Quick Italian Meatball Soup – Oma's Italienische Fleischklößchen-Suppe

by: Gerhild Fulson  / Oma Gerhild shares easy, authentic German recipes you can trust, rooted in family tradition and featured in her cookbooks.

Jump to recipe ⇣

Italian Meatball Soup is such an easy crowd-pleaser. It's oh-so-delicious!

This Italian meatball soup is so good, and it's so super quick and easy to make! One of the best things is, that you can clean out your fridge, crisper, and/or freezer!

This may have started as an Italian dish, but with a few of my tweaks, it’s full of German-inspired flavor! Check out the Hints/Tips section of the recipe card to see how I make it match our taste-buds.

Some quick soups don't bother adding meat. However, this soup is called Italian MEATBALL soup, meaning, it HAS meat! That makes hubby happy.

I keep a bag of pre-cooked meatballs in the freezer at all times, just for occasions when I'm rushing about and need to make something delicious quickly.

This recipe is for those times. 

A Bit Of This and a bit of that ...

• Don't have any beef broth. Use bouillon cubes, following package instructions for the quantity to use for 2 cups.
• Add any leftover veggies you have in your fridge. If you want to use up veggies from your crisper, you may need to cook the soup a bit longer to get them tender. 

Yes, you're right. This is a German recipe website, and this soup definitely is not German. But, it's one of my non-German favorites.

Now, if you omit the Italian Seasoning and replace it with some of your favorites (such as Vegeta) and include some Maggi, you've just turned this into a German soup ;)

Tradition says that this Italian meatball soup was used originally to use up leftovers. That makes total sense. Every regional cuisine has its ways of using leftovers in delicious ways.

So, what's often in the crisper? Onions, celery, tomatoes, and carrots. So, these are typically included.

Well, the soup below rivals any that you get in an Italian restaurant. And you’ll feel utterly Italian doing so! In fact, it will be among your favorite Italian soup recipes!

BUT, make the changes that I suggest in the Hints/Tips section of the recipe card, and you'll turn it into a soup that tickles your German taste buds.

BTW, did you know minestrone is really just a thick soup made with vegetables that often has pasta or rice.

Since this soup has pasta in it, it will have a tendency to become thicker as it stands. You may need to add extra liquid when reheating leftovers. 

From Oma's heart to your table

Complete your set today - order now!

Oma Says:

Personally, I like a bit of spice in my soups. That’s why I add often add Montreal Steak Spice. You can change that and add whatever you fancy.

A salt-free seasoning spice blend works. Basil is nice. Garlic or garlic powder works. Thyme is great. 

Looking for other meatball soup recipes? Try a Mexican albondigas soup ... delicious!

Ready to make this Italian Meatball Soup?

Print Recipe

Quick Italian Meatball Soup – Oma's Italienische Fleischklößchen-Suppe

My Italian meatball soup is so good! You can make it as German as you like (see hints below). And, one of the best things is that you can clean out your fridge, crisper, and/or freezer.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Servings:

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:

• 3 cups beef broth
• 1 can (14.5-ounce) diced tomatoes
• 10 ounces frozen small precooked meatballs
• about 2 ounces uncooked pasta (½ cup)
• ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning (see Hints below)
• 1 cup frozen peas and carrots (or your favorite veggies)
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Into a large saucepan, put the broth, undrained tomatoes, meatballs, pasta, Italian seasoning and veggies.
2. Bring to boil and reduce heat to a simmer.
3. Cover and simmer for about 10 minutes or until the pasta is cooked and the meatballs are hot.
4. Season with additional salt and pepper, if needed.
5. Serve.

Hints/Tips:

• Omit the Italian Seasoning and replace it with Vegeta
• Season with Maggi
• If you like it spicy (like we do), add some Montreal Steak Seasoning

*  *  *  *  *

Unless otherwise noted recipe, images and content © Just like Oma | www.quick-german-recipes.com

Recipe updated January 27, 2025

Click for more Soups ->

Join Oma's Kaffeeklatsch

Come for coffee & cake (virtually!), & you’ll discover new things about German food, recipes, & all things German.

 

Get my “Top 10 Favorite German Recipes” ebook & more … all delivered free right to your inbox from me, Oma Gerhild 🥰

 

Email address

First name

CLICK TO JOIN NOW

Thanks for joining!

Keep your eyes on your inbox for my email. 

---

Follow Oma on Social Media:

instagramyoutubefacebookpinterest

Comments?  Questions?

You can leave a comment about this recipe or ask a question...

Pop right over to my private Facebook group, the Kaffeeklatschers. You'll find thousands of German foodies, all eager to help and to talk about all things German, especially these yummy foods. 

Meet with us around Oma's virtual table, pull up a chair, grab a coffee and a piece of Apfelstrudel, and enjoy the visit.

Recent Articles

• 
• 

1. Baked Pork Chops with Sauerkraut - Schweinekotelett & Sauerkraut

   May 18, 25 09:20 PM

   
   Oma’s baked pork chops with sauerkraut is an easy German dinner that’s quick to make. Adding both browned onion rings and apples are scrumptious additions to this traditional meal.

   Read More

2. Oma's Obsttorte, a German Fruit Flan Recipe

   May 18, 25 04:39 PM

   
   Oma's Obsttorte is a quick, easy and versatile fruit flan dessert that brings a touch of German tradition to your table. Enjoy!

   Read More

3. Easy German Asparagus Salad Recipe – Oma's Spargelsalat Rezept

   May 18, 25 10:58 AM

   
   Asparagus salad (spargelsalat) is a springtime classic in Germany ... light, fresh, and oh-so easy. Even Oma says it’s fancy without the fuss!

   Read More

---




Quick Italian Meatball Soup – Omas Italienische Fleischklößchen-Suppe



By Oma Gerhild Fulson





This Italian meatball soup is such an easy soup to make for a crowd. You can make it as spicy as you like. One of the best things is that you empty your fridge/freezer. What's not to like?


Ingredients: beef broth, pasta, meatballs, diced tomatoes, frozen peas and carrots, seasonings,

For the full recipe, scroll up ...

Let's connect...

From Oma's heart
to your table

Complete your set today - order now!

More about me >

Hi, I'm Oma Gerhild! As a food writer and cookbook author, I'm always looking to find ways to pass on my German heritage using local ingredients. Quick and easy. That's my goal. Wunderbar food. That's the result.