Easy Homestyle Chicken Meatball Soup Recipe: Cozy Comfort in a Bowl

Chicken meatball soup changes ordinary ingredients into a comforting culinary experience that warms both body and soul.

Tender, seasoned spheres of ground chicken float gracefully in a rich, aromatic broth, creating a symphony of flavors.

Delicate herbs and carefully balanced spices elevate this dish from simple to spectacular.

Home cooks love how quickly this recipe comes together, making it perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekend meals.

Mediterranean and European traditions inspire the robust character of these delightful meatballs, which promise to satisfy even the most discerning palate.

Light yet filling, this soup offers a nutritious alternative to heavy winter meals.

You’ll find yourself craving its wholesome goodness time and again.

Savory Chicken Meatball Soup to Warm You Up

• Craft Cozy Comfort: This chicken meatball soup wraps you in warm, hearty goodness perfect for chilly evenings or when you need a soul-soothing meal.
• Elevate Simple Ingredients: Transform basic chicken, vegetables, and pantry staples into a restaurant-quality dish that feels luxurious yet incredibly easy to prepare.
• Quick Weeknight Winner: From start to finish, this soup comes together in under an hour, making it an ideal solution for busy families craving a delicious, nutritious dinner without spending hours in the kitchen.

Ingredients for Savory Chicken Meatball Soup

• Ground Chicken: Lean protein base for the meatballs, choose fresh and high-quality meat for best texture.
• Breadcrumbs: Helps bind the meatballs and provides a light, tender structure.
• Egg: Acts as a binding agent to keep meatballs together.
• Parmesan Cheese: Adds rich, savory flavor and helps with meatball cohesion.
• Garlic Powder, Onion Powder: Provides subtle, consistent seasoning throughout the meatballs.
• Kosher Salt: Enhances overall flavor of the meatball mixture.

• Olive Oil: Used for browning meatballs and adding subtle flavor.
• Butter: Provides rich base for sautéing vegetables and adding depth.
• Chicken Broth: Creates the liquid foundation of the soup with rich flavor.
• Flour: Helps thicken the soup and create a smooth texture.
• Italian Seasoning: Adds herbal complexity to the soup's flavor profile.
• Bay Leaf: Introduces subtle aromatic notes during simmering.
• Salt, Pepper: Essential seasonings for balanced taste.

• Onion: Provides sweet, aromatic base for the soup.
• Carrot: Adds color, sweetness, and nutritional value.
• Celery: Contributes earthy undertones and depth to the soup.
• Garlic: Offers intense, bright flavor.
• Heavy Cream: Creates a rich, smooth texture and adds luxurious mouthfeel.
• Frozen Peas: Introduces bright color and sweet, fresh element.

How to Prepare Chicken Meatball Soup

Step 1: Prepare Meatball Mixture

• Ground chicken
• Breadcrumbs
• Egg
• Parmesan cheese
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Kosher salt

Gently blend ingredients with your hands, taking care not to overwork the mixture. Form small, bite-sized meatballs about 1 tablespoon each. Place on a baking sheet and set aside.

Step 2: Sear Meatball Perfection

Heat a dutch oven over medium-high heat. Drizzle olive oil and let it shimmer. Carefully brown meatballs in batches, turning 2-3 times until golden. Each batch should take 1-2 minutes per side. Transfer browned meatballs to a separate plate.

Step 3: Build Vegetable Foundation

• Diced onions
• Sliced carrots
• Chopped celery

Cook until vegetables soften and onions become translucent, about 8-10 minutes. Toss in minced garlic and cook for an additional minute.

Step 4: Create Soup Base

Sprinkle flour over the vegetable mixture. Stir thoroughly to coat vegetables, cooking until the flour turns golden and loses its raw smell, approximately 2 minutes.

Step 5: Unlock Flavor Depths

Pour half a cup of chicken broth, scraping the pot’s bottom to release all those delicious browned bits. This step builds incredible depth of flavor.

Step 6: Develop Soup Character

Add remaining chicken broth, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and a bay leaf. Bring to a gentle simmer, then reduce heat. Let the soup bubble softly for 15 minutes, allowing flavors to meld beautifully.

Step 7: Final Flourishes

Remove the bay leaf. Stir in heavy cream and return meatballs to the pot. Toss in frozen peas and simmer for 5 minutes until meatballs are fully cooked and peas are warmed through.

Step 8: Serve With Love

Ladle the steaming soup into bowls. Sprinkle fresh chopped parsley on top for a burst of color and freshness. Serve immediately and enjoy the warm, comforting embrace of homemade soup.

Pro Tips for Flavorful Chicken Meatball Soup

• Prevent Tough Meatballs: Handle ground chicken gently and avoid overmixing to keep meatballs tender and juicy.
• Achieve Perfect Browning: Pat meatballs dry before searing to create a crispy, golden exterior that locks in flavor.
• Boost Flavor Depth: Toast flour briefly to eliminate raw taste and develop a rich, nutty undertone in the soup base.
• Control Soup Consistency: Adjust broth amount if soup becomes too thick, adding small amounts of liquid to reach desired texture.
• Enhance Herb Freshness: Add fresh parsley just before serving to preserve its bright color and vibrant flavor profile.

