I’m so excited to re-share one of my favorite high-protein soup recipes to warm your body and soul and kick off a new year.
I first perfected this Italian wedding soup recipe a couple of years back, and I can’t even count how many times I’ve made it since then. This recipe is everything you’ve ever wanted in a soup – nice and hearty thanks to the homemade meatballs and tender couscous, nutrient-dense thanks to all of those veggies, and absolutely delicious and cozy thanks to all of the herbs and spices.
This Italian wedding soup makes such a lovely lunch or dinner to meal prep for yourself or to make for your family. OH, and it would be the perfect cozy starter for Valentine’s Day, too! Nothing says “I love you” quite like a comforting meal made for your loved ones.
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What is Italian wedding soup?
Although it sounds like this soup is traditional at Italian weddings, the name “wedding soup” actually comes from the original Italian phrase, “minestra maritata,” which means “married broth” or “married soup.”
Basically, this soup gets its name from the beautiful “marriage” of flavors between the veggies, meat, and broth. AKA you know the flavors are amazing!
Ingredients in the best Italian wedding soup recipe
This soup is easier to make than you think and is has super simple ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:
- For the meatballs: you’ll need some ground chicken (or turkey), an egg, some Parmigiano Reggiano, and panko bread crumbs to make the base of the meatballs for the soup.
- Herbs & spices: we’ll also be adding fresh parsley and basil, plus dried oregano, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt & pepper to the meatballs to give them the perfect flavor. You’ll add some of these seasonings to the broth as well.
- Veggies & produce: pack in some veggies with yellow onion, carrots, fresh garlic, and spinach or kale. Traditional Italian wedding soup recipes have escarole, another leafy green vegetable, but I’m keeping it simple with spinach or kale. See below for even more options!
- Broth: the soup simmers together with low-sodium chicken broth.
- Pearl couscous: you all know by now I love adding pearl couscous to soups and stews. The texture is like mini gnocchi that gets tender and delicious.
- For serving: I like to top my bowl with extra grated Parmigiano Reggiano, parsley, and lots of freshly ground black pepper. Don’t forget the crusty toasted bread on the side!
Can I make this Italian wedding soup vegetarian?
Absolutely! Feel free to omit the meatballs and add a can of rinsed, drained chickpeas instead. Then, be sure to use low sodium vegetable broth in place of the chicken broth.
Customize your soup
There are a few easy ways to really make this homemade Italian wedding soup your own! Here’s what I can recommend:
- Choose your grain. I love using pearl couscous in this soup, but feel free to use your favorite short pasta like orzo or ditalini.
- Go gluten-free. You can always use your favorite gluten-free small pasta shape, or even rice! Then be sure to use gluten-free panko bread crumbs as well.
- Pick your protein. I prefer using ground chicken or ground turkey because they’re nice and lean while still being protein-packed, but you can use ground beef, ground pork, or your favorite ground meat to make the meatballs! You could also cook some Italian sausage and drop it into the soup.
- Swap your veggies. As I mentioned, you can throw in spinach or kale in this soup, plus any other vegetables lurking in your fridge. Green beans, celery, zucchini, and even potatoes would be great!
How to make Italian wedding soup (in 5 easy steps)
- Shape the meatballs. Add all of the meatball ingredients to a large bowl and use clean hands to mix them all together until well combined. Shape the mixture into about 40-50 meatballs total.
- Cook the meatballs. Heat olive oil in a large soup pot or dutch oven and brown the meatballs in batches on all sides. No need to cook them all the way through – they’ll fully cook in the soup!
- Cook the soup. Heat more olive oil in the same pot and cook down the onions and carrots. Stir in the garlic and seasonings, then stir in the broth and couscous. Lastly, gently drop the meatballs into the soup, bring everything to a boil, and simmer uncovered until the meatballs are cooked through. Add the greens in the last few minutes of cooking!
- Garnish & serve. Taste and add more salt and pepper as needed, then serve up the soup with Parmigiano Reggiano and fresh parsley!
What to serve with this soup
- Your favorite toasted bread for dipping (try my no knead artisan bread!)
