Get the App

Recipes

Find a Recipe Blue Ribbon Recipes Pinch It!™ Feed Browse All Recipes

Editorial

Food Bites & Articles Videos What is a Blue Ribbon? Meet the Test Kitchen

Community

Member Recipes Groups Sweepstakes Contests Shopping

italian wedding soup

smalltownwoman avatar
Recipe by
Beth Pierce
@smalltownwoman
Ofallon, MO

Classic Italian wedding soup is made with delicious pork and beef bite-sized meatballs, onions, carrots, celery, garlic, spinach, and pasta in a deliciously seasoned broth. The name wedding soup comes from the Italian phrase minestra maritata, which means married soup, not as in wedding nuptials and bells but in the marriage of delicious flavors and tastes that complement each other. I love to serve this soup with oatmeal biscuits and potato croquettes.

yield 6 serving(s)
prep time 30 Min
cook time 30 Min
method Stove Top

Ingredients For italian wedding soup

  • MEATBALL INGREDIENTS
  • 1 1/4 lb
    mixed ground pork and beef
  • 1/2 c
    bread crumbs
  • 1 Tbsp
    dried parsley
  • 1 tsp
    dried basil
  • 1 tsp
    dried oregano
  • 1 lg
    egg
  • 1/2 c
    shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp
    olive oil
  • SOUP
  • 1 md
    sweet onion, diced
  • 2 lg
    carrots, diced
  • 2 stalk
    celery, diced
  • 3 clove
    garlic, minced
  • 1 Tbsp
    dried parsley
  • 1 tsp
    dried basil
  • 1 tsp
    dried oregano
  • 8 c
    low sodium chicken broth
  • 1 c
    acini de pepe pasta
  • 4 oz
    baby spinach
  • kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper

How To Make italian wedding soup

  • 1
    In a medium bowl, combine the ground meat, breadcrumbs, parsley, basil, oregano, egg, and Parmesan cheese. Shape the mixture into 3/4-inch balls. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the meatballs and brown in the skillet. Remove the meatballs from the skillet and plate.
  • 2
    In the same skillet over medium heat, add the onions, carrots, and celery. Cook until the vegetables are softened, about 7-10 minutes. Add the garlic, parsley, basil, and oregano and cook for 1 minute while stirring constantly. Add the cooked vegetables to a heavy stockpot or Dutch oven. Add chicken broth and bring to a low boil.
  • 3
    Add the acini di pepe and the cooked meatballs. Cook for 15 minutes or until the pasta is tender. Add the spinach at the last minute of cooking. Stir the soup until the spinach is wilted. Season with kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste.
  • Last Step: Don't forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!
ADVERTISEMENT