If you are craving a steaming bowl of nourishing comfort right now, then look no further than this healthy Italian Wedding Soup made with extra veggies, chicken meatballs and fresh greens. It will hit the spot! 

a black bowl with Italian Wedding Soup made with chicken meatballs

I originally shared this recipe on January 7th 2014. I have updated the photos and text today. 

Why We Love This Healthy Italian Wedding Soup Recipe

This healthy comforting soup is a great meal to serve on chilly evenings. It is perfect all winter long when you are craving a bowl of nourishing veggie, pasta and chicken soup to warm you up from the inside out!

This healthy version of Italian Wedding Soup is made with traditional greens and small pasta (acini di pepe) and meatballs. This version is made more healthy with meatballs made from ground chicken instead of beef, sausage or pork.

What is Italian Wedding Soup?

You may be surprised to learn that Italian Wedding Soup gets its name from the marriage of flavors of the meat and greens in the soup. Source. Unlike popular belief, it is not a traditional dish served at Italian weddings.

  • Italian Wedding Soup is a traditional peasant soup made with a clear broth, meat and greens.
  • In traditional Italian versions the broth is often enriched with pork or whatever meat you have leftover on hand.
  • Here in the United States we expect that meat to be sausage or small meatballs made from a blend of beef and pork. (My version of this recipe has meatballs made with chicken. Read more about that below.)
  • The soup itself is very simple and clear, with hearty greens added. Again the greens can be whatever you have on hand. 
  • Some versions of Italian Wedding Soup have egg stirred into the broth, sort of like egg drop soup.

Having lived in Italy for a short while, and gone back to visit since, I am a big fan of Italian soups. So if you are like me and want to explore more traditional Italian soups, try this Minestrone Soup. If you love your instant pot, make our Instant Pot Minestrone Soup in only 40 minutes.

One of my all-time favorite soups is Ribollita, which is a thick and hearty bean and vegetable soup from Tuscany. It is thickened with stale bread. Another bread-thickened soup recipe is Pappa al Pomodoro which is tomato and basil based.

a black Dutch Oven filled with Wedding Soup

Key Ingredients

Mirepoix Base

Although it’s not authentic to include celery and carrot necessarily for the base of Italian Wedding Soup, I decided to add make the base of the soup from sauteed mirepoix.

  • Mirepoix is the French Culinary term for a mixture of onions, carrots and celery. It is a common base of many soups, sauces and more. Mirepoix is two parts onion, one part celery and one part carrot. 
  • I like the deeper flavor the blend of vegetables add. Plus I like to bulk up serving size with extra veggies for lower calories and added nutrition.
  • Note that celery is one of the dirty dozen, so if you’re wondering if you should spring for organic celery, at nearly double the price, the answer, unfortunately, is yes if it’s in your budget. 

White Wine

I added a bit of white wine for acidity and because alcohol helps food taste better. [Seriously it does. That was another tip I learned from Sarah Moulton along with the magic of salting flank steak.]

Broth or Stock

If you happen to have homemade chicken stock on hand I would highly recommend it for this recipe, just be sure to taste the soup as it simmers and adjust the salt accordingly.

For The Chicken Meatballs

Now for the meatballs! I baked mine so that I could concentrate on building the flavors of the soup by sauteing the veggies, adding seasoning, deglazing etc. All the while the meatballs are setting up in the oven. 

  • I used ground chicken in them because it is leaner and has less saturated fat than beef. Look for organic ground chicken if possible. I like Smart Chicken brand.
  •  You can substitute organic ground turkey, which can be easier to find, just look for ground breast since it is leaner than the thigh meat.
  • You can definitely use beef or a mixture of beef and pork, which is more traditional for Italian Wedding Soup. 
  • The fennel seeds and Parmesan add a really nice savory Italian flavor to the chicken meat.
  • Breadcrumbs: When you’re shopping for breadcrumbs make sure to look at the ingredient list. Trans fats and additives are lurking in major brands, so I recommend looking for breadcrumbs at the health food store.
  • If you are gluten free, GF breadcrumbs are pretty easy to find these days and would work well (and just sub in your favorite gf pasta.) While you are at it try this GF Albondigas Soup next too!

