If you need back to school dinner ideas, what can be more kid friendly than a bowl of Spaghetti and Meatball Soup made with turkey meatballs cooked in a light tomato broth!
Spaghetti and Meatball Soup
This Spaghetti and Meatball Soup recipe is from the archives and has been greatly overlooked. I finally got a chance to rephotograph it, which I have wanted to do for a while. Lean turkey meatballs cook in a light tomato broth with cut-up spaghetti. It’s very popular in my home, and I’m sure it will be in yours too. More kid-friendly meals your family might enjoy are Instant Pot Spaghetti and Turkey Meatballs, Crock Pot Turkey Chili, and Madison’s Favorite Beef Tacos.
Kid-Friendly Spaghetti and Meatball Soup
When Madison was younger, I would give her less broth, and she would eat the spaghetti soup with her messy hands. I’d also leave out the red pepper for her.
Can you cook spaghetti directly in the soup?
The spaghetti cooks in this soup. Since it’s in smaller pieces, it’ll cook in the amount of time listed in the package’s directions since you’re adding it to simmering, not boiling, broth.
How to Cook Spaghetti and Meatball Soup
- Broth: Bring the chicken broth, water, one crushed garlic clove, two tablespoons of parsley, one-quarter of the onion, tomato sauce, crushed red pepper, and black pepper to a boil over medium heat in a big pot. Simmer it for about five minutes.
- Meatballs: Meanwhile, make the meatballs by combining the ground turkey, parmesan, egg, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, and remaining garlic, onion, and parsley. Form the mixture into about 36 one-inch meatballs.
- Cook: Drop the meatballs into the broth and cook for three minutes. Then add the pasta and cook it according to the package directions.
- Finishing Touches: Add fresh basil, adjust the salt and pepper to taste, and serve the soup with grated parmesan.
How to Freeze
Freeze leftover spaghetti soup in small containers so you can pull it out on busy nights when you need something fast to feed your kids. The soup will last in the fridge for about four days and in the freezer for three months. You can thaw it overnight in the refrigerator or reheat it in the microwave or on the stove straight from frozen.
Variations:
- Meatballs: Swap ground turkey for lean ground chicken or beef.
- Pasta: Substitute spaghetti for another pasta shape, like elbow macaroni or rotini. You can also use whole-wheat noodles.
- Liquid: Since the pasta expands, you can add more broth if necessary.
- Vegetables: Feel free to add some vegetables like spinach or chopped carrots and celery.
More Soup Recipes You’ll Love:
- Instant Pot Turkey Meatball and Ditalini Soup
- Chicken Noodle Soup
- Creamy Slow Cooker Tomato Soup
- Turkey Meatball Tortellini Soup with Spinach
- Chicken Enchilada Soup
Your comments are helpful!! If you’ve tried this healthy Spaghetti and Meatball Soup recipe or any other recipe on Skinnytaste, don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! I would love to hear your thoughts, variations and feedback. And if you took some photos or video of it, share it with me on Instagram or Tiktok so I can re-share!
Spaghetti and Meatball Soup
Ingredients
For the soup:
- 5 cups low sodium, chicken broth
- 2 cups water
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped and divided
- 4 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, divided
- 1/2 onion, chopped, divided
- 3-4 tbsp tomato sauce, I use my quick marinara sauce
- pinch crushed red pepper flakes, optional
- kosher salt and fresh pepper
- 6 oz dry cut up spaghetti
For the meatballs:
- 16 oz 93% lean ground turkey, or 99% lean
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp fresh chopped basil
Instructions
- Heat a large pot over high heat and add chicken broth, water, 1 clove crushed garlic, 2 tbsp chopped parsley, 1/4 of the chopped onion, tomato sauce, crushed red pepper flakes and fresh black pepper to a boil, When it comes to a boil simmer about 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, make the meatballs by combining ground turkey, Parmesan cheese, egg, remaining garlic, remaining onion, remaining parsley, breadcrumbs, salt and pepper. Form into little 1 inch meatballs (about 36).
- Drop meatballs into the broth, cook about 3 minutes; add pasta and cook according to package directions.
- Add fresh basil, adjust salt and pepper to taste and serve with grated Parmesan cheese.
