My Meatballs in Tomato Soup recipe is easy to prepare and cook, using only a handful of ingredients.
Whether you need dinner to be ready when you get home from work, or for when the kids are home from school, or even for when you know you have a busy day.
This recipe was a family favourite when I was growing up, but mum used to just cook it in a pot on the stove.
And now that it is a favourite in my household, I adapted this recipe to make preparing dinner faster with the added benefit of being a healthy alternative for large families.
This recipe will take the worry out of what you are going to cook for dinner. And will give you more time to spend on what matters most.
Not only is it an excellent meal for a large family, but it is also perfect for eating during cold winters.
And that’s because it’s cooked in a slow cooker.
And making it is so simple that you only need about 20 minutes to prepare it. Or you can even prepare it the day before and put it in the fridge overnight.
Am I able to add other vegetables to this recipe?
The joy of my meatballs in tomato sauce recipe is that it allows you to add anything you like, from beans to broccoli and cauliflower.
You can even add things like barley or other dried soup mix ingredients to have something a little bit different.
Do I need to brown meatballs before putting them in the slow cooker?
Browning the meatballs before popping them into the slow cooker not only helps to hold them together, but it will also lock the juices inside.
But it is not a necessary step, especially if you’re on a tight schedule to prepare something quick for dinner.
But if you do have the time to brown them first, by all means, do it to get a juicier meatball.
What kind of tomato soup do you have to use?
You can use any of your favorite condensed tomato soups for my Meatballs in Tomato Soup recipe.
I use the Heinz brand as you can buy it in the 820g tins here in Australia.
But if you’re in the United States, you can use Campbell’s condensed tomato soup.
What are the health benefits associated with tomato soup?
There is nothing better on a cold winter night than eating a bowl full of steaming hot tomato soup.
But I bet you didn’t know that tomato soup is very healthy for you.
Tomato soup is full of vitamin E, A, C, and K, along with essential minerals and antioxidants to keep our bodies healthy. Arshi Ahmed has written a fantastic article on the health benefits of tomato soup, be sure to check it out for a more in-depth look at the benefits.
So it only seems fitting to combine the love of meatballs with the love of tomato soup.
Nutritional facts for Meatballs in Tomato Soup
This meal is full of hearty goodness, and each serving only contains 679 calories. But be aware this is without the breadstick pieces or dinner rolls as a side dish.
What if you are on a Low Carb Diet.
Potatoes are full of carbohydrates.
If you are on a low carb diet, then I highly recommend switching out the potatoes within my tomato and meatballs recipe for any of the following:
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Mushrooms
- Spinach
- Zucchini
- Asparagus
- Green Beans
Or any other vegetable that has low carbs.
Which kind of minced beef (ground beef) can I use?
You can use any grade of mince that you like depending on your dietary requirements.
If you are dieting, then a less fatty lean mince would be much more beneficial. But whichever mince you decide, will not alter the taste of the meatballs.
You can, however, get a bit creative and try this recipe with other types of ground meat, such as chicken or pork.
What can I do with the leftovers?
If you’re like me and cringe at the thought of wasting food, then you’ll be happy to know this recipe can be frozen.
It can be stored up three months, be sure to use a freezer-safe air-tight container.
Please be aware that potatoes hold water once frozen. So I advise you to take them out before popping your leftovers in the freezer.
When potatoes are thawed and reheated, the texture of the potato can change and become much more grainy, which is not a pleasant feeling in your mouth.
You can, however, store the leftovers in the fridge for the next day, and the potatoes will be fine.
Can Meatballs in Tomato Soup be cooked on a stovetop?
The joy about this recipe is you can adapt it to cook on the stove if you do not have a slow cooker. And the cooking time on the stove will be approx 30 to 35 minutes.
Simply follow these directions:
- Once the meatball mixture is combined and rolled into balls, dredge (roll) the meatballs lightly in flour.
- Heat 2 tbsp of olive oil in a frying pan and lightly brown the meatball in small batches. Drain the meatballs on paper towels.
- In a large stockpot add the meatballs, carrots, tomato soup, stock cubes (beef bouillon), water, 1 tsp of Italian herbs and season with salt and pepper (to taste)
- Peel and cut the potatoes into 2 cm pieces or if you like them bigger, into quarters. Place in a saucepan of salted water and cook until tender.
- Meanwhile, bring the meatball mixture to a boil and then reduce the heat to low and simmer uncovered for 25 minutes.
- Drain the potatoes and add to the meatball mixtures and cook for a further 5 to 10 minutes or until everything is fully cooked through.
- Serve in a large bowl with some fresh parsley and a few slices of a breadstick or dinner rolls.
Meatballs in Tomato Soup Recipe and Method.
Easy Meatballs in Tomato Soup
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 Kg Minced Beef
- 1 Large Egg
- ½ Cup Breadcrumbs
- 1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 Medium Onion
- 2 tsp Dried Italian Herbs
- Salt and Pepper
- 3 Large Carrots Sliced
- 6 Large Potatoes Cubed
- 2 820g tins Cans of Tomato Soup
- 3 Beef Stock Cube
- 1 ¼ Cups Water
- Cornflour for rolling the meatballs in (optional)
Instructions
- Finely chop 1 medium onion and lightly beat 1 large egg.
- In a large mixing bowl combine minced beef, lightly beaten egg, breadcrumbs, chopped onion, Worcestershire sauce, and Italian herbs. Once well-combined set-aside.
- In another large mixing bowl, combine the tomato soup, water, beef stock cubes and other 1 tsp of Italian herbs.
- Cut carrots into 1 cm slices and potatoes into 2 cm pieces. Put carrots and potatoes into the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Roll mince mixture into equal portions (as equal as possible) you can get 12 to 18 meatballs depending on the size you want them. And carefully place on top of the potatoes and carrots. *Optional – you can roll you meatballs in cornflour (cornstarch) if you want to make the soup thinker
- Pour the soup mix over the top, put on the lid, set the slow cooker on the low setting and go about your day.
Notes
Conclusion
Serve in a bowl, topped with some fresh parsley. Along with some pieces of cut breadstick or dinner rolls.
