Slow-Cooker Italian Wedding Soup Recipe
This Slow-Cooker Italian Wedding Soup is a comforting and hearty dish featuring tender meatballs, fresh vegetables, and delicate acini di pepe pasta simmered in a flavorful broth. Perfect for an easy, hands-off meal that delivers classic Italian flavors with minimal effort.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 45 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 cup diced carrots
- 1 cup diced celery
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups baby spinach, chopped
Broth and Seasonings
- 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Protein & Pasta
- 1 pound frozen pre-cooked meatballs
- 1 cup acini di pepe pasta, dry
Topping
- Grated Parmesan cheese, for topping
Instructions
- Combine ingredients: Place the chopped onion, carrots, celery, and minced garlic into a 6-quart slow cooker. Pour in the chicken broth and stir in the Italian seasoning, dried parsley, dried oregano, salt, and pepper to combine all flavors evenly.
- Cook base: Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours. This slow simmer allows the vegetables and seasonings to meld and develop a rich broth.
- Add meatballs: After the base has cooked, add the frozen pre-cooked meatballs to the slow cooker and cook for an additional 20 minutes, ensuring that the meatballs are heated through.
- Cook pasta: While the meatballs are cooking, prepare the acini di pepe pasta separately by boiling it in salted water until tender, approximately 10 minutes. Drain well.
- Combine pasta and greens: Stir the cooked acini di pepe pasta and chopped baby spinach into the slow cooker. The spinach will wilt nicely in the hot soup, adding fresh color and nutrients.
- Serve: Ladle the soup into bowls and top each serving with grated Parmesan cheese for a savory finish. Serve hot and enjoy your comforting Italian wedding soup.
Notes
- You can substitute frozen meatballs with freshly made ones if preferred, but adjust cooking time accordingly to ensure they are fully cooked.
- Acini di pepe pasta is traditional in this soup, but small pastas like orzo or tiny shells work well as substitutes.
- For a lower sodium version, be sure to use low-sodium chicken broth and adjust the added salt carefully.
- If you want to add more vegetables, consider including chopped zucchini or kale for extra nutrition.
- This soup keeps well in the fridge for 3-4 days and can be frozen for up to 2 months.
Keywords: Italian wedding soup, slow cooker soup, meatball soup, comfort food, easy dinner, slow cooker recipes
