This traditional Mexican Meatball Soup, also known as Albondigas Soup, is filled with simple and nutritious vegetables, fresh herbs, and unique meatballs (albondigas) made from ground meat, fresh herbs, cooked rice, and garlic. A family favorite, you will love this easy and delicious soup recipe!
The Best Albondigas Soup Recipe
Albondigas Soup is a traditional Mexican meatball Soup made of a comforting and nourishing broth and hearty herb-filled meatballs. Translated, albondigas means “meatball” in Spanish, and this warm winter soup comes packed full of them.
My connection to this Mexican meatball soup runs all the way back to my grade school years as my favorite nanny (a woman I spent more time with than my own mom) would make this albondigas soup at least once a month. As with most things in life, I did not appreciate it back then. Fortunately, it’s never too late.
Albondigas Soup Ingredients
There are two main parts to this recipe:
- the soup base and,
- the meatballs.
To keep the instructions and steps as clear as possible, I am going to explain these two parts separately.
Let’s start with the soup base.
- Roma tomatoes
- Garlic
- Olive oil
- Salt and Pepper
- Yellow onions
- Carrots
- Celery
- Russet Potatoes
- Low-sodium chicken broth (or water)
- Cilantro
- Lime juice
Note- I made my own roasted tomato and caramelized onion base to add to the broth. While this step is super easy, it does add some extra time. If you don’t have that kind of time on your hands, don’t worry, canned tomatoes will accomplish the same thing.
In addition to blended roasted tomatoes and caramelized onions, you’ll also find onions, carrots, celery, and potato as part of the base.
How to make Albondigas Soup
- Roast the tomatoes and caramelize the onion. In this version, I am roasting approximately 8 Roma tomatoes and 5 whole cloves of garlic tossed in olive oil, salt, and pepper. The roasting adds a beautiful, complex flavor that I love having in soups and pasta (assuming I have the time). At the same time that the tomatoes are roasting, chop up an onion and slowly caramelize it in a medium pot over medium heat, stirring frequently. The tomatoes take approximately 40 minutes, while the onions take approximately 25 minutes.
- Blend the tomatoes and onion. Pulse the tomatoes, garlic, and onion in a blender or food processor 5-10 times. While you want them to be blended, you do not want them to be fully pureed.
- Prepare the soup base. Now you’ll want to grab a large soup pot (at least 9 quarts) and cook the vegetables – onion, carrots, celery, potato – over medium heat until they start to sweat and soften. These vegetables, known as the mirepoix, are the vegetable base, and though seemingly humble, play an integral role in the overall flavor of the broth.
- Add the homemade tomato sauce and broth. You’ll add the blended tomato sauce and broth to the vegetables and mix well. You can use whatever broth you prefer (chicken stock, veggie, beef, bone broth, or water). Depending on which broth is added, season generously with salt, to taste.
- Tip – If you didn’t make your own tomato sauce… substitute with 1 (15 ounce) can crushed tomatoes and 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce.
- Simmer and make some meatballs. Bring the soup and broth to a boil then reduce heat to a simmer and cover. Allow the soup to simmer for at least 15-20 minutes before adding the meatballs.
Albondigas Ingredients
The meatballs (“Albondigas”) are a huge part of what makes this soup so special. Unlike many meatball recipes that are mixed with breadcrumbs and dried herbs, these albondigas are mixed with rice and loads of fresh herbs such as mint.
You guys, the mint is the star in these meatballs. (Tip: if you think you’ve added enough mint, you probably haven’t. Add a little bit more.)
You’ll need the following ingredients,
- Ground meat – I used a mix of ground beef and ground turkey
- Yellow onion
- Long-grain white rice
- Garlic
- Fresh parsley
- Fresh mint
- Fresh cilantro
- Salt and Pepper
- Cayenne (optional)
- Eggs
These meatballs are gluten-free and dairy-free.
And you may use whatever ground meat is your favorite. For example, when I originally published this recipe I made the meatballs with lean ground turkey. I have also made them with a mix of ground chorizo and ground beef. In other words, mix and match or just use your favorite.
How to make Mexican Albondigas
If you’re new to meatballs, Mexican Albondigas are a great place to start! These are super easy to prepare, shape, and cook.
- Prepare the meatballs. As with all meatball recipes, you need to mix together all the ingredients. Some people like to mix the rice with the ground meat first, but I suggest simply adding everything to a large bowl and using your hands to get in there and mix it all together.
- Shape the meatballs. To ensure that the meatballs will each start cooking at approximately the same time, I like to shape them first and transfer them to a large baking sheet. If you find that you want to make the meatballs ahead of time or make extra, this is an easy way to get a head start on this recipe by freezing a large batch and cooking later. To shape the meatballs, roll approximately 2-3 tablespoons between the palms of your hands into a nice round ball. If it gets too sticky, wet your palms with a bit of water.
