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Home » Recipes » Soup Recipes

Italian Wedding Soup Recipe

Published: Nov 29, 2022 by Chef Dennis Littley

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During my restaurant days, Italian Wedding Soup was a mainstay on my menus. Loaded with fresh vegetables, little homemade meatballs, and escarole in a rich flavorful chicken broth is perfect for any occasion.

italian wedding soup in a white bowl
Table of Contents:
  • Audio Player
  • How to make mini meatballs
  • How to make Italian Wedding Soup
  • Can I add pasta to the soup?
  • Recipe FAQ’s
  • More Soup Recipes You’ll Love!
  • Recipe: Italian Wedding Soup Recipe

Audio Player



 

Did you know Italian Wedding Soup did not get its name from being served at Italian weddings? True Story, the term “wedding” comes from the Italian phrase “minestra maritata” and refers to the marriage of ingredients in the soup, creating an amazingly flavorful soup!

two bowls of wedding soup with pot of soup

The origins of the soup can be traced back to the Neapolitan region of Italy. Of course, you’ll find many local variations in the different regions of Italy. Using simple ingredients, Italian Wedding Soup is the perfect example of la Cucina Povera, the no-waste “poor cooking” tradition from rural Italy.

ingredients to make soup

Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make Italian Wedding soup. In Chef Speak, this is called the “Mise en Place” which translates to “Everything in its Place.”

Not only does setting up your ingredients ahead of time speed up the cooking process, it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.

Simple Pantry Ingredients

  • celery
  • carrots
  • onions
  • olive oil
  • escarole
  • ground beef
  • ground pork
  • bread crumbs
  • chicken stock
  • parmesan cheese

How to make mini meatballs

collage showing how to make mini meatballs
  • add the ground beef, ground pork, egg, bread crumbs, Romano or parmesan cheese, and seasonings to a large bowl.
  • and mix just enough to incorporate all the ingredients. Be careful not to overmix.

Alternative meatball ingredients

  • Meatballs can be made out of all beef or all pork.
  • Ground sausage can be used instead of ground pork.
  • You can also use ground chicken or ground turkey to make the mini meatballs.
pile of mini meatballs in white bowl

Form the meat mixture into marble size meatballs. Refrigerate until needed.

*These meatballs can be made ahead of time and frozen. To freeze, place the meatballs sheet and freeze until solid. When frozen, place the meatballs in a ziplock bag and keep them frozen.

How to make Italian Wedding Soup

collage showing how to make recipe
  • Add celery, carrots and onions to a large pot with a little olive oil over medium heat.
  • Let the veggies cook for 5-6 minutes.
  • Add the chicken broth to the pot and increase the heat to medium-high. Bring to a light boil.
  • Add the meatballs to the soup and continue cooking for 5-7 minutes to cook the meatballs.
  • Add the chopped escarole to the soup (baby spinach or your favorite leafy green can be used instead of escarole)
  • Reduce the heat to simmer and continue to cook the soup.

Can I add pasta to the soup?

Italian Wedding Soup does not traditionally have pasta in the soup, but pasta is a great addition to this classic Italian soup. I like to add tortellini to my wedding soup; there are so many great options in the refrigerated section of your grocery store. Acini de pepe, or one of the mini varieties of pasta, are also great choices.

partial view of Italian wedding soup in white bowl

Whether you serve this for dinner, lunch or you’re next party; everyone is going to love the simplicity and flavors of Italian Wedding Soup. Just don’t forget to have plenty of crusty bread, European butter and grated cheese on hand. Add a salad, and you just made dinner a special occasion.

Recipe FAQ’s

What are the ingredients for Italian Wedding Soup?

A mixture of ground beef and ground pork (or sausage) are used to make the meatballs for the soup. Add Italian seasonings, bread crumbs, parmesan cheese and an egg to make the meatball mixture.
The soup is made of a mirepoix (celery, onions, carrots), escarole, and chicken broth.

What is Italian wedding soup called in Italy?

The classical Neapolitan soup we know as Italian Wedding soup is called minestra maritata, in Italy. This translates to “married soup”, not wedding soup, and refers to the marriage of the flavors.

Can I make chicken meatballs for this soup?

You can use ground chicken or ground turkey for the meatball mixture. Both turn out really well and are good substitutes.

More Soup Recipes You’ll Love!

  • overhead partial shot of minestrone in a white bowl
    Classic Minestrone Soup Recipe
  • overhead partial shot of manhattan clam chowder in a bowl
    Homemade Manhattan Clam Chowder Recipe
  • bowl of sausage and bean minestra with the soup pot behind it
    Cannellini Bean and Sausage Soup
  • Seafood soup in a white cup.
    How to make Restaurant-Style Seafood Soup

partial view of Italian wedding soup in white bowl

Italian Wedding Soup Recipe

Italian Wedding Soup is the perfect chicken soup for any occasion, not just weddings! Add your favorite small pasta for added deliciousness  
4.99 from 85 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Listen to the Post
Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 55 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
Course Soup
Cuisine Italian
Servings 6
Calories 367 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 2 carrots diced
  • 4 stalks celery diced
  • 1 medium onion diced
  • olive oil for sauteing veggies
  • 4 – 5 cups chicken stock
  • 1 head escarole chopped – or your favorite green
  • sea salt and pepper to taste

Mini Meatballs

  • ½ lb lean ground beef
  • ½ lb ground pork
  • 1 large egg
  • ½ cup breadcrumbs
  • ½ teaspoon oregano
  • ½ teaspoon basil
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley finely minced
  • 2 tablespoons Romano or parmesan cheese grated
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Add celery, carrots and onions to a large pot with a little bit of olive oil over medium heat.
  • Let the veggies cook for 5-6 minutes.
  • Add the chicken broth to the pot and increase the heat to medium-high. Bring to a light boil and let the pot simmer for 15- 20 minutes.
  • Add the meatballs to the soup and continue cooking for about 10 minutes. This will cook the meatballs.
    *Cooking the meatballs in the broth will enhance the flavor of the soup.
  • Add the chopped escarole to the soup (baby spinach or your favorite leafy green can be used instead of escarole. )Reduce the heat to simmer and continue to cook the soup for an additional 15-20 minutes.

