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October 9, 2012

Italian Wedding Soup (Dinner For Two)

This easy Italian Wedding Soup recipe is a popular Italian American soup made with acini de pepe pasta, spinach, carrots, and meatballs. It’s hearty and filling, perfect for those cold, brisk days. Soup recipe is scaled down to 4 servings to feed 2 people.


Italian Wedding Soup - a hearty soup for a cold day

When I don’t know what to make for dinner, soup is usually an easy solution because it has the same formula. Saute some vegetables, add broth, add anything that needs to fully cooked, done.

I find pureed soups don’t fill me up as much as they should. That’s why I prefer hearty soups like Spinach and Mushroom Dumpling Soup and this family favorite Italian Wedding Soup. It’s the perfect meal for those cold, brisk days.


easy Italian Wedding Soup recipe
Italian Wedding Soup is a mistranslation. Many people (including myself) think it is a soup served at Italian weddings. Actually, the Italians named it so because of the marriage between vegetables and meat, meaning they go very well together. I think if I ever get married and it’s not the middle of summer, I’m going to serve this soup at my wedding anyway. It’s just that good to eat.


easy Italian Wedding Soup recipe

The soup is made up of acini di pepe (little pasta balls that translates into “peppercorns” because of the shape), beef meatballs, carrots, and spinach, all floating in chicken broth. Is it weird to make a beef soup with chicken broth? Beef broth doesn’t taste the same though.

The name of the pasta found in Italian wedding soup is acini di pepe, which I found in the pasta section no problem. I’ve also seen some recipes substitute orzo. I’ve also seen some recipes that added shredded chicken, which to be honest, I have never had wedding soup with chicken before. Not saying it’s wrong. Just unheard of growing up.


easy Italian Wedding Soup recipe
Is this the best Italian wedding soup ever? Would it be wrong for me to say hell yes? If you don’t believe me, you can ask my parents and brother. They DEVOUR it.

My original recipe made 8 servings, mainly because I would be feeding four people when family visits. However, I scaled it down to 4 servings that feeds 2 people (2 bowls each because let’s face it – who only eats 1 bowl?).


easy Italian Wedding Soup recipe
Items You May Need (affiliate links):


Italian Wedding Soup

Italian Wedding Soup

Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Freeze Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours

Ingredients

Meatballs:

  • 1/4 pound ground beef, thawed
  • 2 tablespoons minced onion
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons plain bread crumbs
  • 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 egg

Soup:

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • Salt, to taste
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion
  • 1 carrot, peeled and chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 4-5 cups chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup acini di pepi pasta
  • 6 ounces frozen spinach

Instructions

  1. For the meatballs: In a large bowl, mix together the beef, onion, garlic, cheese, bread crumbs, basil, parsley, salt, and egg until combined.
  2. Using a #60 cookie scoop or by hand, roll the meat into 1/2-inch balls. You should get roughly 14 mini meatballs. Place onto a cookie sheet and freeze until firm, about 30 minutes. If freezing them longer, store in a freezer-proof zip-top bag.
  3. For the soup: In a Dutch oven or large pot, melt the butter. Add the onion, carrot, and a big pinch of salt. Cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 30 seconds.
  4. Add 4 cups broth and bring to a boil.
  5. Add the meatballs and cook at a gentle boil for 10 minutes. Taste for salt. Depending on how salty the broth is, you may need to add up to 1/2 teaspoon salt.
  6. Add acini di pepi and cook 8-10 minutes or until done
  7. Add spinach and cook 2-3 minutes or until hot. At this point, a lot of the broth will have been absorbed by the pasta and vegetables. Add the remaining broth if desired.

Notes

* If you are not going to use the meatballs the same day you make them, cover them until you are ready. You can even freeze and drop them frozen into the soup. Just add a few more minutes to the cooking time.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

© Carla Cardello

Source: Adapted from Brown Eyed Baker

Filed Under: Beef + Lamb, Main Dishes, Soups + Stews Tagged With: broth/stock, carrots, dinner for two, garlic, one pot/pan, onions, parmesan, spinach

Did you make my recipe?

Please let me know by sharing a photo in my private Facebook group or uploading and tagging me on Instagram using #HITKrecipes (Note: If your Instagram account is private, I won't be able to see your photo)

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jen @JuanitasCocina says

    October 9, 2012 at 6:44 AM

    This is one of my favorite soups! I’ve never even thought of making! And gorgeous photos!