- Cook the meatballs. Cooking Mexican albondigas is literally the easiest thing you will ever do. Simply drop each meatball into the pot of soup and allow them to simmer, covered, for approximately 25 minutes. Remember- don’t stir your meatballs until after they’ve had time to cook! When they’re first added to the broth they’re still very delicate.
Tips and Tricks
The rice: you will need one cup of cooked rice to mix in the meatballs. You’ll notice in the recipe instructions that I suggested adding rice that is cooked to al dente. To get your rice to cook approximately halfway, wash and rinse three-quarters of a cup of long-grain white rice and add to a pot covered by approximately 3 cups of water. Boil and reduce to a simmer. Check rice every 5 minutes. You know it’s done when it starts to soften but is still slightly undercooked. Drain and rinse with cold water.
The vegetables: Onion, carrots, celery, and potato. These are the vegetables that I chose to add this time. However, feel free to add all your favorite vegetables. For example, bell pepper, zucchini, peas, and cabbage are all great additions.
The meatballs: As I mentioned above, make sure you add plenty of fresh herbs. The mix of the savory tomato broth with the mint and cilantro-filled meatballs is simply the best thing ever. Also, you will want to really dice the onion that you plan to add to the meatballs. A smaller dice always makes for easier rolling.
The tomato base: Easily substitute the tomato base with a couple of cans of diced tomatoes. You may still caramelize the onions and blend the canned tomatoes with the onion, or skip the onions, too. If you do decide to skip roasting the tomatoes and garlic and do not caramelize the onions, I recommend cooking 1 more small onion with the vegetables in addition to 4 cloves minced garlic.
The herbs: The majority of the herbs will go directly into the meatballs, so I don’t recommend skimping (even if it seems like a lot!) Mint is especially important, with cilantro coming is second. I know, you guys, I was skeptical of the mint myself, but trust me, the cooling freshness really brings it all together.
Use a large pot: You guys will need a large pot or Dutch oven to make this albondigas soup recipe. At least 8-10 quarts or bigger. If you know that you don’t own a pot that large, simply cut the recipe in half.
What to serve with Albondigas?
The beauty of this soup is that it really is a meal in itself. Filled with healthy vegetables, hearty meatballs, and starchy potatoes (don’t worry, not too many!), this soup really doesn’t need anything else.
But, if you’re anything like me, you probably love to garnish the heck out of your soup. Yes? Here’s what you’ll find dumped on top of mine-
- Cilantro
- Lime wedges
- Sliced avocado
- Shredded cheese
- Sour cream
- Hot sauce
- Crumbled tortilla chips
Want more? You can easily turn a bowl of albondigas into a fiesta and serve with cilantro lime rice, cheesy quesadillas, ceviche, homemade salsa, and guacamole.
And then, of course, let’s not forget the Margaritas!
Can you freeze Albondigas Soup?
Albondigas soup freezes incredibly well. To do so, allow your soup to cool in the refrigerator completely before transferring to freezer-friendly containers or double-bag in freezer-friendly zip-lock bags. Remove most of the air, leaving just a small amount of space to allow the liquid to expand as it freezes.
To reheat, allow your frozen soup to thaw in the fridge overnight. Transfer to a pot and cook until heated through.
Leftovers are best enjoyed within 4-5 days, thoroughly reheating each time.
More Soup Recipes,
- Homemade Tomato Basil Soup Recipe
- Easy Chicken and Dumplings Recipe
- Easy Minestrone Soup Recipe
- Pho Recipe (How to Make Vietnamese Noodle Soup)
- Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe
- Vegetarian Butternut Squash Black Bean Soup
- Ginger Garlic Noodle Soup with Bok Choy (Bok Choy Soup)
If you try making this Albondigas Soup Recipe, please leave me a comment and let me know! I always love to hear your thoughts.
REMEMBER TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE FORKED SPOON NEWSLETTER FOR FREE AND RECEIVE WEEKLY RECIPE NOTIFICATIONS DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX!
