Italian Wedding Soup Recipe (2024)

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Katerina

5 from 3 votes

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Warm up your chilly nights with this cozy Italian wedding soup packed with savory meatballs, a mix of veggies, and pasta. It’s the perfect addition to your comfort food lineup, made even better with a sprinkle of shredded Parmesan on top.

Italian Wedding Soup Recipe (2)

This Italian wedding soup, a favorite in my kitchen, blends meatballs, veggies, acini di Pepe, soffrito, Parmesan, and leafy greens in a savory broth enriched with a touch of white wine and spinach. It’s a hearty, flavorful recipe I often turn to, especially during winter, offering comfort without the need for a special occasion. Easy to prepare with either homemade or frozen meatballs, it’s a staple that impresses everyone at the table.

What Is Italian Wedding Soup?

Italian wedding soup, or minestra maritata, originating from Naples, is a humble dish combining meatballs, soffrito (a mix of carrots, celery, and onions), and acini de Pepe, simmered to create a light, satisfying soup. It’s not actually called “wedding soup” because it’s served at weddings. This soup gets its name from a more symbolic perspective in which the entire recipe is a “marriage” or a perfect union of ingredients. The balance of flavors is considered a masterpiece, which is where the name derives from.

    Recipe Ingredients

    Don’t stray too far from these ingredients or substitutes for the most authentic soup. Check the recipe card at the bottom of the post for full ingredient amounts and directions.

    Italian Wedding Soup Recipe (3)
    Italian Wedding Soup Recipe (4)
    • For the Meatballs: Italian pork sausage, ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic, and parmesan.
    • For the Vegetables: Butter, olive oil, yellow onion, carrots, celery, and baby spinach.
    • Seasonings: Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
    • Broth: I use low-sodium chicken broth, but you can also use beef broth or vegetable broth.
    • For the Pasta: You can use acini de pepe or orzo pasta.

    How to Make Italian Wedding Soup

    All you have to do is make the meatballs, cook the veggies, and let the soup simmer. That’s it!

    Italian Wedding Soup Recipe (5)
    Italian Wedding Soup Recipe (6)
    Italian Wedding Soup Recipe (7)
    Italian Wedding Soup Recipe (8)
    1. Make the meatballs. In a large bowl, combine the Italian pork sausage, ground beef, panko, garlic, egg, parmesan, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine, make 1-inch meatballs, and transfer them to a large plate.
    2. Cook the veggies. Melt the butter and add the olive oil to a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrots, and celery. Cook them until just softened. Season with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and add the garlic.
    3. Add the broth. Pour in the chicken broth and gently use a wooden spoon to scrape the bottom of the pot for any browned bits.
    4. Add the meatballs. Add the pasta and meatballs to the pot. Bring the mixture to a boil.
    5. Let it simmer. Reduce the heat to medium and let the soup simmer for 10 to 15 minutes or until the meatballs are fully cooked. Add the spinach, stir it in, and let it cook for 1 to 2 minutes or until wilted.
    6. Serve. Remove the pot from the heat. Season with more salt and pepper to taste. Top with parmesan cheese and serve.
    Italian Wedding Soup Recipe (9)

    Recipe Tips And Variations

    • Sear the meatballs. Doing so for 5 to 6 minutes or until golden brown, will give your soup a much more concentrated flavor.
    • Use kale. Adding a bit of kale or entirely substituting the spinach for it is a nice way of using up whatever leafy greens you have on hand.
    • Make it spicy. Add red pepper flakes to taste when cooking the veggies to give your soup a bit of heat.
    • Add cannellini beans. These will add a slightly creamy element to the soup and lots of protein. Or, just grab my favorite recipe for Italian Sausage Soup with Kale and Beans.
    • Add a splash of wine. For extra flavor, stir in 1/4 cup of dry white wine before you add the broth.
    • Use frozen Italian meatballs. If you are in a hurry, opt for frozen meatballs and don’t worry about thawing them first; just add them to the pot.

    Serving Suggestions

    Italian wedding soup is excellent with salads, veggie sides, and many veggie mains. I love my Cranberry Chicken Salad, Spring Vegetable Potato Salad, and this Lime Cumin Chicken Salad. As sides, I often serve the soup with Zucchini Fritters or Baked Zucchini Chips. Finally, I also like to pair it with my Zucchini Lasagna Roll Ups or Steak Pizzaiola as the main dish.