Pasta

I used acini di pepe pasta in this soup today, which is traditional in Italian Wedding Soup, but I have also made this recipe with other small pasta, and even rotini. Some other options would be pastina or orzo.

The key to not overcooking the pasta is to add it to the wedding soup once it comes up to a simmer. Check your pasta package to make sure the recommended cooking time is 8 or 9 minutes. If that’s the case, pour in the pasta and simmer it in the soup for five minutes. Then add the greens in for the remaining time the pasta needs (three or four minutes.) If yours needs more or less time, just adjust the first cooking time up or down accordingly.

Greens

For the greens use what you have on hand. Here are some options:

  • Kale
  • Escarole or Curly Endive
  • Chard
  • Collards
  • Spinach

Top With Olive Oil and Parmesan

I have to say that really my absolute favorite part about this soup is that I drizzle on some olive oil and a bit more grated Parmesan on top. If you happen to have a bottle of special olive oil, it’s recipes like this soup (or for drizzling on zucchini ribbon salad) where you’d want to use it. That’s because you’ll really be able to taste it! 

a closeup of a bowl of Wedding Soup

Steps-By-Step Instructions To Make Healthy Italian Wedding Soup

Make Chicken Meatballs:

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place a cooling rack over a foil-lined baking sheet and coat with cooking spray. Knead chicken, breadcrumbs, ¼ cup parmesan cheese, yolk, fennel seeds, ground black pepper, garlic powder and pinch salt in a medium bowl with clean hands until all of the ingredients are mixed together.
  • Form into small meatballs, about 1 tablespoon each (21 meatballs.) Set on the prepared rack. Bake until cooked through, 11 to 14 minutes.

Make Soup (While meatballs bake:)

  • Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large heavy-bottomed soup pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add minced garlic, carrots, celery, onion, Italian seasoning and salt and cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are tender, slightly browned and the bottom of the pot is starting to brown slightly, 8 to 10 minutes. Add wine, and cook, scraping up any browned bits as the wine reduces to almost dry, 1 to 3 minutes.
  • Add broth, cover and bring to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 5 minutes. Add shredded greens and continue cooking until the pasta and greens are tender, 3 to 6 minutes longer.
  • Remove from the heat and stir in the meatballs.
  • Ladle into soup bowls and top with parsley, Parmesan and a drizzle of Parmesan if desired.

FAQs and Expert Tips

Can I use fresh spinach instead of kale?

Yes! While I like to use Tuscan kale or Cavolo Nero, you can use whatever green you have. Feel free to use spinach, escarole or Swiss chard. We do not recommend using frozen spinach, as it tastes dull and metallic by comparison to fresh.

How Long Does This Soup Last?

This soup can be chilled and refrigerated for up to four days. For longer storage, freeze in 1 quart containers. Reheat until simmering.

What goes with Italian Wedding Soup?

I make sourdough bread or whole wheat bread about once a week, and love the way it pairs with soup. Don’t worry if you don’t make homemade bread though, any good crusty bread from a bakery will be the perfect pairing! You can also serve this with a simple salad with lemon vinaigrette or apple cider vinegar salad dressing.

Can Italian Wedding Soup be Frozen?

Yes you sure can. The pasta will absorb some of the liquid, but it will still be delicious when it is thawed and reheated.

  1. To do so, transfer the soup to 1 quart resealable containers, leaving about 1 -inch of headroom in the container for room for the soup to expand as it freezes.
  2. Make sure to chill it completely before sealing the lid shut and freezing it.
  3. Don’t forget to label it with the date. It will keep up to four months.
  4. When you thaw and reheat it, add additional broth to thin it out if necessary.