    Reply
    • Kristina Ferguson says

      January 11, 2017 at 7:35 PM

      Fantastic recipe!! Made this multiple times and it’s always delicious. I use turkey though, only because that was all we had the first time I tried it, but still use it because it turned out so awesome!

      Reply
      • Carla says

        January 12, 2017 at 9:07 AM

        Hey turkey works too! Glad you enjoyed the soup.

        Reply
  2. Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says

    October 9, 2012 at 7:49 AM

    Oooh I love wedding soup. My boyfriend and I are both Italian so our grandparents each have their own recipes that we’re fiercely loyal to. His grandpa’s is more traditional-like yours. Mine is a little different-there are no meatballs but there is chicken and endive. It could be a result of the fact that I’m part Sicilian *shrug* I don’t know lol.

    Your soup looks beautiful and super tasty. Meatballs and all :P

    Reply
  3. Renee says

    October 9, 2012 at 8:50 AM

    This is one soup I love but have not made yet. I’m taking care of that this fall/winter and I’ll make my first batch with your recipe.

    Reply
  4. Isabelle @ Crumb says

    October 10, 2012 at 9:26 AM

    Ah ha! The mystery of Italian Wedding Soup is solved. I always thought it seemed like an odd dish to serve at a wedding, especially since none of my Italian friends served it at their weddings. It’s delicious enough that I’m willing to forgive it for its misleading name, though. :)

    Reply
  5. Sharon says

    June 9, 2013 at 8:50 PM

    This looks delicious! I want to definitely make this soup. I will probably adjust the recipe to use low-sodium broth. Definitely saving to make later.

    Reply
    • Carla Cardello says

      June 12, 2013 at 7:19 PM

      Low sodium broth would work! Enjoy!

      Reply
      • john b says

        February 9, 2015 at 8:51 AM

        Indeed, I just made it with low sodium broth and it was great. Substituted turkey for beef and that worked pretty good, however I think in the future I will add more spices to the turkey.

        Reply
        • Carla says

          February 9, 2015 at 9:05 AM

          Turkey tends to need more help in the bland department compared to other meats like beef or pork. Glad you enjoyed the soup!

          Reply
  6. Mickie Wallace says

    January 5, 2014 at 1:58 AM

    I love wedding soup and can ‘t wait to try your version.the pictures are making my mouth water. Will make it first thing tomorrow. I hope I can make it as good as it looks. Wish me luck.

    Reply
  7. carole says

    January 25, 2014 at 1:32 PM

    can this soup be frozen?

    Reply
    • Carla says

      January 25, 2014 at 2:06 PM

      I personally haven’t frozen this recipe, but I know a local restaurant who freezes their wedding soup to sell in stores.

      Reply
  8. Easy Italian Recipes says

    March 6, 2014 at 10:58 AM

    Hi! Your Italian wedding soup has been nominated as one of the “Best Italian Wedding Soup Recipes on the Net”. To vote for it, please visit http://easyitalianrecipes.org/soup-recipes/best-italian-wedding-soup-recipes-on-the-net-vote-for-your-favorite/ (your recipe is positioned at #111).

    Reply
    • Carla Cardello says

      March 6, 2014 at 7:03 PM

      Thanks!

      Reply
  9. Sharon says

    January 11, 2016 at 6:32 PM

    Made soup tonight with frozen meatballs. My family just loved it!

    Reply
  10. Bruce says

    October 3, 2017 at 7:52 PM

    Perfect wedding soup recipe and beautiful photos

    Reply
  11. Tracey says

    April 29, 2018 at 2:00 PM

    Carla, I love this soup and I thank you for teaching me to make it. Too bad my own Italian mother couldn’t, but it’s just not in her repertoire (although she makes a mean chicken cutlet and killer pizzeles, in her defense). Great instructions, beautiful photos, delicious soup!! Thanks!

    Reply
    • Carla says

      April 30, 2018 at 10:10 AM

      Thanks, Tracey! Glad you’re able to enjoy this soup. Maybe you and your mom can cook and learn together :)

      Reply
  12. Cathy S. says

    January 31, 2021 at 5:57 PM

    I used fresh baby spinach and I reduced the amount to 3 oz.

    Reply
    • Carla says

      February 1, 2021 at 1:37 PM

      Good to know fresh works too!

      Reply

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I’m Carla, a 30-some childfree woman from Pittsburgh, PA learning how to adult alone. I'm sharing recipes for two and small batch recipes made from scratch because not everybody cooks for a crowd.

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