    Italian Wedding Soup Recipe (10)

    How to Store & Reheat Leftovers

    • Refrigerate any cooled leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze it for up to 3 months. Thaw it before reheating.
    • To reheat it, place it in the microwave for up to 2 minutes or until warm. You can also heat it in a small pot over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes.

    Easy Soup Recipes

    • Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup
    • Lentil and Chorizo Soup
    • Cream of Mushroom Soup with Rice
    • Cream of Zucchini Soup
    • Curried Butternut Squash Soup

    Italian Wedding Soup Recipe (11)

    Italian Wedding Soup

    Katerina | Diethood

    Italian wedding soup is a comforting and delicious meal, combining tender meatballs, veggies, and pasta in a flavorful broth.

    5 from 3 votes

    Servings : 8 people

    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save

    Prep Time 40 minutes mins

    Cook Time 20 minutes mins

    Total Time 1 hour hr

    Ingredients

    For the Meatballs

    For the Soup

    • 1 tablespoon butter
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 small yellow onion, diced
    • 2 large carrots, diced
    • 2 celery ribs, diced
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
    • 4 cloves garlic, minced
    • ½ tablespoon Italian Seasoning
    • 8 cups low sodium chicken broth, you can also use beef broth
    • 1 cup acini di pepe, or orzo pasta
    • 4 cups baby spinach leaves
    • shredded parmesan, for serving

    Instructions

    • In a large bowl, combine Italian pork sausage, ground beef, breadcrumbs, garlic, egg, grated parmesan, salt, and pepper. Stir until well combined. Roll the mixture into 1-inch meatballs and transfer to a large plate.

    • Melt the butter and heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven or soup pot set over medium-high heat. To the melted butter, add the onion, carrots, and celery; season with salt and pepper and cook for 4 minutes or until just softened. Stir frequently.

    • Stir in the garlic and Italian seasoning, and continue to cook for 15 seconds, or until fragrant. Pour in the broth, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pot to pick up all the browned bits.

    • Add in the pasta and meatballs, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a steady simmer and cook for about 10 to 12 minutes, until meatballs are cooked through. Stir in the spinach and cook for 1 to 2 minutes or until just wilted.

    • Remove from heat, taste the soup for salt and pepper, and adjust accordingly.

    • Ladle into soup bowls, garnish with shredded parmesan and serve.

    Notes

    • Pasta: This soup is prepared with small pasta like Acini di Pepe, and you can use any other small-shaped pasta like orzo and ditalini
    • Cook the pasta separatelyif you plan to have leftovers. The pasta will soak up a lot of the liquid; therefore, if you want to serve this soup later, make the pasta on the side and add it to the soup when serving.
    • Meatballs: I prepared the meatballs with Italian pork sausage and ground beef, but you can use any other combination of ground meats or sausages. If time permits, I suggest searing the meatballs for a few minutes for deeper flavor before adding them to the soup.
    • Wine: To add more flavor, add about 1/4 cup of dry white wine when cooking the carrots, onions, and celery.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 8 people | Calories: 329 kcal | Carbohydrates: 25 g | Protein: 22 g | Fat: 17 g | Saturated Fat: 6 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7 g | Trans Fat: 0.2 g | Cholesterol: 70 mg | Sodium: 592 mg | Potassium: 589 mg | Fiber: 2 g | Sugar: 3 g | Vitamin A: 4617 IU | Vitamin C: 7 mg | Calcium: 113 mg | Iron: 3 mg

    Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.

    Course: Soup

    Cuisine: Italian

    Keyword: best Italian wedding soup recipe, easy soup recipes, italian wedding soup recipe, meatball soup

    Did you make this recipe?Leave a Rating!

    Categories:

    • Beef Recipes
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Lunch
    • Recipes
    • Soups
    Italian Wedding Soup Recipe (2024)

    FAQs

    What does Italian wedding soup contain? ›

    This lovely Italian wedding soup recipe is a combination of homemade meatballs with sliced escarole, carrots, and orzo pasta in a flavorsome broth. Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan cheese.

    Why is it called wedding soup? ›

    Origin. The term wedding soup comes from a mistranslation of the Italian language phrase minestra maritata ('married soup'). Minestra maritata more directly translates to 'wedded broths'. The marriage of its meats and vegetables inside of its broth is the only matrimony relevant in this context.

