Description
This Hearty Meatball Stew is a comforting and flavorful dish featuring tender homemade beef meatballs simmered in a rich broth with vegetables and aromatic herbs. Perfect for a cozy dinner, this stew combines ground beef meatballs with carrots, celery, onions, and peas in a savory tomato and beef broth base.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Stew
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 4 cups beef broth
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
- 1 cup frozen peas
Instructions
- Prepare the pot and vegetables: Preheat a large pot over medium heat and add the olive oil. Once heated, add the diced onion, carrots, celery, and minced garlic. Cook the vegetables, stirring occasionally, until they have softened and become fragrant, about 5-7 minutes.
- Make the meatball mixture: In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, chopped fresh parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mix everything thoroughly until well combined. Form the mixture into evenly sized meatballs.
- Brown the meatballs: Add the formed meatballs to the pot with the softened vegetables. Brown the meatballs on all sides by cooking them for about 5 minutes, turning carefully to ensure an even sear without breaking them.
- Add herbs, broth, and tomatoes: Stir in the dried thyme, beef broth, and the entire can of diced tomatoes with their juices. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Simmer stew: Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and cover the pot. Let the stew simmer gently for 20 minutes to allow flavors to meld and the meatballs to cook through.
- Add peas and finish cooking: Stir the frozen peas into the stew and continue simmering uncovered for an additional 5 minutes until the peas are heated through.
- Adjust seasoning: Taste the stew and add additional salt and pepper as desired to balance the flavors.
- Serve: Ladle the hearty meatball stew into bowls and serve hot for a delicious and satisfying meal.
Notes
- For a richer flavor, use homemade beef broth or low-sodium broth to control salt levels.
- You can substitute fresh tomatoes for the canned diced tomatoes if desired; just chop them finely.
- To make the stew spicier, add a pinch of red pepper flakes when adding the dried thyme.
- This stew can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months.
- Serve with crusty bread or over mashed potatoes for a complete meal.
