Easy Italian Wedding Soup to me is, in a way, the grown up, elevated version of chicken noodle soup. This flavorful broth soup is filled with herbs and spices, vegetables (carrots, celery, leafy greens, etc.), mini pasta, and tiny meatballs! What could be better on a cold, rainy, cloudy day?
The name Italian Wedding Soup comes from the Italian phrase minestra maritata, which means ‘married soup’. It’s in reference to the flavor produced by the combination, or “marriage”, of greens and meat. Despite its name, the soup is not traditionally served at Italian weddings.
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This recipe is perfect for meal prep during the cold months (or any time, really)! It’s one of those easy soup recipes that makes enough to have leftovers for days, which I consider a double win. Obviously, I love to cook, but there’s certain days (like today) that I just need a break so I can focus on other tasks, or just to simply have a clean kitchen for longer than a few hours.
P.S. I’m in love with the bowls that the soup is in! My mom got them for me quite a while ago when I began thinking of starting a food blog. I’ve been saving them for the perfect recipe, and this Easy Italian Wedding Soup made the cut! Thank you, mommy, I love you (since I know you’ll be the first to read this)! š¤
RECIPE FOR EASY ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP
I have always loved a good Italian Wedding Soup recipe. There was this Italian restaurant in Florida that Jon, and I used to order from basically every weekend. We were so happy because we finally found good New York style pizza near our (then) new home.
They also had the best Italian Wedding Soup! But, they only had it on random evenings. We’d call to place our order, always wishing it would be Italian wedding soup night. Once we got the verdict that it was in fact Italian wedding soup night; the one placing the order would signal the good news to the other, and a small (silent) celebration would occur. It was just that good. š¤£
Since the restaurant didn’t always have the soup, I needed to create my own. My Easy Italian Wedding Soup recipe has been tested and has evolved over the years, and it’s pretty darn perfect now. A little spicy (or not if spiciness isn’t your thing), herbaceous, nutritious, warming, and comforting!
I enlisted some taste testers (neighbors) prior to sharing the recipe. They loved it, and a day or two later, one of them said “I’m finally eating the leftover soup, my Lord…you’re a genius. It was good the other day, but I swear it’s better as a leftover somehow”. š„°
Quite honestly, I’ve eaten this soup about ten times in the last couple of weeks; between recipe re-testing, photographing. I currently have some in my refrigerator which I’ll eat again tomorrow. Good thing is, I haven’t gotten sick of it yet. However, I’ll soon be doing an Easy Italian Wedding Soup Recipe video and I think I’ll think I’ll freeze that batch for a rainy day!
Make the Mini Meatballs
The mini meatballs are so flavorful and delicious, and you only need a handful of simple ingredients to make them:
- Ground Chicken
- Ground Italian Sausage (I use the spicy kind)
- Eggs
- Panko Breadcrumbs
- Pecornio Romano Cheese
- Fresh Parsley
- Fresh Garlic
- Herbs de Provence (a spice blend usually consisting of thyme, basil, rosemary, tarragon, savory, marjoram, oregano, and bay leaf)
- Salt & Pepper
Since the meatball recipe only calls for three quarters of a pound each of ground chicken and Italian sausage, I sometimes sautƩ the leftovers and add it to my Pasta with Roasted Garlic Butternut Squash Sauce. So good!
These meatballs are perfect for Italian wedding soup but would also be good with marinara sauce (Mezzetta is my absolute favorite)! And, aside from Marinara sauce, I just thought of another amazing way to use the meatball recipe. I’m going to do some testing and share it in the near future. Stay tuned! š¤©
Once all the ingredients are combined (I use my KitchenAid, but you can also mix the ingredients by hand), drizzle some olive oil on the sheet baking pan and make your hands oily. Form the meatballs (smaller than you would form Italian meatballs for spaghetti, etc.) and bake them in the preheated four-hundred-degree Fahrenheit oven for about twenty-five minutes, or until they are cooked through to one-hundred sixty-five degrees Fahrenheit.
I keep saying mini/tiny meatballs, but they aren’t as small as they were in the soup from our favorite restaurant. To be honest, I’m just too lazy to roll double the meatballs in such a small shape. š
So, you can make them as small/big as you’d like! Just, don’t forget to adjust the cooking time accordingly.
The tiny meatballs are so juicy, thanks to the Italian sausage. Just looook at the color on those babies. The fat from the sausage and the olive oil creates that beautiful, flavorful crust on them. Soon, we’ll be adding the meatballs to the soup, and all that flavor will soak right into it. Which is why it gets even better as the days go on.
PREPARE THE BASE OF THE SOUP & tiny PASTA
While the meatballs are baking, you can get started on the base of the Easy Italian Wedding Soup Recipe, which is packed with nutritious vegetables and herbs!
