Chicken Meatball Noodle Soup Recipe

Introduction

Chicken Meatball Noodle Soup is a comforting bowl of warmth that’s perfect for chilly days and fighting off the winter blues. Featuring small, flavorful chicken sausage meatballs and short, easy-to-eat noodles, this soup is designed to be both nourishing and effortless to enjoy. It’s a cheerful twist on classic chicken noodle soup that delights with every spoonful.

Ingredients

• 1 pound chicken sausage (unformed, removed from casings)
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 cup plain breadcrumbs
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup fideo pasta (or broken thin spaghetti)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 carrots, diced
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• Fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a bowl, gently mix the chicken sausage, egg, breadcrumbs, garlic, salt, and pepper using your hands until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the meatballs tender.
2. Step 2: Using a 1 tablespoon scoop or your hands, form small meatballs about 1 inch in diameter. Place them on a rimmed baking sheet and refrigerate for 15 minutes to firm up.
3. Step 3: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and carrots, cooking until softened, about 5 minutes.
4. Step 4: Carefully brown the chilled meatballs in the pot, turning gently to color all sides. This will add flavorful fond to the soup base.
5. Step 5: Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes to cook the meatballs through.
6. Step 6: Add the fideo pasta and cook until tender, about 4-5 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent noodles from sticking.
7. Step 7: Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley if desired. Serve warm.

Tips & Variations

• If you can’t find fideo pasta, break thin spaghetti into 1-inch pieces by wrapping them in a kitchen towel before snapping to contain the mess.
• Use pre-seasoned chicken sausage for extra flavor without adding many spices yourself.
• For a heartier soup, add chopped kale or spinach during the last few minutes of cooking.
• To make the meatballs easier to shape, wear disposable gloves or lightly oil your hands.

Storage

Store leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop over low heat to avoid breaking up the meatballs. If the noodles soak up too much broth after storing, add a splash of chicken broth or water when reheating.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use regular ground chicken instead of chicken sausage?

Yes, but chicken sausage adds more flavor with spices already mixed in. If using plain ground chicken, consider adding extra seasonings like Italian herbs, garlic powder, or paprika to the meatball mixture.

What if I don’t have a meatball scoop?

No problem! You can shape the meatballs by hand, aiming for small, uniform sizes about an inch wide to ensure they cook evenly and fit nicely on a spoon.

Chicken Meatball Noodle Soup Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 86 reviews

This Chicken Meatball Noodle Soup is a comforting and flavorful winter recipe, perfect for cold and flu season. Featuring small, tender chicken sausage meatballs and short fideo pasta noodles, this soup is designed for an effortless, enjoyable eating experience. The broth is bright and cheerful, packed with the savory depth from browned meatballs and a balanced blend of ingredients, making it a perfect cozy meal to fortify and uplift during chilly weather.

• Author: nova
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x
• Category: Soup
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Low Fat

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Meatballs

• 1 pound chicken sausage (unformed, package or tube)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil (for browning)
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Soup

• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup fideo pasta (or broken thin spaghetti pieces about 1 inch long)
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 carrot, diced
• 1 celery stalk, diced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil (for sautéing vegetables)
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

1. Prepare Meatballs: Using your hands, gently mix the chicken sausage meat with salt and pepper. Using a one tablespoon scoop or a #70 melon baller, form small meatballs. Place them on a rimmed baking sheet and refrigerate for 15-20 minutes to firm up.
2. Sauté Vegetables: In a large Dutch oven or heavy soup pot, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, carrot, and celery and sauté for about 5 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
3. Brown Meatballs: Push the vegetables to the side of the pot and add the meatballs in a single layer. Brown the meatballs on all sides, about 5-7 minutes, which will create rich fond on the bottom of the pot for added flavor.
4. Add Broth and Seasonings: Pour in the chicken broth, stirring to deglaze the pot and lift the browned bits. Add dried thyme, and season with salt and pepper. Bring the soup to a gentle boil.
5. Cook Noodles and Simmer: Add the fideo pasta (or broken spaghetti) to the boiling soup. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for about 6-8 minutes until noodles are tender and meatballs are cooked through.
6. Final Taste and Garnish: Adjust seasoning if needed. Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with freshly chopped parsley. Serve warm with crusty bread, if desired.

Notes

• If you can’t find fideo pasta, thin spaghetti broken into 1-inch pieces is a great substitute.
• Use chicken sausage meat (not links) for added flavor without extra preparation.
• Use a scoop or melon baller to create uniformly sized small meatballs so they fit comfortably on a spoon with noodles.
• Refrigerating meatballs before browning helps them keep their shape in the soup.
• The soup can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; noodles may absorb broth, so add extra broth when reheating if needed.

Keywords: Chicken meatball soup, chicken sausage meatballs, fideo pasta soup, easy winter soup, comforting noodle soup, small meatballs, quick chicken soup