More Healthy Soup Recipes

  1. One of my latest soups, this Soupe Au Pistou is flexible depending on what you have on hand. Try it with winter or summer vegetables depending on the season. 
  2. This Vegetarian Lentil Soup is the best ever! It is loaded with carrots, parsnips and kale and has a tasty blend of spices.
  3. Our new Creamy Zucchini Soup is made with yogurt and dill and can be served chilled or hot. 
  4. If you have never made corn chowder from scratch, then try our version! You’ll never have canned again. 
  5. If you love chicken soup,try this Paleo Chicken and Veggie soup (made without pasta- but still hearty thanks to loads of root veggies.) 
  6.  I make this Vegan Vegetable Soup every time I am craving a hearty veggie heavy soup. I love that you can use whatever veggies you have on hand. 
  7. This Keto Chicken Soup has been ultra popular this winter. 
  8. This meal prep slow cooker Chicken and Wild Rice Soup also freezes well if you have leftovers. 
  9. Our Easy Chicken and Rice Soup is great for cold season and is ready in under an hour.

Thanks so much for reading! If you are new here, you may want to sign up for my email newsletter to get a free weekly menu plan and the latest recipes right to your inbox. If you make this recipe, please come back and leave a star rating and review. I would love to hear what you thought!

Happy Cooking! ~Katie

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a black bowl with Italian Wedding Soup made with chicken meatballs

Healthy Italian Wedding Soup Recipe {with Chicken Meatballs}


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5 from 12 reviews

  • Author: Katie Webster
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 9 1/2 cups 1x

Description

Here is a delicious homemade recipe for Italian Wedding Soup made with chicken (or turkey) meatballs, greens and acini di pepe pasta.


Ingredients

Units Scale

For the Meatballs

  • 1/2 pound ground chicken
  • 1/4 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs, preferably trans-fat free
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • pinch salt

For the Soup

  • 1 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 large carrots, peeled and finely chopped
  • 2 stalks celery, finely chopped
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 1 tablespoon dry Italian Seasonings
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • 6 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
  • 3 cups finely shredded greens, such as kale, bok choy, spinach or escarole
  • 1 cup acini di pepe pasta, pastina, orzo or other small pasta
  • freshly chopped Italian Parsley
  • grated Parmesan
  • high quality fruity olive oil for drizzling

Instructions

Make meatballs:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place a cooling rack over a foil-lined baking sheet and coat with cooking spray.
  2. Knead chicken, breadcrumbs, ¼ cup parmesan cheese, yolk, fennel seeds, pepper, garlic powder and pinch salt in a medium bowl with clean hands until all of the ingredients are mixed together. Form into small meatballs, about 1 tablespoon each (21 meatballs.) Set on the prepared rack. Bake until cooked through, 11 to 14 minutes.

Make Soup (While meatballs bake:)

  1. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large heavy-bottomed soup pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add minced garlic, carrots, celery, onion, Italian seasoning and salt and cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are tender, slightly browned and the bottom of the pot is starting to brown slightly, 8 to 10 minutes. Add wine, and cook, scraping up any browned bits as the wine reduces to almost dry, 1 to 3 minutes. Add broth, cover and bring to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 5 minutes. Add shredded greens and continue cooking until the pasta and greens are tender, 3 to 6 minutes longer.
  2. Remove from the heat and stir in the meatballs.
  3. Ladle into soup bowls and top with parsley, Parmesan and a drizzle of Parmesan if desired.

Notes

You can substitute ground turkey or ground beef for the chicken if you prefer.

Make sure to check the cooking time on the box or bag of pasta you’re using, and add or subtract cook time as necessary. This recipe is based on pasta that requires 8 to 9 minutes of cook time.

  • Prep Time: 25 minutes
  • Category: Soup
  • Method: Oven Stove Top
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cup
  • Calories: 141
  • Fat: 4
  • Saturated Fat: 1 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 10 grams
overhead pot of soup with text overlay