Regardless of the time of year, this Italian Wedding Soup is a classic soup recipe that you can make right at home and enjoy. It's packed with yummy vegetables like spinach, carrots, celery and onions plus the addition of small pasta and homemade chicken meatballs! This soup is one the entire family will enjoy.
I haven't always been a huge soup person. Years ago, it just never did much for me. Nowadays though, I find myself craving soup a lot and not only when it's cold outside. Soup is such a comfort food because it warms you up whether it's chilly outside or just chilly because of the very strong Arizona air conditioners 😉
Years ago I was visiting my mother-in-law and we were deciding what to make for lunch. She decided to whip up a version of copycat Panera tomato soup.
It blew my mind that she had all of the ingredients on hand to do that and that it was something that was so easy to do at home and didn't have to cook on the stove all day. Since then I've learned homemade soups can be super easy and even something you can throw together with ingredients you have on hand.
This soup starts with classic mirepoix, which is the basis for a ton of French cooking, carrots, celery and onion.
Most soups that you know and love start with this mix and it really is the part of the soup that packs the flavor into the recipe.
The ingredients for this soup really are so simple, but the combination of them together is what makes this soup so tasty. That and the little mini pasta shapes, of course.
My family's absolute favorite part of this recipe though is the homemade chicken meatballs that go in this soup.
Since Italian Wedding Soup is such a classic soup recipe, there are tons of variations using beef or turkey meatballs, but for us, chicken meatballs are a must. I use the same recipe for these Baked Chicken Meatballs.
But if you're really in a pinch for time, you could even make this soup with frozen meatballs too. But trust me, the chicken meatballs are worth it!
I always make the meatballs first and while those are baking I will work on chopping the veggies and letting the soup get started.
The meatballs are cooked fully before adding them to the soup in the last few minutes so the timing usually works out perfectly. You can even just plop a few meatballs into each bowl before using a to serve a hearty portion of the soup!
I was never a big fan of broth-based soups, like chicken noodle soup, but this soup is packed with other flavors that complement the broth and round out the entire flavor of the soup.
If you aren't a big broth soup person either, you could do half water and half broth to dilute the broth flavor as well. I highly recommend using though, to be sure you aren't drowning out the flavors of the soup with broth that is high in its sodium content.
More soup recipes
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Italian Wedding Soup
Regardless of the time of year, this Italian Wedding Soup is a classic soup recipe that you can make right at home and enjoy. It's packed with yummy vegetables like spinach, carrots, celery and onions plus the addition of small pasta and homemade chicken meatballs! This soup is one the entire family will enjoy.
Ingredients
Baked Chicken Meatballs
- 1 lb ground chicken
- ¼ cup bread crumbs (store bought or homemade)
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup parmesan or Italian blend cheese
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
Italian Wedding Soup
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup diced yellow onion
- 1 cup peeled and diced carrots (about 3 carrots)
- ¾ cup peeled and diced celery (about 2 stalks)
- 10 cups low-sodium chicken stock
- 1 cup small pasta like stars
- 12 ounces baby spinach, washed and ripped or cut into small pieces
Instructions
Meatballs
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Combine meatball ingredients in a medium bowl.
- Form into golf ball sized meatballs and place on a lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, until meat is thoroughly cooked, to 165 degrees internal temperature
Soup
- Add olive oil to stock pot and warm oil on low to medium heat.
- Peel and chop carrots and celery and set aside. Dice onion.
- Add onions, celery and carrots to pot and sauté with a wooden spoon on medium heat until translucent.
- Add chicken stock and bring to a boil for 10 minutes.
- Add star pasta to boiling broth cook for 6 to 8 minutes.
- Add meatballs and let soup simmer for 1-2 minutes.
- Add in spinach and stir until wilted.
- Serve with a ladle, adding a bit of cold water if necessary for right broth/soup ingredients ratio and to cool down soup to enjoy immediately!
Nutrition Information:
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 0Total Fat: 0g
Elizabeth Mayberry says
Oh my gosh. I want this now. I wonder if I have time to make it for today! haha.
Tayler says
This looks delicious! I'm gonna pin it.
Madison says
Thanks Tayler!
Victoria says
I've heard of this soup, but I've never actually seen it before!!! This might be a silly question, but can you buy ground chicken? That's something else I have zero experience with!
Madison says
I just buy it where the poultry is. There's usually only one or two brands maybe, but it's right near the chicken breasts in the store! You could also you ground turkey if you want.
Victoria says
Huh! I guess I've never noticed it before!!! I'll have to keep my eyes open!
*~ Victoria*
Jenna Griffin says
Italian Wedding Soup is one of my alltime favorites! I usually use orzo, but those little star pastas are adorable!!! And girl, your photography is getting better and better!
Madison says
Oooh orzo sounds so good too! And thank you girl!!! 🙂
Britney says
this looks so good girl! I really want to try this! Thanks for being my co-host! 🙂
Madison says
Thanks girl 🙂
Elizabeth Jones says
Yum! My school used to make this all the time and I LOVED it! I can't wait to make it 🙂 What kind of wine do you use in cooking?
Madison says
I just had a bottle of Pinot Grigio and I used that! You can use any white wine, dry wine like a Chardonay is suggested. 🙂
Megan Pace says
I love Italian wedding soup, but I have never made it at home. It sounds perfect for these cold nights, and that mini star pasta is so cute!
Madison says
Aren't they adorable?! They make the soup I think 😉
Chelsea Jacobs says
This sounds delicious!
Madison says
Thanks!
Susannah Brinkley says
This is the absolute prettiest soup recipe I have seen this week. And I have looked at a LOT of soup recipes! Totally need to make this soon.
Madison says
Aw, thank you girl! I hope you make it soon, it's so good!
Jenna Owens (@aSavoryFeast) says
Mmmm, this sounds perfect right now. It's in the 40's here, which is basically the coldest weather we get in Florida. I'm craving a nice warm bowl of soup for dinner!
Madison says
Ooh I bet the 40's are perfect for soup weather! 🙂
Jaelan @ Making Mrs. M says
Yum! I'll have to try this.
Madison says
Thanks Jaelan!