- My famous garlic bread
- These easy grain free crackers
- Extra veggies from this brussels sprouts kale apple salad
Get more inspo for side dishes here!
Storing & freezing
- To store: store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Simply reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.
- To freeze: I would suggest leaving out the couscous or pasta of choice if you’re planning to freeze this. Allow the soup to cool completely before placing it into airtight, freezer-friendly containers. Place in the freezer for up to 3 months. To reheat, simply allow the soup to thaw in the refrigerator before reheating on the stovetop or in the microwave. To add the couscous, cook it separately and add it to your reheated soup when you’re ready to serve.
Tools you’ll need
Check out all of my fav kitchen tools here!
More soup recipes you’ll love
- The Best Minestrone Soup
- Cheddar Buffalo Cauliflower Soup
- Creamy Tomato Orzo Soup with Mini Turkey Meatballs
- Classic French Onion Soup
- Healing Ginger Coconut Chicken Brown Rice Soup
Get all of my soup recipes here!
I hope you love this Italian wedding soup recipe! If you make it, be sure to leave a comment and a rating so I know how you liked it. Enjoy, xo!
Ambitious Kitchen
Cookbook
125 Ridiculously Good For You, Sometimes Indulgent, and Absolutely Never Boring Recipes for Every Meal of the Day
Italian Wedding Soup
Ingredients
- For the meatballs
- 1 pound ground chicken (or turkey)
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup freshly grated parmigiano reggiano (or sub parmesan cheese) (about 1.5 ounces)
- ⅓ cup panko breadcrumbs, gluten free if desired
- 3 tablespoon fresh finely chopped parsley
- 3 tablespoons fresh finely chopped basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil
- For the soup
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 2 large carrots, thinly sliced on the diagonal
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 8 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup pearl couscous (or sub a short pasta such as orzo or ditalini)
- 4 cups fresh spinach or kale, chopped
- For serving
- Extra freshly grated parmigiano reggiano
- Fresh chopped parsley
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Make the meatballs: In a large bowl, add the ground chicken, egg, parmigiano reggiano (or parm), breadcrumbs, parsley, basil, dried oregano, garlic powder, italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Use clean hands to mix until well combined, but avoid over mixing the meatballs or they will become tough. Form the mixture into meatballs about the size of a marble; 40 to 50 meatballs total. Tip: Dip your hands in a bowl of water between each meatball to prevent sticking and to create nice round balls – trust me, it helps!
- Brown the meatballs: In a large pot over medium-high heat, warm 1 to 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Once oil is hot, add the meatballs in batches, spacing meatballs about ½ inch apart and brown on all sides, about 5 minutes total. Use a spoon or tongs to carefully transfer meatballs to a plate and set aside. Add more oil, if necessary, between batches, and repeat with the remaining meatballs. Meatballs will finish cooking in the soup, so do not worry if they aren’t fully cooked.
- Make the soup: In the same pot, warm 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Once oil is hot, add in the onions and carrots and saute, stirring occasionally, until softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Next, stir in the garlic, Italian seasoning, and salt, and sauté, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the broth and pearl couscous and stir until well-combined. Use a large spoon to gently drop in a few meatballs at a time until they are all in the pot. Bring the broth to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat and simmer uncovered until the meatballs are cooked through, about 10 to 15 minutes. During the last few minutes of cooking, stir in the chopped spinach and cook until wilted, then remove soup from the heat.
- Taste and add more salt and pepper, if needed, then ladle soup into bowls and top with fresh grated parmigiano reggiano and a little fresh chopped parsley. Serve warm with crusty bread or toasted bread for dipping.
- To store: Let the soup cool completely, then store it in an airtight glass container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | Photography by: Eat Love Eats
This post was originally published on February 6th, 2024, republished with new photos on January 2nd, 2025, and republished on January 10th, 2026.
Can this be made in an Instant Pot? and how?
thanks muchly
Love your recipes~! So does hubby haha
Hi! I actually don’t own an Instant Pot so I’m not sure what the instructions would be. Sorry! Glad you’re both loving the recipes here!
