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There’s a lot to love about Italian wedding soup! Tender chicken meatballs, vegetables, tiny pasta, and spinach come together in a savory broth for a simple meal that’s hearty, flavorful, and easy to make. For another delicious Italian-inspired soup, make my Stanley Tucci Pasta Fagioli.
A Reader’s Review
I found this recipe through Pinterest and it is my FAVORITE recipe, possibly ever! My family loves this soup. I’ve made it for a work luncheon also and it was eaten up so fast! I had lots of requests for this recipe. Thank you so much! It’s amazing!
The Perfect Pairing of Flavor
- Big Meatball Flavor: Chicken and Italian sausage make the meatballs tender and full of flavor.
- Easy One-Pot Meal: The meatballs, pasta, and veggies all cook in one pot. That means less cleanup!
- Perfect for Dinner: This soup is filling on its own. Or serve it with crusty bread, garlic knots, or a simple green salad.
Ingredients for Italian Wedding Soup
- Acini di Pepe: This tiny pasta is classic in Italian wedding soup. Can’t find it? Use orzo instead.
- Homemade Chicken Stock: Switch up the stock for broth if it’s what you have on hand.
- Ground Chicken and Sausage: Use both for tender, flavorful meatballs. Remove the sausage casing before mixing.
- Breadcrumbs: Click here to try making your own!
How to Make Italian Wedding Soup
Tender meatballs and tiny pasta make this soup so good. Carrots, celery, and spinach add even more flavor. Best of all, it’s ready in about 30 minutes. Love cozy Italian soups? Try my minestrone soup, pasta e fagioli, or creamy chicken gnocchi soup next.
- Make the Meatballs: Add ground chicken, sausage, bread crumbs, egg, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to a bowl, then mix well. Roll into 1-inch small meatballs. You should get about 25–30.
- Cook the Veggies: Heat olive oil in a large pot, then add the onion, carrots, celery, and garlic. Cook for 2–3 minutes, or until tender.
- Simmer: Add the chicken broth, acini di pepe, and meatballs, then bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 10 minutes. The meatballs should be cooked through and the pasta al dente.
- Add Spinach: Stir in the baby spinach and cook until wilted. Add salt and black pepper to taste, then top Italian wedding soup with Parmesan cheese and serve.
Must Have Tools for This Recipe
- Large Pot or Dutch Oven: For cooking the soup.
- Cutting Board: For prepping the veggies.
- Sharp Knife: For chopping the veggies.
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Italian Wedding Soup
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 8 ounces ground chicken
- 8 ounces ground chicken sausage (casings removed)
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- salt and pepper to taste
Soup
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ cup diced yellow onion
- 3 large diced carrots
- 2 stalks diced celery
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- 10 cups chicken stock or broth
- ½ cup uncooked acini di pepe pasta or orzo
- 4 cups chopped spinach
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
Meatballs
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, add 8 ounces ground chicken, 8 ounces ground chicken sausage, ¼ cup breadcrumbs, 1 large egg, 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper. Stir until combined. Roll into one-inch meatballs, making about 25-30.
Soup
- In a large pot, add 1 tablespoon olive oil, ¼ cup diced yellow onion, 3 large diced carrots, 2 stalks diced celery, and 3 cloves minced garlic. Cook for 2-3 minutes, or until tender.
- Add 10 cups chicken stock, ½ cup uncooked acini di pepe pasta, and the shaped meatballs to the pot. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook for about 10 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through and the pasta is tender.
- Stir in 4 cups chopped spinach and allow to wilt. Season with salt and pepper, then top with ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese.
Video
Notes
- Refrigerator: Store cooled soup in an airtight container for 3–5 days.
- Freezer: Freeze cooled soup in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Leave a little room for expansion.
- Reheat: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat on the stove or in the microwave until warmed through.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Savory Soups to Try
Italian wedding soup is one of my favorite cold-weather meals. Here are a few more cozy soup recipes to try next!
I couldn’t find chicken sausage so my meatballs were just ground chicken, but it still tasted great! I will definitely make this again. Thanks for the recipe!
This recipe is so good! I used Parmesan rinds in my stock for a richer broth and frozen spinach to get more in my soup for less money.
I made this today and my husband and I absolutely loved it.
Where do you buy your chicken sausage? I can’t find it anywhere.
I use Costco, Walmart, smiths just at any local grocery store that is near you.
For the milk can I sub lactose free milk or would that not make it creamy enough. My husband is lactose intolerant. It sounds really good and I would love to try it.
Good recipe at it is but modify a lil bit for better taste and healthier! I minced the carrots and celery to add on meatballs also used original oatmeal instead of breadcrumbs and added fresh parsley.
What do you think about ground turkey for this recipe ?
That sounds delicious! Let me know how it turns out!
Great recipe. I think the combination of ground chicken and sausage sets this version above the rest. Thank you.
Alyssa, I don’t see on her what a serving size is or how many people this recipe serves. I’m having family over for Fathers Day and would love to try this soup.
This will serve about 8 people give or take. I will update the recipe with the information. Thank you for letting me know.
Very good recipe. Thanks! I made a double batch one pound each of ground pork and loose Italian sausage, adding in a 1/4 cup grated romano cheese and fresh chopped parsley for the meatballs. I fried them slightly to give them color and hold them together better, This also helps remove any extra fat from the sausage. Followed everything else to a T. Delicious!
Why the chicken sausage and ground chicken? Couldn’t one simply add additional seasoning to ground chicken?
If you prefer, yes.
Flavor. The ground chicken adds tenderness and the chicken sausage adds a punch of spice. They work VERY well together. Also, the chicken sausage has the perfect seasonings……if you want to research, purchase, and figure out exactly how much of each spice to add to the mix, more power to you.
You mentioned breadcrumbs in the ingredients for meatballs but didn’t mention them in the instructions. So… breadcrumbs, yes or no?
Yes, I just updated the recipe card. Add it with the meatball mixture.
Ate you able to use Italian sausage in stead of chicken?
OH! That sounds great! let me know how it turns out! XOXO
great recipe with a lot of my favorite ingredients and very well balanced, also great time of year for this soup
How many does this recipe serve?
This serves about 6 to 8 people. Enjoy this soup! It is delicious! XOXO
ohh I like the Italian recipes and in that my favorite starter recipe soup …super looking recipe I will try this.
thank you for sharing.