Christina’s Italian Wedding Soup

Total Time

Prep: 40 min. Cook: 20 min.

Makes

12 servings (5 quarts)

Updated: Feb. 08, 2022
I'm big on soups with tiny meatballs and pasta. I double the meatballs, poach them in the broth, remove half and freeze them for another time. —Christina Hitchcock, Madison Township, Pennsylvania
Christina's Italian Wedding Soup Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Ingredients

  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup dry bread crumbs
  • 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
  • 2 tablespoons 2% milk
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 4 teaspoons grated onion
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
  • 1-1/2 pounds ground chicken
  • SOUP:
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 medium carrots, chopped
  • 4 celery ribs, chopped
  • 2 small onions, chopped
  • 6 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3 cartons (32 ounces each ) chicken stock
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 1-1/2 cups acini di pepe pasta
  • 2 packages (10 ounces each) fresh spinach
  • Additional minced fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, combine the first 10 ingredients. Add chicken; mix lightly but thoroughly. Shape into 1-in. balls.
  2. For soup, in a stockpot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add carrots, celery and onions; cook and stir until onions are tender, 6-8 minutes. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer.
  3. Stir in stock, water, salt and pepper; bring to a boil. Drop meatballs into soup; cook, uncovered, 10 minutes. Gently stir in pasta; cook until meatballs are cooked through and pasta is tender, 10-12 minutes longer.
  4. Stir in spinach. Top servings with parsley and cheese.

Nutrition Facts

1-2/3 cups: 269 calories, 9g fat (2g saturated fat), 71mg cholesterol, 1083mg sodium, 28g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 3g fiber), 21g protein.