An Edible Mosaic™

Everyday Fare With Extraordinary Flair

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • about
    • faq
    • legal
  • recipes
  • books
  • portfolio
  • my other blog
  • press
  • work with me
  • contact

Home » Recipes » Spaghetti Ring and Meatball Soup

Spaghetti Ring and Meatball Soup

October 5, 2010 by Faith 53 Comments

Spaghetti Ring and Meatball Soup is a healthy twist on a classic favorite; it’s a winner with kids and adults!

Spaghetti Ring and Meatball Soup 1

Growing up my mom was a huge advocate of healthy, balanced meals. Foods like SpaghettiOs were considered junk and names like Chef Boyardee were taboo. My sister and I loved eating at our friends’ houses where we could feel like normal kids and eat things like frozen fish sticks and boxed mac and cheese. Looking back I appreciate my mom making sure we ate healthy, and when I’m a mother I absolutely plan on ensuring that my kids eat right too.

Spaghetti Ring and Meatball Soup 2

My sister has trained my niece well…ever since she was on solid food she was fed things like oatmeal, yogurt, and veggies of all kinds (including things like spinach and squash). And my niece loves them all. I’ve actually never seen a 6-year old kid who voluntarily orders steamed fish, green beans, and baked potato at a restaurant (which I have seen her do). That’s not to say she doesn’t enjoy eating regular kid foods as well (like chicken nuggets, another of her favorites), but she has a real love for healthy foods at a very young age which I think is pretty amazing.

The last time my niece was at my house I wanted to make something special for her. A kiddy favorite with a healthy, homemade twist, I knew I wanted to make my own version of SpaghettiOs. Even my mom would approve.

Spaghetti Ring and Meatball Soup 3

Print
Spaghetti Ring and Meatball Soup
Prep time:  40 mins
Cook time:  40 mins
Total time:  1 hour 20 mins
Yield: 8 servings
 
Ingredients
  • 1½ lbs (.7 kg) lean ground beef
  • ½ tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 large egg white
  • ¾ cup (80 g) bread crumbs
  • ½ oz (15 g) fresh grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for garnish if desired
  • 4 tablespoons minced fresh parsley, divided
  • 8 oz (225 g) pasta (see Note below)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 medium-large carrots, peeled and diced
  • 3 large stalks celery, diced
  • 2 medium-large onions, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 5 cups (1.2 liters) water
  • 1 (28 oz/795 g) can diced tomato (with juices)
  • 6 oz (170 g) tomato paste
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 teaspoons dried Italian herb spice mix (see Note below)
  • 2 beef bouillon cubes
  • Salt and black pepper
Instructions
  1. Combine the beef, Worcestershire sauce, egg, egg white, breadcrumbs, ½ oz Parmesan cheese, 2 tablespoons parsley, and a pinch each of salt and pepper in a large bowl. Use your hands to mix everything together, being careful not to overmix. Form the meat mixture into small balls, about ½ tablespoon each, and set aside.
  2. Cook the pasta to al dente according to the package directions; drain and set aside.
  3. Heat the olive oil in a lidded 5-quart pot over medium heat; add the carrots, celery, and onion and sauté until starting to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté another minute. Add the water, diced tomato, tomato paste, bay leaves, dried Italian herb spice mix, bouillon cubes, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Cover the pot, turn the heat up to medium-high, and bring up to a boil; turn down to a simmer and cook for 15 to 20 minutes (covered), stirring occasionally.
  4. Add the meatballs, bring the soup back up to a simmer, and then simmer for 10 minutes (with the lid slightly ajar). Turn off the heat and stir in the noodles and the remaining 2 tablespoons parsley. Taste and season with additional salt and black pepper if desired.
  5. Serve garnished with Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
Pasta: I used O-shaped pasta (called rings at my grocery store), but you can use any kind of small pasta you like. When I make pasta for soup, I typically cook the pasta in a separate pot and then add it to the soup once it’s cooked and drained; otherwise, I find that the pasta’s starch can make the soup much too thick.

