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Italian Wedding Soup

Featured in Warm Bowls of Comfort.

This Italian wedding style soup brings together three stars - tender, perfectly seasoned meatballs, delicate pasta, and fresh spinach all swimming in a rich, savory broth that ties everything together beautifully. The beauty of this recipe is its flexibility - whether you prefer the traditional stovetop method that lets you monitor every step, the hands-off approach of a slow cooker that fills your home with amazing aromas all day, or the speed of a pressure cooker when time is tight. Each version develops incredible depth of flavor while the meatballs stay juicy and the spinach adds beautiful color and freshness.
A smiling woman in a chef's jacket stands in a commercial kitchen, looking at the camera with various food containers and utensils in the background.
Updated on Tue, 14 Jan 2025 23:38:58 GMT
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A bowl of soup featuring meatballs, carrots, and herbs, served with small pasta in a flavorful broth. Pin it
A bowl of soup featuring meatballs, carrots, and herbs, served with small pasta in a flavorful broth. | tasteofcook.com

I learned this Italian Wedding Soup recipe from my grandmother and it still warms hearts at our family table. Those tender little meatballs swimming with spinach and pasta in rich broth bring everyone running to the kitchen. Best part? Make it on the stove in your crockpot or instant pot whatever works for you.

Pure Comfort

Something magical happens when those perfectly seasoned meatballs meet fresh spinach in that flavorful broth. Every spoonful feels like home. Make extra it freezes beautifully for those busy weeks when you need good food fast.

What You'll Need

  • For The Meatballs:
    • Ground Meat: Mix of beef and pork keeps them juicy.
    • Breadcrumbs: Fresh makes them tender.
    • Parmesan: Freshly grated adds so much flavor.
    • Herbs: Parsley, garlic, Italian seasoning make them sing.
  • For The Soup:
    • Good Broth: Chicken or beef, both work beautifully.
    • Fresh Spinach: Brightens everything up.
    • Tiny Pasta: Acini de pepe or orzo, your choice.
    • Aromatics: Onions, carrots, celery create the base.

Let's Make Soup

Start With Meatballs:
Mix, roll, brown them just right; creates amazing flavor.
Build Your Base:
Cook those veggies in all those good meatball bits.
Add Your Liquids:
Pour in broth; let everything get friendly.
Bring It Together:
Drop in pasta, spinach; cook until perfect.

Make It Amazing

Little splash of hot sauce touch of Worcestershire deepens everything. Brown those meatballs properly worth every minute. Frozen spinach works fine just squeeze it dry first. Cook pasta separate keeps it perfect longer.

Keep It Fresh

Keeps beautiful in the fridge 3 to 4 days. Want to freeze? Skip the pasta add fresh when serving. Freezes up to 4 months thaw overnight when ready.

A bowl of soup filled with small meatballs, carrots, and greens, served with pearl couscous in a flavorful broth. Pin it
A bowl of soup filled with small meatballs, carrots, and greens, served with pearl couscous in a flavorful broth. | tasteofcook.com

Kitchen Helpers

Good Dutch oven about 4.5 quarts works perfect. Nice big ladle makes serving easy. Get some good containers for storing keeps everything fresh.

Mix It Up

Going vegetarian? Try plant based meatballs veggie broth. Short on time? Frozen mini meatballs work great. Love veggies? Add zucchini mushrooms whatever makes you happy. Extra cheese on top never hurt anybody.

Perfect Pasta

Little pasta shapes work best here. Try acini di pepe those tiny pearls or ditalini like baby tubes. Orzo works beautifully too. Always cook separate add when serving keeps everything just right.

Serve It Right

Warm crusty bread for dipping catches all that good broth. Light salad alongside keeps things balanced. Shower of fresh parmesan on top makes everything special.

Why We Love It

This soup just feels like a warm hug in a bowl. Those juicy meatballs fresh spinach that flavor packed broth come together perfectly. Easy enough for weeknights special enough for company. No wonder it's been bringing families together forever.

A bowl of brothy soup containing meatballs, carrots, spinach, and small pasta, garnished with herbs. Pin it
A bowl of brothy soup containing meatballs, carrots, spinach, and small pasta, garnished with herbs. | tasteofcook.com

Frequently Asked Questions

→ What's the best way to cook the pasta?
Cook pasta separately and add to serving bowls to prevent it absorbing too much broth during storage. Add directly to soup only if no leftovers expected.
→ Can I use frozen spinach?
Yes, use 10 oz frozen spinach, thawed and patted dry, instead of fresh spinach.
→ What pasta types work best?
Small pasta varieties like acini di pepe, ditalini, or orzo work well in this soup.
→ Can I freeze this soup?
Freezes well for 3-4 months without pasta. Cook fresh pasta when serving frozen portions.
→ Why add hot sauce and Worcestershire?
These optional additions enhance flavor without being individually tasteable. They won't make soup spicy.

Italian Wedding Soup

A traditional soup with seasoned beef and pork meatballs, tender pasta, and fresh spinach, all in a rich and flavorful chicken broth.

Prep Time
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Cook Time
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Total Time
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Category: Soups & Stews

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: Italian

Yield: 6 Servings (6 servings)

Dietary: ~

Ingredients

01 Ground beef - 1/2 pound.
02 Ground pork - 1/2 pound.
03 Egg - 1.
04 Italian breadcrumbs - 1/2 cup.
05 Parmesan cheese - 1/4 cup.
06 Garlic, minced - 6 cloves divided.
07 Fresh parsley - 1/3 cup.
08 Olive oil - 1 tablespoon.
09 Yellow onion, diced - 1.
10 Carrots, diced - 1 1/4 cups.
11 Celery ribs, diced - 2.
12 Chicken broth - 8 cups.
13 Italian seasoning - 2 teaspoons.
14 Acini de pepe pasta - 3/4 cup.
15 Fresh spinach - 4-5 cups.

Instructions

Step 01

Mix ground meats, egg, breadcrumbs, cheese, garlic, parsley, salt and pepper. Form into 3/4-inch balls.

Step 02

Heat oil and brown meatballs in batches for 2 minutes. Set aside.

Step 03

Sauté onion, carrots, celery until soft. Add garlic and seasonings.

Step 04

Add broth and meatballs. Simmer while cooking pasta separately.

Step 05

Add spinach until wilted. Serve with pasta in bowls, topped with Parmesan.

Notes

  1. Can be made in slow cooker or Instant Pot.
  2. Cook pasta separately for best results.
  3. Can use frozen spinach instead of fresh.

Tools You'll Need

  • Large soup pot.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Dairy.
  • Eggs.
  • Wheat.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 328
  • Total Fat: 16 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 24 g
  • Protein: 23 g