Cozy Italian Wedding Soup Recipe: A Heartwarming Family Classic

Memories of nonna’s kitchen come alive with this hearty italian wedding soup that promises comfort in every spoonful.

Tiny meatballs dance alongside tender greens, creating a symphony of flavors that whisper tradition.

Generations have cherished this simple yet deeply satisfying dish from southern Italy.

Rich broth infused with herbs tells stories of rustic farmhouse meals shared around wooden tables.

Crisp winter nights call for warm, nurturing bowls filled with love and nostalgia.

Each bite connects you to centuries of culinary passion passed down through careful preparation.

Come celebrate a recipe that brings people together with its soul-warming magic.

Why Italian Wedding Soup Is A Classic Comfort Bowl

• Craft Quick Comfort: This Italian wedding soup delivers maximum flavor with minimal effort, perfect for busy home cooks seeking a delicious meal without spending hours in the kitchen.
• Customize with Ease: Versatile recipe allows simple substitutions like using kale instead of spinach or swapping ground turkey for beef in meatballs, making it adaptable to different taste preferences and dietary needs.
• Nourish Your Family: Packed with protein from meatballs, vegetables, and hearty pasta, this soup provides a balanced one-pot meal that satisfies hunger and delivers nutritional value in every comforting spoonful.
• Impress Without Stress: Despite looking sophisticated, this recipe requires basic cooking skills and standard kitchen ingredients, making it an excellent option for home cooks wanting to serve restaurant-quality soup without complicated techniques.

Everything You Need For Italian Wedding Soup

• Ground Beef, Ground Pork: Tasty base for meatballs with rich flavor, choose meat with moderate fat content for juiciness.
• Parmesan Cheese: Adds savory depth and helps bind meatballs together, use freshly grated for best taste.

• Breadcrumbs, Egg: Helps hold meatballs together and provides structure, use plain breadcrumbs for neutral flavor.

• Onion, Garlic, Parsley: Provides fresh and sharp flavor to meatballs, use fresh herbs for brightest taste.
• Carrots, Celery: Classic soup vegetables that add sweetness and depth, fresh and crisp produce works best.

• Chicken Broth: Creates the soup's foundation, use low-sodium for better control of salt levels.
• Olive Oil: Helps brown meatballs and sauté vegetables, choose extra virgin for richer flavor.

• Pasta (Small Shape): Adds heartiness to soup, choose small pasta like orzo or small shells.
• Spinach: Provides fresh green color and nutrients, fresh leaves wilt beautifully in hot soup.

• Salt, Black Pepper: Enhances overall flavor, freshly ground pepper recommended.
• Dried Oregano: Adds classic Italian herb note, use Italian or Mediterranean variety.

How To Make Italian Wedding Soup

Step 1: Craft Savory Meatballs

In a spacious mixing bowl, combine ground meat with herbs, breadcrumbs, grated cheese, beaten egg, salt, and pepper. Gently roll the mixture into tiny marble-sized spheres. Let them rest while preparing other ingredients.

• Ground meat
• Breadcrumbs
• Grated Parmesan cheese
• Egg
• Herbs (parsley, basil)
• Salt
• Pepper

Step 2: Golden Meatball Transformation

Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium flame. Carefully place meatballs into the sizzling pan, rotating to achieve a beautiful golden-brown exterior. Work in batches to ensure even coloring. Transfer partially cooked meatballs to a waiting plate.

Step 3: Vegetable Symphony

Using the same pot, sauté aromatic vegetables until they become tender and fragrant.

• Diced onions
• Chopped carrots
• Sliced celery
• Minced garlic

Cook vegetables until they soften and release their delightful flavors, stirring occasionally.

Step 4: Liquid Harmony

Pour chicken broth into the pot, bringing it to a gentle boil. Carefully return meatballs to the liquid, reducing heat to a calm simmer. Allow the soup to bubble softly for 10 minutes, melding flavors together.

Step 5: Final Flourish

Add small pasta shells or orzo to the bubbling soup. Cook until pasta reaches perfect tenderness. During the last two minutes, fold in fresh spinach leaves, watching them delicately wilt into the soup.

Step 6: Serve With Love

Ladle the steaming soup into warm bowls. Sprinkle additional Parmesan cheese on top for an extra touch of comfort. Enjoy this heartwarming Italian classic with crusty bread on the side.

Smart Tips For Italian Wedding Soup

• Resize Meatballs Precisely: Create uniform, bite-sized meatballs around 3/4 inch wide for consistent cooking and elegant presentation in each spoonful.
• Brown Without Overcooking: Quickly sear meatballs to develop rich flavor and golden exterior without fully cooking them, ensuring tender meat when simmered in soup.
• Chop Vegetables Evenly: Cut onions, carrots, and celery into similar-sized pieces to guarantee uniform cooking and balanced texture throughout the soup.
• Select Fresh Spinach: Use tender, fresh spinach leaves for vibrant color and delicate flavor, adding them at the end to prevent wilting and maintain nutritional value.
• Adjust Broth Consistency: Control soup thickness by adding extra chicken broth if needed, creating a perfect balance between liquid and solid ingredients for a comforting meal.

