The Ultimate One-Pot Italian Wedding Soup: Easy, Healthy, and Flavor-Packed
Craving a heartwarming meal that’s both simple to prepare and incredibly delicious? Look no further than this fantastic One-Pot Italian Wedding Soup! This isn’t just any soup; it’s a wholesome, filling, and deeply satisfying dish that promises to become a staple in your family’s meal rotation. Imagine tender, seasoned turkey meatballs, tiny pasta, and a vibrant medley of vegetables swimming in a rich, savory broth, all coming together in a single pot. It’s the perfect comfort food for any day of the week, especially when you need a nutritious meal without a mountain of dishes to wash afterward.
For many, the mention of “Italian Wedding Soup” conjures images of rustic Italian kitchens and generations-old recipes. While the name might suggest a celebratory origin, the term “wedding soup” actually comes from the Italian phrase “minestra maritata,” meaning “married soup.” This delightful name refers to the perfect “marriage” of flavors between the green vegetables and the rich meat broth, rather than a dish served at actual weddings. Regardless of its etymology, this hearty soup embodies everything you could want in a comforting meal – robust flavors, wholesome ingredients, and incredible ease of preparation.
I’ve always been a big fan of soups, especially those that can stand alone as a complete meal. Growing up, soup wasn’t always considered a “main course,” but this Italian Wedding Soup truly breaks that mold. It’s robust enough to satisfy even the hungriest appetites, thanks to its generous portions of lean protein and nourishing vegetables. My own boys absolutely adore this soup, and it’s become a top request in our home. It’s genuinely a crowd-pleaser that appeals to all ages, making it an ideal choice for family dinners or entertaining guests.
One of the standout features of this recipe is its “one-pot” nature. In today’s busy world, minimizing cleanup is a huge bonus, and this recipe delivers just that. Everything, from sautéing the vegetables to cooking the pasta and meatballs, happens in a single pot. This not only saves you time on dishes but also allows the flavors to meld beautifully, creating a more cohesive and delicious end result. It’s the kind of meal that makes you feel like a gourmet chef without all the fuss.
The magic of this healthy soup lies in its thoughtfully chosen ingredients. We start with small, tender turkey meatballs, infused with Italian seasonings, fresh parsley, minced garlic, and grated parmesan cheese. Using lean ground turkey makes these meatballs a lighter, healthier option without sacrificing any of the savory goodness. These aren’t just any meatballs; they’re packed with flavor and provide a wonderful texture contrast to the soft pasta and vegetables.
The vegetables form the backbone of the soup’s flavor. We use the classic “holy trinity” of cooking: diced onion, celery, and carrots. Sautéing these until tender releases their aromatic essences, building a foundational layer of taste. These humble vegetables add sweetness, crunch, and essential nutrients, making every spoonful a healthy delight. And let’s not forget the vibrant green kale, stirred in at the end, which wilts perfectly into the hot broth, adding a boost of vitamins and a touch of freshness.
And what’s an Italian Wedding Soup without pasta? This recipe calls for acini de pepe, tiny, bead-like pasta that cooks quickly and adds delightful texture without overwhelming the other ingredients. Its small size makes it perfect for soup, ensuring that you get a little bit of everything in each spoonful. Coupled with a rich chicken stock, seasoned simply with kosher salt, black pepper, and a touch of Italian seasoning, you get a broth that’s deeply flavorful and incredibly comforting.
This soup is more than just a meal; it’s an experience. It’s a warm hug on a cold day, a healthy option that doesn’t compromise on taste, and a straightforward recipe that even novice cooks can master. The balance of lean protein from the turkey, essential vitamins from the vegetables, and satisfying carbohydrates from the pasta makes it a perfectly balanced and complete meal. Plus, it’s easily customizable – feel free to add other greens like spinach or escarole, or experiment with different small pasta shapes if acini de pepe isn’t available.
How to Make This Amazing One-Pot Italian Wedding Soup: Step-by-Step Guide
Making this incredible Italian Wedding Soup is surprisingly simple, especially with its one-pot convenience. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the steps to ensure a perfect batch every time:
- **Prepare the Flavorful Meatballs:** The first step to a truly outstanding Italian Wedding Soup is crafting the meatballs. In a large bowl, you’ll combine Italian-style breadcrumbs, a beaten egg, fresh chopped parsley, minced garlic, freshly grated parmesan cheese, kosher salt, black pepper, and a touch of ketchup. These ingredients infuse the meatballs with incredible flavor and help bind them together. Once everything is well mixed (except the turkey initially), gently incorporate the lean ground turkey. Mix just until combined to prevent tough meatballs. Roll the mixture into approximately 18 small, uniform meatballs. Placing them on a baking sheet and refrigerating them briefly helps them firm up, making them less likely to break apart when added to the soup.
