A bowl of mom\'s meatball soup with a cloth napkin and spoon beside it

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I kept meaning to get Mom’s recipe for this wonderful and easy meatball soup. She’s been making it for years. Because I love the meatballs so much, we put lots of them in this soup (2 lbs!!). You could use 1 lb and adjust the seasoning accordingly, but why? WHY?!!

My Mama and I made this together in her kitchen. I love cooking with Mom. I always learn so much. Everyone loved this soup and there was less than half left after a few hours. I downed two bowls myself and my son loved it too. It’s a winner for sure!

Ingredients for Mom’s  Meatball Soup:

7 cups water
8 cups low sodium chicken stock
2 tsp salt, plus more to taste
6-8 medium potatoes, cubed
3 medium carrots, thinly sliced
1/2 cup pasta (optional)
1/2 onion, finely diced
2 large sticks of celery, finely diced
3 Tbsp canola oil
1 large egg, lightly beaten (optional)
2 Tbsp Dill, fresh or frozen
Mrs. Dash
Freshly ground black pepper

Ingredients for the Meat Mix:

2 lbs ground pork
1 tsp Mrs. Dash original or Mrs. Dash garlic seasoning
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
2 tsp salt
1 large egg
1/2 onion, finely diced

Ingredients for mom\'s meatball soup on the table

How to Make the Best Meatball Soup:

1. Add water and broth to a large soup pot over high heat. Add 2 tsp salt and all of your chopped potatoes to the soup pot.

Potatoes on a cutting board being cut into squares

2. Bring to a boil and cook 10 minutes. In the mean time, slice your carrots and toss them into the soup pot.

Diced carrots, into rings, on a cutting board

3. Add 1/2 cup of 1/2″ pieces of thin spaghetti to the soup pot or whatever pasta you wish. Pasta is optional, but I’ve always liked it when Mom added it to soups.

Dry pasta on a plate

4. Chop your onion (1/2 goes into the meat mix and 1/2 goes into the soup in step 7).

Onion being diced on a cutting board

5. Place ground pork into a large bowl (Store-bought ground pork works. I ground my own pork on the large grinder holes). Add 1/2 chopped onion, 1 tsp Mrs. Dash, 1/2 tsp fresh ground black pepper, 2 tsp salt, and 1 egg. Mix well.

moms-meatball-soup

6. Make meatballs by rolling them in your hands. They don’t have to be perfect, just round-ish. Toss them in your pot as you make them. Recruit a helper for meatballs to liven (and speed) things up. Cook for at least 10 minutes or until meatballs are cooked through and floating at the top.

moms-meatball-soup-1

7. Meanwhile, heat a non-stick skillet over medium/high heat. Add 3 Tbsp canola oil, finely diced celery and onion. I normally don’t like celery in soups, but sautéing enhances the soup’s flavor without being over-the-top celery flavored. Saute until soft and golden. Add it to the pot.

moms-meatball-soup-2

8. Add 1 beaten egg to the soup pot while stirring constantly so you don’t get clumps of egg. If you don’t like egg, you can omit it (the soup won’t miss it).

moms-meatball-soup-3

9. Add 2  Tbsp dill. Then add more Mrs. Dash, Salt and Pepper to taste (Mom added about 1/2 tsp dash, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp pepper at the end).

moms-meatball-soup-5

moms-meatball-soup

Mom's Meatball Soup Recipe

4.98 from 94 votes
Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 12 -16

Soup Ingredients:

  • 7 cups water
  • 8 cups low-sodium chicken stock
  • 2 tsp fine sea salt, plus more to taste
  • 6-8 medium potatoes, cubed
  • 3 medium carrots, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup pasta, optional
  • 1/2 onion, finely diced
  • 2 large sticks of celery, finely diced
  • 3 Tbsp canola oil
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten (optional)
  • 2 Tbsp Dill, fresh or frozen
  • Mrs. Dash
  • Ground black pepper

