Russian Meatball Soup

Russian Meatball Soup

Meatballs in a Veg Broth with Rice

Recipe by
Reviewed by Arturs Arnicans
Prep Time: 5m
Cook Time: 25m
Total Time: 30m
Servings: 8
Difficulty: Easy
4.9 (17 Reviews)
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Ingredients

Adjust servings:

For the Soup:

For the Meatballs: (Frikadelki)

Nutritional Information

319
Calories
4.4g
Fat
61.3g
Carbohydrate
8.6g
Protein
21mg
Cholesterol
395mg
Sodium
Russian Meatball Soup

Recipe Description

This Russian Meatball Soup (“Soup with frikadelki”) recipe belongs to my dear grandmother. Originally from Russia and in true grandma style, she has her own, handwritten book of all the family recipes that she grew up on and this is one of them.

Chicken meatballs made with a little grated onion, dry herbs and garlic, for flavor and boiled in a vegetable soup broth combined of onions, carrots, garlic, peppercorns, bay leaves, potatoes, rice and dry herbs – we love it best for a whole dinner in a soup bowl!

To make Russian Meatball Soup, you will need the following ingredients:

Ingredients for Russian Meatball Soup

Recipe Features

No specific features for this recipe

Steps to make

  1. 1

    Cook vegetables

    3 min
    Step 1 - Russian Meatball Soup

    In a large pot over medium heat, heat 1 tablespoon of butter or oil and ½ a large, diced onion, 1-2 shredded carrots, and 2-3 cloves of minced garlic and season with some salt and ground black pepper. Cook for about 3 minutes, until the vegetables are soft.

  2. 2

    Add herbs and potatoes

    10 min
    Step 2 - Russian Meatball SoupStep 2 - Russian Meatball Soup

    Add the 3-5 peppercorns, 1-2 bay leaves, 3 chopped potatoes and 10 cups of water. Season again with some salt to taste, reduce the heat to simmer and cook for about 10 minutes, until the potatoes are completely cooked.

  3. 3

    Soften breadcrumbs with milk

    3 min
    Step 3 - Russian Meatball Soup

    In a mixing bowl, pour ¼-⅓ cup of milk over ½ cup of panko breadcrumbs and set aside for about 3 minutes, until the breadcrumbs have softened and absorbed all the milk.

  4. 4

    Add meatball ingredients

    1 min
    Step 4 - Russian Meatball SoupStep 4 - Russian Meatball Soup

    Once softened, add 1 pound of ground chicken meat, 1 teaspoon of salt, ¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper, 1 slightly beaten egg, ½ of an onion, finely grated to a pulp, ½ teaspoon of dry herb mixture, if using, and ½ teaspoon of garlic powder and mix to combine well.

  5. 5

    Prepare frikadelki

    5 min
    Step 5 - Russian Meatball Soup

    Best made by moistened hands, roll the ground meat mixture into ½-1 tablespoon sized meatballs then gently drop them into the simmering soup.

  6. 6

    Add rice

    15 min
    Step 6 - Russian Meatball SoupStep 6 - Russian Meatball SoupStep 6 - Russian Meatball Soup

    Add ⅓ cup of long grain rice to the soup, season again with some dry herbs and then cook for about 10-15 minutes until the rice and meatballs are completely cooked.

  7. 7

    Serve

    Step 7 - Russian Meatball Soup

    Garnish with some fresh herbs such as parsley, dill, green onions and chives, for serving! Enjoy!

Let us know when you try our Russian Meatball Soup and your thoughts on it. Handed down through family, I hope you will love it. Share some of your family secret recipes with us and tag us online using our hashtag #cookmerecipes!

About the author

Lilly Mathuse

Lilly is an enthusiastic and cheerful young mom. She knows as well as any parent that children can be really picky when it comes to food. And she’s had plenty of experience trying to cook meals that are both tasty and nutritious, and able to satisfy the tastes of a fussy kid right away! To save you some precious time, Lilly's going to share with you all the tricks she learned the hard way, so you don’t have to! She has a wealth of recipes for quick and easy meals for kids and families on a budget.

Recipe Reviews

Have you made this recipe? Share your experience and help other cooks!

★★★★★
★★★★★
4.9 out of 5 (17 reviews)
Nate Johnson
June 13, 2025
Verified

OMG, this Russian Meatball Soup is the real deal! My grandma used to make it, and now I can totally whip it up myself. The blend of flavors is just super yum, and it warms ya right up! Perfect for a cozy dinner. Gonna make it again, fo’ sure!

Nate
April 11, 2025
Verified

Satisfying, just like grandma used to make on cold nights. My wife and I enjoy it after long days, giving us comfort and warmth. A must-try for family moments.

Sofia Gonzalez
May 1, 2024
Verified

Excepcional receta, deliciosa sopa! Mi familia se enamoró de este plato, lo hice en una cena y todos pidieron más. ¡Gracias por compartir este tesoro de abuela!

Cécile Martin
March 11, 2024
Verified

Excellente recette! Ce plat me rappelle les dimanches passés chez ma grand-mère. Les boulettes de viande sont si savoureuses et simples à faire. Chaque bouchée est remplie de nostalgie et de chaleur. Merci beaucoup pour ce partage!

Quico
November 8, 2023
Verified

Deliciosa. Me recuerda a las cenas que prepara mi abuela. A mis hijos les encanta, especialmente las albóndigas. Es muy fácil y reconfortante, perfecto para una noche en familia. Sin duda lo haré otra vez.

Patty
October 6, 2023
Verified

This soup reminds me of cozy nights at grandma's house! The meatballs are tasty and simple to make. It’s a perfect meal for the family on a chilly evening.

Jack Thompson
October 4, 2023
Verified

This soup's a lifesaver! My grandma made it for us every winter. Soooo hearty, bro! Tastes like home cooking! Best comfort food ever! 🍲

Finn
September 18, 2023
Verified

Family favorite soup

Fiona Smith
December 27, 2022
Verified

Absolutely delicious soup!

Gabriel Martínez
November 6, 2022
Verified

Delicioso

Quinn Anderson
November 23, 2021
Verified

Soulful family dish!

Linda
October 24, 2021
Verified

Superb! This soup reminds me of my childhood. My grandma used to make it every Sunday, and I can still feel the warmth it brought us. Simple and delicious, it fills the heart and the belly! Thank you for sharing!

Yuri
May 22, 2021
Verified

This soup rocks! Made it for my wife and she loved it. Reminds me of my grandma's cozy dinners.

Zoe Thompson
May 6, 2021
Verified

This soup is exactly like my grandmother used to make. It brought back wonderful memories of childhood dinners. The flavors are simply great, and the recipe is super easy to follow. Thank you!

Austin
March 22, 2021
Verified

Lovely recipe that reminded my gf of home. We both loved it. Thank you for posting. Instructions were easy to follow.

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