I make soup almost every week, my kids adore lasagna soup, chicken tortellini soup, cabbage roll soup, and this Mexican style albondigas meatball soup. I’ve professed my love for soup many times, but sometimes I crave something different than your standard chicken noodle. This albondigas soup is a Mexican style soup loaded with veggies, potatoes and tender spiced meatballs. It’s full of bold flavors and totally satisfying! Looking for more amazing soup ideas? You can’t go wrong with beef barley soup, Zuppa Toscana or New England clam chowder.
albondigas ingredients
To make this recipe, you will need ground beef, rice, egg, garlic, cilantro, cumin, salt, pepper, olive oil, onion, carrots, potatoes, beef broth, tomatoes, tomato sauce, oregano and zucchini.
How do you make albondigas soup?
The first step is to make your meatballs. I use a combination of lean ground beef, cooked rice, garlic, cilantro and cumin. The beef mixture is formed into small balls. Make the soup base by sauteeing onions, carrots and garlic in olive oil. Next, add potatoes, beef broth, tomatoes and seasonings to the pot. Bring the vegetables and broth mixture to a simmer, then add the meatballs and finally the zucchini. Top with a little fresh cilantro, then serve and enjoy.
Tips for albondigas soup
Be sure to cut your potatoes into small pieces so that they’ll be done at the same time as the meatballs. This Mexican meatball soup is written to be mild in terms of spice level. If you prefer hot and spicy food, you can add some crushed red pepper flakes or a few teaspoons of hot sauce to the broth. Albondigas soup makes great leftovers! Simply reheat your soup on the stove top or in the microwave. This soup is hearty enough to stand as a complete meal, but I often serve it with a side of bread or tortilla chips. Be sure that the soup does not come to a boil, or the meatballs can become tough. Mint is a traditional addition to albondigas soup. I typically don’t use it because my kids don’t care for it, but feel free to add a small amount of chopped fresh mint leaves to the meatballs if you like.
slow cooker albondigas soup
This recipe is a great candidate for the slow cooker! Simply add the prepared meatballs and the rest of the soup ingredients to the crock pot, then cook on low for 4-6 hours. If you’re worried about your meatballs falling apart in the slow cooker, you can briefly broil them before adding them to the pot so that they’ll hold their shape better.
flavor variations
While this recipe is delicious as-is, you can add other ingredients to customize the flavors to your tastes.
Protein: While less traditional, you can substitute ground chicken, ground turkey or ground pork for the beef. Vegetables: Feel free to add other veggies to the mix such as celery, green beans, spinach or corn. Seasonings: Add more flavor to your soup with fresh herbs such as green onions, or a squeeze of fresh lime juice. You can also top the finished dish with a dollop of sour cream or diced avocado.
Once you try this amazing soup, it’s sure to become part of your regular dinner rotation! The beef and rice meatballs come out so light and tender, and they pair perfectly with the savory broth, creamy potatoes and fresh veggies.
More soup recipes to try
Mexican Chicken Soup Chicken Taco Soup Chicken and Wild Rice Soup Ham Bone Soup Farro Soup with Meatballs
