Albondigas Soup is a traditional Mexican soup made from juicy meatballs infused with rice and herbs that have been cooked in a flavorful tomato broth with onions, carrots, celery, potatoes, and green beans.
Albondigas soup, or Mexican meatball soup in English, is a satisfying and comforting classic Mexican dish that’s perfect any time of the year. It’s loaded with vegetables and tender meatballs all cooked in a simple yet flavorful broth.
Albondigas Soup Ingredients
The version I’m sharing with you today is made with onions, carrots, celery, green beans, and potatoes, but you can use different vegetables depending on the season. For example, in the warmer months I love using chayote squash and fresh corn. It’s totally up to you!
As the name of the recipe suggests, the star of the soup is the albondigas! The little meatballs are made from a mixture of 1/2 lean ground beef and 1/2 Mexican chorizo. The chorizo adds an amazing rich and salty flavor that can’t be beat!
They’re also seasoned with chopped fresh mint, garlic, cumin, salt and pepper. To help them stick together and retain a little moisture, they’re mixed together with an egg and 1/2 a cup of cooked white rice.
How to make Albondigas Soup
Start by making the meatballs and combining all of the ingredients together using your hands.
The key to making the meatballs “fluffy” and not too dry is to not overwork the mixture. Try to mix everything together until you feel like all the ingredients have been evenly dispersed throughout the meat, and then stop. Resist the urge to keep mixing.
Once you’ve got the mixture combined, form it into 24 small meatballs.
I used a small cookie scoop to gather about 1 heaping tablespoon per meatballs, and then formed it using my hands.
Then set the meatballs aside while you make prep the vegetables and broth.
Once the broth base is cooked, carefully add in the meatballs one by one and cook them in the broth for a total of 30 minutes. This will add so much flavor to the broth and keep the meatballs tender and juicy, which is just what you want!
About halfway through cooking, add in the potatoes and green beans to ensure that they don’t overcook and get too mushy.
Tips for making Albondigas Soup
- Taste and adjust the salt content as you go. The salt content of Mexican chorizo and various broths can vary wildly from brand to brand, so I recommend always starting with a small amount and adjusting if necessary.
- Make sure the soup is boiling when you go to add the meatballs. This will ensure that they start cooking immediately instead of just sitting in the broth.
Substitutions and Variations
- If you can’t find Mexican chorizo near you, I highly recommend making your own using this chorizo recipe! It’s easy to make and uses ingredients that can easily be found in grocery stores like ground pork, various spices, and white vinegar.
- If you prefer to not use Mexican chorizo, you can use all ground beef instead.
- If you don’t have any fresh mint, you can use a mixture of 1/2 fresh cilantro and fresh parsley instead. Or you can use all cilantro if you prefer.
- Feel free to use any vegetables you have! Squash, zucchini, corn, and peas are all great options.
More Mexican soups
Ingredients
For the meatballs
- 1/2 pound lean ground beef
- 1/2 pound Mexican chorizo (homemade or store bought)
- 1 large egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup cooked white rice
- 1/4 cup tightly packed mint leaves, chopped
- 1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
For the soup
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 celery stalks, sliced into 1/2-inch thickness
- 3 large carrots, peeled and sliced into 1/2-inch thickness
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 8 cups beef broth (or chicken or vegetable broth)
- 8 ounces green beans, cut to 1-inch pieces
- 1 large potato, diced into 1-inch chunks
- 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients for the meatballs to a large bowl. Mix together with your hands until just combined. (Try not to overwork the meat too much, just until you feel like all the ingredients have been evenly dispersed throughout the mixture.)
- Roll the mixture into 24 meatballs and set aside. (I used a small cookie scoop to gather about 1 heaping tablespoon of the meat mixture, and then formed it using my hands.)
- Heat a large Dutch oven or pot over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil, celery, carrots, onions, and 1 teaspoon of salt. Stir to combine and cook for 8 minutes, until the onions have softened.
- Add the tomato paste, dried oregano, and ground cumin. Mix together until the tomato paste has fully coated all of the vegetables.
- Add the broth and stir to combine. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat to low.
- Carefully drop the meatballs into the pot one by one. Bring the soup back to a simmer, then cover and cook for 15 minutes.
- Add the green beans and potatoes. Cover and cook for 15 more minutes.
- Add the cilantro, mix together, and taste. Season with more salt if necessary.
