Description
Italian Wedding Soup is the ultimate cozy classic featuring tender meatballs, greens, and tiny pasta in a savory broth. This easy 5-ingredient inspired version delivers homey comfort fast, whether on the stovetop, in the Instant Pot, or in a Crock-Pot. Packed with flavor, it freezes beautifully and serves a crowd. Perfect for fall and winter meals, this timeless soup blends comforting textures with simple pantry ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
- Meatballs: 1 lb ground beef or ground chicken
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp black pepper
- Salt, to taste
- Soup: 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup small pasta (acini di pepe or orzo)
- 4 cups fresh spinach or escarole, chopped
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- ½ tsp black pepper
- Salt, to taste
- Extra Parmesan cheese, for serving
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix all meatball ingredients until just combined. Roll into small bite-sized meatballs.
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery and sauté for 4–5 minutes until softened.
- Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in chicken broth and add thyme, pepper, and salt. Bring to a gentle boil.
- Carefully add meatballs to the pot and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Stir in pasta and cook for 8–10 minutes until tender.
- Add spinach and cook for 2–3 minutes until wilted.
- Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve hot with Parmesan cheese.
Notes
- You can use ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version.
- For gluten-free, use gluten-free breadcrumbs or omit breading.
- Leftovers freeze well; reheat gently on the stove.
- Replace escarole with spinach or a mix of both for variation.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (~1 cup)
- Calories: Approximately 240
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: Approximately 900 mg
- Fat: Approx. 9 g
- Saturated Fat: Approx. 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: Approx. 5.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: Approx. 22 g
- Fiber: Approx. 3 g
- Protein: Approx. 14 g
- Cholesterol: Approx. 60 mg
Keywords: Italian Wedding Soup, Italian soup, meatball soup, acini di pepe, orzo, comfort food, home-style soup, Italian American, easy soup