Swedish Meatball Soup

This Meatball Soup is the most satisfying soup you will slurp all season!

Meatball Soup is only as good as the meatballs, and these Swedish meatballs are the best!  This Meatball Soup is made with tender, juicy meatballs, hearty egg noodles, carrots, mushrooms and celery all swimming in luscious creamy brown gravy broth swirled with sour cream.  It is hearty, satisfying and with one bite, it will be a beautifully delicious day!

Meatball Soup

Cloudy with a chance of Meatball Soup.  If we could be so lucky.   Growing up, my mom made three kinds of meatballs:  Waikiki meatballs, porcupine meatballs and Swedish meatballs.   I begged her to make them all – even more so after reading Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs in the second grade.  The oversized meatballs crashing into houses just made me wish they would crash into my mouth.   Since my youthful Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs days, I’ve made several new favorite meatball recipes such as Italian Meatballs, Cranberry Meatballs,Buffalo Meatballs, Korean Meatballs and Parmesan Meatballs – all delectable, but I don’t think it gets any more comforting than Swedish meatballs- so why not turn them into Meatball Soup?   This Meatball Soup is everything you love about Swedish meatballs.  Juicy meatballs and egg noodles cradled in luscious, rich broth. Meatballs and noodles.  Two food staples that always fill me with sunshine.  Your family will love this new comforting, creamy Meatball Soup tradition!  

Ingredients for Meatball Soup

The Meatballs:

Meatball Soup starts with stellar meatballs.   I stayed true to the traditional Swedish meatballs characterized by its combination of beef and pork and bread crumbs soaked in cream, then spiced them with a harmonious blend of nutty, slightly sweet nutmeg and allspice to create a mega tender, flavorful meatball.

The Broth:

Swedish meatballs are traditionally served in a rich brown gravy enlivened with sour cream over noodles, so for this Meatball Soup, I transformed the gravy into a creamy beefy broth which allows the meatballs to swim in and soak up its velvety paprika, parsley spiced deliciousness.   The broth begins with a roux of flour and butter to add body and then whisked with beef broth, Worcestershire sauce and seasonings.  Sour cream is later added to create a luscious, rich, creamy, tangy broth. 

The Noodles:

This Meatball Noodle Soup is further elevated with egg noodles.  Their fluffy, silky texture cooks up perfectly every time and is a delectable companion to the moist, tender meatballs. These noodles are ideal for soups, noodle bakes and your favorite meats and sauces because they hold their form and texture and don’t become soggy when smothered.   You can use different noodles, if you prefer, and the soup will still be delicious – just less Swedish and more Meatball Soup.

The Veggies:

This Meatball Soup begins with a mirepoix (pronounced “meer-pwah”), which is essentially a fancy French term for carrots, onions and celery sautéed in butter/olive oil.   Every chef will tell you that every great soup or stew should begin with a mirepoix – and I agree.   It adds richness and depth of flavor that can’t be achieved any other way.    I also add mushrooms to this Meatball Soup, but they are optional if you are not a fan.

The Seasonings:

This Meatball Soup would just be meatballs and broth if it wasn’t for the seasonings.  The meatballs are seasoned with garlic powder, ground nutmeg, ground allspice, salt and pepper.

The broth is seasoned with dried parsley, paprika, salt and pepper and red pepper flakes.  If you aren’t sure how much red pepper flakes to add, then start with less because you can easily add heat, but it is hard to take away!

What Size Meatballs are best?

I find 1 tablespoon meatballs to be the best size for Meatball Soup.  They are large enough that they remain juicy and don’t overcook and you are rewarded with a satisfying meaty bite.

That being said, you are welcome to make mini meatballs if you prefer.   They will require less cooking time when browning, so adjust time accordingly.

Can I use Store Bought Meatballs?

If you are short on time, you can definitely use store bought meatballs for this Meatball Soup recipe.  Ground beef, turkey and even chicken meatballs will work great.   The meatballs won’t have the Swedish seasoning or characteristic tenderness,  but the broth will still boast the delicious flavor.  But next time, I HIGHLY encourage you to use these homemade meatballs – they are to live for!

Can I Use Frozen Meatballs?

Absolutely!  You can either use store bought frozen meatballs or you can freeze your own meatballs (preferred).  There is no need to defrost pre-cooked frozen meatballs before adding to Meatball Soup – simply drop them into the soup and let them do their thing.

If you want this Meatball Soup to come together super quickly, you can make the meatballs in advance and freeze them.  To do this:

1. Cook meatballs according to directions (Steps 1-4).
2. Let meatballs cool to room temperature.
3. Line meatballs on a baking sheet so they aren’t touching.
4. Place tray in the freezer and freeze until solid, about 1-2 hours.
5.  Transfer meatballs to a freezer safe bag or container.
6. Label meatballs and store meatballs in the freezer for up to 3 months.

What CAN I PREPARE AHEAD OF TIME?

This Meatball Soup is very simple but it does require chopping the veggies and making the meatballs.  Fortunately, you can do both in advance!