Italian Herb Spice Mix: The mix I use has dried parsley, basil, oregano, rosemary, and thyme.

To Reheat: I took the pictures of the soup right after I made it; if the soup is left to sit for a couple hours before serving or if you have leftovers, it will thicken quite a bit. To reheat, you can thin it out a bit by adding more water or tomato sauce as necessary.
3.5.3251

Update (September 25, 2013): I made this dish again and snapped a few pictures, so I decided to update the photos in this post. As a point of comparison to show how much my photography has evolved, I kept one of my original photos (below).

IMG_5631(small)

Related

Filed Under: Recipes Tagged: Beef, Dinner, Foods for Kids, Healthy SpaghettiOs, Meatballs, Pasta Rings, Recipes, Soup, Spaghetti, Vegetables

Comments

  1. Nutmeg Nanny says

    October 5, 2010 at 2:16 pm

    Please send some of this my way? I still don’t feel like cooking dinner…haha :)

    Reply
  2. Rosa says

    October 5, 2010 at 2:57 pm

    A mouthwatering soup! So conforting and yummy looking.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

    Reply
  3. Julie says

    October 5, 2010 at 3:04 pm

    Now that’s my kind of spaghetti-o’s! Your niece is a lucky girl :D

    Reply
  4. Sara says

    October 5, 2010 at 3:29 pm

    Delicious! I’m going to make this soup for my kiddies too! Thank you for the recipe! :)

    Reply
  5. Krista says

    October 5, 2010 at 3:35 pm

    You are such a lovely aunt to make this for your niece! :-) My Mum was like yours. :-) I remember loving going to friends’ houses for fruit snacks and mac and cheese, but now I love the legacy she passed down to me. :-)

    Reply
  6. theUngourmet says

    October 5, 2010 at 4:05 pm

    This looks terrific! I’m such a soup lover you know. We never at Chef either when I was growing up but we did eat Mac n’ Cheese. Hmmm.

    Reply
  7. Priscilla - She's Cookin' says

    October 5, 2010 at 4:58 pm

    What a beautiful sentiment to begin your post! My daughter has always appreciated my home cooking and all her friends loved coming to eat at our house – esp. for my spaghetti pizza. Like you, she liked going over to her friends’ houses for mac & cheese and candy. Now I try to promote cooking at home in SoCal where most parents rely on take-out. I’ve used those pasta rings in soup – they’re so cute, and yes, look like spaghetti-O’s. Your spaghetti ring meatball soup looks delicious and comforting!

    Reply
  8. BeadedTail says

    October 5, 2010 at 5:13 pm

    Your niece is very lucky to have an aunt who can make such delicious and healthy dishes! This looks so flavorful and satisfying! Yum!

    Reply
  9. Swathi says

    October 5, 2010 at 5:14 pm

    Faith,

    This looks awesome. Lucky niece.

    Reply
  10. Julie says

    October 5, 2010 at 5:37 pm

    This soup looks delicious. I love the flavors. Look forward to giving it a try!

    Reply
  11. Louise Mellor says

    October 5, 2010 at 6:41 pm

    wow, that just looks so delicious. i could taste those little meatballs. i hope my kids will someday be mindful with their families as well.
    ~Chef Louise

    Reply
  12. Carol says

    October 5, 2010 at 7:23 pm

    That is one fantastic looking soup! Healthy and delicious!

    I am guilty of having the Chef Boy R Dee and Spaghettio’s at my friends houses :)

    Reply
  13. Ameena says

    October 5, 2010 at 8:23 pm

    I am like your mother – I won’t let Maya eat too much junk at home. I figure she’ll get her fill elsewhere but I just physically can’t give her Kraft Mac n Cheese and Cheetos!

    Love the take on Spaghetti-O’s! I’d serve this to Maya any day.

    Reply
  14. Carolyn Jung says

    October 5, 2010 at 8:32 pm

    Can I just say that this looks way better than the stuff I grew up with that came out of the tin can? LOL
    Your niece is lucky to have you cooking for her.