Albondigas Soup (Mexican Meatball Soup)
Ingredients
- 8 Roma tomatoes (halved lengthwise)
- 5 cloves garlic (minced)
- 3 tbsp olive oil (divided)
- 3 tsp salt (divided)
- 1 tsp fresh ground black pepper
- 2 large yellow onions (chopped)
- 6 carrots (chopped)
- 4 celery (chopped)
- 2 russet potatoes (chopped)
- 10 cups low sodium chicken broth (or water)
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro (chopped)
- 1 lime (juiced)
For the Meatballs:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1 small yellow onion (finely chopped)
- 1 cup white rice (cooked to al dente)
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1/3 cup fresh parsley (finely chopped)
- 1/2 cup fresh mint (chopped, packed)
- 1/3 cup fresh cilantro (chopped)
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp fresh ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp cayenne (optional)
- 3 eggs (beaten)
Instructions
- Roast the tomatoes. Start by roasting the tomatoes and garlic. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. Slice each tomato in half lengthwise and spread out across the prepared baking sheets in a single layer. Add the garlic. Drizzle with approximately 1 tablespoon of olive oil and season liberally with salt and pepper. Roast for approximately 35-45 minutes. Once the tomatoes have finished cooking, remove from the oven and allow to cool.
- Caramelize the onion. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add one of the chopped onions to the pot and mix well to combine. Allow the onion to cook for approximately 25 minutes, or until they are fragrant, mushy and golden brown. Stir often.
- Blend the tomatoes and onion. Add the roasted tomatoes, roasted garlic, their juices, and the caramelized onions to the bowl of a large high-speed blender or food processor. Pulse until blended, but not completely pureed (imagine the consistency of canned tomato sauce, but perhaps a little thicker). Set aside.
- Prepare the meatballs. In a large mixing bowl, use your hands to thoroughly combine the ground meat with the minced onion, garlic, al dente rice, fresh herbs, salt, pepper, cayenne (optional), and eggs. Set aside.
- Prepare the soup base. Heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat in a large heavy-bottomed pot. Add the remaining chopped onion, and cook for approximately 5 minutes, or until starting to soften. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Add the carrots and celery, mixing well to combine. Cook for an additional 5-7 minutes, stirring often. Add the potatoes, and continue to cook for an additional 3-4 minutes.
- Add the homemade tomato sauce and broth. Add the blended garlic tomato sauce to the vegetables and mix well to combine. Allow the tomato sauce to cook with the onions for 3-4 minutes before adding the low-sodium chicken broth (or water) to the pot. Increase heat to high and cover. Bring to a boil before reducing heat to low. Simmer for approximately 15 minutes while you roll the meatballs.
- Make the Meatballs. Use your hands to form meatballs of approximately equal size. If the mixture starts to stick to your hands, dampen your palms with a little water.
- Cook the meatballs. Gently add the meatballs to the simmering soup, one at a time, adding more stock to the pot, if necessary, but taking care not to overflow your pot. Cover and simmer over low heat for approximately 30 minutes.
- Garnish and serve. After the meatballs have finished cooking, stir in the fresh chopped cilantro and lime juice. Enjoy!
Jessica's Notes
- To get your rice to cook approximately halfway (al dente), wash and rinse three-quarters of a cup of long-grain white rice and add to a pot covered by approximately 3 cups of water. Boil and reduce to a simmer. Check rice every 5 minutes. You know it's done when it's starting to soften, but still undercooked. Drain and rinse with cold water.
- I added onion, carrots, celery, and potato. Feel free to add all your favorite vegetables, however, including bell pepper, zucchini, peas, and cabbage.
- Really dice the onion that you plan to add to the meatballs. A smaller dice always makes for easier shaping.
- Easily substitute the tomato base with a couple of cans of diced tomatoes. You may still caramelize the onions and blend with the canned tomatoes, or skip the onions, too. If you do decide to skip roasting the tomatoes and garlic and do not caramelize the onions, I recommend cooking 1 additional small onion with the vegetables plus 4 cloves minced garlic.
- Most the herbs will go directly into the meatballs, and though it may seem like a lot, I don't recommend skimping. Mint is especially important, with cilantro coming is second.
- Use your favorite ground meat for the meatballs - turkey, chicken, beef, pork.
Nutritional Information
(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and specific brands of ingredients used.)
Can this be made in an instapot? ThanksE
Man this recipe is soooo good. Mexican husband approves!
Thanks for the kind feedback Brianne 🙂
Delicious soup! Well over 1.5 hours total for me to make everything from scratch, but had a very satisfying result.
I made this last night with 2 adjustments. I used 1/2 cups of uncooked rice instead of the cooked rice and I added one whole fresh jalapeño and put it in the blender with the roasted tomatoes onion and garlic. Kept the rest as written. Sooooo good. A true happy meal. ❤️
wonderful soup
Wow, completely obsessed with this recipe. I am Mexican and grow up eating albóndiga soap but never thought to add the tomato broth with the caramelized onion. As soon as I finish posting this comment I’ll be on my way to the grocery store. Cannot wait to try this recipe. Very well thought out and organized dialogue. You rock Jessica!
Really tasty, thank you for the recipe.