Meat Mix Ingredients:

Instructions

  • Add water and chicken stock to a large soup pot over high heat. Add 2 tsp salt and all of your chopped potatoes to the soup pot. Bring to a boil and cook 10 minutes.
  • In the mean time, slice your carrots and toss them into the soup pot.
  • Add 1/2 cup of 1/2" pieces of thin spaghetti to the soup pot or whatever pasta you wish.
  • Place ground pork into a large bowl. Add 1/2 chopped onion, 1 tsp Mrs. Dash, 1/2 tsp ground black pepper, 2 tsp salt, and 1 egg. Mix well.
  • Make meatballs by rolling them in your hands. Toss them in your pot as you make them. Cook for at least 10 minutes or until meatballs are cooked through and floating at the top.
  • Meanwhile, heat a non-stick skillet over medium/high heat. Add 3 Tbsp canola oil, finely diced celery and 1/2 onion. Saute until soft and golden. Add it to the pot.
  • Add 1 beaten egg to the soup pot while stirring constantly so you don't get clumps of egg. (Optional).
  • Add 2 Tbsp dill. Then add more Mrs. Dash, salt and pepper to taste. We added about 1/2 tsp dash, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper at the end).
Course: Soup
Cuisine: Russian, Ukrainian
Keyword: Mom's Meatball Soup
Skill Level: Medium
Cost to Make: $$
Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

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4.98 from 94 votes (43 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  • reina
    June 3, 2013

    The soup was good, I added more seasonings to soup and meatballs. I tried putting egg in there but the soup kinda started to look like Chinese hot&sour so I didn’t do all of it.I dislike celery but did put it into the soup, it was pretty good. And as with all soups for me, I diced some fresh garlic into the soup before serving…also, I baked the meatballs as suggested in your comments and ill either bake or fry the meatballs with onion&celery from now on. Thanks for the tip, vera and for the yummy recipe, natasha.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      June 3, 2013

      You’re welcome Reina 🙂 I don’t usually like celery either, but it really adds a little somethin’ somethin’ to this soup! 🙂

      Reply

  • Vera
    February 14, 2013

    Hi, Natasha. You do so good job. I want to give you one tip for meat ball soup. I put meat balls into the oven and fry them there until golden color. It will give your soup better look and wonderful taste. Also you will get rid of extra fat and that bad meat liquids. My 9 children and husband noticed the difference right away:) Please correct my english, because I am old ukrainian lady:).Enjoy!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      February 15, 2013

      Thank you for the tip! I will definitely have to try that. Sounds like a healthier way to go too! 🙂

      Reply

  • Elina
    November 19, 2012

    I made this soup several times, and everyone who tried it loved it! Thank you so much. Would you ever consider making a “children friendly” section? My kids are super picky, and it’s always a big challenge on what to pack them for lunch or make them for dinner.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      November 19, 2012

      You are welcome Elina :). “Children friendly” section is on my to-do list, but probably not till next year.

      Reply

  • sara
    November 9, 2012

    Natasha this was amazing! i didnt need to add anything, i follwed your directions and it turned out delicious!!! thanks so much for this recipe i will be trying more soon. tell mom i loved it!!!!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      November 9, 2012

      You are very welcome Sara :). I will defiantly let my mom know.

      Reply

  • anya
    November 7, 2012

    How long do you cook the meatballs for? If you drop them after the potatoes have already been boiling for a while, won’t they overcook? Thanks!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      November 7, 2012

      Add carrots and pasta then start mixing and molding your meatballs. I’ll go back and clarify. You don’t really wait during any of the steps. You just go from step to step. By the time you are ready to add meatballs, your potatoes have probably been in the pot about 15 min or so. Does that make sense?

      Reply

  • YuliaA.
    October 7, 2012

    I made this with a few changes (cause I’m poor thanks to college XD)
    I used Chicken for the meatballs. And no celery, I don’t really like it cooked…
    Your recipes is AMAZINGG, I will be making a lot of these cause I live alone and I miss my mammas food (I am from Ukraine, but living somewhere else)
    Your blog is really great, makes me think of home 🙂

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      October 7, 2012

      I’m so happy to hear that. It’s hard to eat healthy and cook for yourself when you live away from your parents. I’m so glad you liked the soup 🙂

      Reply

  • Tonya
    October 3, 2012

    Wow delicious. I used beef and added beef bouillon. So good. Thank you. And my 2 yr old loved it.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      October 3, 2012

      You are very welcome Tonya. This is one of my favorite soups 🙂

      Reply

  • Yvonne
    September 23, 2012

    I just made this soup me and my one year old… I did not scale down the recipe bc I knew I’d like it and love to have the extras to eat all during the work week… And I was right! My one year old ate helping after helping! And so did I! Thank you for this!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      September 23, 2012

      Awesome! It’s one of my favorites too! Not too time consuming and oh so good 🙂 Thanks Yvonne!

      Reply

  • Lena
    August 27, 2012

    Wow!!! I made this soup but made it little bit different, I didn’t had celery so i skipped that part, instead of pork i used beef and instead of pasta i used couscous.. Turned out soooo delicious.. Can’t wait for my husband to come home from work and make it for him.. I just ate two plates of this soup.. Thank you thank you thank you..

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      August 27, 2012

      mmmm couscous. That’s brilliant!

      Reply

  • Sarah
    July 17, 2012

    I tried this recipe…It turned out amazing …
    I actually split the recipe in half since it was only for 3-4 people…but I added more of Mrs.Dash into the soup…and I actually ended up adding one chicken buillon cube. Thanks you to you and your mom! 🙂

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      July 17, 2012

      I’m so glad you liked it 🙂 I’ll let my mom know.

      Reply

  • Alla
    July 16, 2012

    I tried this recipe and it was Delicious!!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      July 16, 2012

      It’s one of my favorites as well 🙂

      Reply

  • inna
    June 30, 2012

    i have to try freezing dill too. i always buy fresh and better yet, i have to plant my own kitchen herb garden. this soup looks amazing!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      June 30, 2012

      My dill is just about ready to freeze. It’s fun to have a little herb garden. Last year, I planted it in a big pot/planter indoors and it worked well, but this year my hubby built a 7×2 raised garden bed just for my herbs 🙂

      Reply

  • Sveta
    June 25, 2012

    This was simple and delicious! Went into my favorite recipes folder 🙂

    Reply

  • Alyona
    June 18, 2012

    Natasha, you mentioned you can add frozen dill… how do you freeze dill? Thanks 🙂

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      June 18, 2012

      Rinse and lay out to dry indoors or outdoors. When dry, discard the thicker stems and chop finely and put them in a clean sour cream tub or whatever you want to freeze it in. Pat down gently but don’t pack it in too tightly. Cover, label with the date and freeze. Now you have wonderful dill all year long!

      Reply

  • Lina
    June 18, 2012

    Hi Natasha, great recipe! Any other meat that you would recommend for this soup?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      June 18, 2012

      Lina, you can use any meat you like really. My mom made it the following day with beef meatballs and added sauteed mushrooms to the soup. It was so so good! Turkey and chicken might be healthier options and would work well also.

      Reply

  • Nel
    June 18, 2012

    Hi Natasha!
    This was sooo delicious! Just one thing, seems like with all soups that I make (other than borsch) there is just a lacking flavor, maybe it needs more mrs. dash, or salt? possibly some bouillon? what do you recommend?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      June 18, 2012

      Do you make your other soups with meat? The meatballs add great flavor to this so I didn’t even have to add bouillon. But Mrs. Dash and a little bit of salt always helps and I do add more bouillon to taste too. Try adding Mrs Dash first, then bouillon (keep in mind most bouillon cubes have plenty of salt in them).