Husband says it’s the best he’s ever had!
So happy to hear that!
Loved this soup! Came together quickly and was perfect for a cold night. The couscous was a great swap in place of the usual pasta. Will be my go to recipe for Wedding Soup! #AKRecipeoftheMonth
#AKRecipeoftheMonth was a simple good meal for a cold night! We love chicken meatballs so these were so good in the soup. I did bake the meatballs, only as a preference on how I like to cook them and added a splash of lemon at the end.
Perfect! So glad it was a hit!
I think I’m going to bake them too! How long did you bake them for and at what temp?
GREAT RECIPE. LOVE THIS SOUP
Happy you loved it!
This was delicious!! The meatballs can be messy but its otherwise very easy to make and a great way to use some fresh herbs. #AKRecipeofthemonth
The meatballs are the most labor-intensive part but so worth it! Glad you enjoyed 🙂
Just made this for lunch and I’m obsessed! The meatballs are perfectly seasoned and spicy and are balanced out by a broth that is comforting but light. My boyfriend and I both loved this and it’s safe to say it will be a permanent fixture for soup season.
So happy to hear that! Perfect cozy recipe this time of year 🙂
Delicious and hearty soup! I was a little under the weather and this was just what I needed. I made a double batch and put half in the freezer. The chicken meatballs are perfectly tender and all the veggies add so much flavor. So perfect with breadsticks or crusty bread. I would be happy to make this again and again!
#AKRecipeoftheMonth
Amazing! Glad you enjoyed and hope you’re feeling better!
This was amazing! So easy to make and delicious! I don’t think there is a recipe of yours I haven’t loved! Can’t wait for your cookbook!
Forgot to hashtag! #AKRecioeofthemonth
So glad you loved it! Can’t wait to share the cookbook soon, too 🙂
Delicious! I love the tiny meatballs – so fun! I like a little heat, so I added a few extra red pepper flakes on the top for serving, and it was so good. I would definitely make this soup again. #AKRecipeoftheMonth
Perfect! Glad you loved it!
Delicious and easy. Next time I need to make an extra batch of just the meatballs because my kid has been asking for them even after the soup was long gone. #AKRecipeoftheMonth
Perfect! So glad it was a hit!
This was amazing!! I baked the meatballs instead of frying. Followed the rest as written. I will definitely be making this again!
Perfect! Glad you enjoyed!
This was insanely satisfying!! Sort of labor intensive with the mini meatballs, but so tasty. #AKRecipeoftheMonth
Perfect cozy meal! Feel free to make the meatballs ahead of time, too, for ease 🙂
This was so delicious, and a perfect winter weeknight meal. The most time-consuming part was probably rolling the meatballs, but after that it came together quickly and in one pot, which is ideal for a weeknight meal. 1 of 2 kids and both adults ate it right up, which is a win in our house. Will definitely make again. #AKRecipeoftheMonth
Love that! Such a great dinner 🙂
I actually used to think I did not like Italian Wedding Soup (thanks to a weird memory from high school), but I made this for a cold winter for #AKRecipeoftheMonth and it was DELICIOUS. I am a new mom so to save time I used frozen meatballs and they worked perfectly. This is an amazing example of how Monique’s combos of simple ingredients turn into such cozy flavorful meals.
The perfect warming dinner! Great idea to use up frozen meatballs, too 🙂
#AKRecipeOfTheMonth
This was delicious! We made the meatballs the night before, and decided to bake them. With the meatballs done ahead of time, this came together pretty quickly. I added a splash of lemon to the soup before serving. It is a very flavorful broth. Thanks!
Perfect! So glad you enjoyed!
Another winner- I love a good soup and this one brings all the cozy delicious flavors! I had to substitute dried herbs in the meatballs because my grocery store was sold out of fresh herbs, but everything was still very tasty! I used kale and added a couple extra carrots because I love the veggies in my soup! Served with some sprinkled cheese and crusty bread- made me very happy! #AKRecipeoftheMonth
Perfect! So glad you loved this one!