    Reply
  15. Lazaro says

    October 5, 2010 at 8:34 pm

    Faith,

    Anyone would be happy with that plate. That looks amazing. The topic of obesity in children is a growing epidemic. Parents are passing along their poor eating habits and young kids are fatter and fatter these days. I find that very sad. I try to educate all the kids in my family about proper eating habits.

    You were very lucky with your Mom…

    Reply
  16. Barbara Bakes says

    October 5, 2010 at 9:33 pm

    Now this is a SpaghettiOs that I could love!

    Reply
  17. Veronica says

    October 5, 2010 at 10:54 pm

    That is very cool that your niece enjoys healthy foods–a rarity, it seems! I was raised on the good stuff too and loved it until I started going to school and saw that other kids didn’t eat like me. Then I revolted and hated health food for the next twenty years. It wasn’t until the last five that I’ve actually enjoyed healthy foods again. This healthier adult version of spaghettios is the first time I ever thought anything with “o” pasta looked appealing and this not only looks appealing but absolutely mouth watering! I bet your niece was pleased as punch!

    Reply
  18. chriesi says

    October 6, 2010 at 12:08 am

    That soup is just perfect in this cold weather! It looks absolutely yummy!

    Reply
  19. Anna Johnston says

    October 6, 2010 at 12:10 am

    I too was raised with a lot of “Good Food” & school friends and their eating treats temp. swayed my eating habits, but its hard for those light and airey sugary treats to hold a gal huh…., good thing we returned to our roots Faith :)

    Reply
  20. Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says

    October 6, 2010 at 1:02 am

    Oh Faith I had to laugh! My sister and I felt exactly the same. We didn’t want homemade food. We wanted stuff that was prepared which is what the other kids had. Little did we realise how good we had it! lol

    Reply
  21. Barbara says

    October 6, 2010 at 3:37 am

    What a magnificent soup, Faith! The photo is making me want to run right out and gather ingredients!
    I have a guilty confession: I had three kids in three years and convenience came first. Even though I tried my best to give everyone healthy meals, it just didn’t always happen. Of course, this was years ago and we weren’t as aware of healthy choices as we are now. Nonetheless, two of my three grew into health-conscious adults. The third…not so much, but his wife is doing her best! :)

    Reply
  22. My Carolina Kitchen says

    October 6, 2010 at 5:19 am

    Your niece is one lucky young lady. Anyone, including grown-ups, would be thrilled with this lovely meal.
    Sam

    Reply
  23. Heavenly Housewife says

    October 6, 2010 at 5:53 am

    I’m not normally a soup person, but I’d totally tuck into this. It looks so hearty and chock full of goodies :). What a lucky niece you have :)
    *kisses* HH

    Reply
  24. Emily Z says

    October 6, 2010 at 6:17 am

    I am on the same page as you and your sister as far as what my kids will eat. My kids are going to have a healthy diet. My sister fed my nephew healthy foods when he could eat solids, at at 12 years of age, he LOVES things like salmon, soft shelled crab, anchovies on pizza… things your average 12 year old doesn’t go crazy over. I grew up in a home where my mom cooked us delicious, healthy dinners, but we also had cans of spaghettios in the pantry. I want to avoid those processed foods as much as I can!

    Reply
  25. Sanjeeta kk says

    October 6, 2010 at 6:53 am

    Lovely soup! May be I can try it out substituting Soya granules for the meat in it.

    Reply
  26. Katerina says

    October 6, 2010 at 8:15 am

    This is the perfect comfort food not only for kids but for adults too. Training children to eat healthy is the best thing a parent can do.

    Reply
  27. Maria @ Scandi Foodie says

    October 6, 2010 at 11:17 am

    Such a delicious soup! And so much flavour!

    Reply
  28. Krista says

    October 6, 2010 at 11:26 am

    What a great idea! My kids will ask for Chef Boyardee sometimes, but I call it sh*t in a can and never buy it! LOL

    Reply
  29. pigpigscorner says

    October 6, 2010 at 11:32 am

    This is so comforting!