How To Store Italian Wedding Soup The Right Way

• Refrigerate leftover Italian Wedding Soup in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
• Cool the soup completely before storing to prevent bacterial growth.
• Separate the pasta and meatballs from the broth if possible to maintain better texture when reheating.
• Freeze the soup without pasta for optimal quality, storing in freezer-safe containers for maximum 3 months.
• Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
• When ready to enjoy, warm gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching.
• Add a splash of fresh chicken broth if the soup seems too thick after refrigeration.
• Never reheat the soup more than once to ensure food safety and best flavor.
• For best results, consume within 2-3 days of initial preparation and always check for any signs of spoilage before serving.

Great Foods With Italian Wedding Soup

• Pair Robust Red Wine: Select a medium-bodied Italian red like Chianti or Sangiovese to complement the hearty meatballs and rich broth, enhancing the soup's savory depth.
• Serve Crusty Garlic Bread: Prepare warm, crispy garlic bread with a golden crust to soak up the delicious broth and provide a delightful textural contrast to the tender meatballs and soft spinach.
• Add Fresh Parmesan Cheese: Sprinkle generously grated Parmigiano-Reggiano on top of the soup, adding a salty, nutty flavor that elevates the overall taste and provides a luxurious finishing touch.
• Complement with Light Salad: Create a simple mixed green salad with lemon vinaigrette to offer a fresh, acidic counterpoint to the soup's richness, balancing the meal's flavors and adding nutritional variety.

New Takes On Italian Wedding Soup

• Spicy Southwest Soup: Replace meatballs with chorizo sausage, swap spinach for cilantro, and add diced jalapeños for extra heat. Include black beans and corn for a hearty Mexican-inspired version.
• Mediterranean Herb Soup: Use lamb meatballs seasoned with mint and oregano. Replace chicken broth with vegetable broth, add diced zucchini, and garnish with crumbled feta cheese for a Greek-style variation.
• Veggie Protein Soup: Substitute meatballs with plant-based protein balls made from quinoa and lentils. Use mushroom broth for deeper flavor, add roasted red peppers, and incorporate kale instead of spinach for a nutritious vegetarian alternative.
• Asian Fusion Soup: Create ginger-infused chicken meatballs, use low-sodium soy sauce in broth, replace pasta with rice noodles, and add bok choy instead of spinach. Finish with green onions and a drizzle of sesame oil for authentic Asian flair.

Italian Wedding Soup Questions Answered

• What makes Italian wedding soup special?

This classic soup combines delicate meatballs, tender pasta, and nutritious greens in a flavorful chicken broth, creating a comforting and hearty meal that feels like a warm hug.

• Can I use a different type of meat for the meatballs?

Absolutely! While traditional recipes use a mix of ground beef and pork, you can substitute with ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version of the meatballs.

• Is this soup really served at Italian weddings?

Despite its name, Italian wedding soup isn’t typically served at actual weddings. The name comes from a mistranslation of “minestra maritata,” which means “married soup” referring to the perfect blend of ingredients.

• How can I make the meatballs more flavorful?

Add fresh herbs like parsley or basil, use grated Parmesan cheese, and include a bit of garlic and salt to enhance the meatballs’ taste and create a more authentic Italian flavor profile.

Italian Wedding Soup Recipe

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4.9 from 21 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Comforting Italian wedding soup brings classic Mediterranean flavors to your kitchen, blending delicate meatballs with tender greens and hearty broth. Delicious and nourishing, this traditional dish offers a warm embrace of Italian culinary heritage you can savor with each spoonful.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Meat:

• ½ pound ground beef
• ½ pound ground pork

Cheese and Herbs:

• ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano

Meatball Binding and Seasoning:

• ½ cup fresh breadcrumbs
• 1 egg
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Soup Base:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced

Liquid and Pasta:

• 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 cup acini di pepe or orzo pasta

Finishing Ingredients:

• 4 cups baby spinach or escarole, chopped
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Grated Parmesan, for serving

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Instructions

1. Prepare the meatball mixture by combining all specified ingredients in a spacious mixing bowl. Gently form compact, uniform spheres approximately 3/4 inch in diameter, ensuring consistent size for even cooking.
2. Heat olive oil in a robust soup pot over medium temperature. Carefully brown the meatballs in multiple batches, rotating to achieve a golden exterior. Remove partially cooked meatballs and set aside on a separate plate.
3. Utilize the same pot to sauté diced onions, carrots, and celery. Allow vegetables to soften and develop subtle caramelization over 5-6 minutes. Introduce minced garlic and continue cooking for an additional minute to release aromatic qualities.
4. Pour chicken broth into the vegetable mixture, bringing the liquid to a vigorous boil. Reintroduce the browned meatballs, then reduce heat to a gentle simmer. Allow the soup to develop flavors for approximately 10 minutes.
5. Incorporate the pasta directly into the simmering liquid, cooking according to recommended time guidelines. During the final two minutes of cooking, fold in fresh spinach leaves, watching them gracefully wilt and integrate into the soup’s texture.
6. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed, ensuring a harmonious blend of flavors throughout the soup. Serve hot, garnishing with optional freshly grated parmesan cheese for enhanced depth.

Notes

• Customize meatball size for bite-sized comfort, ensuring each spoonful offers a perfect meat-to-soup ratio.
• Avoid overcrowding the pot when browning meatballs to achieve a beautiful golden exterior and prevent steaming.
• Enhance protein options by substituting ground beef with ground turkey or chicken for a lighter, leaner version of the classic soup.
• Boost nutrition by adding extra vegetables like zucchini or kale, transforming this traditional soup into a more vegetable-packed meal.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 300
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 600 mg
• Fat: 18 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 22 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 18 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg