I’m sort of a fan of the whole soup and bread combo, but I recently decided to switch things up a bit from the usual soup rotation.
While I was at the store earlier this week, I happened to notice that extra lean ground beef was on sale, so I picked up a pound of it, still not quite sure what I was going to do with it. Jay’s always happy when there’s actual beef in the house, so I knew I couldn’t really lose either way.
I started browsing through some of my cookbooks and wound up coming across a recipe for a tomato type of soup…with meatballs. I mean, how fun does THAT sound?
One of the best parts about this soup is that it unbelievably easy. Once you’ve got the meatballs made, the soup will literally take you less than 15 minutes to prepare. And hey, make it even easier and use some frozen meatballs if you want! I won’t tell anyone.
Once I had the soup put together, I let it continue to simmer while I made my bread. I had actually had grand plans to make bread in the bread machine, but once again, my dough turned out like crap and I wound up tossing it before it could even start baking.
I’ll tell ya though, I think it’s true what they say…everything happens for a reason…because otherwise, I wouldn’t have put together this amazing little loaf.
Be sure to check out my post for this delicious Sun-Dried Tomato and Mozzarella Quick Bread recipe!
(I always get asked about the dishes – they’re from the Temp-Tations Collection on QVC!)
I tend to get a little nervous when I try out a new recipe, so I anxiously await Jay’s reaction to his first bite. Of course, he always has to give me the stone face to start, making me even more nervous, but after a few bites of the soup he was sold.
And he actually told me that he thinks this is now his favorite homemade soup recipe of mine. How ‘bout that?! I told him I think it’d be great with my chicken parm meatballs, so we may be trying that out sometime in the very near future.
Along with another loaf of this bread.
Especially considering the fact that between my two pieces and the rest of Jay’s, we’ve already polished off half of the loaf. (I hardly ever use this phrase, BUT…sorry I’m not sorry).
Italian Style Tomato and Meatball Soup
Ingredients
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-30 minutes
Meatball Ingredients:
- 1 pound extra lean group beef I used 93% lean
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 egg whites slightly beaten
- 2 tablespoons minced onion
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Soup Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
- 3-4 cloves roasted garlic I had some leftover – you could also do 2 tsp minced garlic
- 2 cans 14.5 ounces each fat-free and lower sodium beef broth
- 1 can 28 ounces Italian-style diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 cup whole wheat shells or other small pasta, uncooked
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Prepare meatballs: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Combine all ingredients together in a large bowl and mix well (use your hands to really get in there!). Shape into 28-30 meatballs, about 1-1/4 inches each. Place on a rack in a baking dish (or just directly in the dish). Bake for 13-16 minutes, or until no longer pink in the center. Set aside.
Prepare soup: Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook for 3-4 minutes, until soft. Add garlic and cook an additional minute. Stir in broth and tomatoes; bring to a boil. Add in pasta and reduce heat; cover and simmer at least 10-15 minutes, or until pasta is tender. Stir in meatballs and continue to cook until heated through.
(lightly adapted from The Healthy Beef Cookbook
****
ENJOY!
Michelle@Peachy Palate says
Yummy! Total comfort food! I was so going to ask about the dishes! :)
Karla says
It’s going to be 43 degrees here this weekend… I can’t wait to make this combo!
Kelly @ Femme Fitale says
Quick bread…yes, please!!!! What a great idea with the SD Tomatoes!
Danielle@cleanfoodcreativefitness says
This looks like the perfect comforting fall dinner! That soup looks amazing! Love any kind of soup with a tomatoey broth! So perfect for this colder weather!
Hope @ With A Side Of Hope says
Oh my goodness! This dinner looks absolutely delicious! I definitely want to try it but with turkey meatballs instead of beef. :) Love love love the dishes!
Lauren says
This bread looks crazy good! Coincidently, I was just looking up bread recipes because I think I’m whipping up some chili and beer bread this weekend. I’m going to attempt from scratch but it’s usually a hit or miss. Yeast just doesn’t happen in my kitchen so I love that your recipe doesn’t include it. Maybe I will turn to you for bread support this weekend. :)
Angela @ Health's Angel says
Gosh that bread looks incredible. I pinned the original version of it back when you first posted it. It’s been on my to-make list for awhile! I hate the cold weather…but having homemade soup and bread certainly helps ease the sting of it. :)
Brandi says
Oh my word! Everything looks so amazing! I am definitely gonna try these recipes! The weather here in Arkansas went from 85 to 45 in a span of 24 hours….soup would be so wonderful today! :)
Danica @ It's Progression says
yum!! that bread especially looks good–any bread with melted cheese is a win in my book :)
Beks says
I’m thinking both of these recipes are gonna happen within the next week. :D
Lindsay's List says
yum! i’m making this soup today! Maybe in my crockpot.
Sam @ Better With Sprinkles says
That soup looks like 100% comfort food! I love meatballs in soup (Italian Wedding – style) so this looks pretty fantastic.
chelcie @ chelcie's food files says
yum that soup kind of reminds me of italian wedding soup (which I LOVE) but with tomatoes instead! and i love sundried tomatoes that bread sounds delicious!
Kim says
1/2 cup of finley chopped garlic? That’s a whole lotta garlic!
Courtney says
holy crap – that’s supposed to be onions! lol….changing that NOW. Thank you so much!