One of the best soups I have ever made. I added some chopped bok choy at the end along with spinach and loved the combo together. Your recipes never disappoint!!
Perfect! So glad you loved it!
I loved this soup! Not being a soup eater, I decided to make this soup based on how good it looked in the pictures. The meatballs were so flavorful. The soup was so hearty. I will be making this quite often.
Amazing! Glad you loved it!
Love your recipes! Made this one with kale, and subbed the couscous for roasted potatoes on the side and used oat flour and no cheese to make it gluten-free and dairy-free. It was delicious and such a satisfying dinner! #AKRecipeoftheMonth
Perfect! Glad you loved it!
Delicious! Will be making this again. Subbed in orzo as suggested!
Perfect!
This recipe was very easy and I think that I already had all of the ingredients on hand. I mixed the meatball ingredients wrote bed one night. The next day I shaped them and browned them. Next I made the soup and added the meatballs to finish cooking. I followed the recipe as written. It was so nourishing on a cold winter night. It had a lot of depth of flavor too.
Made this tonight. Delicious and wonderfully hearty and comforting. Feels like a húg in a bowl. ☺️ #AKRecipeoftheMonth
Absolutely! Glad you enjoyed 🙂
This recipe is a keeper! The meatballs were perfectly seasoned and this made a great work lunch. I will definitely make this again. #AKRecipeoftheMonth
So happy to hear that!
This soup was very delicious! I made it on Sunday to take for lunch throughout the week and it held up all week! The meatballs were super flavorful, I will say I didn’t measure any of the seasonings, but I will definitely be using this meatball recipe four other dishes in the future! I was nervous there was too much spinach, but it honestly worked well in the soup and kept it feeling fresh and light! Will be making this again!
Perfect! Glad you loved it!
One of the most flavorful soups I’ve ever made! Love the couscous!! #AKRecipeoftheMonth
Amazing! Glad you enjoyed!
#AKRecipeoftheMonth. So good! I made my meatballs slightly larger than marble sized. The pearl couscous was so good in it too.
Love it!
One of my favorite recipes! Healthy and filling– perfect for lunch or even for dinner. I got my whole family hooked on this soup! #AKRecipeofthemonth
So happy to hear that!
Delicious and so easy to make! The meatballs especially are sooo tasty!
#AKRecipeoftheMonth Delicious and so easy to make!
So happy you loved it!
So delicious! I used orzo. Will make again! #AKRecipeoftheMonth
Love it! Glad you enjoyed!
This was my first time making anything like this and outside of the time it took to roll that many meatballs, this was surprisingly easy! To save some time, I baked the meatballs all at once for 6 minutes at 350 instead of browning them on the stove. My husband is gluten free so I precooked short grain brown rice and added it at the end with the kale, and I used violife parmesan to keep the meatballs dairy free for me. We both really enjoyed it, and I’m looking forward to the leftovers!
Perfect! So glad it was a hit!
This was so good-my new favorite soup! I omitted the basil as I didn’t have any, but shredded half a zucchini into the meatballs to sneak more veggies to my toddlers. Lastly, used TJ’s latest spice ‘Aglio Olio’, chefs kiss!
Perfect! Love that idea!
the herby meatballs are back for another win! My husband comments every single time I make your meatballs — he loves how fresh and flavorful they are. This soul was perfect for a cold day. Loves the couscous and kale. Added a green onion that was going to go bad and it had a nice crunch. The stock was so flavorful and added a lot of depth. I need to make the meatballs smaller next time, but so good!
We’re huge fans of meatballs in my house, too! Glad you loved this one!
Love the Italian Wedding Soup so much. Made it as meal prep for my lunches this week. The only swaps I made are using dairy free parmesan and using pre shredded carrots because that’s what I had on hand. I opted for the couscous option and it’s delicious! #AKRecipeofthemonth
Perfect! So glad you loved it!
This soup is delicious and flavorful. I didn’t have any red chili flakes so I topped with sriracha. I love having a little spice to wedding soup! #AKRecipeoftheMonth
Spice is always a good idea! Glad you enjoyed 🙂
Made this with my children and it was a great recipe to please the whole family. The flavors were solid but not overpowering and we served it with fresh hot bread. Delicious recipe I would make over and over again!