Mini Meatballs

  • Add the ground beef, ground pork, egg, bread crumbs, Romano or parmesan cheese, and seasonings to a large bowl. and mix just enough to incorporate all the ingredients. Be careful not to overmix.
  • Form marble size meatballs from the mix and when finished drop them gently into the hot broth.
  • Serve with a little grated romano cheese and enjoy!

Notes

Alternative meatball ingredients:
  • Meatballs can be made out of all beef or all pork.
  • Ground sausage can be used instead of ground pork.
  • You can also use ground chicken or ground turkey to make the mini meatballs.
Add Pasta to the soup
Italian Wedding Soup does not traditionally have pasta in the soup, but pasta is a great addition to this classic Italian soup. I like to add tortellini to my wedding soup; there are so many great options in the refrigerated section of your grocery store. Acini de pepe, or one of the mini varieties of pasta, are also great choices.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 367kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 28gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 94mgSodium: 892mgPotassium: 992mgFiber: 4gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 5154IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 126mgIron: 4mg
Tried this recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @askchefdennis or tag #askchefdennis!

Comments

    4.99 from 85 votes (58 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Pam says

    June 29, 2024 at 8:26 am

    5 stars
    Really flavorful!

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      July 01, 2024 at 2:22 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  2. John Palmeri says

    May 11, 2024 at 8:56 pm

    5 stars
    I used to love this soup, but I contracted Alpha Gal (lone star tick disease) and I can’t eat red meat, which includes pork. So this recipe using chicken meatballs, it was a return to an old friend. Thank you Dennis!

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      May 12, 2024 at 9:40 am

      I’m happy to hear you can get back to enjoying Italian wedding soup. I didn’t eat red meat for a very long time and used ground chicken for just about everything that would have called for ground beef. I found it wasn’t as dry as ground turkey.

      Reply
  3. Joanne says

    July 29, 2023 at 12:58 pm

    5 stars
    This soup went beyond our expectations. My boys, who don’t enjoy any kind of vegetable, loved the heck out of this soup. I followed the recipe per instructions but added small pasta during the meatball step (to the soup) and used baby spinach. So yummy! My youngest even asked for this soup for his birthday dinner. Well done!

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      July 29, 2023 at 1:48 pm

      I’m happy to hear you made a few adjustments to the soup recipe, that’s what making soup is all about. In my restaurant days this was one of our daily soup offerings and always goe raves from my guests. I’m glad your family enjoyed it.

      Reply
  4. Dorothy Gardiner says

    December 04, 2022 at 11:48 am

    5 stars
    When my husband was having Chemo, he would always ask for a version of this soup…..he asked that I add chunks of chicken, and I would….I also added some crumbled hard boiled egg.grated the carrots and added some pasta. He even GAINED some weight it tasted so good to him.

    Reply
    • Chef Dennis Littley says

      December 04, 2022 at 1:24 pm

      I’m happy to hear that your husband found something he could enjoy during a very difficult time in his life. And kudos to you for adapting and adding ingredients to the soup to make it even more delicious!

      Reply
  5. Natalie says

    September 19, 2021 at 11:51 am

    5 stars
    Lovely light soup. One of my favorite.

    Reply
  6. Jamie says

    September 18, 2021 at 3:38 pm

    5 stars
    So delicious and flavorful!

    Reply
  7. Rob says

    September 18, 2021 at 12:33 pm

    5 stars
    It was delicious!

    Reply
  8. Luca says

    September 18, 2021 at 10:14 am

    5 stars
    Amazing recipe, really easy to follow!

    Reply
  9. Addie says

    September 17, 2021 at 10:32 pm

    5 stars
    This was such a hearty and flavorful soup!

    Reply
  10. Brianna says

    September 17, 2021 at 3:57 pm

    5 stars
    So flavorful, absolutely love the meatballs!

    Reply
  11. Tyanne says

    September 17, 2021 at 3:34 pm

    5 stars
    I love this soup! The flavors in this recipe were absolutely amazing.

    Reply
  12. AISilva says

    September 17, 2021 at 2:34 pm

    5 stars
    What a delicious soup and so simple too!

    Reply
  13. Angela says

    September 17, 2021 at 12:38 pm

    5 stars
    I am happy to have found this recipe. This is now one of my favorite soups. I love the addition of the tortellini.

    Reply
  14. Mama Maggie's Kitchen says

    January 24, 2021 at 6:55 am

    5 stars
    Incredibly delicious. Everyone loved your soup!

    Reply
  15. Swathi says

    January 23, 2021 at 11:22 pm

    5 stars
    Italian wedding soup is now my favorite chicken soup!

    Reply
« Older Comments


My name is Chef Dennis Littley, creator and owner of Ask Chef Dennis Productions. As a classically trained chef with 40+ years of experience in the kitchen, I share my time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen.

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