Meatball soup is a great toddler meal idea, but not only. This simple meal is a great family recipe. Easy to make, yummy to eat. This simple recipe is from my grandmother, who had it from her mother, and so on. Passed through generations in my family, today I decided to do good to the world and share it with you.

Everything is better with this homemade, simple meatball soup.

Your toddler will love the tender meatballs, which are easy to chew. Meat, vegetables, and broth are a great combination for the whole family. Moms and dads love it too!

This creamy, nutritious, and healthy recipe works all year round. This meatball soup can be part of any weekly toddler meal plan since it contributes to optimal nutrition not only during the first years of life.

What’s more, your little gourmet – toddler can practice using a spoon or fork to pick up the meatballs and scoop up the broth, helping develop fine motor skills and eating independence.

Why is this meatball Soup a great toddler meal?

Taste and Texture

Our sense of taste wants to be developed. This meatball soup is flavorful, therefore it provides a great taste experience for your little one. Homemade soup stays in your heart forever.

Nutrient-Rich

This Meatball soup is packed with essential nutrients, read the section below!

Balanced Meal

This meal offers a balanced combination of protein, carbohydrates, and vegetables. Nutrient-dense this is a proper meal for a healthy child.

Teaches Eating Skills

Meatball soup is great for practicing using a spoon.

Comforting and Familiar

Meatball soup is a comforting and familiar meal. Once you try it, you will cherish the taste forever.

Low Preparation Time

You don’t want to be stuck for hours in the kitchen! Great, then you will appreciate that this soup is quick and easy to prepare. Make it in advance, freeze it for later, or freshly prepare it in just 30 minutes. Choice is yours. It’s so convenient.

How to make it?

Again, this meatball soup can be ready in just 30 min and does not require much of your time. There it is:

Meatballs Soup

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

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Ingredients

• 1 cup ground beef
• 2 tbsp rice
• 2 potatoes in cubes
• 1 onion, diced or 1 fresh onion, diced
• 1 carrot, shredded or in small cubes
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 tbsp yogurt
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 3-4 cups of water
• optional
• 1-2 tbsp Vermicelli or Alphabet pasta (3 min cook time)
• 1 small bunch of fresh spearmint
• or dry spearmint
• salt to taste

Instructions

1. Put the ground beef in a bowl and add rice, salt, and dry spearmint.
2. Knead everything well together in and form small or midsized meatballs.
3. Put the meatballs, potatoes, carrots, onion, olive oil, salt and the water in a pot. If you use fresh onion, add it 10-15 min later.
4. Cook everything for around 20 min until the potatoes are well cooked and became very soft.
5. If you want to thicken the soup add 2 spoons of alphabet pasta or vermicelli and cook for another 3 min
6. Turn the temperature on low.
7. Mix the yogurt with the egg yolk. Use a fork to stir vigorously till frothy.
8. Add the mixed yogurt and egg yolk to the ready soup and stir everything well.
9. Let it cook for a minute on low temperature and turn off the stove.
10. Cut the spearmint in small and add it to the soup.
11. Ready to serve! Enjoy!

In addition, this meatball soup is highly versatile. You customize it as you wish to accommodate yours and your toddler’s preferences and dietary restrictions. You can use different types of meat, substitute vegetables and noodles with barley for example. Also, if you don’t like a creamy texture, just leave it with the clear broth and that’s it!

Barley needs to boil 30 min altogether, if you want to try this variation.

Benefits of the Ground beef Soup

Indeed, this soup provides significant amounts of micronutrients such iron, zinc, Vitamin A, Vitamin B.

Not only ground beef but also chicken or turkey provides protein that is vital for growth and development. Additionally, vegetables like carrots, peas, and spinach offer vitamins and minerals crucial for overall health. Moreover, the broth itself is rich in vitamins and minerals, further enhancing its nutritional value.

What’s more, that meat plays a central role in a healthy toddler diet. Furthermore, it contributes to the intake of 10 key nutrients: energy, protein, vitamin A, B1, B2, B6, B12, niacin, iron and zinc.

Toddlers and preschoolers have often limited food habits. Very often, they overconsume milk which may put toddlers at increased risk of poor iron status. You can avoid that when your child consumes moderate to high amounts of iron-rich or iron-enhancing foods such as meat and fruit.

You can read more about the role of red meat in a diet of children here: Nutrition & Dietetics 2007; 64 (Suppl. 4): S143–S146

In conclusion, meatball soup is a fantastic toddler meal due to its appealing taste, nutritional benefits, balance, and adaptability. It offers a well-rounded, comforting, and nourishing option that can contribute to a toddler’s healthy growth and development while satisfying their taste preferences.

Interested in making your life easier? Check out our toddler meal planner and optimize your cooking time with delicious recipes!

Happy and healthy eating!