Love it! Glad it was a hit!
Delicious! I used ground turkey instead of ground chicken, but all other ingredients the same as listed in the recipe. Other than taking the time to make all the meatballs, the recipe is simple to make. It says it makes four servings, and I would say four generous servings (always a plus to have more than expected).
Perfect! All about those leftovers 🙂
I LOVE the meatballs in this soup. Basically, the soup tastes like a better chicken noodle. It is light, herby, delicious, and best of all 7 year old approved! #AKRecipeoftheMonth
Same! Glad it was a hit!
This was fantastic! 10/10. I can’t wait to make it again! #AKRecipeoftheMonth
Happy to hear that!!
Made this for #akrecipeofthemonth and it was fabulous! The fresh herbs really make this special, loved how all the flavors came together.
So good! Glad you enjoyed!
So good! And so easy. #AKRecipeoftheMonth
New fav! Glad you enjoyed!
This was such a delicious dinner! We made the meatballs during the day so our weeknight meal went even faster. Added some crusty bread on the side and it was just perfect!
Amazing! Glad it was a hit 🙂
Second time I’ve made this – once for my family and another for friends welcoming a new baby. Super delicious! Keep extra chicken broth on hand if you end up using orzo because it absorbs a lot of the liquid after ~2 days in the fridge.
#AKRecipeoftheMonth
Such a great recipe for sharing!
This was so good! I used orzo, added some zucchini along with carrots. Gave a container to some friends not feeling well. They loved it!
So happy to hear that! Hope they get well soon!
So delicious! I made it vegetarian using plant based meat for the meatballs and veggie broth, it turned out great! #AKrecipeofthemonth
Perfect! Glad you enjoyed!
This soup was amazing!! So delicious and easy to make I’m definitely adding it to my rotation.
#AKRecipeoftheMonth
So glad you loved it!
*Chef’s kiss* This recipe is so delish! I used orzo in place of couscous and it turned out well. I found it to be very family-friendly: it’s easy to pick out the soft-cooked carrots for a baby, the mini meatballs + pasta for a picky toddler, etc. And don’t skip serving with crusty bread 🙂
Absolutely! Big hit with my whole family, too 🙂
This soup was amazing! Enjoyed by all family members including picky eaters. Hearty enough to be a dinner with some fresh bread. Easy to make dairy free by using plant-based Parmesan (dairy allergy in the house). Easy to make so will be a new addition to our regular regular rotation.
Amazing! So happy to hear that 🙂
Loved this recipe & that it included kale and spinach! So healthy!
Great way to eat veggies 🙂
I followed the recipe without modifications. Tasted great hubs and I loved it.
Happy to hear that!
#AKRecipeoftheMonth
This soup was very very good! I used ground beef for the meatballs and baked them in the oven for convenience. I also used orzo pasta instead of couscous. This truly is one of the best soup recipes I have ever made, and I will be keeping it in mind when planning a meal for guests!
Perfect! So glad you loved it!
This is a delicious, hearty, healthy soup. The flavor of the meatballs is fantastic. I used kale and farro in place of couscous as that’s what I had on hand, and it turned out really good. Just ate two bowls. #AKRecipeoftheMonth
Love the idea of adding kale and farro! Perfect lunch 🙂
This sounds so good. And easy to make. Can’t wait to try it!
One of our new favs – hope you love it!
10/10 will make again! Loved the ease and one pot meal. My husband said this is the kind of wholesome food he thinks of to nourish the soul.
I wish I had the spinach to add because it would be the cherry on top. Regardless, the flavor was superb. I used orzo and made the meatballs on the bigger side using my smallest cookie scoop because it was easiest for me. Also, loved the cut of the carrots this elevated the flavor of the carrot, I was surprised and glad I followed the recipe.
#AKRecipeoftheMonth
Just make it! Meatballs are worth it- use a cookie scoop if you have one small enough to save time.
