Slow Cooker Italian Meatball Soup

This Slow Cooker Italian Meatball Soup is a deliciously hearty soup with homemade mini meatballs and lots of veggies! It’s a flavorful soup that’s a set it and forget it meal that’s perfect for those busy weeknights!

This is an Italian meatball soup, so it needs to live up to its name. There are lots of meatballs! About 45. You can halve the recipe for the meatballs if you’d like, but my family enjoys lots of meatballs, so we’re sticking with 45.

Step-By-Step Instructions

The first step will be to make your mini meatballs. In a medium bowl you’ll combine all meatball ingredients and mix thoroughly. Form the meatballs using a small scoop. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and then place in refrigerator.

The second step will be to saute your onions, carrots and celery for 3-4 minutes over medium heat. You can sauté right in your slow cooker if your slow cooker has a sauté function like mine from Lotus. If not, sauté in a skillet on your stove and then add to your slow cooker.

The third step is to add your garlic, spices and tomatoes to your slow cooker followed by your beef broth.

You’ll mix everything together and then cover the slow cooker and cook on low until your veggies are tender, about  six hours.

The fourth step will be to increase the heat to high and add in your meatballs and continue to cook for another hour.

The last step will be to add in your spinch and grated parmesan and continue to cook for just another few minutes until the spinach is wilted. I like to taste my soup and season more with salt and pepper if needed.

We all know how busy summer can be. The kids are home and you want to enjoy all that summer has to offer, so a slow cooker meal fits the bill, the budget and the mom and dad’s schedule.

Serve this with some tasty garlic bread for dipping and perhaps a nice glass of red wine to unwind from a busy day!

Please let me know if you give the recipe a try. And if you have any questions about the recipe, just drop a comment below. Enjoy!

A Few Cook’s Notes for Slow Cooker Italian Meatball Soup

As mentioned above, if your slow cooker has a sauté function just cook your veggies for 4-5 minutes over medium heat right in the slow cooker, if not you can cook them in a skillet over medium heat on your stovetop.

I love to serve this soup with homemade garlic bread and extra grated parmesan cheese and a glass of red wine.

Slow Cooker Italian Meatball Soup

Author: MaryAnn Dwyer

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This Slow Cooker Italian Meatball Soup is a deliciously hearty soup with homemade mini meatballs and lots of veggies! It's a flavorful soup that's a set it and forget it meal that's perfect for those busy weeknights!

Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 7 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Total Time 7 hours hrs 40 minutes mins

Ingredients  

Meatballs

• 1 lb. groundbeef
• 1/2 cup Italian panko crumbs
• 4 Tbsp. grated parmesan cheese
• 1 Tbsp. dried parsley
• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 4 Tbsp. milk
• 2 1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
• 1 1/2 tsp. coarse kosher salt
• 1 tsp. pepper

Soup

• 2 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onion
• 1 1/2 cups peeled and chopped carrots
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
• 2 tsp. dried oregano
• 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
• 1/2 tsp. pepper
• 6 cups low-sodium beef broth
• 1 28-oz. can chopped tomatoes in puree, I use Tuttoroso San Marzano
• 2 cups, fresh spinach leaves, rinsed, stems removed and juienned
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions 

Meatballs

• In a medium bowl you'll combine all meatball ingredients and mix thoroughly. Form the meatballs using a small scoop. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and then place in refrigerator. The meatballs will cook right in your slow cooker later in the recipe.

Soup

• Heat your olive oil over medium heat and saute your onions, carrots and celery for 3-4 minutes. You can sauté right in your slow cooker if your slow cooker has a sauté function. If not, sauté in a skillet on your stove and then add to your slow cooker.
• Add your garlic, spices and tomatoes to your slow cooker followed by your beef broth. Mix everything together and then cover the slow cooker and cook on low until your veggies are tender, about  six hours.
• Remove the lid to the slow cooker and increase the heat to high and add in your meatballs. Continue to cook for another hour.
• After one hour add in your spinch and grated parmesan and continue to cook for just another few minutes until the spinach is wilted. I like to taste my soup and season more with salt and pepper if needed. Serve with additional grated parmesan cheese, if desired.

Notes

As mentioned above, if your slow cooker has a sauté function just cook your veggies for 4-5 minutes over medium heat right in the slow cooker, if not you can cook them in a skillet over medium heat on your stovetop.

I love to serve this soup with homemade garlic bread and extra grated parmesan cheese and a glass of red wine.

Keyword: Comfort Food, meatballs, Slow Cooker

Cuisine: American, Italian

Course: Main Dish