Go Back
+ servings

Sopa de Albóndigas con Fideo (Mexican Meatball Soup with Noodles)

A Mexican classic with tender meatballs, golden noodles, and a tomato-herb broth; the perfect comfort soup.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Dinner, Lunch, Main Course, Soup
Cuisine Latin American, Mexican, Mexican American, Spanish Influence
Servings 6

Equipment

Ingredients
  

Ingredients for the Meatballs

  • 1 lb ground beef or half beef, half pork
  • ¼ cup uncooked rice
  • ¼ onion finely diced
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 3 tbsp chopped cilantro
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp Mexican oregano
  • ¼ tsp cumin
  • ½ tsp thyme
  • ½ tsp smoked paprika
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp onion powder
  • tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp pepper

Ingredients for the Broth

  • 4 Roma tomatoes
  • ¼ onion
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • ½-1 chipotle pepper in adobo optional
  • 8-9 cups water or broth See Notes
  • tsp tomato bouillon
  • 2 tsp chicken bouillon
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • Salt to taste

Vegetables and Noodles

  • 1 large russet potato peeled and cubed
  • 7 oz fideo noodles Don't have Fideo Noodles? No problem. See notes.
  • 3 sprigs cilantro
  • 2 sprigs mint
  • 2 whole serranos
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil For toasting the fideo noodles

Instructions
 

Step 1: Make the Meatballs

  • Prepare the seasoning mix: minced garlic, oregano, cumin, thyme, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
  • Sprinkle the seasonings over the ground meat in a large bowl.
  • Add the diced onion.
  • Add the uncooked rice.
  • Add the chopped cilantro.
  • Crack in the egg.
  • Mix gently by hand until just combined.
  • Scoop some mixture and begin shaping a meatball.
  • Check size: about 1 to 1½ inches wide.
  • Roll all meatballs, making about 12–14, and set them on a tray.

Step 2: Prepare the Broth and Cook the Meatballs

  • Add quartered Roma tomatoes to a blender.
  • Add onion and garlic.
  • Add chipotle with some adobo if using.
  • Pour in 1 cup water.
  • Blend until smooth.
  • Heat oil in a large pot. Pour in the puree — it should sizzle.
  • Cook the puree for 5 minutes, stirring until slightly darker.
  • Add the remaining 7–8 cups water or broth.
  • Stir and bring to a gentle simmer.
  • Add bouillons and a pinch of salt, stir to dissolve.
  • Keep the broth at a gentle simmer, not a boil.
  • Lower in meatballs one by one.
  • Cover and simmer 15 minutes.
  • Add potato cubes.
  • Add mint sprigs.
  • Add cilantro sprigs.
  • Add whole serranos.
  • Cover and simmer another 5 minutes.

Step 3: Toast the Fideo and Finish the Soup

  • “Place fideo in a skillet with 1 tablespoon of oil.
  • Stir as noodles start turning golden.
  • Continue toasting until deep golden brown.
  • Check the broth — meatballs, potatoes, and herbs should be simmering.
  • Add the toasted fideo to the pot.
  • Stir to distribute evenly.
  • Simmer 10–15 minutes until noodles are tender and potatoes cooked.
  • Broth will thicken as noodles absorb liquid. Add more water or broth if needed.
  • Taste and adjust seasoning with salt or a pinch of bouillon.
  • Ladle into bowls with 2–3 meatballs each, noodles, potatoes, and broth. Serve hot with lime and tortillas.

Notes

  • Keep the simmer gentle so the meatballs stay tender.
  • Add extra broth if noodles absorb too much.
8 or 9 cups of water?
  • The range of 8–9 cups of water depends on pot size, how much fideo you add, your preferred consistency, and cooking time. A wider pot, more noodles, or longer simmer may need closer to 9 cups. For a thicker, stew-like texture, use 8 cups and adjust at the end with hot water if needed.
What are Fideo noodles?
  • Fideo are thin, short cut noodles often sold in bags in the Hispanic aisle of grocery stores. They’re toasted in oil before cooking, which gives them a nutty flavor and helps them hold shape in broth. If you can’t find packaged fideo, use angel hair or thin spaghetti broken into 1-inch pieces.
Keyword albondigas soup, beef meatball soup, comfort food soup, easy Mexican dinners, family dinner recipes, fideo soup, homemade albondigas, Mexican American recipes, mexican meatball soup, Mexican meatball soup with noodles, Mexican soup recipes, sopa de albóndigas con fideo, sopa de fideo con albondigas, traditional Mexican soup
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!