Italian Wedding Soup with Orzo

Hearty and satisfying meatball and vegetable soup.

Course Soup

Cuisine Soup

Keyword Italian wedding soup, soup with meatballs

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 45

Total Time 50

Servings servings

Calories 302kcal

Heat a medium Dutch oven or stockpot on medium heat. Once it's hot, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and continue heating.
2 tablespoons olive oil
Add onion, carrots, and salt. Sauté for 10 minutes.
1 onion, 2 carrots, 1/2 teaspoon salt
Meanwhile put ground chicken in a mixing bowl and add the egg, garlic powder, onion powder, tarragon, basil, salt, pepper, parmesan cheese, and bread crumbs.
1 pound ground chicken, 1 large egg, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon dried tarragon, 1 teaspoon dried basil, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/2 cup breadcrumbs, 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese, 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Mix with your hands and start rolling the meat into medium or smaller meatballs.
Remove the vegetables and set aside. Add 1 tablespoons olive oil.
1 tablespoon olive oil
Place the meatballs in the pan and let them brown a little on all sides. Be careful stirring the meatballs around as you don't want to break them up. This takes up to 10 minutes.
Add the cooked vegetables and chicken broth, and bring it to a simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4 cups chicken broth
Add the orzo and cook for 8 minutes.
1/2 cup orzo
Add the spinach and stir until it wilts. This takes around 2 minutes.
2 cups baby spinach
Serve, smile, and enjoy.

Fresh vegetables, good-quality chicken broth, and fresh herbs will enhance the overall flavor of the soup.

We love this soup with homemade chicken meatballs, but you can use store-bought or make your own with a mix of ground beef and pork instead of ground chicken. Ground turkey is another great choice.

Sautéing the vegetables before adding them to the broth brings out their sweetness and adds depth to the soup. I'm using carrots and onions, but I've also used celery, so you can add a few stalks if you like.

If you prefer a different pasta than orzo, you can use other small pasta, like ditalini or stars.

Traditional Italian wedding soup often includes spinach or escarole. Feel free to use a mix of your favorite greens for added flavor and nutrition.

Taste the broth and adjust the seasoning with salt, pepper, and a pinch of red pepper flakes if you like a bit of heat.

Allow the soup to simmer gently to meld the flavors together without overcooking the meatballs or vegetables.

If you want to add fresh herbs like parsley or basil, stir in at the end of cooking to keep their flavor bright and fresh.

Offer freshly grated Parmesan cheese on the side for sprinkling over the soup, adding a rich, savory note.

Italian wedding soup can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for a couple of days. Reheat gently to maintain the best texture.