Mini Chicken Meatball Soup Recipe

This mini chicken meatball soup with barley tastes similar to an Italian Wedding Soup, but is much more hearty, healthy, and flavorful! It makes the perfect balanced and comforting dish that’s kid-friendly too!

Chicken meatball soup served in two white bowls.

Healthy Chicken Meatball Soup Recipe

Soup is one of my favorite meals to make for the family because the protein, grains and vegetables are cooked up all in one pot so it makes for a super easy and balanced meal with minimal clean up.

We’re a big fan of meatballs in our family so this easy homemade chicken meatball soup has become a really popular option on the menu. It resembles an Italian wedding soup, but is even healthier, and the whole family always devours it!

The mini chicken meatballs are especially fun for kids and the fiber-rich barley and veggies make it really satisfying.

This soup is super easy to prepare, and the flavors are so warming and hearty. The perfect comforting meal for those cooler days!

For more tasty soups, be sure to try my Chicken Potato Soup and Healthy Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe too!

A spoon in a bowl of the Italian chicken meatball soup.

Why We Love this Meatball Barley Soup

Filling: One serving of this soup contains 30 grams of protein and 8 grams of fiber so it will keep you feeling satisfied for hours. Barley is packed full of soluble fiber, which can help to fill you up and also assist in lowering cholesterol too.

Make ahead: Make up a big batch of this healthy chicken meatball soup and enjoy it throughout the week. It’s also freezer-friendly so great for meal prep!

Kid-friendly: Sometimes it can be tough to get kids to eat their veggies and protein, am I right? The mini chicken meatballs in this soup are perfect for little mouths and the vegetables are cooked until they’re nice and tender, so they’re easy to chew and blend in nicely with the rest of the soup. The barley tastes almost like small pasta so it’s always a tasty addition. All around, it’s a great soup for kids!

Ingredient Notes

Ingredients for the Italian meatball soup on marble background with labels

Chicken Meatball Ingredients

Chicken: Use extra lean ground chicken to form the meatballs. You can also sub in ground turkey to make turkey meatballs, or try pork or beef instead.
Egg: Used to help bind the ingredients together. You can leave it out if you require the recipe to be egg-free.
Seasonings: Garlic, oregano, parsley, salt and pepper are used to flavor up the meatballs. You could also try using Italian seasoning instead of thyme.
Almond Flour: I love using almond flour in meatballs as it lends a delicious flavor and texture and also adds in some extra healthy fats. You can also sub in panko or breadcrumbs.
Parmesan: Use freshly grated parmesan for the best flavor. Pre-grated can be quite dry and may result in a grainy texture.

For the Soup

Vegetables: Aromatic vegetables such as onion, carrots, and celery are used as the veggies of choice to keep this soup simple and kid-friendly. Feel free to add other vegetables such as mushrooms and spinach if desired.
Seasonings: Thyme, salt and pepper are used to flavor the soup. Adapt according to personal taste preferences. You can also add in Italian seasoning instead of thyme if preferred.
Chicken broth: I use a low sodium chicken broth to reduce the sodium content. If you use regular store-bought chicken stock, then adjust the added salt. You can also use homemade chicken stock, bone broth or vegetable stock if preferred.
Barley: Barley is a fiber-rich grain that tastes great in soups. It soaks up the flavors from the soup and makes it extra hearty. You can also sub in a small pasta, quinoa or Israeli couscous.

Step-by-Step Instructions

How to Mini Chicken Meatballs for Soup

Four photos to show how to make chicken meatballs.

Step 1 – Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 2 – In a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients for the meatballs.
Step 3 – Form meatball mixture into balls approximately 1/2 inch in diameter. You can also use a small ice cream scoop. The mixture should make about 35-40 mini meatballs.
Step 4 – Place on baking sheet in a single layer and bake for 20 minutes.

How to Make Chicken Meatball Vegetable Soup

Four photos to show how to make the soup.

Step 5 – Meanwhile, heat oil in a large pot or large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion, carrots, celery, and thyme. Cook until fragrant and starting to soften, about 3 to 4 minutes.
Step 6 – Add chicken broth and bring to a boil.
Step 7 – Add the barley and lower to a simmer for 25 minutes, stirring everyone once in a while to prevent the barley from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
Step 8 – Add the meatballs and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Garnish with freshly grated parmesan cheese, if desired.

Recipe Tips:

If you let the soup sit for a few hours, you’ll notice that the barley absorbs quite a bit of broth. You may wish to add more broth to the soup, especially if consuming as leftovers. Alternatively, if cooking this soup in advance, you can cook the barley separately and add it just before serving.

If serving this chicken meatball soup to little kids, I like to slice the carrots and then quarter them so that they’re smaller and easier to chew.

I generally make mini meatballs for this soup to make it more kid-friendly, however you can make the meatballs larger (form into approximately 2-inch meatballs) if preferred.

For extra flavor, add the parmesan rind to the pot while the soup is cooking.

To save on prep time, make up a batch of the meatballs in advance and freeze for later. When ready to make the soup, add the frozen meatballs at the same time you add the barley to allow them time to thaw.

We like to freeze this soup in these Souper Cubes for individual portions that can be easily served as a quick and easy lunch or dinner when pressed for time!

Chicken meatball soup in a pot with a wooden spoon.

Storage & Reheating Guidelines

Refrigerator: Make up a big pot of this soup and enjoy a warm bowl of it throughout the week. Once made, let the soup cool completely and store it in the fridge covered or in an airtight container. It will keep well for up to 4 days.

Freezer: This chicken meatball soup is great for freezer meals. Let the cooked soup cool and store in an airtight container. It will keep well for up to 3 months. Thaw the soup in the fridge overnight before reheating.

To reheat: Reheat this soup on a medium heat in a pot on the stovetop. Barley is quite absorbent, so you may want to add in a little extra stock or water to loosen it back up. Take care to only reheat the chicken meatballs once.

Recipe FAQs

What type of barley should I use?

You can use either pearl or pot barley for this soup. They taste pretty much the same, however, their nutritional benefits and cooking times do vary slightly.

Pot barley only has the outer husk removed, making it a higher fiber more nutritious option, but it does take longer to cook.

Pearl barley tends to be more refined since it’s both husked and polished, but requires a shorter cooking time. It’s a personal preference which barley you choose to use for this soup.

Does barley get mushy in soup?

If you plan to make barley soup ahead of time, I recommend cooking the barley separately and then adding it in right before serving. It tends to absorb the liquid as it sits, which can result in a slightly mushy texture. To avoid this, make the recipe as stated, but omit the barley until serving time.

Overhead shot of a spoon in a bowl of meatball soup.

Serving Suggestions

This ground chicken meatball soup is one hearty and filling meal all by itself. It’s also great served with some crusty bread or crackers, or paired along with one of these vegetable sides or salads:

Recipe Variations

Veggies: Add spinach, kale or mushrooms.
Protein: Instead of ground chicken, you can also use ground turkey, beef, pork or sausage.
Herbs and spices: Top with other fresh herbs like fresh basil or a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for a kick.
For zesty flavor: Add a squeeze of lemon juice and/or lemon zest to the broth.
To make vegetarian: Add white beans or lentils instead of meatballs.
To make gluten-free: Use quinoa or gluten-free pasta instead of barley.

More Tasty Soup Recipes

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A bowl of mini chicken meatball soup with crackers.

Course Main Course, Soup