Albondigas Soup

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Albondigas Soup is a Mexican meatball soup with a tomato base. It’s filling and packed with flavor because the meatballs are cooked in the broth.

Serve this soup with Easy Garlic Bread or Garlic Parmesan Skillet Rolls for a delicious lunch or dinner.

Albondigas, the name for this soup, comes from the Spanish word for “meatballs”. They are made with ground beef and rice and cooked right in the soup, adding a ton of flavor to this dish. This soup is mentioned in one of our favorite movies and since I’ve made it, it’s become a favorite, especially during the cold months. This soup is filling and full of flavor because the meatballs cook right in the soup. You can easily make them ahead of time and freeze to save on prep time.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef or turkey
• cooked rice
• ground cumin
• egg
• salt and pepper
• cilantro or parsley
• garlic
• onion
• carrots
• celery
• green bell pepper
• beef or vegetable stock
• diced tomatoes

Instructions step by step

Step 1: make the meatballs

• Combine all ingredients for meatballs in a large bowl. Mix well.
• Roll into 1 tablespoon size balls and place on a baking sheet. Set aside.

Step 2: start the soup

• In a Dutch oven or soup pot, heat up the oil. Add celery, onion, carrots and pepper. Saute until softened.
• Add seasoning and saute for 2 minutes.
• Add 1/2 cup of stock and deglaze the bottom of the pot.
• Add all liquids and bring the mixture to a boil.
• Drop meatballs into the soup.
• Turn the heat to medium-low and cook the soup for 25 to 30 minutes, until the meatballs are cooked through and the veggies are soft.

Can I fry the meatballs?

You can fry the meatballs in a skillet or bake them in the oven and serve with the soup. However, cooking the meatballs in the soup enriches the broth and adds flavor.

Side dishes

I always serve this soup with cheesy bread, breadsticks or rolls. You can also add a heaping cup of cooked rice to make it even more filling.

More soup recipes:

• Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Soup
• Creamy White Chicken Chili
• Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup
• Zuppa Toscana

For more recipes like this one, feel free to browse our Soup Category.

If you like this recipe and make it, snap a photo and share it on INSTAGRAM! Tag me @crunchycreamysweet so I can check it out and leave a comment! 😀

5 from 5 votes

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Albondigas Soup

Prep Time

20 mins

Cook Time

45 mins

Total Time

1 hr 5 mins

 

Albondigas Soup is a Mexican meatball soup with a tomato base. It's filling and packed with flavor because the meatballs are cooked in the broth.

Course: Soup

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: Albondigas soup, meatball soup

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 299 kcal

Author: Anna

Ingredients

for meatballs:

• 1 lb lean ground beef or turkey
• 1/2 cup cooked white rice
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro or parsley

for soup:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 1 medium yellow onion
• 1 medium green bell pepper
• 2 celery stalks
• 2 medium carrots
• 1 can tomato sauce
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 5 cups low-sodium vegetable stock see note
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

1. To make the meatballs: combine beef, rice, egg and spices in a large mixing bowl. Mix well together. Shape the mixture into 1-tablespoon size balls and place them on a baking sheet or large plate.
2. In a large soup pot or Dutch oven, heat up oil over medium heat.
3. Add chopped onion, carrots, celery and bell pepper. Saute for 4 to 5 minutes. Add garlic, oregano and cumin and saute for 2 minutes.
4. Add 1/2 cup of stock and deglaze the bottom of the pot, by scraping it with a wooden spoon. You want all cooked on bits of flavor to be in the soup.
5. Add rest of stock, tomato sauce and diced tomatoes. Stir everything together.
6. Bring the mixture to a boil.
7. Drop meatballs into the soup. Turn the heat down to medium-low and simmer the soup for 25 to 30 minutes, until the meatballs are cooked through.
8. Serve.

Recipe Notes

1. You can use 3 cups of stock and 2 cups of water.
2. You can use ground turkey instead of beef.
3. Serve with cooked rice, garlic bread or rolls.
4. Please note, that the nutrition value can vary depending on what product you use. The information below is an estimate. Always use calorie counter you are familiar with.

Nutrition Facts

Albondigas Soup

Amount Per Serving

Calories 299 Calories from Fat 99

% Daily Value*

Fat 11g17%

Saturated Fat 3g19%

Cholesterol 111mg37%

Sodium 1745mg76%

Potassium 843mg24%

Carbohydrates 22g7%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 9g10%

Protein 28g56%

Vitamin A 6101IU122%

Vitamin C 39mg47%

Calcium 86mg9%

Iron 5mg28%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.