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Bowl of chicken meatball noodle soup with fresh herbs and vegetables.

The Best Chicken Meatball Noodle Soup Recipe | Cozy Comfort Food

Make the best chicken meatball noodle soup with tender meatballs, savory broth, and noodles. A hearty, comforting recipe perfect for family dinners, cold days, or nourishing meals anytime.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Comfort Food, Main Dish, Soup
Cuisine American-Inspired, Family-style, Mediterranean
Servings 6 bowls
Calories 350 kcal

Equipment

  • Large Dutch oven or soup pot
  • Sheet pan (optional for broiling meatballs)
  • Mixing bowl
  • Scoop/spoon or cookie scoop for portioning meatballs
  • Microplane for garlic/onion
  • Thermometer for doneness
  • Ladle and tongs

Ingredients
  

Meatballs:

  • 1 lb ground chicken (thigh preferred)
  • 1 egg
  • ½ cup breadcrumbs or panko
  • ¼ cup grated onion (or 1 tsp onion powder)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp parsley, chopped
  • 2 tbsp parmesan (optional)
  • 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp pepper

Soup base:

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 2 carrots, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 bay leaf, ½ tsp thyme
  • 6 oz egg noodles (or orzo)

Finishers:

  • Juice + zest of 1 lemon
  • 2 tbsp dill or parsley
  • Olive oil drizzle, parmesan, chili flakes (optional)

Instructions
 

  • Mix meatballs: Combine chicken, egg, breadcrumbs, grated onion, garlic, parsley, parmesan, salt, and pepper. Mix until tacky.
  • Shape & brown: Scoop into uniform balls. Brown in olive oil in skillet or broil on sheet pan until golden.
  • Build base: In Dutch oven, sweat onion, celery, and carrot with a pinch of salt until softened. Add garlic until fragrant.
  • Simmer: Add broth, bay leaf, and thyme. Return meatballs. Simmer gently until cooked through (internal temp 165°F/74°C).
  • Cook noodles: Add noodles directly to broth and simmer until tender, or cook separately for meal-prep.
  • Finish: Stir in lemon juice/zest and fresh dill/parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning.
  • Serve: Ladle into bowls. Drizzle olive oil, sprinkle parmesan or chili flakes if desired.

Notes

  • Make-ahead: Store broth + meatballs separately from noodles. Add noodles fresh when reheating.
  • Freezing: Freeze broth and meatballs (without noodles) up to 2 months.
  • Variations: Try lemony-herb, garlic-parmesan, or veggie-forward with spinach and peas.
  • Tip: Brown meatballs well—the fond boosts broth flavor without extra salt.
 
Keyword chicken meatball noodle soup, cozy comfort food, lemon herb soup, weeknight chicken soup