Melt butter with olive oil, then add the celery, onion, and garlic. SautƩ that for a few minutes, then stir in the seasonings and sautƩ for another minute (this releases the flavors and fragrances of the herbs).
Now comes the wine. Splash in your white wine and simmer until the liquid has reduced by half. The alcohol will cook off and bring an amazing flavor and acidity to the dish. A crisp Sauvignon Blanc works well here, but you can also use a Pinot Grigio or an Unoaked Chardonnay.
Next, spoon in the (and this is KEY) Better Than Bouillon Organic Chicken Base. It adds so much flavor, and makes it taste like a soup that has been simmering for days. DAYS.
Add the low sodium chicken broth (I love Kettle & Fire), and bring the soup to a boil, then turn the heat down to low/medium, add the meatballs, and simmer for at least 30 minutes (I like to keep it on for an hour). The vegetables should be tender, not mushy. I’d keep an eye on them!
In the meantime, cook the pasta according to package directions in a separate pot. You can use any mini pasta that you wish. Pictured above is tri-color pearl couscous which I love (and had on hand), but you can also use the traditional acini de pepe, or another small-sized pasta, such as pastina, ditalini, orzo…even stars or alphabet if you really want to have some fun!
I like to cook and store the pasta for Italian Wedding Soup (or any soup with pasta for that matter) separate from the broth. I’ve found that pasta absorbs the soup liquid if you add it to the pot together.
Now that the soup has had time to simmer, add the chopped greens. I usually use rainbow chard because it’s colorful, but you can also use a different sturdy, leafy green such as kale or collard. Simmer the greens for three to five minutes. The stems (which are perfectly fine to eat), will still have a bit of a crunchy texture which I love.
Stir in the dill, and you’re done!
Add a small scoop of mini pasta to the bottom of each serving bowl, spoon in some of the piping hot broth/meat/vegetable mixture, then shred a little extra pecorino Romano cheese over each bowl.
Serve with a buttery toasted baguette if you wish! I just love a good, soaked bread bite. š
Take care,
Jenna š¤
As always, I’d love to hear from you all! About your experience with this dish, any alterations you may have made and loved (or didn’t love), or just life and cooking in general. Please leave a review/comment/question below, reach out via email (jenna@heavenlyspiced.com), and/or stay connected with me on social media, which I have linked below!
MORE SOUP INSPIRATION:
Easy Italian Wedding Soup Recipe
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
Description
A flavorful broth is filled with herbs and spices, vegetables (carrots, celery, leafy greens, etc.), mini pasta, and tiny meatballs. Perfect for meal prep during the cold months (or any time, really)!
Ingredients
MINI MEATBALLS:
- 3/4–pound ground chicken, I use 99% lean
- 3/4–pound raw Italian chicken or pork sausage, I use hot but you can use mild
- 1/2 cup pecorino Romano cheese, freshly grated
- 2/3 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, minced
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
SOUP BASE + VEGGIES + PASTA:
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup carrot, diced
- 1 cup celery, diced
- 1 cup sweet onion, diced
- 2 tablespoons fresh garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 tablespoons dried herbs de Provence
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- 1/2 cup dry white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc
- 12 cups (96 fl. ounces) of low-sodium chicken broth, I use Kettle and Fire
- 2 teaspoons Better Than Bouillon Organic Chicken Base
- 1 bunch of leafy greens, such as rainbow chard, kale, collard, etc.
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill, minced
- 2 cups uncooked pearl couscous or acini de pepe pasta + water & salt for boiling, you can also use a different mini pasta!
TOPPINGS AND EXTRAS:
- Freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese
- Toasted baguette slices or crackers
Instructions
- MAKE THE MINI MEATBALLS. Once all the ingredients are combined (I use my KitchenAid, but you can also mix the ingredients by hand), drizzle some olive oil on the sheet baking pan and make your hands oily. Form the meatballs (smaller than you would form Italian meatballs for spaghetti, etc.) and bake them in the preheated 400° oven for about 25 minutes, or until they are golden brown and cooked through to 165° F.
- START THE BROTH SOUP BASE. Melt butter with olive oil, then add the celery, onion, and garlic. SautĆ© that for a few minutes, then stir in the seasonings and sautĆ© for another minute (this releases the flavors and fragrances of the herbs). Splash in your white wine and simmer until the liquid has reduced by half. Stir in the Better than Bouillon chicken base and low-sodium chicken broth. Drop in the meatballs once they’re finished baking. Bring the soup to a boil, then cover the pot and set the heat to low-medium and simmer for about an hour. The carrots, celery, and onion should be tender but not mushy (keep an eye on them)!
