Mini Chicken Meatball, Pasta, and Vegetable Soup
Servings 6
Equipment
- Large Dutch oven
Ingredients
Meatballs:
- 1 lb of ground chicken
- 1 egg
- 2-3 tbsp Parmesan cheese
- 1-2 cloves of garlic minced
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
- ½ tsp dried basil
- ¼ tsp dried oregano
- Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste
- ¼ cup of Italian seasoned panko crumbs
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
Soup:
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- ½ yellow onion diced
- 3 carrots peeled and diced
- 3 stalks of celery diced
- 3 cloves of garlic minced
- 1 (15 oz) can of diced tomatoes
- 8 cups of chicken broth
- Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste
- ½ cup of ditalini pasta
- 2 cups of fresh baby spinach
- Parmesan cheese or feta cheese as topping optional
Instructions
- Make the meatballs by combining the ground chicken, egg, Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, fresh parsley, dried basil, dried oregano, sea salt, and freshly cracked pepper, to taste, and Italian seasoned panko crumbs in a bowl until just combined.
- Roll them into mini meatballs and place them on a plate (I filled two plates). Place the meatballs in the refrigerator for 10 minutes, so they are easier to work with.
- Par-cook the meatballs by heating 1 tablespoon of oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs, in batches, and cook for 4-5 minutes, carefully turning halfway through to cook on the other side, or until golden brown but not cooked through (they will finish cooking in the soup).
- Remove the cooked meatballs from the Dutch oven and place them on a clean plate. Finish cooking the remaining meatballs.
- Make the soup by adding the remaining tablespoon of canola oil to the same Dutch oven and adding the onion, carrots, and celery. Cook, stirring often, for 4-5 minutes, then add the minced garlic.
- Cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Add the diced tomatoes and chicken broth, season with sea salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste.
- Cover and cook on low for 30-40 minutes.
- Finish the soup by removing the lid and adding the pasta and meatballs. Cover and cook for an additional 15-20 minutes or until the pasta is tender and the meatballs are cooked through.
- Add the spinach, stir until combined and slightly wilted, taste and re-season if needed, then ladle into bowls.
- Top with Parmesan cheese or feta cheese if desired. Enjoy.