Description
This Slow Cooker Italian Wedding Soup with Meatballs Recipe is a comforting and hearty dish perfect for chilly days. The homemade meatballs, tender veggies, and flavorful broth come together beautifully in the slow cooker for a delicious meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs:
-
- ½ lb. ground Italian sausage (or plain ground pork)
- ½ lb. ground beef
- 1 egg
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp. dried parsley
- 1 tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. black pepper
- 1 tbsp. olive oil
Soup:
- 2 celery ribs, diced
- 2 whole carrots, peeled and diced
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 cups chicken broth
- 1 tbsp. Italian seasoning
- ¾ cup Acini de pepe pasta
- 5 cups fresh spinach
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Grated Parmesan cheese, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the Meatballs: In a bowl, combine ground Italian sausage, ground beef, egg, breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, parsley, salt, and black pepper. Form into meatballs.
- Brown the Meatballs: In a skillet, heat olive oil and brown the meatballs on all sides. Set aside.
- Assemble the Soup: In a slow cooker, combine celery, carrots, onion, garlic, chicken broth, Italian seasoning, and browned meatballs. Cook on low for several hours.
- Finish the Soup: Stir in Acini de pepe pasta and fresh spinach. Cook until pasta is tender. Season with salt and pepper.
- Serve: Ladle the soup into bowls, garnish with grated Parmesan cheese, and enjoy!
Notes
- You can customize the veggies in this soup by adding other favorites like zucchini or bell peppers.
- For a lighter version, use turkey or chicken meat in the meatballs.
- This soup freezes well, making it a great option for meal prep.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg