This easy Italian wedding soup is cozy, satisfying, and full of fresh Italian flavors! It pairs traditional Italian meatballs with chopped vegetables and pasta.
About This Recipe
This is an easy dinner recipe that's perfect for a busy weeknight dinner or if you're craving a cozy bowl of soup. It's hearty and satisfying while still using healthy ingredients and plenty of vegetables too!
What makes this recipe so easy is that the meatballs will cook in the oven as you make your soup (cooking the vegetables & pasta together). Everything goes in 1 pot and there's a total cook time of only 25 minutes.
This recipe also keeps well, so you could make a large batch as meal prep for your week or to freeze for later.
What Is Italian Wedding Soup?
The name 'wedding soup' comes from the idea of the 'marriage' of meat and vegetables in this recipe. Today, Italian wedding soup is usually made with meatballs, vegetables (carrots, celery, spinach), and pasta.
The flavors are almost similar to chicken noodles soup — with meatballs instead of chicken & small pasta instead of large noodles.
How to Make Italian Wedding Soup
Italian wedding soup looks impressive but is simple to make. You'll cook your meatballs in the oven while you cook your vegetables and then pasta (all in the same pot) on the stove.
What Pasta Is in Italian Wedding Soup?
Most commonly, Italian Wedding Soup is made with acini de pepe or orzo pasta. You could also substitute any small pasta (ditalini is another popular alternative).
Tips & Tricks for The Recipe
- To make the meatballs: I like to use a cookie scoop (like this one) to make meatballs of even sizes and then roll them with your hands. Add a little olive oil on your hands if you find the meat is too sticky.
- Double your batch: since this recipe calls for ½ pound of beef and pork, I usually end up buying a pound of each and doubling the recipe. This recipe is tasty as leftovers & freezes well!
- How to cook your pasta: cook your pasta according to the package instructions until it's al dente (still a little firm in the middle). It's best to test a piece of pasta to see if it's cooked.
How to Store This Italian Wedding Soup
- In the fridge: store in an airtight container for up to 3 - 5 days.
- In the freezer: cool in the fridge and then store in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Easy Italian Wedding Soup
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
An easy recipe for classic Italian wedding soup. This recipe pairs tasty, traditional Italian meatballs with chopped vegetables & orzo pasta for a cozy, satisfying bowl of soup!
Ingredients
To Make the Meatballs:
- ½ pound ground beef
- ½ pound ground pork
- ¼ cup bread crumbs (I used whole wheat)
- ¼ cup fresh chopped parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
To Make The Soup:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion (peeled and chopped)
- 1 cup sliced carrots
- 1 cup sliced celery
- 8 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup orzo pasta (or acini de pepe)
- 3 cups chopped spinach
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with foil.
- In a large bowl, mix together the ingredients for the meatballs. Form balls that are about 1” in width and place them on the baking sheet. Bake for 15 - 20 minutes, until cooked through.
- Add olive oil to a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, and celery. Cook and stir for 6 - 8 minutes, until tender.
- Pour in the broth into the pot and bring it to a boil. Add the pasta and cook for as long as directed on the package (usually 9 - 10 minutes). Pasta should be cooked al dente (still slightly firm in the middle). Taste and season the soup with additional salt and pepper if desired.
- Turn the heat to low and add the spinach and cooked meatballs. Simmer for 3 - 5 minutes, until the spinach is wilted.
- Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the lemon juice. Serve warm, optionally topped with parmesan and chopped parsley.
Notes
- Pasta: you can substitute any small pasta (ditalini is another popular alternative)
- Meatballs: to save time, you can use frozen meatballs. Cook them before adding them to your soup.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: meatballs, orzo, soup
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