- Serve and enjoy!
Isabel’s Tips:
- If you can’t find Mexican chorizo near you, I highly recommend making your own using this chorizo recipe! It’s easy to make and uses ingredients that can easily be found in grocery stores like ground pork, various spices, and white vinegar.
- If you prefer to not use Mexican chorizo, you can use all ground beef instead.
- If you don’t have any fresh mint, you can use a mixture of 1/2 fresh cilantro and fresh parsley instead. Or you can use all cilantro if you prefer.
- Feel free to use any vegetables you have! Squash, zucchini, corn, and peas are all great options.
Nutrition Information
This post was originally published in June 2018 and has been updated in February 2022 with new photos and modified recipe instructions.
My whole family loves this 🙂
Hi Liza! That makes us so happy! Thank you for using our recipes.
Delicious. I used soy chizo and zucchini. Used mint and cilantro. Never would of thought of mint. Memories of soup my grandmother made.It was excellent. I always want this soup when I an feeling sick. I am going to make a batch sans zucchini and potatoe and freeze. Then thaw and add fresh vegetables. Thank you so much.
I just made some soup from the list
A much more interesting recipe than the one I used to use. Family enjoyed it immensely, and I have picky eaters. I did take out the onions and garlic because my one can’t have them at the moment, but I’m sure when I add them next time, it will be much better. Bookmarked your site and can’t wait to make the apple empanadas (though custard ones are my favorite)! Thank you for sharing!
Hi Peggy! Thank you so much for sharing your experience! Let us know how the apple empanadas turn out.
Looking for the original recipe! It was a big hit. Before chorizo and other veggies were added. Is it available somewhere? It’s was delicious
Great job Isabel! You cook just like me!
Do you cook the meatballs first? If not, how long do you simmer them to insure the meat is cooked? Can’t wait to try it!
The meatballs are cooked in the soup. Once you put them in the pot, let the liquid come back to a boil. Then reduce the heat to simmer and cook for 10 more minutes.
I love all your recipes you’re the best is it really Isabel that response or is it someone else- You are a beautiful woman thank you so much for all of your awesome recipes
Have you ever done this in a slow cooker?
Hi Sherrie! I’ve never tested this in a slow cooker, but that’s a great idea! I would think 6 hours on low or 4 hours on high would be enough time.
Hello Isabel I’m wondering about the Chipotle peppers I reconstructed 3 in the broth was a little intense and I’m wondering 1 chipotle pepper or two equals how many teaspoons of powder thank you for putting that recipe out there my stomach and I appreciate it I’ll be back for more
Hello Glen! So in general, one fresh pepper = 1/2 teaspoon of powder. Hope this helps!
I grew up eating my abuelita’s Albondigas made with ground pork & fresh mint instead of cilantro. She would also throw in some Chajote squash. Oh, & hot off the comal, homemade flour tortillas . I was a happy girl. Your receipe sounds great & will be made for dinner tonight
yes! when i make them i always add extra mint.
This is my all time favorite mexican soup, love your recipe! Delish!!
Thank you, Ronda!
I always add a bit of cabbage to mine. your recipe is delish.
hello, i want to add potatoes to this recipe, could you please maybe let me know which part to add them in?
I’ve never tried abondigas with chorizo before can someone give me a review on the difference in taste in mixing that with the ground beef and just using ground beef
I bake the meatballs at 375 F for 15 minutes. It was in a recipe for Mexican Meatball Stew in Woman’s World magazine (3/6/17).
Been wanting for years to make albonidas soup. I found yours and i made it, i did add zucchini in it with everything else, and it was AMAZING. I couldnt get enough of it, but the next day it was even better. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. I posted my soup on fb and my friends want the recipe now. 100% amazing soup.
I’m so happy you liked it, Tina!
Hi
I would like to add potatoes when should they be added?
Cindi
Hi Cindi! We suggest adding them in step 5.
Added zucchini instead of celery because that’s what I had. Everything else I copied exactly! So delicious!
I’m so happy you liked it! Love that substitution. I’m going to have to try it next time.
Can instant white rice b used for this recipe?
Yes, as long as it’s already cooked, it should work.
Hello from Butler! I have sworn off ground beef since I found bison. Can’t wait to try this! I’ll let you know how it turns out!
Thanks, Tracee! Hope you like it!