    Reply
  30. Treat and Trick says

    October 6, 2010 at 11:39 am

    Beautiful color, sounds healthy and delicious..

    Reply
  31. Louanne says

    October 6, 2010 at 1:04 pm

    What a delicious soup, Faith! Especially the meatballs, I love meatballs! The weather is finally fall-ish down here – wish I had a bowl for my dinner tonight!

    Reply
  32. Mo says

    October 6, 2010 at 1:47 pm

    Oh, man, your sister must be happy your niece is so willingly into healthy food! It just goes to show that kids can like healthy food and enjoy it, so long as you introduce it to them the right way!

    That being said… say what you want about Chef Boyardee, but that stuff is delicious. o.O I know, gross, but deliiiiiiiiicious.

    But obviously your soup is far superior! :D I would love to cuddle up with a bowl of this stuff, especially since it’s getting rather cold now…

    PS – As for the meatball ice cream question (got any meatballs leftover? :P) I thiiink it would probably be slightly sweetened but definitely more savory. I’m actually considering making it now. Haha. XD

    Reply
  33. Reeni says

    October 6, 2010 at 4:19 pm

    Your recreation of spaghetti-o’s looks crazy good! 1000 times better than the real thing. So hearty and the perfect comfort meal. I bet your niece loved it.

    Reply
  34. Michelle @ Find Your Balance says

    October 6, 2010 at 4:54 pm

    That first paragraph sounded like it came out of my own mouth. We had the same childhood food experience, it sounds like! When I left for college I bought a LOT of SpaghettiO’s. But that only lasted a few years. Ultimately, the values my mom taught me shaped how I eat.

    Reply
  35. [email protected] says

    October 6, 2010 at 5:04 pm

    Nummy looking soup, Faith! I just made meatballs last week.. it must be something in the air.. fall!!! Putting them in soup is a great idea… it looked so warm and inviting and the worcestershire is a great addition to the meatballs, love it!

    Reply
  36. The Southern Cookbook says

    October 6, 2010 at 8:10 pm

    Faith, I would so choose this over that nasty canned stuff any day. I believe I will make this over the weekend, along with your garlic bread drop biscuits :)

    Reply
  37. marla {family fresh cooking} says

    October 7, 2010 at 5:56 am

    This soup truly does look fantastic. Gotta make up a pot of this for my kids. I too always cook the pasta separate-otherwise it gets too mushy. I agree with your sis-when we are out my kids can have at what all the other kids are eating. Life is all about shared experiences with others, right. xo

    Reply
  38. admin says

    October 7, 2010 at 7:24 am

    Sanjeeta KK — You’re right, I think soya granules may work. If you try it, let me know how it turns out! :)

    Mo — Lol, I’d love to send you some meatballs for your ice cream experiement! ;) Can’t wait to see what you come up with!

    Reply
  39. blackbookkitchendiaries says

    October 7, 2010 at 9:42 am

    oh wow… this soup looks heavenly! especially on a nice cool day. thank you for sharing.

    Reply
  40. 5 Star Foodie says

    October 8, 2010 at 6:42 pm

    This soup with the yummy meatballs and the cute little pasta rings looks excellent!

    Reply
  41. Lentil Breakdown says

    October 9, 2010 at 12:12 pm

    What a good auntie! Yum!

    Reply
  42. Lucy says

    October 10, 2010 at 7:30 am

    Mmm this soup looks just perfect for those rainy nights :) And your niece sounds amazing!

    Reply
  43. Judy says

    October 10, 2010 at 11:27 am

    I used to make a soup very much like this. Very kid friendly, but adults like it too.

    Reply
  44. Barbara @ Modern Comfort Food says

    October 10, 2010 at 5:55 pm

    What a good auntie you are, Faith, and what a great soup for kids of all ages (including this 58 year old)! I love spaghetti, but I’m not always up for the all-day approach to cooking meat sauce we use in my family. This is such a good alternative!

