Italian Wedding Soup

Italian Wedding Soup

This classic Italian Wedding Soup recipe has savory meatballs in a flavorful broth with spinach and pasta! It's easy to make on the stove top or in the crock pot!

Ingredients

  • olive oil
    1 tbsp
  • ground beef

    85% lean

    ½ lb.
  • ground pork
    ½ lb.
  • egg

    beaten

    1
  • italian breadcrumbs
    ½ c
  • parmesan cheese

    grated

    ¼ c
  • garlic

    minced

    3 cloves
  • fresh parsley

    finely chopped

    ⅓ c
  • salt
    ¾ tsp
  • pepper
    ¼ tsp
  • yellow onion

    diced

    1
  • carrots

    diced

    1 ¼ c
  • celery ribs

    diced

    2
  • garlic

    minced

    3 cloves
  • chicken broth
    8 c
  • italian seasoning
    2 tsp
  • acini de pepe pasta

    uncooked

    ¾ c
  • fresh spinach
    4 c
  • salt/pepper
    to taste
  • parmesan cheese

    freshly grated

Directions

Stove top method (see notes for crock pot & instant pot methods)

  1. 1

    Gently combine the meatball ingredients, don’t overwork the meat. Roll into 3/4-inch balls.

  2. 2

    Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium-high heat.

  3. 3

    Brown the meatballs in batches for about 2 minutes. The middle of the meatballs will finish cooking in the soup. Remove and set aside.

  4. 4

    Add the onions, carrots, and celery and soften over medium heat for 6 minutes, until softened. Add a splash of olive oil during cooking if needed.

  5. 5

    Add the garlic and Italian seasoning and cook for 1 minute.

  6. 6

    Add the chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.

  7. 7

    Add the cooked meatballs and simmer gently while you boil the pasta separately until al dente. Drain once cooked through and add the pasta to serving bowls. (Otherwise the pasta tends to absorb the broth during storage. If you don't anticipate leftovers, you can cook the pasta in the soup or add the cooked pasta to the pot of soup.)

  8. 8

    Stir in the spinach and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes.

  9. 9

    Ladle the soup into serving bowls and garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Serve!

Italian Wedding Soup

Italian Wedding Soup

328 cal

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About this Recipe

Craving a comforting bowl of homemade Italian Wedding Soup that tastes like it simmered all day? This recipe delivers savory meatballs, tender pasta, and fresh spinach in a rich, flavorful broth, perfect for any cozy family meal.

What makes this Italian Wedding Soup truly special is the exquisite blend of both ground beef and ground pork in the meatballs, creating an incredibly tender texture and deep, satisfying flavor. Plus, with the flexibility to prepare it on the stove top or in a Crock Pot, you get that cherished homemade taste with convenient preparation.

You can expect a bowl brimming with small, delicate meatballs, perfectly al dente acini de pepe pasta, and vibrant fresh spinach, all swimming in a savory, aromatic chicken broth infused with Italian seasoning and hearty vegetables like carrots, celery, and onion. Each spoonful offers a delightful mix of textures and a wonderfully comforting experience. It’s a wholesome dish, with each serving providing 328 calories of goodness.

This versatile soup can be adapted slightly to suit your pantry. For the meatballs, if you prefer, you could use only ground beef or only ground pork in place of the half-and-half mixture, though the blend offers optimal texture and flavor. While fresh spinach is wonderful, you could use frozen spinach (thawed and squeezed dry) if fresh isn't available. A little extra Parmesan cheese grated into the broth at the end adds even more richness.

This hearty Italian Wedding Soup makes a complete and satisfying meal on its own, ideal for a comforting family dinner or a nourishing lunch. Serve it with a sprinkle of fresh Parmesan cheese for an added touch of indulgence.

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