Italian Wedding Soup

Sausage and ground beef meatballs combine with pasta, veggies, and a flavor-rich broth in this hearty Italian wedding soup recipe.

Why this recipe works

A steamy pot of Italian wedding soup hits all the right spots, especially when the weather is chilly. This soup is loaded with bite-sized hot Italian sausage and ground beef meatballs, acini di pepe pasta, and spinach plus the classic veggies such as celery, onions, and carrots all mixed into a simple yet comforting broth.

Ingredients you will need

Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.

Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions

MEATBALLS – The meatballs are made with a combination of hot Italian sausage and ground beef which lends plenty of flavor and adds a dash of spice. You can substitute with any combo of meat you prefer. All pork meatballs like we use in our Italian sausage tomato orzo soup or all beef meatballs are both great options as well. If you choose to use ground turkey or chicken, I would recommend adding more seasonings as they have less flavor and can be bland otherwise.

PASTA – The small round pasta balls are called acini di pepe, they are similar in size to pearl couscous and soak up the surrounding broth well. You can substitute with orzo, or opt for a small pasta like ditalini instead.

How to Make Italian Wedding Soup

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.

1. Place the bread crumbs and milk in a bowl and stir together to allow the bread to absorb the milk for an extra moist breadcrumb.
2. Add in the ground beef, sausage, Italian seasoning, pepper, salt, eggs, minced garlic, and parmesan cheese. Work together with your hands to combine the meatball ingredients evenly.
3. Using a teaspoon or melon baller, form small meatballs and place on a baking sheet. We like a smaller meatball for this recipe so that it is bite-sized in our soup. Roll the mixture in your hands to form a smooth, round ball.
4. Coat the bottom of a non-stick skillet with olive oil. Heat over medium. Cook the meatballs, working in batches, to sear on all sides. They do not need to cook through but should develop a nice, golden brown crust (2-3 minutes per batch). Set the meatballs aside.
5. Meanwhile, heat another tablespoon of olive oil in a large soup pot. Add diced celery, onion, and carrots, and cook until the onion is translucent and the vegetables have begun to soften.
6. Add the minced garlic, salt, and pepper and saute 1 minute longer.
7. Add the chicken broth to the pot and bring the mixture to a boil. Taste the broth and add additional salt and/or pepper, if desired.
8. Next, add the pasta and meatballs to the soup and simmer over low heat for 10-12 minutes, until the pasta is tender and the meatballs are cooked through.
9. Stir in the spinach and remove the soup from heat. The spinach will wilt right away.
10. Serve with freshly grated parmesan cheese.

Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips

No, you can drop the meatballsstraight into the soup without being browned first. This will take away some of the flavor and will require an extra few minutes of cook time, but it’s perfectly fine to skip the pan-searing.

Sure, if you would prefer to use frozen meatballs instead of making them yourself then go right ahead.

You can easily prepare and store the Italian wedding soup in the refrigerator a day in advance then warm it up when ready to enjoy.

Yes, you can freeze this soup. Allow the soup to fully cool then transfer it to an air-tight container or large ziptop bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. You can also prepare the meatballs separately, freeze, and toss them into a fresh batch of soup which will help cut down on future prep time.

Store the soup in an air-tight container kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave or over medium-low heat on the stovetop.

Serving Suggestions

Serve Italian wedding soup with a generous amount of parmesan cheese as garnish. Enjoy with crusty homemade Italian bread for dunking and a leafy dinner salad on the side.

More Soup Recipes

• Pasta Fagioli
• Lasagna Soup
• Minestrone Soup
• Italian Sausage Tomato Orzo Soup
• Beef Barley Soup

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