Easy Healthy Vegetable Meatball Soup (Instant Pot or Crock Pot)
Looking for a great easy, healthy weeknight dinner idea? Give this vegetable meatball soup a try! It's a healthy and delicious recipe that your whole family will love. Plus, it's easy to make in either the Crock Pot or InstantPot!
Servings: 12 cups
Ingredients
- 1 pound small frozen meatballs (I used Trader Joe's)
- 24 ounces jarred marinara sauce (such as Classico Tomato Basil Sauce)
- 4 cups low sodium beef or chicken broth (I use Better than Bouillon)
- 3 cups chopped green beans (I used frozen)
- 2 cups chopped carrots
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 1 medium zucchini, chopped
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder or granulated garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
Instant Pot:
- Combine all ingredients in InstantPot and stir well. Close and lock the lid. Make sure the vent is in "Sealing" position. Select Manual function (high pressure) for 10 minutes.After time is up "Quick Release" the pressure by sliding the vent to "Venting." Stir and and taste, adding more salt and pepper as necessary.
Slow Cooker:
- Ideal Slow Cooker Size: 6-Quart. Combine all ingredients in slow cooker. Cover, and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours or until vegetables are soft. Stir and and taste, adding more salt and pepper as necessary.
To Freeze and Cook Later
- Combine all ingredients (except broth) in a gallon-sized plastic zipper lock freezer bag. Remove as much air as possible, seal, and freeze for up to three months. When ready to cook, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and add to slow cooker or InstantPot along with broth. Refer to Slow Cooker or InstantPot cooking instructions.
Notes
Serving size: 1 cup soup (1/12th recipe)
WW Points: Check the WW Points for this recipe and track it in the WW app.
(Must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.) 3 PointsPlus (Old plan)
(Must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.) 3 PointsPlus (Old plan)
Additions and Variations
- Different meatballs? Substitute turkey or vegetarian meatballs to lower the Points by 1 or 2. Make your own mini meatballs if you prefer. If you can only get large meatballs, you make want to cut them in half or quarters.
- Different Vegetables? Swap out the veggies for whatever works best for you. A package of frozen mixed vegetables would work. Yellow squash, zucchini, mushrooms, sweet potato, or butternut squash would all work well. I often stir in a couple large handfuls of kale or spinach at the end so they don't overcook.
- Spicier? Add your favorite hot sauce or crushed red pepper flakes
- Heartier? Add a can or two of white or garbanzo beans
- More Tomatoey? Add 2-3 tablespoons tomato paste
- Different Seasonings? Basil, bay leaf, oregano, Italian seasoning, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, Worcestershire sauce
- Lower SmartPoints? Substitute turkey or vegetarian meatballs for the beef meatballs, Substitute canned crushed tomatoes for the pasta sauce (you'll want to add more seasonings though)
Nutrition
Serving: 1cup | Calories: 135kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 36mg | Sodium: 614mg | Potassium: 521mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 4035IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 61mg | Iron: 2mg