This hearty meatball and rice soup is a complete meal and costs only $2.20 per serving. The trick to making this soup a family favorite at my house was to make the meatballs very small. At about 1 inch they cook quickly and do not need to be cut up before eating for the adults.
Tips for Meatball and Rice Soup
- Beefy Onion soup mix also works well.
- You can use Italian breadcrumbs or add some garlic powder to the meat mix for more flavor.
- I use 93/7 ground beef because it lowers the amount of fat in the soup, but 90/10 and 85/15 will also work.
- If you are short on time, you can use frozen meatballs.
Meatball and Rice Soup
Servings: 8
Calories: 401.1
Cost per Serving*: $2.20
Equipment
Ingredients
Soup Base
- 2 cups chopped carrots
- 1 can petite diced tomatoes
- 1 29 oz bag frozen mixed vegetables
- 1 packet onion soup mix
- 48 oz beef broth
- 5 c water
- 1 c uncooked white rice
Meatballs
- 1 lb lean ground beef (at least 85% lean)
- 1 c grated parmesan cheese
- 1 c plain breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
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Instructions
- Mix all of the soup base ingredients in a large pot.
- Allow the soup base to simmer for 20-30 minutes while you prepare the meatballs
- Mix all of the meatball ingredients together and add salt and pepper to taste.
- Roll the meat mixture into very small meatballs and drop into the soup.
- Allow the soup to simmer for 30 minutes or until the meatballs and rice are cooked.
- Season with salt and pepper.
Nutrition
Calories: 401.1kcalCarbohydrates: 54.2gProtein: 27.1gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 3.9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2.6gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 69.3mgSodium: 1546.6mgPotassium: 887.1mgFiber: 7.4gSugar: 4.9gVitamin A: 10997.5IUVitamin C: 17.8mgCalcium: 226.7mgIron: 4.5mg
Read the full nutritional disclaimer.
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Meatball and Rice Soup Cost Breakdown per Serving
Carrots $0.75
Mixed Vegetables $2.39
Tomatoes $1.50
Broth $2.19
Soup Mix $0.95
Ground Beef $7.00
Egg $0.18
Parmesan Cheese $1.50
Breadcrumbs $0.35
Rice $0.77
Total Recipe Cost $17.58
Cost per Serving $2.20 (If you substitute ground pork the cost is $1.83)
