🕒 Prep Time: 10 minutes
🕒 Cook Time: 25 minutes
🕒 Total Time: 35 minutes
📝 Ingredients
- 1 recipe of homemade meatballs or 18–20 oz. frozen meatballs, thawed
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 32 oz chicken broth
- 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 8 oz rotini pasta (about 2½ cups), uncooked
- 2 cups baby spinach
- ½ cup heavy cream
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Fresh cracked black pepper, to taste
- Shaved Parmesan & chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
👩🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions
- Make the Meatballs:
Use your favorite homemade Italian meatballs or cook thawed frozen ones according to package directions. - Sauté the Aromatics:
In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium. Add diced onion with salt and pepper. Cook 6–8 minutes until golden and slightly caramelized. - Build the Flavor Base:
Stir in minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and tomato paste. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant 🌿. - Deglaze the Pot:
Add a splash of chicken broth and scrape the browned bits off the bottom. This adds rich depth to the broth! - Add the Main Ingredients:
Pour in remaining broth, crushed tomatoes, rotini pasta, and meatballs. Season generously with salt and pepper. - Simmer to Perfection:
Bring to a gentle simmer. Cover and cook on low for 12–15 minutes until pasta is al dente. - Creamy Finish:
Stir in spinach and heavy cream until spinach wilts and soup is heated through. 🥄 - Serve:
Taste and adjust seasoning. Garnish with shaved Parmesan and parsley. Serve hot and cozy!
💡 Pro Tips
- Make Ahead: Cook the meatballs and freeze them for easy meal prep!
- Pasta Swap: Any short pasta like penne or shells works great.
- Storage: Keeps well in the fridge up to 4 days. Add a splash of broth to reheat.
🍽️ Nutrition Info
| Serving Size | Calories | Protein | Carbs | Fat | Fiber | Sugar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bowl | 420 | 18g | 35g | 22g | 4g | 6g |
Disclaimer:
Nutrition facts are estimated using online tools and may vary based on your ingredients and preparation. Please consult a nutritionist for precise dietary advice.
