Gnocchi, Spinach, and Meatball Soup
Gnocchi, Spinach, and Meatball Soup blends tender potato dumplings with mini beef meatballs in a herbed chicken broth enriched with half-and-half. Fresh spinach, escarole, and carrots add color and sweetness, while Parmesan and basil bring a savory finish. It’s a cozy, winter-worthy bowl that feels hearty yet balanced enough for family dinners or casual gatherings.
- Prep20 mins
- Cook40 mins
- Serves10
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Gnocchi, Spinach, and Meatball Soup, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 49 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 0 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 93 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
- 1 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 11
- Heart Health
- 70
- Metabolic
- 24
- Digestive
- 20
- Inflammatory
- 54
- Performance
- 43
- General Wellness
- 1
Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-low, and sauté the onion in the hot oil until it is soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic; cook and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the chicken broth, bay leaf, Italian seasoning, sea salt, and pepper; bring it slowly to a simmer, about 5 minutes.
- 2
Meanwhile, make the meatballs: In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, beaten egg, bread crumbs, 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, onion powder, Italian seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, garlic salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined. Shape the mixture into tiny 1/2-inch meatballs.
- 3
Carefully drop the meatballs, one at a time, into the simmering soup in the pot. Return to a slow simmer and cook for 20 minutes. Skim off and discard any foam that rises to the surface with a spoon.
- 4
Add the gnocchi, escarole, and carrot; bring the soup back to a simmer. Stir in the half-and-half, spinach, and basil. When the gnocchi float to the top, remove from heat.
- 5
Discard the bay leaf and garnish with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese to serve.
- Calories 243.39 kcal Moderate 12%
- Protein 19.76 g Good Source 40%
- Carbohydrate 12.97 g 5%
- Total Fat 11.91 g Moderate 15%
- Saturated Fat 4.62 g High 23%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 73.99 mg High 25%
- Sodium 620.57 mg High 27%
- Dietary Fiber 2.84 g Moderate 10%
- Total Sugars 5.75 g --
- Added Sugars 0.27 g Low Source 1%
- Calcium 142.44 mg Moderate 11%
- Iron 3.58 mg Moderate 20%
- Potassium 270.1 mg Low Source 6%
- Vitamin A 477.39 mcg Good Source 53%
- Vitamin C 13.65 mg Moderate 15%
- Vitamin D 0.09 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Eggs 🥚
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Gnocchi, Spinach, and Meatball Soup is an Italian dinner recipe made with 21 ingredients. It takes about 1 hr, serves 10, and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Baby Spinach, Black Pepper, Chicken Broth, and Dried Bay Leaves. Each serving provides about 243.39 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Gnocchi, Spinach, and Meatball Soup?
- It is an Italian soup recipe made with 21 ingredients, usually served for dinner or lunch or soup.
- What is Gnocchi, Spinach, and Meatball Soup made of?
- The main ingredients are Baby Spinach, Black Pepper, Chicken Broth, Dried Bay Leaves, Eggs. The full list of 21 is above.
- What goes well with Gnocchi, Spinach, and Meatball Soup?
- Explore these Italian side-dish recipes.
- How long does it take to make Gnocchi, Spinach, and Meatball Soup?
- About 1 hr in total: 20 mins to prepare and 40 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 243.39 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Gnocchi, Spinach, and Meatball Soup easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 21 ingredients and 5 steps.
- Is Gnocchi, Spinach, and Meatball Soup healthy?
- Gnocchi, Spinach, and Meatball Soup has an easyChef Pro health score of 43/100. Per serving, it provides 243.39 calories and 19.76 g of protein, or 40% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of vitamin A. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 620.57 mg (27% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 4.62 g (23% of the Daily Value). It contains Eggs, Milk, Wheat, Gluten, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.
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