Storing and Reheating Chicken Meatball Soup

• Refrigerate: Store leftover soup in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Properly sealed, the soup will stay fresh for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
• Freeze: Pour cooled soup into freezer-safe containers, leaving 1-inch space at the top. Freeze for up to 3 months. Separate meatballs and broth if possible to maintain better texture.
• Reheat: Thaw frozen soup overnight in the refrigerator. Warm gently in a pot over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Add a splash of chicken broth if the soup seems too thick. Avoid boiling to prevent meatballs from becoming tough.

Best Accompaniments for Chicken Meatball Soup

• Sip Crisp White Wine: A chilled Pinot Grigio perfectly complements the light, creamy chicken meatball soup by cutting through its richness and refreshing the palate.
• Pair with Crusty Bread: Serve a warm, rustic sourdough or French baguette to soak up the flavorful broth and add a delightful textural contrast to the tender meatballs.
• Enhance with Fresh Salad: Create a simple green salad with mixed herbs, lemon vinaigrette, and light greens to balance the soup's creamy texture and provide a bright, zesty side dish.
• Boost with Herbal Garnish: Sprinkle extra fresh parsley or add a few basil leaves to intensify the soup's aromatic profile and bring a pop of fresh flavor to each spoonful.

Creative Variations on Chicken Meatball Soup

• Spicy Southwestern Spin: Replace Italian seasoning with chili powder, cumin, and smoked paprika. Add diced green chiles and top with fresh cilantro for a zesty Mexican-inspired version.
• Mediterranean Herbal Fusion: Incorporate crumbled feta cheese, oregano, and lemon zest into the meatballs. Swap heavy cream for Greek yogurt and garnish with fresh dill for a Mediterranean flair.
• Lean Green Protein Boost: Substitute half the ground chicken with ground turkey and mix in finely chopped spinach. Use quinoa instead of breadcrumbs to increase protein content and add nutritional value.
• Asian-Inspired Comfort Bowl: Season meatballs with ginger, garlic, and soy sauce. Replace chicken broth with low-sodium vegetable broth and finish with a drizzle of sesame oil and green onions for an aromatic east Asian twist.

Chicken Meatball Soup Recipe

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4.8 from 17 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Succulent chicken meatballs dance through a hearty Italian-inspired broth, bringing comfort and zest to your dinner table. Fragrant herbs and tender vegetables create a soul-warming meal you’ll savor spoonful by delicious spoonful.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Protein:

• 1 recipe chicken meatballs

Vegetables:

• 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
• ⅔ cup frozen peas
• Chopped parsley, to taste

Seasonings and Liquids:

• 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) butter
• 4 tablespoons (30 grams) all-purpose flour
• 6 cups (1.4 liters) chicken broth
• 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 0.5 teaspoon ground pepper
• 1 bay leaf
• 0.5 cup (120 milliliters) heavy cream

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Instructions

1. Blend ground chicken with breadcrumbs, egg, parmesan, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Gently combine ingredients without overworking the mixture to maintain a tender texture.
2. Shape the meat mixture into compact, bite-sized spheres, creating approximately 36 miniature meatballs. Arrange them neatly on a clean baking sheet.
3. Heat olive oil in a dutch oven over medium-high temperature. Carefully brown meatballs in batches, rotating to achieve an even golden exterior. Transfer browned meatballs to a separate plate using a slotted spoon.
4. Melt butter in the same pot and introduce diced onions, sliced carrots, and celery. Sauté vegetables until they soften and onions become translucent, releasing their aromatic essence.
5. Incorporate minced garlic and cook briefly to enhance the flavor profile. Dust flour over the vegetable mixture, stirring thoroughly to eliminate raw flour taste.
6. Deglaze the pot with chicken broth, scraping accumulated browned bits from the bottom to incorporate rich, concentrated flavors.
7. Pour remaining chicken broth, add Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and bay leaf. Bring the liquid to a gentle simmer, allowing ingredients to meld together harmoniously.
8. Reduce heat and let the soup develop depth for approximately 15 minutes, creating a rich, cohesive broth.
9. Remove bay leaf and stir in heavy cream, infusing the soup with luxurious creaminess. Reintroduce meatballs and sprinkle frozen peas into the liquid.
10. Simmer for an additional 5 minutes, ensuring meatballs are thoroughly cooked and peas are warmed through.
11. Ladle the soup into serving bowls, garnish with freshly chopped parsley, and serve piping hot.

Notes

• Meatball Preparation Tip: Gently mix chicken mixture to avoid tough meatballs, using light hand movements for a tender texture.
• Browning Technique: Sear meatballs in batches to develop rich golden-brown exterior, creating deeper flavor profiles.
• Vegetable Sautéing Secrets: Cook onions, carrots, and celery until soft and translucent to build a robust soup base with enhanced sweetness.
• Flour Thickening Hack: Toast flour with vegetables to eliminate raw flour taste and create a silky, smooth soup consistency.
• Flavor Layering Strategy: Deglaze pan with broth to capture caramelized bits, maximizing depth and complexity of soup’s overall taste.
• Cream Finishing Touch: Stir in heavy cream at the end for luxurious richness and velvety mouthfeel without breaking the sauce.

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

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 319
• Sugar: 4 g
• Sodium: 690 mg
• Fat: 20 g
• Saturated Fat: 11 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
• Trans Fat: 1 g
• Carbohydrates: 24 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 8 g
• Cholesterol: 71 mg