Italian Wedding Soup "Your Way"

This is such a wonderful soup to take to someone who is sick, just had a baby, or for truly any reason you please. I make this often for my family-my son gobbles up the meatballs first (he calls this meatball soup). I have included a semi-homemade method for the times you are in a hurry and a very homemade way of making it if you are up for a challenge. Honestly, there is not a huge change in taste…so drop the guilt if you don’t have the time to make the meatballs. For those of you who like to experiment, have at it! Enjoy and share! Love to you, Janelle 
2 large cans of chicken broth, frozen meatballs, chicken breasts, carrots, celery, onions, acini de pepe noodles, parsely (many people choose to add a leafy green like spinach or arugula, as hard as I have tried, my children stick their noses up when I add this…but I enjoy it)
Heat chicken broth to boiling

Rinse chicken breasts

Chop veggies

Now, add the chicken and veggies to broth and allow to simmer and cook chicken through

Take chicken out and dice

Add meatballs, noodles,parsley, and parmesan cheese- simmer until meatballs are heated through (they are already pre-cooked). Then, add chicken back into the pot. Sir and simmer until ready to serve.

Whala! Simple and delicious!

Easy Wedding Soup

2 large cans of chicken broth (low-sodium)
6 chicken breasts
1 cup dry Acini de Pepe noodles
1 small bag frozen meatballs
1 cup diced carrots
1 cup diced onions
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1 Tbs of parsley
(salt and pepper to your liking)

Boil chicken broth in a large pot. Add chicken and chopped veggies. Simmer until chicken is cooked through. Take chicken out and dice into bite sized pieces. Add meatballs, dry noodles, parmesan cheese, and parsley until noodles are tender and meatballs are cooked. Add chicken back into the pot. Simmer until ready to serve. Top with additional Parmesan cheese, a sprinkle of parsley, and serve with crackers.

Variations- Only if you want it “more” homemade. 

To make your own broth:
If you prefer to make your own broth rather than using canned (of if you just want to experiment!), follow these simple instructions. Broth is not hard to make, but it is more time consuming. Homemade broth tends to be less salty and more flavorful. However, I still am of the opinion that canned broth is a close substitute. 
Chicken breasts- VERY important that your chicken HAS SKIN and BONES (NOT boneless, skinless like above), carrots, onions, parsley, garlic, celery, bay leaves (lemon juice).

Boil water and add all ingredients

Add lemon juice, let simmer for 2 hours. 

I place a colander on top of another large pot in my sink

Then, I simply pour everything in from my stock pot. The broth falls into the pot.
Delicious and homemade broth.
Tear apart the chicken breast meat and add any veggies back into the pot. Be careful of bones!
Continue on with the same directions for wedding soup above. (looks pretty tasty hu? lol! I wanted you to see that yes…it DOES look like this. haha! Sometimes cooking just isn’t pretty)

Homemade Chicken Broth


1 gallon of water (16 cups)
6 chicken breasts (BONE IN, SKIN ON- this is important for flavor)
2 cloves of garlic (simply placed in, not chopped)
1/4 cup chopped parsley (fresh works best in homemade broth)
1 onion (I cut it in large pieces and took it out after making the broth, the person I made this for does not like onions, just the flavor)
1 cup chopped carrots
1 cup chopped celery
1 Tbsp lemon juice
2 Bay leaves
salt and pepper to your liking

Simmer all together for 2 hours. Place colander in a large pot in the sink and pour all ingredients into colander, letting broth drain into the pot below. Tear meat off of chicken bones carefully. Add any veggies you want back into the broth. Continue with rest of recipe above. 


To make homemade meatballs for wedding soup


Italian sausage, ground beef, bread crumbs, eggs, shredded romano, fresh parsley



I simply cut off a chunk of fresh Romano and put it in my hand held cheese grinder.

Combine all ingredients by hand (use gloves if you are cooking for anyone other than family-just because)


Shape into 1 Tbsp balls

Place raw meatballs right into simmer broth

This is after just 2 mins of dropping them in the broth- boil for appx 30 mins until cooked through

Continue on with wedding soup recipe…this is the VERY homemade version. I can tell a slight difference between the semi-homemade and very homemade, but both are delicious! I wouldn’t say that if I didn’t mean it! Enjoy!

Homemade Meatballs for Italian Wedding Soup

 1 1/2 lbs of Italian Sausage (Bob Evans is just fine)
1 1/2 lbs ground beef (80% lean)
1/4 cup shredded Romano cheese
1 cup bread crumbs
3 eggs
2 Tbsp fresh chopped parsley

Combine all ingredients together by hand and roll into 1 Tbsp balls. Drop raw meatballs into simmering broth and let cook for 30 mins until done.

Choose “Your Way”Ladies! You are going to love this no matter what!

 Beauty and Bedlam

I am participating in Titus 2sdays and Tasty Tuesdays. For more blogging articles on homemaking please refer to these sites.

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Comments

  1. I've always seen this soup in the cans in stores, but I've never ever had it. Yours looks delicious. I might have to try this soon 🙂 Thanks for posting =)

  2. You make me so hungry!

  3. That looks so fabulous! Thanks for sharing. I think my hubby will love it. 🙂

  4. Becky @ From Ministry to Motherhood says:

    MMMMM. Looks so tasty! I'll have to make some this week. My husband will thank you. 🙂

  5. teachermomof2 says:

    That looks great! I make it often, but use chicken legs instead because they are a bit more flavorful and make my own meatballs. I love the short-cut ideas!

    tfs!

  6. This is one of my most favorite recipes. Thanks for sharing, Taking it to my friend who just had a baby!

  7. wendi henderson says:

    Just made this for a friend who recently had surgery. He absolutely loved it! Two thumbs up. I made the meatballs from your recipe but used the canned broth. Definitely I will make this again!

  8. I would like to know if you have found a way to make this recipe gluten free?

    • Rochelle, you can substitute gluten free noodles – instead of adding bread crumbs to homemade meatballs- process gluten free bread or waffles. Those changes will do the trick! I have yet to find GF Acini noodles, so you will have to make do a different noodle shape-but it will still taste good!!!

  9. This recipe looks like something my family would love. I’m just wondering if it really matters what type of noodle is used? Could any small shaped pasta substitute or is there something extra special about the Acini noodles? Thank you!

  10. Hi there! I’m searching the internet looking for an Italian Wedding Soup recipe that uses frozen meatballs, and that’s how I discovered yours…and it sounds perfect! The only question I have is, if I want to add fresh spinach or escarole, at what point in the recipe would I add it, and how much should I use? I’ve never made Italian Wedding soup, and I have a really strong craving for it! Thanks in advance! 🙂

    • Add it in last 🙂 It cooks quickly!

      • Terri Longenecker says:

        How much spinach should be added?– maybe about 1/2 cup?

        • I’d say an entire cup 🙂

          • Terri Longenecker says:

            Thank You! I just made this for dinner tonight and I think I added about 1/2 cup chopped fresh spinach. IT WAS SOOOO DELICIOUS!!! My husband & 12-yr old daughter LOVED IT! Our 31 year old daughter is expecting a baby this week and we made a big batch so that we can take them a meal. I am very happy <3 THANK YOU!

  11. This sounds delicious! Any suggestions on freezing and reheating it?

  12. how long does it take the chicken to cook all the way, I’ve never boiled chicken before. thanks!

  13. whala is really voila, a French word that translates, “there you are.”

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