Description
This hearty meatball stew features tender homemade meatballs simmered in a rich tomato and beef broth with carrots, potatoes, and aromatic Italian seasoning. Perfect for a comforting family meal, it combines simple ingredients into a flavorful one-pot dish that warms you up on chilly days.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 lb ground beef (80% lean)
- 1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- Salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
Stew
- 2 medium carrots, diced
- 2 medium potatoes, cubed
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
- 4 cups beef broth
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 2 tbsp cooking oil (for browning meatballs and sautéing vegetables)
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Chop all vegetables including the onion, carrots, and potatoes, and mince the garlic.
- Make Meatballs: In a bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, minced garlic, chopped onion, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined to avoid tough meatballs. Form the mixture into evenly sized meatballs.
- Brown Meatballs: Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the meatballs and brown them on all sides for about 5 minutes. Remove meatballs and set aside on a plate.
- Sauté Vegetables: In the same pot, add diced carrots and potatoes. Sauté for about 5 minutes until they begin to soften. Add diced tomatoes and cook for an additional 2 minutes to release their flavors.
- Simmer Stew: Pour in the beef broth and stir in the Italian seasoning. Return the browned meatballs to the pot. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low and let it simmer uncovered for about 30 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the meatballs to cook through.
- Serve: Ladle the hot stew into bowls and serve with crusty bread or rice for a complete meal.
Notes
- Use 80% lean ground beef for juicy, flavorful meatballs that hold together well.
- Do not overmix meatball ingredients to keep them tender.
- You can substitute beef broth with vegetable broth for a lighter flavor.
- Adjust seasoning to taste; adding fresh herbs like parsley can enhance flavor.
- Simmer the stew gently to avoid breaking the meatballs apart.
- Leftovers store well in the fridge for up to 3 days and freeze beautifully.
