!
  2. Not sure I stumbled this correctly :( I tried a Giada DeLaurentis meatball recipe and I threw the whole thing out - totally disgusting. I need to try your recipe.
    • Linda Shapiro (Meal Planning Maven)
      That's ok Patty...you share for me plenty! I hope you are able to try my soup one day...I think you will love it!
  3. Love a meatball soup and yours looks amazing!!
    • Linda Shapiro (Meal Planning Maven)
      Thanks bunches Tara!
  4. This soup sounds really delicious, Linda. I really love the chicken meatballs. What a hearty meal idea :)
  5. Linda, this soup has my name all over it. Looks chock full of healthy yummy goodness.
    • Linda Shapiro (Meal Planning Maven)
      Wonderful Michelle! Hope you have the chance to try it one day!
  6. I really love this. I think I have all the ingredients on hand and we have a big snow storm today so it seems I may be making this later today!
    • Linda Shapiro (Meal Planning Maven)
      Fantastic Christine...enjoy! It's definitely tummy-warming, but it's also very light, unlike some other hearty winter soups.
  7. Tummy warming, indeed! Loving this soup and all of it's components!
    • Linda Shapiro (Meal Planning Maven)
      Thanks bunches Dan! This soup is as much fun to make as it is to eat!
  8. I love a good mini meatball! These chicken one's look so amazing! What a wonderful addition to this delicious soup!
    • Linda Shapiro (Meal Planning Maven)
      Thanks so much Kecia!
  9. What a wonderful recipe - wholesome, comforting and tasty too! Love your Mini Chicken Meatballs 'n' Vegetable Soup, Linda!
    • Linda Shapiro (Meal Planning Maven)
      Thanks very much April! My hubbie and I absolutely loved this soup and hope you are able to try it one day!
  10. This looks wonderful and I love the soffritto addition. That's adding so much flavor to those meatballs.
    • Linda Shapiro (Meal Planning Maven)
      Thank you so much Kevin. I'm so excited you were able to stop by to visit.
  11. Meatballs in the soup, how much more fun can you have?!
    • Linda Shapiro (Meal Planning Maven)
      You are absolutely right Jenny!
  12. This soup recipe looks outstanding. so warm and filling. I love a good comfort food.
    • Linda Shapiro (Meal Planning Maven)
      Thanks and I so agree with you Heidy...these days one cannot have too man comfort food recipes, right?
  13. Linda!! Loving the new look of your site! :) And these mini chicken meatballs sure look hearty and tummy-warming! Wish I had a bowl of your chicken meatballs and soup instead of the salad I just ate for lunch!
    • Linda Shapiro (Meal Planning Maven)
      Awww thanks Felicia Dear! I am so excited you like my new website and hope you visit often! And thank you for your sweet comments about my soup...it's one of our favorites!
  14. Those meatballs look great and the soup makes it even more delicious and filling!
    • Linda Shapiro (Meal Planning Maven)
      Thanks so much Shauna!
  15. This looks delicious! Perfect on cold winter day!
  16. It is soup time alright and this one the tiny meatballs is a perfect meal for little ones and grownups!