Turn leftover pasta and meatballs into Mexican soup

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Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 25 mins
Total Time: 40 mins
Yields: 7 servings
Level: Medium

About this recipe

People waste too much food, with one alarming statistic claiming Americans waste at least a third of the food they buy.

It doesn’t have to be that way, especially if you make the most of your leftovers. Dietitian Kim Galeaz shares a recipe utilizing leftover penne, pasta sauce and meatballs.

Try this creamy truffle and shiitake mushroom pasta

“Turn this Italian dish into a taco Mexican-inspired soup,” she said.

Just add a can of corn, a can of black beans, salsa-style tomatoes, spices such as cumin and coriander (the dried version of cilantro) and lime juice, “And voila, you have a wonderful soup,” Galeaz said. Finish the dish with Mexican shredded cheese and tortilla chips.

Ingredients

Yields: 7 servings

Italian Mexican Soup

Directions

Italian Mexican Soup

  1. In a small bowl, whisk cumin and all spices through coriander. Set aside.
  2. Heat oil in a large stock pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onions and cook, stirring frequently, until onions reach desired softness, about 7 to 9 minutes.
  3. Stir in garlic and cook for an additional minute.
  4. Add spice mixture, tomatoes, beans, corn, adobo sauce, chipotle chili and 4 cups beef broth; stir well.
  5. Add pasta with marinara sauce and meatballs, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for about 15 minutes until flavors blend and soup reaches at least 165°F.
  6. Stir in lime juice and add more beef broth if a thinner soup is desired.
  7. Serve immediately with tortilla chips and Mexican shredded cheese.

    Tip TIP: Refrigerate in a tightly covered container and enjoy within 5 days.

Published: February 24, 2026

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Recipe by culinary registered dietitian nutritionist Kim Galeaz, RDN LD

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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