    Reply
  45. Magic of Spice says

    October 10, 2010 at 8:09 pm

    Oh my, I don’t even eat meat and this soup has me salivating…My kids would love this…Truly gorgeous :)

    Reply
  46. Lauren says

    October 12, 2010 at 5:06 am

    So you don’t brown the meatballs at all before putting it into the pot to simmer? Just making sure; I will be preparing this soon! :)

    Reply
    • admin says

      October 12, 2010 at 7:17 am

      Lauren, I add the meatballs raw and let them cook fully by simmering in the soup (similar to homemade tomato sauce with meatballs). My meatballs were pretty small (about 1/2 tablespoon), so if you make yours bigger make sure to cook them a bit longer. (You can check one to see if they’re done before serving by removing one from the soup, cutting it in half, and making sure there is no pink in the center.) I’m excited you’re planning to make this, let me know how you like it! :)

      Reply
  47. grace says

    October 14, 2010 at 12:25 pm

    good lord, you’ve put campbell’s to shame! what an amazing and inspired bowl of kiddie food. :)

    Reply
  48. [email protected] says

    October 23, 2013 at 6:24 am

    Hi Faith! It’s three years after you wrote this, but I just found this recipe the other day searching for “meatball soup” and I’m making it today!! Every year I have a “Fall Soup Party” and try a few new recipes – yours is among them this year! I’ve got the link to your site on my blog and I’ll be chatting more about the Fall Soup Party after it happens on Thursday! Thanks for the recipe! It looks delish! – Theresa @ OrdinaryLovely

    Reply
    • Faith says

      October 24, 2013 at 6:06 am

      Theresa, I’m honored that you’re making my soup for your Fall Soup Party – it sounds like so much fun! Hope you enjoy it!

      Reply
  49. Elaine says

    February 23, 2014 at 11:10 am

    Does anyone have the nutrition info so I can figure out the weight watcher points plus per serving?
    Thanks so much

    Reply
    • Faith says

      February 25, 2014 at 7:00 am

      Elaine, I didn’t calculate the nutrition info for this recipe, but if you want to do so, Calorie Count is a pretty good tool. I hope this helps!

      Reply
  50. Sahar says

    May 4, 2014 at 11:13 pm

    I just made this tonight. It was SO incredibly delicious :) I added red pepper and a little turmeric to the soup. I also always add a 1/2 cup of milk to my meatballs. Anyway, stellar recipe. Loved it. Will keep coming back to it!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Rate this recipe:  


Hello! I’m Faith and I write An Edible Mosaic. This is my recipe collection of international favorites and updated American classics, with an emphasis on seasonal dishes. I focus on real foods that sustain body and mind, bring people together, and make a house a home. Welcome to my mosaic of recipes.

Subscribe

email

Subscribe to have new posts delivered to your email inbox:

rss

Subscribe to the RSS feed in the reader of your choice.

Feedburner Bloglovin'

Languages

archives

categories

meet faith

I’m Faith Gorsky, the writer, cook, and photographer behind An Edible Mosaic. My goal is to inspire you to get in the kitchen and try something new! Feel free to email me with questions or comments.

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

faith's book

on instagram

anediblemosaic

❄️Buffalo-born + raised
☀️Florida-based
🍴Food✈️Travel📝Musings
📷Food stylist + photographer
📚Cookbook author
✨Lover of vintage things + good coffee

