Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground chicken, beef, or lamb (halal certified)
- ½ cup plain dried breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 8 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1 large yellow or white onion, diced
- 2 carrots, peeled and diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 5 ounces baby spinach, escarole, or kale, roughly chopped
- ½ cup small pasta (acini de pepe, ditalini, or orzo)
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix ground meat, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, egg, garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper. Gently combine until just mixed.
- Roll into small meatballs, about ½ inch in diameter.
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Brown the meatballs in batches until lightly golden (optional but recommended). Remove and set aside.
- In the same pot, sauté onion, carrots, and celery for 5-7 minutes until softened.
- Add garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Pour in chicken broth, scraping any browned bits from the bottom.
- Add oregano, basil, salt, and black pepper. Bring to a simmer.
- Return meatballs to the pot and simmer for 15-20 minutes until cooked through.
- Add pasta and cook according to package directions, about 8-10 minutes.
- Stir in chopped greens and cook for 2-3 minutes until wilted.
- Serve hot, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
For a spicier version, add red pepper flakes. To freeze, store the soup without pasta and add freshly cooked pasta when reheating.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: Italian wedding soup, meatball soup, comforting soup, easy dinner, classic Italian soup