Meatball and Spaghetti Soup

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

If you need back to school dinner ideas, what can be more kid friendly than a bowl of Spaghetti and Meatball Soup made with turkey meatballs cooked in a light tomato broth!

Spaghetti and Meatball Soup

This Spaghetti and Turkey Meatball Soup is a one pot meal my whole family loves and leftovers are great for lunch! I first shared this back in 2011, I used to make this all the time when Madison was little. It’s a perfect back to school dinner! I finally got a chance to rephotograph it, which I have wanted to do for a while. It’s very popular in my home, and I’m sure it will be in yours too. More kid-friendly dinner ideas your family might enjoy are Instant Pot Spaghetti and Turkey Meatballs, Crock Pot Turkey Chili, and Madison’s Favorite Beef Tacos.

I have always tried to make one meal for the whole family. When Madison was a toddler just learning to eat solid foods, I would give her less broth, and she would eat the spaghetti soup with her messy hands. I never made separate meals, no frozen chicken nuggets. And now that she’s a pre-teen she’s such a great eater. I prefer to use 93% lean ground turkey, but if you want to reduce the fat more 99% will work.

Can you cook spaghetti directly in the soup?

Although you can cook pasta separate in water, I always cook spaghetti right in the soup so there’s less dishes to wash.

How to Freeze

Freeze leftover spaghetti soup and meatball in small containers so you can pull it out on busy nights when you need something fast to feed your kids. The soup will last in the fridge for about 4 days and in the freezer for 3 months. You can thaw it overnight in the refrigerator or reheat it in the microwave or on the stove straight from frozen.

Variations:

Meatballs: Swap ground turkey for lean ground chicken or beef.
Pasta: Substitute spaghetti for another pasta shape, like elbow macaroni or rotini. You can also use whole-wheat noodles.
Liquid: Since the pasta expands, you can add more broth if necessary.
Vegetables: Feel free to add some vegetables like spinach or chopped carrots and celery.

More Soup Recipes You’ll Love:

Your comments are helpful!! If you’ve tried this healthy Spaghetti and Meatball Soup recipe or any other recipe on Skinnytaste, don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! I would love to hear your thoughts, variations and feedback. And if you took some photos or video of it, share it with me on Instagram or Tiktok so I can re-share!

Spaghetti and Meatball Soup

213 Cals 22 Protein 27.5 Carbs 3 Fats

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 20 mins

Total Time: 30 mins

Kid friendly, one-pot Spaghetti and Meatball Soup made with turkey meatballs simmered in a light tomato broth!

For the soup:

5 cups low sodium, chicken broth
2 cups water
2 cloves garlic, chopped and divided
4 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, divided
1/2 onion, chopped, divided
3-4 tbsp tomato sauce, I use my quick marinara sauce
pinch crushed red pepper flakes, optional
kosher salt and fresh pepper
6 oz dry cut up spaghetti

For the meatballs:

16 oz 93% lean ground turkey, or 99% lean
1 large egg
1/4 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 tbsp fresh chopped basil

Heat a large pot over high heat and add chicken broth, water, 1 clove crushed garlic, 2 tbsp chopped parsley, 1/4 of the chopped onion, tomato sauce, crushed red pepper flakes and fresh black pepper to a boil, When it comes to a boil simmer about 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, make the meatballs by combining ground turkey, Parmesan cheese, egg, remaining garlic, remaining onion, remaining parsley, breadcrumbs, salt and pepper. Form into little 1 inch meatballs (about 36).
Drop meatballs into the broth, cook about 3 minutes; add pasta and cook according to package directions.
Add fresh basil, adjust salt and pepper to taste and serve with grated Parmesan cheese.