Instagram post 2191875618324833933_193133428 It’s tradition. @laraclevenger and I meet up, we have way too much fun working, and we eat allll the Indian food. 🙃 #lovemyjob #indianfood #shotoniphone
Instagram post 2188737294404226253_193133428 Rome, one of the oldest souls I’ve ever known. #🇮🇹 #roma #italia #wanderlust #travelgram #traveldeeper #instatravel #prettyplaces #map_of_italy #map_of_europe #earthpix #lonelyplanet #exploreyourworld #spqr #latergram #blackandwhite #iphonography #shotoniphone #photography
Instagram post 2188013014389581388_193133428 When you want alllll the cranberry bliss, but without the gluten or loads of sugar. 🙌🏻 Inspired by Starbucks cranberry bliss bars, my #paleo cranberry bliss cake is an oldie but a goodie on my other website #HealthySweetEats! It's festive and perfect for a weekend holiday baking project. ❤️ . . https://www.healthysweeteats.com/cranberry-bliss-cake-inspired-by-starbucks-cranberry-bliss-bars/ . . #glutenfree #starbuckscopycat #bakingseason #holidaybaking #f52grams #f52food #thekitchn #makesmewhole @thefeedfeed #feedfeed #cranberrybliss #cranberryblissbar #beautifulcuisines #hautecuisines #huffposttaste #yahoofood #bhgfood #eeeeeats #holidayfood #festivefood #happyfriday
Instagram post 2186463100185874499_193133428 Like velvet. 🧡 . . Swirls of Butternut Squash Puree with Fontina Cheese, Fresh Thyme, and Brown Butter, and there are no words. 😭🤯🤩🤤 Search "butternut puree" on An Edible Mosaic for the recipe --> https://www.anediblemosaic.com/butternut-squash-puree-with-fontina-cheese-fresh-thyme-and-brown-butter/ . . #thanksgiving2019 #thanksgiving #thanksgivingdinner #sidedish #f52grams #f52food #makesmewhole @thefeedfeed #feedfeed #eatyourveggies #beautifulcuisines #foodstyling #foodphotography #onmytable #eeeeeats
Instagram post 2185880916279076048_193133428 I asked my dad what he wanted me to bring for Thanksgiving. I know my uncle is making the turkey 🦃🍽 (and probably no less than 10 side dishes lol), so I wasn't at all surprised when dad said everything is all set. I told him there's no way I'm coming empty handed (and the veggie soup I made for his freezer stash doesn't count bc it's not Thanksgiving-related!), and he told me to bring "one of those crazy keto desserts" I make. 🤣 (Apparently my crazy keto dessert reputation precedes me. 🤷🏼‍♀️😆👏🏻) I'm going to try to find time to whip up something low carb, or I might go with this crowd-pleaser that makes enough to feed a crowd! If you've never made slab pie, the beauty of it is that it makes a huge pie 🥧 with minimal extra effort than what it takes to make a normal pie. (Side Note: Don't fear the pie! If even I can make a pastry crust, you definitely can. 😘) And I don't know about you, but when I indulge in pie, it's apple for me alllll the way. 🍎🍏 . . Search "apple slab pie" on An Edible Mosaic for the recipe --> https://www.anediblemosaic.com/apple-slab-pie-with-nutty-oat-crumble-topping/ . . #applepie #thanksgivingfood #thanksgivingdessert #fallfoods #thisisfall #f52grams #f52food @thefeefeed #feedfeed #thekitchn #huffposttaste #onmytable #eeeeeats #saveur #bonappetit #foodphotography #piegram
Instagram post 2185059598599567110_193133428 #ad #tillamook_partner Not gonna lie, one of my favorite things about Thanksgiving dinner is the leftovers. 🙌🏻 Turkey 🦃 + cranberry sauce + fried sage 🌿 + lots of cheese 🧀 and really, this doesn’t even feel like leftovers. 💁🏼‍♀️ @tillamook . https://www.anediblemosaic.com/grilled-cheese-thanksgiving-leftovers-sandwich/ . #TogetherWithTillamook #thanksgiving #thanksgivingleftovers #grilledcheese #grilledcheesesandwich #cheeselover #cheeselife #f52grams #huffposttaste #feedfeed #eeeeeats
Load More...
Home | About | FAQ | Legal | Recipes | Books | Portfolio | My Other Blog | Press | Work with Me | Contact

Copyright © 2019 | Faith Gorsky, An Edible Mosaic™ | All Rights Reserved Design by Deluxe Designs

This site uses cookies to ensure the best user experience possible.AcceptNo ThanksPrivacy policy
Revoke cookies