As someone who loves Italian cuisine, I can’t get enough of Italian Wedding Soup! It’s a comforting and hearty soup that’s perfect for a chilly day, and it’s also steeped in rich cultural heritage. Italian Wedding Soup has been a staple in Italian households for generations. But Italian Wedding Soup isn’t just about tradition – it’s also about flavor. This soup typically includes meatballs, vegetables, and a rich broth, and it’s often finished with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. Every bite is bursting with savory goodness, and it’s the perfect dish to warm you up on a cold day.
Contrary to its name, this soup is not actually served at weddings. The name “wedding soup” comes from the Italian phrase “minestra maritata,” which translates to “married soup” – the perfect marriage of flavors. No stress of commitments or wedding planning here! It’s a soup so good, it’ll have you saying “I do” to seconds!
If you’re new to Italian Wedding Soup, don’t worry – it’s easy to make. To start, you’ll need to make the meatballs. You can use ground beef, pork, or a combination of the two, and you’ll want to add some breadcrumbs, garlic, and Parmesan cheese for flavor. Once your meatballs are ready, you can add them to a pot with some chicken broth, carrots, celery, and pasta. Let everything simmer for about 20 minutes, and then you’re ready to serve!
One of the things I love about Italian Wedding Soup is that it’s so versatile. You can make it with different types of meat, add different vegetables, or experiment with different types of pasta. No matter how you make it, though, it’s always delicious. So the next time you’re in the mood for a comforting and flavorful soup, give Italian Wedding Soup a try – I promise you won’t be disappointed!
Italian Wedding Soup
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 8 oz ground beef
- 8 oz ground pork
- 1/2 cup fresh white bread crumbs
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1 1/2 tsp dried or minced fresh oregano
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg, whisked
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- salt and ground black pepper
Soup
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 1/4 cups diced carrots
- 1 1/4 cups diced yellow onion
- 3/4 cup diced celery
- 4 cloves minced garlic
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup dry acini de pepe or orzo pasta
- 6 oz fresh spinach, chopped
- parmesan cheese to garnish
Instructions
Mouth-watering Meatballs
- Take out two mixing bowls. In the first bowl, add ground beef and pork. In another, put parmesan cheese, parsley, oregano, salt, pepper, and breadcrumbs. Gently mix the second bowl. When all the ingredients are “married”, add it into the first bowl and mix.
- Form the mixture into adorable, bite-sized meatballs, about 1/2 inch in diameter.
- Heat 1 Tbsp olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add half of the meatballs and cook until browned, turning occasionally after 2 minutes to brown on all sides. Cook about 4 minutes total.
- Transfer the cooked meatballs to a plate lined with paper towels to absorb any excess oil, while leaving the remaining oil in the skillet for the next batch. Once all the meatballs are all cooked and resting on paper towels, gently pat them to remove any excess oil. (Keep in mind that the meatballs won't be fully cooked at this point, but they will finish cooking in the soup.)
Soup
- Heat 1 Tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add carrots, onions and celery and sauté until veggies have softened about 6 – 8 minutes, add garlic and sauté 1 minute longer.
- Pour in chicken broth! Bring the chicken broth to a boil, season with salt and pepper, and add the pasta and meatballs. Reduce heat to a gentle boil (about medium-low heat) and let everything cook to perfection.
- Stir occasionally until pasta is tender and meatballs have cooked through, approximately 10 minutes. Add in chopped spinach then simmer for 1 more minute. Serve warm, sprinkle (generously) with parmesan cheese.
Did you make this recipe?
Please let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below and tag @yummmier on Instagram and hashtag #yummmier! Follow me @xixiyang.
For more Italian recipes, check out:
Best Creamy Beef Bolognese to Satisfy Your Love for Pasta
Easy Lemon Garlic Salmon Pasta: Buttery And Baked To Perfection
Crispy Chicken Fettucine Alfredo: A Classic Dish Made Better
