Chicken Meatball Soup Recipe (2024)

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A healthy, easy chicken meatball soup recipe made with ground chicken, brown rice and a nice flavor kick from fresh ginger in a lime tomato broth. Also known as Sopa de Albondigas in Spanish or Ciorba de Perisoare in Romanian cuisine.

Jump to RecipeJust when you think winter is gone and summer on its way, you get a gloomy overcast chilly rainy day that requires you to still hold on to your favorite sweater anddemands a big pot of mom’s chicken meatball soup recipe.

Honestly I couldn’t wait to bring back one of my favorite soups, from way back in time when i was jotting down notes to self in this recipe journal. One of the first and most loved, just like the Italian chicken cacciatore, is this rustic meatball soup recipe that literally gives chicken soup a run for its money.

Traditionally the meatballs for this soup are made with ground pork and rice, but instead I useddark meat ground chicken. I promise you that it makes the most amazing healthy broth that will give you beautiful glowing skin as well. Can’t beat that right ?!

That magical unique flavor to the meatball soup recipe comes from celery root and celery leaves. There’s nothing like it.

This meatball soup recipe is different than most:

  • The meatballs are not fried but poached in a tomato chicken broth.
  • Rice is used as a binder to keep the meatballs together and atthe same time super fluffy and moist.
  • A pinch ofbaking soda make the chicken meatballs soft as cloud.
  • A touch of freshly grated ginger puts this meatballs soup recipe in a class of its own.

Chicken Meatball Soup Recipe (6)

5 from 1 vote

Chicken Meatball Soup Recipe

A healthy, easy chicken meatball soup recipe made with ground chicken, brown rice and a nice flavor kick from fresh ginger in a lime tomato broth. Also known as Sopa de Albondigas in Spanish or Ciorba de Perisoare in Romanian cuisine.

Print Recipe

Prep Time:30 minutes mins

Cook Time:40 minutes mins

Total Time:1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 1/4 c extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 large carrots -diced
  • 1 large parsley root -diced
  • 1 celery root -diced
  • 2 stalks celery diced
  • 1/2 green bell pepper diced
  • 1/2 yellow bell pepper diced
  • 1 onion diced
  • 28 oz canned diced tomatoes
  • 1 lime or lemon juiced + more to taste
  • 1/4 c celery leaves roughly chopped
  • 2 leaves bay
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt + more to taste
  • 2 qt water + more as needed
  • 3 tbs snipped chives for garnish optional
  • sour cream or yogurt for serving

Meatball Ingredients:

  • 1 lb organic ground chicken organic dark meat
  • 1 slice bread soaked in milk and squeezed well
  • 1/2 c quick cook brown rice
  • 1/4 c minced parsley
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper freshly cracked
  • ⅓ onion grated
  • 1 scallion thinly sliced
  • 1 egg small
  • 3 tbsp ginger root grated
  • 1 pinch nutmeg freshly grated
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda

Instructions

  • Heat up the olive oil in a large enameled cast iron pot. Add the diced onion with a pinch of sea salt and saute until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the diced carrot, parsley root, celery and celery root, together with the bay leaves and give it a good stir. Cook for an additional 5 minutes.

  • Add the canned tomatoes and the water and bring to a slow simmer. Season with the sea salt. Allow the soup to simmer on very low flame while you prepare the meatballs.

  • To make the meatballs combine all the meatball ingredients in a large bowl and shape them into golf ball size. Add them one by one to the soup and bring it back to a simmer before covering with a tight lid. Add the bell peppers and cover with a tight lid. Allow to cook on low flame ( just gentle simmering ) for 20 minutes.

  • Remove from flame and without peaking inside allow it to sit for 10 minutes for the rice in the meatballs to cook completely.

  • Squeeze in the lemon or lime juice and serve with a dab of sour cream or a drizzle of heavy cream. Sprinkle with celery leaves and snipped chives and a light drizzle of extra virgin olive oil !

Notes

It is very common for these meatballs to be made with ground pork as well, so you do as you please. I would suggest bumping up the ginger If you prefer a more intense flavor.

Course: Main

Cuisine: Italian

Servings: 6

Author: Florentina

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Chicken Meatball Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to add extra flavor to chicken soup? ›

Add some chopped cooked chicken, loads of chopped parsley, simmer a bit more and season. Add some veggies like onions, celery, and carrots to give it a heartier flavor. And don't forget herbs like thyme and bay leaves for an extra kick!

What adds depth to chicken soup? ›

A splash of vinegar or wine can add depth and complexity to the flavors of your chicken noodle soup. Try adding a small amount of apple cider vinegar or a dry white wine for a delightful tangy note. Just remember to add it gradually, tasting as you go, to avoid overpowering the soup.

