Crock Pot Italian Wedding Soup
This easy Crock Pot Italian Wedding Soup recipe is a comforting and hearty meal featuring tender homemade meatballs, small pasta, wilted greens, and a rich chicken broth, all slow-cooked to perfection. Perfect for busy weeknights, it offers hands-off cooking and family-friendly flavors that can be customized to your dietary preferences.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 to 8 hours on low or 3 to 4 hours on high
- Total Time: 6 hours 20 minutes to 8 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Gluten Free (with gluten-free substitutions)
Ingredients
Scale
Meatball Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 pound ground pork
- 1 cup breadcrumbs (or gluten-free breadcrumbs for GF option)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (omit or use dairy-free alternative for dairy-free)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Soup Ingredients
- 6 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth for vegetarian/vegan variation)
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup small pasta (such as acini di pepe, orzo, or pastina; use gluten-free if needed)
- 4 cups spinach or escarole, chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano or 1 tablespoon fresh oregano, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare the Meatballs: In a mixing bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan, minced garlic, chopped parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined, then shape into small meatballs about one inch in diameter.
- Brown the Meatballs (Optional): For extra flavor and texture, lightly brown the meatballs in a skillet over medium heat until golden on all sides. This step adds depth but can be skipped to save time.
- Add Ingredients to Crock Pot: Place the browned or raw meatballs into the crock pot. Pour in the chicken broth, add diced onions and minced garlic. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours.
- Add Pasta and Greens: About 30 minutes before serving, stir in the small pasta and chopped greens. Continue cooking until the pasta is tender and the greens are wilted.
- Final Seasoning and Serve: Taste the soup and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, and additional Parmesan as desired. Serve hot with crusty bread or a fresh side salad for a complete meal.
Notes
- Make meatballs small so they cook evenly and fit perfectly with the pasta.
- Stir gently after adding pasta to avoid breaking the meatballs apart.
- Use fresh parsley and oregano to brighten the flavor profile significantly.
- You can skip pre-browning the meatballs for a quicker prep; add them raw directly to the crock pot.
- Add pasta towards the end of cooking to prevent mushy noodles.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg
Keywords: Italian Wedding Soup, Crock Pot, Slow Cooker Soup, Meatball Soup, Comfort Food, Italian Soup, Easy Dinner, Family Recipe
Find it online: https://cherrycooks.com/crock-pot-italian-wedding-soup/