Albondigas Mexican meatball soup is a simple dish with light broth, vegetables, and meatballs flavored with chorizo and rice.

This recipe first appeared on the blog in 2013.  This post has been updated with new photos! 

Albondigas Mexican Soup

If you want a simple and flavorful soup, then you are going to love this albondigas recipe.  This meatball soup has been enjoyed by my family FOREVER.

My grandmother, mother, aunts, and now I all make this soup!

However, like most recipes that have been floating around no one ever took the time to write down any detailed instructions!

Perhaps because it’s a simple recipe, and we all learned by hovering over each other.

Honestly, I believe no one wrote down the recipe because it changes each time.  Slight adjustments are made based on what is in the refrigerator.  This is a great clean out veggie drawer recipe!

Variations to this albondigas recipe

Chicken broth is the base used when making this Mexican soup, but vegetable or beef are also tasty options.

The type of meat can also be adapted to your preference. Chorizo adds sooo much flavor, so I don’t recommend substituting that, but go ahead and use turkey, chicken or ground pork instead of beef for the meatballs if you would like.

Another common way to add flavor to this soup is to incorporate fresh mint in the meat mix. Mint adds a fresh depth of flavor, which tastes scrumptious!

If fresh mint is not readily available then no problem!  This soup tastes delicious with either option!

Also, don’t be afraid to experiment with a mix of squash.  Summer squash is a delicious variation to use in this dish.

What type of rice should be used in Mexican meatball soup?

Only a small amount of rice is used to bulk up the meatballs. Leftover cooked rice is perfectly fine as well as raw rice. 

The raw rice will cook and get fluffy while the soup is simmering.

Keep in mind that using raw brown rice (my favorite) will require additional cooking time, so cooked rice might be best in that case.

Mexican meatball soup is filling and easy to make.  Want to add another tasty Latin soup to your menu?  Give Nana’s Pozole Mexican Soup or this Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup a try!

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Albondigas Mexican Meatball Soup

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Prep Time 20 mins Cook Time 35 mins Yields 8

A flavorful meatball soup in a light broth with vegetables. This easy recipe is a family favorite.

Ingredients

• MEATBALLS
• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1/2 lb Mexican chorizo sausage or regular sausage
• 1 egg, beaten
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 cup rice, cooked or raw
• 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped (or mix 1/4 cup mint and 1/4 cup of cilantro)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• *SOUP BASE
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 cup onion, chopped
• 3 stalks celery, cut in chunks
• 1 carrot, sliced
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1/2 cup cilantro
• 1 16 ounce can diced tomatoes
• 1 large zucchini, sliced
• salt and pepper to taste.

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients for meatballs, mixing well. Form into 1½ inch meatballs (about 24), and set aside.
2. In a stock pan, combine broth, onion, celery, carrots, cumin, oregano, cilantro, and tomatoes with the liquid. Simmer for about 10 minutes.
3. Get the soup to a slight boil and drop the meatballs in the soup. Reduce the heat to a simmer for another 10 minutes.
4. Add zucchini and cook 10 minutes.
5. Season with salt and pepper.

by Sandra Shaffer

Recipe Notes

To use mint substitute 1/4 cup of the cilantro for chopped mint. 

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