Description
A hearty and comforting Italian wedding soup made effortlessly in a crockpot with tender meatballs, fresh greens, and tiny pasta.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground chicken, turkey, beef, or a mix
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (plain or Italian)
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano
- 1 large egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1–2 tablespoons milk (optional)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (optional, for sautéing)
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 carrots, peeled and diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 3/4–1 cup small pasta (acini di pepe, orzo, or ditalini)
- 4–5 cups fresh spinach or 3 cups chopped escarole (packed)
- Juice of 1/2 lemon (optional)
- Extra grated Parmesan, for serving
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine ground meat, breadcrumbs, cheese, egg, garlic, parsley, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and milk (if using). Mix gently until just combined.
- Roll into small, bite-sized meatballs (about 1 inch in size).
- Optional: Brown meatballs in a skillet with olive oil for deeper flavor.
- Add onion, carrots, and celery to the crockpot.
- Pour in chicken broth and add bay leaf, Italian seasoning, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Stir.
- Gently place the meatballs into the crockpot.
- Slow cook on Low for 4–5 hours or on High for 2–3 hours.
- Stir in small pasta and cook on High for 15–20 minutes until al dente.
- Add spinach or escarole and stir for another 2–5 minutes until wilted.
- Remove bay leaf, add lemon juice, and adjust seasoning before serving with extra Parmesan.
Notes
Leftovers keep well for 3–4 days, store pasta separately for best texture. For freezing, skip the pasta and greens.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 300 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 70mg