• Meatballs:  You can completely assemble and cook the meatballs according to directions.  To store, line meatballs on a paper towel lined plate and tightly wrap with foil or plastic wrap or line on a paper-towel lined airtight container.   Store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
• Veggies: You can also save time beforehand by chopping your onions, garlic, carrots, celery and mushrooms.  Store pre-cut veggies in an airtight container in the refrigerator.  Mushrooms don’t last very long once sliced, so be sure to use them within 24 hours.

How to make Meatball Soup

These Meatball Soup is super easy to make!  Here’s how:

•  After cooking your skillet meatballs, simply sauté your carrots, celery and mushrooms for a few minutes.

• Sprinkle in flour, cook for a few more minutes then stir in beef broth and a little cream along with parsley and paprika and other spices to create luscious, creamy beef broth.  Add your meatballs, and simmer a few minutes.

• Stir in your smooth, firm and delicious egg noodles followed by a little sour cream and eat!

How Long do you Cook Meatballs In Soup?

Freshly made meatballs require about 20 minutes simmering time to cook in a soup.  In this Meatball Soup recipe, however, we are skipping that step by browning our meatballs first on the stove.  These meatballs are are SO tender, they will fall apart if you try and add them directly to the soup without cooking first.  Browning meatballs first also seals in the moisture and enhances the flavor.

Since the meatballs are already cooked, they only need to be warmed through in the soup, about 5 minutes.  They will require more time if you are using frozen meatballs.

TIPS FOR MEATBALL SOUP

• Cook Pasta Separately:  Cook the pasta just until al dente (meaning it has a little bite) separate from the soup.  Rinse with cold water so it doesn’t keep cooking.  Cooking the pasta separately cooks the pasta more evenly and saves you from babysitting the soup and ruining an entire pot of Meatball Soup with mushy pasta. 
• Customize Veggies: This Meatball Soup Recipe has celery, carrots and mushrooms but feel free to customize the veggies with your favorites or whatever you have on hand.  Potatoes, zucchini, green beans, spinach, etc. would all be delicious. 
• Scale Down:  This Meatball Soup recipe makes a lot of servings so I would recommend scaling down if you don’t have a large family and don’t want leftovers.  If you do love leftovers (the are SO good!), then you will love leftover Meatball  Soup for an easy lunch or dinner! 
• Rice for Pasta: I am a HUGE wild rice fan, so I will sometimes use wild rice instead of pasta in soups  If you choose to use rice, I recommend cooking it separately to ensure proper cooking of the rice and not overcooking of the veggies. 
• Consistency: The “chunkiness” of this  Meatball Soup is totally personal preference.  For a less chunky soup, simply add additional broth or cream at the end of cooking.

HOW DO YOU THICKEN MEATBALL SOUP?

This Meatball Soup should already be thick and creamy due to the flour, cornstarch, heavy cream and sour cream.  If you would still like a thicker soup, you can thicken using either of these methods:

• Cornstarch: Remove some broth from the Meatball Soup and whisk in 1-2 tablespoons cornstarch with a fork until smooth then whisk it back into the soup.  Simmer for 5 minutes or until thickened.
• Flour and butter: Mix equal parts flour and softened butter together with a fork so it becomes a thick paste and almost forms a ball.  You will want 2-4 tablespoons each, depending on how thick you want the soup. Add it to the soup, simmer for 5 minutes or until thickened.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH MEATBALL SOUP?

This Meatball Soup is a mean-in-itself packed with protein, carbs and veggies!  Still, I love serving it with big chunk of crusty bread, dinner rolls or breadsticks, along with big green salad, or wedge salad and fruit salad.  

HOW LONG IS MEATBALL SOUP GOOD FOR?

Meatball Soup should be stored in an airtight container in your refrigerator.  When properly stored, it is good for 3-5 days.

CAN I MAKE  MEATBALL SOUP AHEAD OF TIME?

Yes! The flavors of this Meatball Soup get better the next day so it makes amazing leftovers!   Take care to not overcook your pasta so it stays al-dente when stored and reheated.  The soup will thicken in the refrigerator so you may need to add some milk, broth or cream before heating.

HOW DO I REHEAT MEATBALL SOUP?

• Stove: You can reheat large batches of Meatball Soup on the stove over medium low heat, stirring occasionally until warm. Take care you don’t let the soup boil otherwise the sour cream will curdle.  You will need to add some additional broth or cream to the soup because some of the pasta will absorb it while sitting overnight.
• Microwave: For smaller batches or individual servings, you can use the microwave.  Transfer soup to a microwave-safe dish, cover with a microwave-safe lid or paper towel.  Microwave for 2 minutes, stir, then continue to microwave for 30-second intervals, if needed.  Stir in additional broth, or cream to reach desired consistency.  You can even add additional sour cream for a richer soup.

CAN I FREEZE MEATBALL SOUP?

I do not recommend freezing Meatball Soup because it contains dairy as well as pasta.   When dairy is frozen, the fat separates creating a funny, unappetizing texture and it will often curdle.  When pasta is frozen, it becomes unpleasantly mushy. Instead, you can freeze the meatballs (instructions above) OR  share it with a friend!

Cloudy with a chance of Swedish Meatball Noodle Soup.  If we could be so lucky.

LOOKING FOR MORE SOUP RECIPES?

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• Lasagna Soup
• Tomato Basil Soup
• Ham and Bean Soup with Tortellini

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