Description
Craving a cozy, comforting dinner that’s hearty and soul-warming? This Italian Wedding Soup with Parmesan Meatballs is the perfect choice. Featuring juicy, cheesy meatballs, tender pasta, and leafy greens all simmered in a flavorful chicken broth, this soup is ideal for weeknight dinners, meal prep, or when you need a nourishing bowl of something delicious. Whether you’re exploring easy dinner ideas, seeking quick comfort food, or looking for healthy soup recipes, this one checks every box. It’s simple to make, rich in flavor, and truly feels like a warm hug in a bowl.
Ingredients
½ pound ground beef
½ pound ground pork
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 large egg
⅓ cup breadcrumbs
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil (for browning)
1 medium onion, chopped
2 carrots, diced
2 celery stalks, diced
8 cups low-sodium chicken broth
¾ cup acini di pepe pasta
3 cups chopped kale (or spinach)
Extra Parmesan cheese for garnish (optional)
Instructions
1. In a bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork, Parmesan, parsley, garlic, breadcrumbs, egg, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined.
2. Shape the mixture into 1-inch meatballs.
3. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and brown the meatballs on all sides. Set aside.
4. In a large soup pot, sauté onion, carrots, and celery until softened, about 5–7 minutes.
5. Add chicken broth and bring to a boil.
6. Add browned meatballs to the broth. Reduce heat and simmer for 15–20 minutes.
7. Stir in the acini di pepe pasta and cook for 8–10 minutes until al dente.
8. Add chopped kale and simmer for another 2–3 minutes until wilted.
9. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
10. Serve hot, garnished with extra Parmesan if desired.
Notes
For meal prep, store pasta separately to prevent it from absorbing too much broth.
You can swap kale for spinach or escarole depending on your preference.
Browning the meatballs adds deeper flavor—don’t skip this step!
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 820mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 27g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
Keywords: italian wedding soup, parmesan meatballs, easy dinner, quick soup, comfort food, meal prep, healthy soup