- **Sauté the Aromatic Base:** While the meatballs chill, prepare your “holy trinity” of vegetables. Heat a sturdy cast iron pot (or any large, heavy-bottomed pot) over medium-high heat. Add a tablespoon of unsalted butter and a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil. Once shimmering, add the diced carrots, celery, and onion. Sauté these aromatics until they begin to soften, usually about 5-7 minutes. This step is crucial as it develops the foundational flavors of the soup.
- **Build the Rich Broth:** Season the sautéed vegetables with kosher salt and black pepper. Pour in the chicken stock and bring the mixture to a rolling boil. Allow it to simmer for about 10 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender. This ensures the broth is infused with the vegetable flavors before adding the remaining ingredients. Don’t rush this step, as a good broth is key to a truly delicious soup.
- **Add Pasta and Meatballs:** Now for the stars of the show! Carefully add the acini de pepe pasta to the simmering broth. Then, one by one, gently drop the uncooked meatballs into different spots in the pot. This prevents them from clumping together and ensures even cooking.
- **Cook to Perfection:** Continue to boil the soup for about 8-10 minutes, or until the pasta is cooked to al dente (tender but still firm to the bite) and the meatballs are cooked through. A helpful tip: the meatballs will often float to the top of the broth when they are fully cooked. This is a great visual cue to know when they’re ready.
- **Finish with Fresh Greens:** Finally, stir in the fresh chopped kale. Cook for just a few minutes until the kale softens and brightens in color. This adds a wonderful freshness and a final boost of nutrients to your healthy wedding soup. Serve the soup hot in bowls, topped generously with shaved parmesan cheese for an extra layer of flavor and indulgence.
There you have it – a simple yet incredibly satisfying recipe for Italian Wedding Soup that’s perfect for any occasion. Don’t wait to try this one-pot wonder; gather your ingredients and get cooking! Your taste buds (and your family) will thank you.
Italian Wedding Soup Recipe
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Ingredients
Meatballs:
- 1/4 cup Italian style bread crumbs
- 1 egg beaten
- 1 Tbsp. parsley chopped
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 2 Tbsp. freshly grated parmesan
- 1 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp. black pepper
- 1 1/2 Tbsp. ketchup
- 1/2 lb. lean ground turkey
Italian Wedding Soup Recipe:
- 1 cup carrots diced (about 3 large carrots)
- 1 cup celery diced (about 3-4 stalks)
- 1 cup onion diced (about 1 small onion)
- 1 Tbsp. unsalted butter
- 1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper
- 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
- 8 cups chicken stock
- 1/2 cup acini de pepe pasta
- 2 cup fresh kale chopped
- shaved parmesan for serving
Instructions
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In a large bowl, combine all the meatball ingredients except the ground turkey. Once all is combined, add the turkey and mix and roll into 18 meatballs. Place on a baking sheet and refrigerate until ready to use.
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Meanwhile, heat a cast iron pot onto medium-high heat. Add butter and olive oil. Sauté carrots, celery and onion until somewhat tender.
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Season with the salt and pepper and pour in chicken stock. Bring to a boil for about 10 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.
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Add meatballs into the pot, dropping in individually to different spots in the pot.
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Cook for about 2 minutes, then add the acini de pepe. Boil for about 8-10 minutes, or until the pasta is cooked to al dente and the meatballs are cooked through. (Meatballs will pop up to the top of the broth when they’re cooked.)
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Stir in the kale and cook until softened. Serve in bowls with shaved parmesan over the top. Enjoy!
Explore More Comforting Soup Recipes!
If you’ve fallen in love with the comforting warmth and ease of this One-Pot Italian Wedding Soup, you’re in for a treat! We have a collection of other delightful soup recipes that are equally satisfying and perfect for cozy evenings or quick family dinners. Expand your soup repertoire with these hearty and flavorful options:
**Hearty & Healthy Tuscan Vegetable Soup**
Discover the vibrant flavors of Italy with this healthy Tuscan Vegetable Soup. It’s a fantastic, easy-to-make option that proves healthy eating can be incredibly delicious. Packed with garden-fresh vegetables and robust seasonings, this soup is gluten-free, vegetarian, clean-eating, and low carb, making it a versatile choice for many dietary preferences.
Zesty Chicken Posole Verde
For a taste of Mexico, try this incredible Chicken Posole Verde. Featuring succulent shredded chicken and tender hominy bathed in an intensely flavorful verde broth, this soup is a true culinary delight. Garnish with fresh radishes, cilantro, creamy avocado, and queso fresco for an authentic and satisfying experience. It’s a fantastic gluten-free option when you skip the tortilla chips!
Classic Pasta e Fagioli Soup
“Pasta e Fagioli,” which translates to “pasta and beans” in Italian, is another beloved classic. This easy soup recipe is brimming with hearty beans, savory ground beef, a touch of pasta, and an abundance of rich flavor. Often compared to a popular restaurant favorite, this comforting soup makes for an excellent dinner recipe any night of the week, offering a delicious and filling meal that will keep you warm and satisfied.
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