Easy Italian Wedding Soup Recipe
This Italian wedding soup is easy to make with juicy meatballs, pasta, tender veggies, and spinach then cooked in a flavorful broth. This 'marriage' of ingredients is a classic!
Ingredients
Meatballs
- ¾ pound 80% lean ground beef , could sub with ground pork
- 1 large egg , beaten
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup finely chopped onion
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- ¾ teaspoon Kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 Tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley , or 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
Soup
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup diced onion
- 1 cup diced carrots
- ½ cup diced celery
- 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
- Salt , to taste
- Ground black pepper , to taste
- 32 ounces chicken broth
- 1-2 cups water , see note
- 1 cup dry orzo pasta , or acini di pepe
- 2-3 Tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or herbs , can sub for 1-2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 4-6 ounces baby spinach
- Grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
Meatballs
- In a large bowl, combine 3/4 pound meat, 1 egg, 1/4 cup breadcrumbs, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, 1/4 cup onion, 2 teaspoons garlic, 3/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and 2 Tablespoons parsley or 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning.
- Use a small cookie scoop or spoon to scoop the meat mixture. Form into 1-inch balls.
- In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs and cook until browned, turning halfway through. Remove and place on a paper towel-lined plate.
Soup
- In a large pot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add 1 cup onions, 1 cup diced carrots, and 1/2 cup celery. Sauté until they have softened, about 5 minutes. Add 1 Tablespoon garlic and cook 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper.
- Pour in 32 ounces broth and 1-2 cups water. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to medium low. Stir in 1 cup orzo and 2-3 Tablespoons parsley. Simmer 5 minutes. Add in the meatballs and 4-6 ounces spinach and simmer 2 to 3 more minutes, or until the pasta and meatballs are cooked through. Season with salt and pepper.
- Top with parmesan cheese and fresh herbs, if desired.
Notes
Note: If you like more broth in the soup, reduce pasta to 3/4 cup or add an extra cup of broth or water.
Substitutes:
- You can use 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder and onion powder if you do not have fresh garlic cloves and onions.
- If I have pork on hand, I like to use 1/2 pound ground beef and 1/2 pound ground pork. It creates juicier meatballs. You can also do 1/2 ground beef and 1/2 ground turkey to cut back on fat.
Nutrition
Calories: 344kcal, Carbohydrates: 30g, Protein: 19g, Fat: 16g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 8g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 76mg, Sodium: 1050mg, Potassium: 548mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 5684IU, Vitamin C: 14mg, Calcium: 116mg, Iron: 3mg
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