      Reply

      • Nel
        June 20, 2012

        That’s the main reason I dont like adding the bouillon cubes because of the sodium….but I normally boil the meat for about 45 mins then i take it out and add veggies…but I’ll try to add mrs dash first….I love your website! I need to laminate it and turn it into a cookbook!

        Reply

        • Natasha
          natashaskitchen
          June 20, 2012

          That’s also what I love about the better than bouillon organic paste that is sold at Costco. It’s reduced sodium!

          Reply

          • Nel
            July 2, 2012

            Thanks for the tips! I will definitely try 🙂

    • Milla
      April 8, 2015

      Hi! This soup sounds delicious. I usually make the meatballs with pork and beef 50/50, as we usually so here in Scandinavia. I think that most soups taste better if you don’t eat them at once. Try waiting until the next day, and the soup will taste so delicious. I was wondering about Mrs Dash, but that problem was already solved by Natasha.

      Reply

      • Natasha
        natashaskitchen
        April 8, 2015

        You’re from Scandinavia? Awesome!! Welcome to the blog :). I agree, most soups taste better with time 🙂

        Reply

  • lena
    June 15, 2012

    hi,
    i was wondering what type of MRS DASH SEASONING do you use? i see so many different ones at the grocery store.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      June 15, 2012

      I’ve used regular and the garlic flavored one and love them both. You can use either one for this recipe.

      Reply

      • lena
        July 2, 2012

        thanks! i made it and my husband and 9 month old loved it!! its great because the veggies where tender enough for her!!
        THANKS

        Reply

        • Natasha
          natashaskitchen
          July 2, 2012

          That’s so awesome!! Kids are the ultimate food critics. I’m glad your 9 month old enjoyed the soup. My son also loves the meatballs 🙂

          Reply

      • Anya
        August 28, 2013

        Sorry for the Aussie ignorance, but what are the ingredient in Mrs Dash? ( we don’t have this seasoning in Oz 🙂
        Thanks

        Reply

        • Natasha
          natashaskitchen
          August 28, 2013

          You can just use your favorite salt-free seasoning. The ingredients: onion, garlic, carrot, orange peel, tomato, lemon juice powder, citric acid, oil of lemon, spices (black pepper, parsley, celery seed, basil, bay, marjoram, oregano, savory, thyme, cayenne pepper, coriander, cumin, mustard, rosemary.

          Reply

          • Anya
            August 30, 2013

            Brilliant thanks Natasha 🙂

  • Rose
    June 15, 2012

    Hi Natasha, I keep up with your website all the time.. and I really like this soup, one of my favs, I used to make it with beef all the time before. But recently I tried it with ground turkey and just used all the same seasonings and let me e tell you, it was delicious! You couldn’t even tell the difference and it made me feel good eating it because turkey is so much healthier.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      June 15, 2012

      My mom and sister threw a soup together with beef the other day and added loads of fresh, sauteed mushrooms. It was soo soo good! It will probably be a post for the future; with lean beef ofcourse 😉

      Reply

  • Emma
    June 15, 2012

    Looks so good!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      June 15, 2012

      Thank you Emma 🙂

      Reply

      • Natalie
        July 2, 2019

        Sorry I’m not too much into the raw egg… Because it looks a little bit like snot to me lol I feel like it wont cook through and scared to kill the soup like that lol or does it cook through?

        Reply

        • Natashas Kitchen
          July 2, 2019

          Hi Natalie the boiling water will cook it all the way through!

          Reply

  • lena
    June 15, 2012

    Wow, never tried adding an egg to the soup mixture… sounds interesting, I will have to try it. 🙂
    Oh and I love cooking with mom too, its makes me feel like I am a kid again..:)

    Reply

    • Natasha
      natashaskitchen
      June 15, 2012

      Yes definitely. It’s especially fun when there is a third set of tiny fingers. Three generations cooking together (one making more of a mess than cooking). No wonder the kitchen is the most important room in the house!

      Reply

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