What makes a bowl of soup more flavorful? ›

Perk up a Bland Soup With Simple Pantry Staples

Add a splash of vinegar (any kind!), or a squeeze of citrus. Chances are, you could use a little more salt. Go ahead—it's ok. Salt perks up flat flavors and helps balance out bitter-tasting ingredients.

Should you cook chicken before making soup? ›

You could definitely add the raw chicken thighs into the pot once the broth goes in, letting them boil to cook through, and then pull them out and slice them once fully cooked. Either way works just fine, but our preferred method is to sear them ahead of time!

Is it OK to boil raw chicken in soup? ›

You can cook the chicken at a high-enough temperature to kill bacteria by turning up the heat on the broth, but for a much safer and tastier method, brown your chicken first. Browning or searing the chicken in a separate pan is not only far more foolproof, but adds richness and extra umami to your soup.

What gives soup the best flavor? ›

Foods that have a great deal of acidity, like lemon juice, vinegar, white wine, and tomato puree, can help liven up the flavor of bland-tasting bone and other broths. "The acidity of these ingredients works to complement and enhance the broth's flavors, not mask it.

Why do you put lemon juice in chicken soup? ›

Lemons are a chicken soup game changer. Why? They brighten up and balance the salty, rich flavors of the dish, and make all of the ingredients come into line. Like a vinaigrette on a salad, the pickle on a burger, and the sour cream in a coffee cake, a squeeze of lemon gives chicken soup a game-changing brightness.

How do you deepen soup Flavour? ›

How do you make soup more flavorful? Depending on what kind of soup you have, there are lots of things that add flavor. Black pepper can give an “after burn" to any recipe. Worcestershire sauce, Maggi sauce, tomato paste, fresh herbs, mustard, vinegar, bouquet garni, garlic, hot sauce, soy sauce.

What thickens chicken soup? ›

6 ways to thicken soup:
  1. Blend all or part of it. If you've made a broth with chunks of vegetable in it, such as minestrone soup, then pour the soup through a sieve. ...
  2. Add cream or yogurt. ...
  3. Add flour or cornflour. ...
  4. Use a butter and flour paste. ...
  5. Blend in bread. ...
  6. Add lentils or rice. ...
  7. 5 of the best soup recipes to try next:

What is the number one soup in the world? ›

According to the Taste Atlas Awards, the international food database, the Filipino favorite, Sinigang, is hailed as the best soup in the world.

Why does my homemade chicken soup taste bland? ›

Ensure you've added enough salt and black pepper. Too little salt means your soup's flavors will remain hidden. When you know your soup is salty enough, move on to other seasonings like herbs and spices.

What not to put in soup? ›

The Worst Things to Put in Your Soup
  1. By Sara Butler. If there's one good thing about fall and winter, it's soup. ...
  2. Heavy Cream. Heavy cream creates an inviting texture for soups but that's where its positive contributions end. ...
  3. Juice. ...
  4. Turkey Bacon. ...
  5. Cheese. ...
  6. Croutons.

What is the most important ingredient in soup? ›

For clear, brothy soups, stock is your most important ingredient. If you want to make a good soup, you need to use an excellently flavored stock — otherwise, the entire pot could be tasteless.

What is the secret to soup? ›

7 Tips for Successful Soup Making
  • Use a Sturdy Pot. It is worth investing in a heavy pot with a thick bottom to use for making soup. ...
  • Sauté the Aromatics. ...
  • Start with Good Broth. ...
  • Cut Vegetables to the Right Size. ...
  • Stagger the Addition of Vegetables. ...
  • Keep Liquid at a Simmer. ...
  • Season Just Before Serving.
Oct 9, 2022

Should chicken soup be covered when cooking? ›

Keep the soup at a steady simmer: Keep the pot partially covered and at a low simmer. You should see slow but steady bubbles and wisps of steam coming from the pot (although don't reduce the temperature so low that the water falls below 165°F or else the chicken won't cook through).

How do you heat up chicken balls? ›

The best way to reheat our Traditional Chicken Balls is. by air frying them at home! This way it stays juicy on. the inside and crispy on the outside!

How do I make sure my chicken soup is tender? ›

Cold-poaching the chicken breasts, then removing them until the end of the cooking process, guarantees a perfectly tender and juicy texture. Using stock reinforces the flavor of the broth, creating a more deeply flavorful soup.

How do you cook frozen chicken balls? ›

Instructions. BAKE: From frozen and raw, bake at 400 degrees for 25-30 minutes. From frozen and cooked, bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. You can also bake them first (400 degrees, 20 minutes) so that you can keep them in the freezer fully cooked and ready to go.

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