Description
This Hearty Meatball Stew is a comforting and flavorful one-pot dish featuring tender beef meatballs simmered in a rich tomato and beef broth with fresh vegetables and herbs, perfect for a satisfying family meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 cup fresh breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
- Salt and pepper to taste
Vegetables & Broth
- 2 medium carrots, diced
- 2 medium potatoes, diced
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
- 4 cups low-sodium beef broth
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1–2 tbsp olive oil (for sautéing)
Instructions
- Prepare the meatball mixture: In a mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, fresh breadcrumbs, egg, chopped parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated.
- Shape the meatballs: Form the mixture into bite-sized meatballs approximately 1 inch in diameter and set them aside.
- Sauté onions and garlic: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the chopped onions and sauté until they become translucent. Then add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until golden and fragrant.
- Cook vegetables: Add the diced carrots and potatoes to the pot, stirring and sautéing for about 5 minutes to slightly soften them and develop flavors.
- Add liquids and tomatoes: Pour in the diced tomatoes with their juices and the low-sodium beef broth. Stir to combine and bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
- Simmer the stew with meatballs: Carefully add the prepared meatballs into the simmering broth. Reduce the heat to low and let the stew simmer uncovered for 30-40 minutes, or until the meatballs are fully cooked and the vegetables are tender.
- Serve: Ladle the hearty meatball stew into bowls and serve hot, accompanied by crusty bread or over a bed of rice for a complete meal.
Notes
- Using fresh breadcrumbs helps keep the meatballs tender.
- Low-sodium beef broth allows you to control the saltiness of the stew.
- Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper to taste near the end of cooking.
- You can add other vegetables like celery or peas for variety.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
