Ingredients
Meatballs
- 1 pound meatballs (homemade or store-bought)
Soup Base
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 medium onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes (fire roasted preferred)
- 4 cups beef broth
- 1/2 red bell pepper, chopped small
- 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Pasta & Garnishes
- 1.5 cups uncooked fusilli pasta
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, torn or chopped
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Parmesan cheese, for serving (optional, to taste)
Instructions
- Prepare meatballs. If using homemade meatballs, prepare them ahead using your favorite recipe or the referenced meatball recipe; otherwise, use store-bought meatballs.
- Sauté onions. Heat olive oil in a soup pot over medium-high heat. Add chopped onions and sauté for 4-5 minutes until softened and translucent.
- Add garlic. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds to release its aroma without burning.
- Combine soup ingredients. Add crushed tomatoes, beef broth, chopped red bell pepper, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes (if using), and the meatballs. Increase heat to high and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Add pasta. Once boiling, add fusilli pasta to the pot.
- Simmer soup. Reduce heat to low, cover the pot with the lid slightly ajar, and simmer for about 15 minutes until the pasta is cooked through. Stir occasionally to prevent pasta from sticking. If the soup thickens too much, add more beef broth to maintain a brothy consistency.
- Finish and serve. Stir in fresh basil, season with salt and pepper to taste, and serve hot topped with grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
- Prep time does not include making meatballs from scratch; plan ahead if preparing homemade meatballs.
- Use fire-roasted crushed tomatoes for enhanced flavor.
- The soup should be brothy rather than thick; add extra beef broth as needed.
- Parmesan cheese adds a nice finishing touch but is optional.
- Stir the soup occasionally while simmering to prevent pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes (excluding meatball preparation)
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American