    What is the difference between minestrone and Italian wedding soup? ›

    It's similar to minestrone, but is made with meatballs; minestrone is usually made from vegetables and pasta. Italian wedding soup is a phenomenal freezer-friendly soup, and it doesn't take long to make – a perfect project for a chilly afternoon!

    What is the most famous soup in Italy? ›

    Minestrone is a classic Italian soup known worldwide as one of the best Italian soups. It's got a flavorful broth and a variety of slow-cooked vegetables like potatoes, peas, and carrots. Adding Italian sausage gives it a kick of flavor and a shot of protein, so it's a complete meal all by itself.

    What's in Campbell's Italian wedding soup? ›

    CHICKEN BROTH (WATER, CHICKEN STOCK), BEEF MEATBALLS (SOY), ACINI DE PEPE PASTA (WHEAT FLOUR, EGG WHITE), SPINACH, POTATO STARCH, SALT, DRIED ONION, PARMESAN AND CHEDDAR CHEESE (MILK), DRIED GARLIC, SPICES, FLAVOUR (CONTAINS CELERY), MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE, DISODIUM GUANYLATE, DISODIUM INOSINATE, AUTOLYZED YEAST EXTRACT, ...

    Do Italians eat Italian wedding soup at weddings? ›

    Savory and rustic, Italian wedding soup is certainly lovable. Yet, regardless of what the name implies, it's not traditionally served at Italian weddings (despite the rumor that it's an aphrodisiac for newlyweds). Many people eat it during the winter or early springtime, but wedding season is irrelevant here.

    What are the two soups at Olive Garden? ›

    Pasta e fa*gioli - White and red beans, ground beef, fresh tomatoes and tubetti pasta in a savory broth. Minestrone (V) - Fresh vegetables, beans and pasta in a light tomato broth - a vegan classic.

    What is the most popular soup at Olive Garden? ›

    Zuppa Toscana – Olive Garden Copycat (VIDEO) Zuppa Toscana is Olive Garden's most popular soup. This one-pot, homemade Zuppa Toscana recipe is hearty and loaded with Italian sausage, kale, bacon and potatoes.

    What is the real name of Italian wedding soup? ›

    Minestra maritata (The Original Italian “Wedding Soup”)

    It is so popular, in fact, that it has been marketed as a canned soup by Progresso under the…

    What is the No 1 soup in the world? ›

    According to the Taste Atlas Awards, the international food database, the Filipino favorite, Sinigang, is hailed as the best soup in the world.

    What is the national soup of Italy? ›

    Minestrone Soup - This is a traditional soup from Italy make with a combination of seasonal vegetables and pasta. It makes a complete meal with a slice of bread.

    What is the most expensive soup? ›

    Campbell's have created a list of the words most expensive soups on earth. The first is a soup of the day at the Norwood Chinese Restaurant in Australia. A single bowl of this broth costs $450 Australian dollars, £263, but the price may not be the only point of contention for diners interested in supping on this soup.

    How do you make canned Italian wedding soup taste better? ›

    Canned Italian wedding soup can be amped up with sausage.

    Italian wedding soup consists of vegetables, meatballs, and small pasta noodles, so the sausage can add a nice kick of flavor. "I always add Sriracha and freshly grated parmesan to brighten it up," he added.

    What food is served at Italian weddings? ›

    Chicken is one of the most popular main dishes for Italian wedding receptions. Some options include spaghetti with roasted peppers and chicken, chicken parmesan, chicken Sorrento and chicken piccata pasta. Each of these are considered traditional Italian dishes and are often seen at Italian weddings.

    What to eat with Italian wedding soup? ›

    The best side dishes to serve with Italian wedding soup are garlic bread, garden salad, cauliflower pizza bowl, zucchini noodles, Caesar salad, stuffed mushrooms, gluten-free bread, Israeli couscous, focaccia, Rice-A-Roni, garlic Parmesan knots, cherry tomato salad, apple slaw, Parmesan crisps, and mozzarella sticks.

    What is zuppa in Italian menu? ›

    Zuppa (soup)

    Zuppa has a dense and substantial appearance, very little liquid is used, which gets absorbed by bread and croutons. Zuppa is widespread in Tuscany, with collard greens or kale as the main vegetable. In Calabria and Sicily it's based on legumes and fava beans. In Sardinia it features bits of cheese.

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