Taryn says
That bread looks AMAAAAAZING! I’m always interested in trying out new bread recipes, but living alone makes having an entire loaf of delicious bread in the apartment extremely dangerous. I think I’ll try this one out when I’m home with my family for Christmas. I’m sure it will impress the socks off of ’em!
kim@hungryhealthygirl says
Yummo…..the soup and bread look amazing and so comforting….perfect for a chilly fall evening! This is going on the “to make” list for next week. It even looks like something my picky kiddos would like. ;)
Jana @ Newly Wife Healthy Life says
I just pinned that soup recipe, looks amazing! I love meatballs, and throwing minis into soup is a perfect idea. Bite size = easier to fit on my spoon!
Tiffany @SkinnyTiffanyBlog says
Oh Yum!!! That looks absolutely delicious!! I think I’m going to attempt to make that soup this weekend!! I added a few ingredients to my grocery list! WOO HOO! :)
Ashlee says
That looks amazing girl! A major cold front just hit us in Texas, so I might just make this tonight!
Also, I did your killer circuit workout last night…You weren’t lying. Killer!! I loved it though and thought it was lots of fun!
Lauren @ Chocolate, Cheese and Wine says
Oh wow those tomatoes look delicious. I actually ended up roasting tomatoes last night after seeing how delicious they looked in your salad earlier this week…. They did not disappoint.
Melissa says
Can you say perfect fall meal?!? I am such a sucker for homemade bread–I’m sure I’d have no trouble destroying that!
Amanda @ .running with spoons. says
I’m such a sucker when it comes to homemade bread, and omigosh that mozzarella quick bread sounds amazing. I’ve actually been craving tomato soup like crazy lately, and I wonder how the cheesy bread would taste paired with that…
Katie @ KatieEnPursuit says
Yum! It’s finally chilly here in STL, I can’t wait to start making soups & stews, this one is on my list for sure! Happy Friday!
Courtney F says
I make our bread once a week and this recipe of Sour Milk bread in the bread machine rarely disappoints!
http://www.breadmachinediva.com/2010/06/two-pound-sour-milk-bread/
(I don’t use sour milk by the way). The key to this recipe is the wet ingredients go in first and then the dry.
Natalie @ Free Range Human says
These both look great! I’ll have to make the bread with my chili tomorrow night!
Laura says
I’m thinking that even my super picky husband will eat this soup!!! But, I don’t think he’ll go for any kinds of tomato chunks in his soup — maybe I will run them through the food processor first?
As for that yummy looking bread — he definitely won’t like sun dried tomatoes. OH DARN – more for me!
Kerry @ Totes My Oats says
Both of those recipes sound amazing! Homemade soup and bread is my favorite meal so I will be trying these soon!
Meghan @ After the Ivy League says
Mmm homemade soup with meatballs? Sign me up! Anddd freshly baked homemade bread? Seriously you must be going for wife of the year award! Such a perfect fall meal.
michelle kim says
I’m going to have to pull out this recipe when the weather gets colder (San Francisco still gets up into the 70’s these days, haha). Thanks for the recipe! And I’ve always wanted to make my own meatballs. I was actually planning on looking for a recipe :D
Sam says
This soup looks delicious! Do you know how many servings this makes?
Courtney says
The recipe I adapted it from said 4, but I think we’ll probably be able to get about 5-6 with the size servings we had last night
Shannon says
You made my day even happier!!! Thank you so, so much for giving the soup recipe. It looks very delicious. :) Will be printing and setting this on the fridge covered with recipes to try.
I was going to ask about those dishes. They are too cute.
Rachel says
That bread sounds amazing! I’ve been wanting to make bread for the longest time, just haven’t gotten around to doing it
Em says
The bread looks amazing! Going to try it soon…how do you think it’d turn out if I replaced the all-purpose flour with almond or whole wheat flour?
Courtney says
Not sure…but feel free to try it :)
crystal d. says
Oh man both of those recipes look amazing!! It is going to get a bit chilly here in Chicago next week so some nice hot homemade soup and bread will be perfect!!! thanks!
Stellina @ My Yogurt Addiction says
That bread looks amazing!! Definitely a comfort food! Why do I LOVE carbs so much!! HaHa
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl says
Those recipes look fantastic! I will probably try to make the soup vegetarian by using MorningStar Farms “meatballs” and vegetable broth…we shall see how it turns out!
Sarah says
yummm that bread looks tasty!!
Mollie says
That bread would be so good with some pesto smeared on it I bet! yumm
Erica @ For the Sake of Cake says
Yum!!! Love the addition of meatballs to the soup!
Julie says
This looks so amazing! Totally making it this weekend. Quick question–did you use lowfat or nonfat milk & yogurt in the bread recipe? Thanks!
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More says
I LOVE sundried tomatoes. Way to make me hungry… ;)
Bek @ Crave says
Wow, talk about huge ingredient list haha! That’s dedication right there- looks worth it though because the soup and bread looks yum!
Emilie @ Hungry Delights says
I can’t wait to get this in my belly! The quick bread looks soo good – sundried tomatoes looks like the perfect addition :)
Libby says
Just have to say that I made your original version of this bread last night and it is WONDERFUL!! I served it with white chicken chili and it was perfect. Even my picky picky 12 yo son ate several pieces! Thanks for sharing the recipe…I know that I will make this bread again and again!