Description
This Hearty Italian Wedding Soup is loaded with juicy homemade meatballs, tender vegetables, pasta, and leafy greens—all simmered in a rich chicken broth. Comforting, nutritious, and perfect for chilly nights.
Ingredients
For the Meatballs:
1 lb ground chicken or turkey (or beef for richer flavor)
1/2 cup breadcrumbs (Panko recommended)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 large egg, lightly beaten
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp dried oregano
Salt and black pepper, to taste
For the Soup:
2 tbsp olive oil
1 yellow onion, finely diced
3 carrots, peeled and diced
3 celery stalks, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
8 cups chicken broth
1 cup acini di pepe or orzo pasta
5 oz fresh spinach or escarole, roughly chopped
Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
1. In a large bowl, combine all meatball ingredients. Mix gently and form into small bite-sized meatballs.
2. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Sear meatballs in batches until browned on all sides (not fully cooked). Remove and set aside.
3. Add remaining olive oil to pot. Sauté onion, carrots, and celery for 5-7 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook 1 more minute.
4. Pour in chicken broth, scraping up browned bits. Bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer.
5. Add seared meatballs back to the pot. Simmer 10 minutes until mostly cooked.
6. Stir in pasta and cook according to package directions (8-10 minutes).
7. Add spinach or escarole in the last 2 minutes until wilted. Season generously with salt and pepper.
8. Ladle into bowls, top with Parmesan cheese and cracked black pepper. Serve hot.
Notes
Store in an airtight container in the fridge up to 4 days. Add broth or water when reheating since pasta absorbs liquid.
For freezing, prepare without pasta and add fresh pasta when reheating. Freeze up to 3 months.
For vegetarian version: skip meatballs, use vegetable broth, and add white beans or chickpeas.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 1020mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 85mg