- MAKE THE COUSCOUS (OR OTHER MINI PASTA BALLS). Prepare the pasta according to the package directions. Store this in a separate container from the soup so it doesn’t soak up the soup broth!
- FINISH PREPARING THE SOUP. Wilt your leafy greens in the soup for a few minutes with the soup still simmering (I like the stems to still have a bit of a crunchy texture), then stir in the fresh dill. Taste the soup to see if youād prefer a little more salt and/or pepper.
- PLATING. Scoop a small amount of couscous into each bowl. Ladle in some piping hot broth, meatballs, and veggies. Grate Pecorino Romano over each bowl. Serve with toasted baguette slices and/or crackers (optional). Enjoy!!!!
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Main Dishes, Soups
- Method: Stovetop, Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
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First of all thankyou for using my bowls! The soup looks perfect in them! Your pictures are beautiful and this soup sounds amazing!! Meatballs in soup has got to be delicious! Excellent job as usual honey! You should be proud of yourself as your whole family is!
★★★★★
Thank you Mommmm! I love you š¤š¤
Love it so much! That broth and the chicken meatballs……yumm!!
★★★★★
Thank you so much, Vaishali!
This soup is very interesting. Never thought of adding meatballs as the protein source to soup. The grated cheese on top is a very unique touch compared to the soups I am accustomed to eating. I would be interested in tasting the flavors of this soup. Thanks for sharing this heavenly spiced soup, Jenna.
★★★★★
Thank you so much, Kevin! Yes, the meatballs are a nice little surprise. I hope you enjoy the recipe if you decide to try it!
Saving this for a cold fall day!
Perfect, Jen! I hope you love the recipe. š
Looks delicious! I will definitely be making this!!!
★★★★★
Great! I hope you love the recipe! š
Look so yummy and it’s been a while not to try Italian soup. So, I would love to try this even though it’s not my wedding. Thank you for sharing!
Hi Fransic! The name Italian Wedding Soup comes from the Italian phrase minestra maritata, which means āmarried soupā. Itās in reference to the flavor produced by the combination, or āmarriageā, of greens and meat. Despite its name, the soup is not traditionally served at Italian weddings. āŗļø
I hope you love the recipe!
Such a yummy easy to make soup. Thank you so much for sharing š¤
Pastor Natalie (ExamineThisMoment)
Letstakeamoment.com
★★★★★
Iām so glad you enjoyed it! Youāre very welcome. Thank you for stopping by! š
I’m always on the lookout for soup recipes especially this time of year. This soup is delicious and filling. Love Italian Wedding soup!
★★★★★
Thank you so much! š
Definitely need to try this!
★★★★★
I hope you enjoy it, Laurie! š
My husband is Italian and every year on Christmas Eve Wedding Soup is the main dish. Iāve always wanted to try making it, but that recipe is involved. Iām excited you find your easy recipe. Thanks for sharing!
★★★★★
Thatās so nice, I love hearing your family story about Italian Wedding Soup being the main dish on Christmas Eve! Thanks for stopping by, Debbie.
You put your heart and soul into this recipe and really got it right! I can’t believe we are getting this for freeš¤
★★★★★
I appreciate you noticing! Thanks so much. š
Wow, this looks absolutely heavenly, and I didn’t realize that it’s called wedding soup because of the ingredients, not the occasion! I always wondered… Can’t wait to try this on our next cold day.
★★★★★
I know, I was surprised to learn that as well, Jenn! I appreciate the kind words. I hope you and your family enjoy a nice hot bowl of Italian wedding soup on a cold day. š
looks great
★★★★★
I appreciate that, Jimmy!
That looks absolutely delicious, would love to try it out!
It is so tasty, hearty, and delicious, Maria! You should definitely give it a try. š¤
I love this soup…a little trip down memory lane…my aunty always made this for us in winter…
★★★★★
Iām so glad I could bring you feelings of nostalgia with this Italian wedding soup recipe, Jeanine. What beautiful memories!
It looks so tasty, hearty, and delicious, Would love to try this out.
That is exactly it, Michael! I hope you love the recipe if you decide to give it a try!
This soup is my favorite all-time soup and this recipe looks amazing! I can not wait to try it!
★★★★★
Iām so glad to hear that, Tee! I hope you love this recipe!
This looks absolutely delicious- cant wait to try!
★★★★★
Thank you so much, Morgan! I hope you enjoy the recipe.
Yum! I love italian wedding soup! This recipe looks delicious š
Thank you so much! Yes, Italian wedding soup is one of my favorites. I just love the meatballs, veggies, and super flavorful broth. š
I absolutely love soup any day of the weak. This one looks delish and enticing. Will give it a try. Thanks for this awesome recipe!
★★★★★