Meatball Stew

This hearty Meatball Stew is packed with tender meatballs, vegetables, and potatoes simmered in a rich, savory gravy — the perfect cozy dinner for cold nights!

Sometimes you just need a hug in the form of a wholesome stew. Meatball stew is a newer one in our house and it has been getting rave reviews from my best taste testers (the kids).

This dish is filled with homemade meatballs, fresh veggies, diced potatoes and a savory gravy that will have everyone at the dinner table asking for seconds. This is a meatball stew recipe that includes homemade beef meatballs, but you can totally thaw out some frozen store bought ones too for convenience.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Beef meatball soup is a satisfying, nutritious supper you can have on the table in only 45 minutes.
• There may be a lot of ingredients that go into this hearty stew, but I know you’ve probably got most, if not all, of them in your kitchen already!
• You cook the stew in the same pot as the meatballs, so you could say this is a one-pot dish, which means there are fewer dishes to clean up!

Ingredients For Meatball Stew

Meatballs

• Ground beef – I recommend using 80/20 ground beef for the tastiest results. You can also do a mix with ground pork or ground Italian sausage.
• Breadcrumbs – Use Italian style, or if you’ve got plain on hand, add dried oregano, basil and parsley as well as garlic and onion powder.
• Dried parsley flakes – These add great flavor to the meatballs.
• Garlic – Minced garlic adds some punch and flavor.
• Onion – A chopped yellow onion adds
• Egg – Egg is used to bind the meatballs together so they don’t fall apart when rolling and cooking.
• Seasonings – Salt and ground black pepper will balance out the flavors.

For The Stew

• Olive oil – This is used to fry the meatballs in as well as sauté the veggies.
• Onion – A large chopped onion will add a subtle sweet flavor to the stew.
• Celery – Diced celery is a little bitter so it will balance the sweetness of onion and carrot in this stew.
• Carrots – Carrots add color and some sweetness to this stew.
• Garlic – Minced garlic adds a depth of flavor.
• Potatoes – Peeled, cubed Yukon or red potatoes will hold their shape best in this dish.
• Green beans – Use your garden fresh veggies or take a short cut and use frozen beans that have been thawed. If you use frozen, add them with the peas.
• Diced tomatoes – A can of diced tomatoes and it’s juices bring a lot of flavor to a stew.
• Beef stock – This will enhance the flavor of the beef, as well as bring more liquid so the gravy has a nice consistency.
• Worcestershire sauce – Adds depth of flavor to this meatball stew.
• Soy sauce – Offers a savory umami flavor, balancing out this dish.
• Smoked paprika – Smoked paprika has a delicious, distinct flavor. If you don’t have access to smoked paprika, you can substitute it for regular paprika and chili powder or a dash of liquid smoke if you have it on hand.
• Frozen peas – Add these toward the end since they don’t need to be cooked, just heated.
• Seasonings – Season with salt and ground black pepper to your tastes.
• Fresh parsley – Chop up some fresh parsley to top each bowl for a hint of green and a touch of added flavor.

How To Make Meatball Stew

Make the Meatballs

In a bowl, combine all the meatball ingredients.

Mix well and form into small meatballs, about 1 inch in diameter.

In a large Dutch oven, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add meatballs without overcrowding and cook until browned on all sides. They do not need to be cooked through. You might have to cook the meatballs in batches.

Remove from pot and set aside on a plate.

Prepare the Stew

In the same pot, add the remaining 1 Tablespoon of olive oil. Sauté onions, celery and carrots for 4-5 minutes.

Add garlic and stir until fragrant.

Add potatoes and green beans, followed by smoked paprika, diced tomatoes and their juices, Worcestershire sauce, beef broth, and soy sauce.

Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover with a lid and simmer for 15 minutes.

Add the browned meatballs and thawed peas to the pot. Continue to simmer, uncovered, for an additional 10 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender and the meatballs are cooked through.

Top with the fresh parsley to serve.

Storage And Reheating

Fridge: Store leftover meatball stew in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Freezer: If you want to freeze leftover stew, let it cool completely and then store in an airtight container. Silicone cubes are great for freezing in individual portions, too. Thaw meatball stew in the fridge overnight or reheat from frozen.

Reheat stew, covered on the stovetop or in the microwave in 30 second to 1 minute increments, stirring between.

Rich and bursting with flavor, meatball stew is going to be a hit in your house. I just love to see the smiles on my family’s faces when there’s a meatball stew on the stovetop and I know your family will love it too.

How To Serve Meatball Stew

Meatball stew has got all of the bases covered for a full meal, so if your family is anything like mine and has to eat and run, this is the perfect dish. Grab a loaf of your favorite crusty bread from a local bakery to enjoy with this hearty stew and you’re all set.

If you do have a little more time on your hands, mix up a batch of Garlic Bread, Texas Roadhouse Rolls or Homemade Crescent Rolls. A green salad would be nice to balance out the meal, too.

Just in case anyone has room left for dessert, I recommend Chocolate Caramel Brownies. They are made quickly with a German chocolate cake mix and made so decadent with the addition of caramel and chocolate chips.

More Great Stew Recipes

• Keep it simple with mouthwatering Irish Beef Stew. Guinness Beer is added for a unique flavor that is rich and deep, perfectly complementing the beef.
• Sometimes I wonder how anyone gets through the week without using their slow cooker at least once. Crock Pot Beef Stew is rich, chunky and full of flavor to warm you up on a cold evening.
• If you are a fan of using your pressure cooker, add Instant Pot Beef Stew to your meal plan this week. Beef, carrots and potatoes bring so much flavor to the dinner table!