Meatball Vegetable Soup (Cabbage, Carrots & Zucchini)

Meatball Vegetable Soup – Tender homemade beef meatballs (breadcrumb-free!) seasoned with cilantro and flavor-enhancing spices floating in an aromatic beef broth full of cabbage, carrots, and zucchini. Finished off with a squeeze of fresh lime and fresh cilantro for an additional burst of flavor. Certainly, healthy comfort food never tasted so good!

Today, I am sharing my latest soup obsession, it’s a vegetable soup with meatballs (or a meatball soup with vegetables!). This soup is comfort food for the soul and very easy to make. Packed with protein and lots of veggies, my entire family begs me to make this recipe on a weekly basis, so I’m excited to share it with you.

This cabbage and meatball soup is filled with a variety of vegetables, tender meatballs, beef broth, and topped off with fresh lime juice for a little extra zing! It’s a grain-free recipe (I use cauliflower rice inside the meatballs) and perfect for all kinds of eating styles! Further, it’s also perfect for meal prep (the leftovers are fab!) or as a cozy family meal.

Why You’ll Love This Meatball Cabbage & Veggie Packed Soup

• It’s a hearty and delicious soup that’s perfect for a cold winter day.
• The homemade beef meatballs are juicy. tender and flavorful – no breadcrumbs needed!
• Packed with vegetables like cabbage, carrots, and zucchini.
• Finished off with a squeeze of fresh lime juice and fresh cilantro for extra flavor.
• It’s a crowd please, even your kids will be asking you for seconds! 

Equipment Needed To Make this Vegetable Soup

• Large Bowl
• Cutting Board
• Knife
• Dutch Oven Or Large Pot (this is my go-to pot for soup and chili)

Ingredients For Your Beef Meatball Vegetable Soup

For the Meatballs

• grass-fed ground beef (learn more below!)
• eggs
• cauliflower rice
• cilantro
• sea salt
• black pepper
• garlic powder
• onion powder
• dried oregano

For Your Vegetable Soup Base

• olive oil
• onion
• salt and pepper
• garlic
• diced tomatoes
• dried oregano
• beef broth
• carrots
• small head of cabbage
• zucchini
• salt and pepper
• fresh lime
• cilantro

How To Make This Cabbage & Meatball Vegetable Soup

• Add all the meatball ingredients to a large bowl and combine well. Roll into 1-2 inch meatballs and set aside. 

• Once that’s done, heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven and add in the onion with a pinch of salt. Cook for 5-7 minutes or until the onions have softened and are translucent. Next, add in garlic, tomatoes, oregano, and another pinch of salt and pepper, and cook for another 4-5 minutes.

• Add in broth, bring to a boil and reduce back down to a simmer. Carefully add meatballs and simmer for 12-15 minutes. Next, add in carrots, cabbage, and zucchini and simmer for 30 minutes or until all the veggies are tender.

• Adjust seasonings and finish with fresh lime juice and a big handful of fresh chopped cilantro.

• Serve and enjoy!

Notes & Tips To Consider When Making This Soup

• Grass-Fed Ground Beef: If and when you can, I always recommend buying grass fed* and finished meat. This is an easy way to level up the quality of your ingredients. Not only is it delicious and better for the environment, but it is nutritionally superior to commercially farmed meats.

• Cauliflower rice: using cauliflower rice is an easy way to sneak in an extra veggie, and it helps to bind the meat without the use of breadcrumbs.

• Cilantro:  if you don’t like it (or have a partner who has an aversion to it) – you can sub fresh parsley or some fresh chopped mint.

• Mixing Your Meatballs: You want to mix your meatball mixture just until everything is incorporated and no more. If you mix too much, your meatballs will become tough.

• Sticky Meatballs:  I Like to keep a small bowl of water next to me because if you keep your hands damp, it will help keep the meatballs from sticking to your hands.

• Dutch Oven:  My enamel-coated dutch oven is my go-to post for soups and chilis. If you don’t have one, you can use a large stockpot. 

• Tomatoes: I used little grape tomatoes for this recipe, but a Roma tomato would also be a great option.

• Beef Broth: I used beef bone broth which is rich in collagen and protein and really adds some great body to the soup.  

*Why I Buy Grass-Fed Meat

The number one most important change anyone can make when it comes to healthy eating (in my opinion) is to focus on the quality of the food that we eat. This is a simple but powerful way to make to move towards your health, wellness, and weight loss goals without getting caught up in restriction and deprivation.

When it comes to meat, grass feed beef is nutritionally superior to conventionally raised beef (plus it’s way tastier – and better for the environment!). It has 6x the amount of Omega 3 fatty acids (the healthy fats), it’s lower in Omega 6 fatty acids (which are the not-so-healthy fats), and has 3-5x the amount of CLA (conjugated linoleic acid). It’s also rich in vitamin A & E and has plenty of antioxidants.

The problem is that it can be tricky to find which is why I usually order my meat online (and have it delivered right to my house). Here are a few options if you’d like to consider that option for yourself:

Cotton Cattle Co. – A local New Jersey farm with superior quality in both taste and texture. They deliver to a bunch of states on the east coast (NJ, NY, PA, CT, DE, MA, MD, VT, DC) and are my number one choice if you live locally.

I recently met the farmer (Bryce – great guy!) and was able to snag a discount code for the #CDFam. You can save 10% off all of their products using code: C&D10 at check out.

Butcher Box – I’ve been using Butcher Box for years. They deliver nationally and offer monthly subscriptions that make it super easy (and convenient) to access grass-fed meats. They are currently offering free ground beef (for life) to any first-time customers.

What to Serve With This Vegetable Soup

This soup is filling enough to serve on its own without any side dish. But, if you prefer to make it a part of the classic soup and sandwich or soup and salad duo, it pairs perfectly with my kale caesar salad or romaine lettuce salad. It’s also great alongside my portabella mushroom sandwich. 

If you’ve got a sweet tooth, my keto lemon mug cake is the perfect ending to this warm and cozy meal (and it’s a single serving dessert!).

How To Store Leftover Meatball Vegetable Soup

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days, alternatively, you can freeze it for up to 3 months. 

To reheat, I recommend using the stovetop or microwave. Simply transfer to a pot or microwave-safe bowl, and warm until heated through.

Vegetable Meatball Soup FAQs

Can I use turkey, ground chicken, or pork to make my meatballs?

Sure! If you prefer to use ground turkey or chicken over beef, you can. I would avoid pork in this case as it may make your soup too greasy to enjoy.

Can I make this soup vegetarian?

Sure! If you prefer to keep it meatless, just skip the meatballs and add in extra veggies. If you want to use tofu or tempeh as your protein source – that would be a great option too. 

Can I add other root vegetables like parsnips and sweet potatoes?

Yes, you can! Parsnips, in particular, would be a good addition as they have an almost fennel-like flavor with a touch of sweetness that would pair well with the flavors of this soup!

Can I skip the cauliflower rice or substitute it with something else?

Yes, you can skip the cauliflower rice if you don’t have any. However, you’ll want to add some breadcrumbs or almond flour as a binder, though. Alternatively, you could use some cooked quinoa to help bind the meatballs.

This cabbage and meatball veggie-packed soup is truly one of our family’s favorites – the meatballs are flavorful and tender and the veggies just add an extra layer of flavor and texture – this truly is comfort food for the soul and you will find yourself coming back to it all winter long. I can’t wait for you to give it a try!

Thanks so much for reading! You can watch the video down below and if you make this recipe I would love for you to give it a ★ rating below.  And be sure to follow me on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook for more healthy food inspiration. Cheers!