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Easy Italian Wedding Soup with Tender Meatballs

A close-up bowl of flavorful wedding soup featuring browned meatballs, bright green spinach, carrots, and acini di pepe pasta.
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Make this classic Italian Wedding Soup recipe for a hearty, comforting meal. It features small, tender meatballs, fresh greens, and acini di pepe pasta in a flavorful chicken broth. This is a great weeknight dinner soup.

Ingredients

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  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 pound mild Italian sausage, casing removed
  • 1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 medium carrots, sliced
  • 2 celery stalks, sliced
  • 1 small yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 cup acini di pepe pasta (or other small pasta)
  • 5 ounces fresh spinach or escarole, roughly chopped
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, for serving

Instructions

  1. Combine ground beef, sausage, breadcrumbs, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, egg, minced garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Mix gently with your hands until just combined; do not overmix.
  2. Roll the meat mixture into small meatballs, about 1/2 to 3/4 inch in diameter. You should have about 60-70 small meatballs.
  3. In a large pot or Dutch oven, bring the chicken broth to a simmer over medium heat.
  4. Add the sliced carrots, celery, and chopped onion to the broth. Simmer for 10 minutes until the vegetables begin to soften.
  5. Gently drop the small meatballs into the simmering broth. Cook for about 10 minutes, or until the meatballs float and are cooked through. Skim off any foam that rises to the surface.
  6. Add the acini di pepe pasta to the pot. Cook according to package directions, usually 6 to 8 minutes, until al dente.
  7. Stir in the fresh spinach or escarole during the last 2 minutes of cooking until the greens wilt.
  8. Taste the soup and adjust salt and pepper if needed.
  9. Serve the hearty soup hot, topped with extra grated Parmesan cheese.

Notes

  • For the most tender meatballs, mix the meat mixture lightly. Overmixing makes them tough.
  • You can use ground turkey or a mix of ground beef and ground pork for the meatballs.
  • If you prefer a richer broth, use homemade chicken stock instead of store-bought broth.
  • Cook the pasta separately if you plan on having leftovers, as pasta soaks up too much liquid when stored.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://fooddexterity.com/wedding-soup-recipe-easy-italian-meatball-soup/