Mini Meatball Soup With Broccoli and Orecchiette Recipe (2024)

I wanted a deeper flavor. Made 2 adjustments:-Browned the meat, set aside and cooked carrot/garlic in the rendered fat. Then added the meat back I once the broth was boiling- Added a Parmesan rind. (I always have some in the fridge) Yummy. Fast.

Not frying the meatballs means the flavour gets more fully dispersed into the broth and results in softer more spoon friendly meatballs! This soup is a keeper!

Easy and fast. Used a bag of chopped lacinto kale rather than broccoli to keep all members of my family happy. Also threw in a diced sweet potato with the carrots. Finished with juice of half of a lemon to brighten. Great!

Included the broccoli, carrots, garlic, and onion. Very tasty. I also added fresh thyme, and fresh basil on top.

You haven’t made this soup yet? You MUST do EVERYTHING in your power to change that, starting right now! Seriously, this soup is amazing. Follow the instructions exactly — there is absolutely no need to brown the sausage. Cooking the sausage in the liquid makes the flavor of said sausage meld into the broth, which is something you truly, truly want. Trust me! I know, I’m a random stranger, but please, please, do yourself the favor of making this soup for you, your loved ones, whomever!

Really enjoyed. Took others’ suggestions and added onion. Threw in spinach because we had it on hand and was not sorry.

Love this soup. I used ground pork and added spices (breadcrumbs, basil, oregano, a tiny bit of fenugreek, and toasted/ground fennel seeds), then made tiny meatballs. I also added half an onion. A healthy splash of shredded parm was crucial! Really good hearty soup, will definitely make again.

I made this pretty much as stated except I used broccolini which I think because of its slight bitterness was a nice counter to the sausage. I don’t think browning the sausage is a good idea. Not browning it allows it to infuse the soup with its flavor and keeps it soft. Very tasty and quick and simple. A lot like wedding soup but not as complicated.

I didn’t have italian sausage to hand (my husband doesn’t eat pork so non-pork casing, uncooked turkey or chicken sausage is hard to find in NYC, surprisingly) - BUT I doctored some beyond beef (what I had) with Italian sausage spices and used that instead - it was phenomenal - and replaced broccoli with kale. Delish!

So delicious! Made this vegetarian by subbing in spicy Impossible sausage and veggie broth and kept the rest of the recipe. So decadent and easy to make!

Substituted vegetable broth and meatless Italian sausage, worked great.

Made "as is" and loved. I think cooking the sausage in the broth really flavors the broth. If you are planning to not eat everything right away, I recommend adding the cooked pasta to an individual portion when reheating the soup, and cook the broccoli florets with each portion as you reheat as well. The spicy sausage makes this so buy a good quality one with lots of flavor. Delish!

This is an easy soup to make that I continue to come back to. Oh….and it’s delicious!!

I followed suggestions of other readers and added an onion - used hot Italian chicken sausage- it was fabulous . Will make again I especially liked the pasta shape for this soup

Can this be made with turkey or chicken balls instead of meat?

This is a nice, fast, weekday soup!

One of those great kitchen sink soups. Loosely followed, but added onion, mushrooms and celery. Also did a big squeeze of lemon and parm rind to add flavor. Added some extra broth for the extra veggies. I also cooked the pasta at the same time as meatballs - no need for two pots! Great soup for adults and kiddos - easy weeknight soup!

Delicious and so fast exactly as written! Make this for dinner and feel so good and satisfied

“We really liked your soup and we’re going to make it again soon” Excellent reviews from the kiddos (and the adults).

For how easy this recipe is, I would give this a 5/5. Super flavorful. We made it as written, but used spicy Italian chicken sausage from Trader Joe’s since ours doesn’t carry pork sausage. Don’t make the mistake I did and add the broccoli florets too early (they came out as mush by the end).

Delicious and so easy! I think I'll add extra veggies next time. I had trouble making the meatballs extra small, and I'm wondering if just sautéing the sausage with the veggie would give it the same flavor.

Delicious, easy and quick! Made mini meatballs from TJS sweet Italian chicken sausage ahead of time (refrigerated on a sheet pan lined with parchment). Sautéed garlic, carrot, celery, onion. Added a Parm rind to the broth. Replaced broccoli with baby spinach, skipped the pasta since we had garlic bread. Kids and husband loved it, definitely a keeper.

Another delicious batch, with broth made from a rotisserie chicken carcass with onions, carrot, and fennel; using ~11oz sweet Italian bulk sausage; and adding a smallish kohlrabi.

Simple and heartwarming soup. I appreciated the simplicity of the recipe and subtle flavors. I added all the the broccoli early, and it was fine. I also, as other reviewers, would recommend adding the tiny meatballs directly to the soup. It keeps it simple in a good way. We used tiny shell pasta, and I really like that it was kept separate. I don’t do that often with soups, but I should do it more. Salting to taste brings out a nice flavor. We used our homemade chicken stock. Highly recommend.

I followed it exactly and it was so perfect. The first time I have ever made anything that I know others would love. Lol my husband is the good cook, not me.

I’m obsessed with this soup. So delicious, & unlike so many “easy” recipes, truly quick & simple.I add onion & celery for a typical mirepoix, but keep everything coarsely chopped. Peel those broccoli stalks & really make use of them. I’ve been opting for half homemade chicken stock, half water with veggie Better than Bouillion.I lean towards very briefly browning the meatballs in a pan. This provides some flavor & cohesiveness, but also touch of control over the fat content.