YES great idea to use a cookie scoop! Glad you enjoyed 🙂
#AKRecipeoftheMonth This was delicious and reheated so well! My toddler loved the meatballs. I used gluten free orzo. Will definitely make again!
So happy to hear that!
This soup is DELICIOUS- so cozy and comforting! I added some zucchini for extra veggies but the meatballs are the star of the show!
Perfect! Glad you enjoyed!
#AKRecipeoftheMonth I made a batch for dinner and I love the herby broth. Happy tummy.
Glad you enjoyed!
Super flavorful and comforting! I doubled the crushed red pepper in the meatballs because I like spicy! #AKRecipeoftheMonth
I’m all about extra spice 🙂 glad you enjoyed!
Delicious! I was intimidated by the meatballs but they were easy and came together quickly. I used ground turkey, and they were so flavorful! I subbed out orzo because that’s what I had on hand. I didn’t have any onion, but threw in some celery for some extra veggies.
#AKRecipeoftheMonth
Perfect! So glad you enjoyed!
10/10 This soup was comforting & flavorful yet easy to make! I made it on Sunday and enjoyed for lunch all week- flavors got better throughout the week too. I like my food extra spicy so I added a little bit of Trader Joe’s Bamba sauce and a squirt of lemon. so good. Thank you for the recipe!!! 🙂
10/10 This soup was comforting & flavorful yet easy to make! I made it on Sunday and enjoyed for lunch all week- flavors got better throughout the week too. I like my food extra spicy so I added a little bit of Trader Joe’s Bamba sauce and a squirt of lemon. so good. Thank you for the recipe!!! 🙂 #AKRecipeoftheMonth
Love that!! Glad you enjoyed!
#AKRecipeoftheMonth So good! Tastes even better the next day – it’s a perfect recipe for meal prep.
Absolutely! Glad you enjoyed!
This soup was delicious and very satisfying! The meatballs were our favorite part as they added extra flavor to the overall dish. The fun is that you can use different types of the pasta each time you make this soup. This will give you a different texture every time! This was a perfect comfort meal. #AKRecipeOfTheMonth
Love it! Yes, this one’s great for customizing!
My husband and I loved this soup. The meatballs were very flavorful. I used about a cup of acine de pepe pasta but next time will increase the broth or reduce the pasta as it absorbed a lot of the broth. More carrots might also be nice. Kale worked great. #AKRecipeoftheMonth
Perfect – this one’s super flexible! You can also cook the pasta on the side and add it to your bowls if you’re finding that it’s absorbing too much broth 🙂
Adding this one into my regular rotation alongside AK’s best ever chicken soup! I added a pecorino romano rind to the broth during cooking for extra flavor and it was perfection.
Love it! Great idea with the rind 🙂
Made this tonight on a super cold wintry night and was so perfect! My seven and 18 year old both loved it. I thought the crushed red pepper may be too spicy for my little one but she ate it right up. Only had frozen spinach so used that instead of fresh and it worked great. Definitely a recipe for the soup rotation.
#AKRecipeoftheMonth
Amazing! Glad it was a hit!
Wow this soup is SO GOOD!!! My husband and I tried this recipe for the first time and love it. Definitely going into our rotation!
So happy to hear that!
This was so good, my three kids all 3 and under ate it up! Loved the texture of the couscous, meat balls were flavorful even though I used turkey. The meatballs stuck to my stainless steal pot so I washed it before adding carrots and onions. Also next time I’ll be chopping my parsley and basil as fine as I can to hide from my kiddos
Perfect! So glad it was a hit!
Can I bake the meatballs instead? If so what temperature and for how long?
Thanks
Jenn
Yes! You can bake these mini meatballs at 400 degrees F for about 15-20 minutes or until a meat thermometer reads 165 degrees F.
One of our familiy’s top fav’s! Soo delicious and a win for both adults and kids. I always make a triple batch so i can freeze some without the pasta for an emergency meal.
So happy to hear that!
This soup is a staple in our house! When I’m making it as a quick weeknight meal we sub store bought meatballs. It is such a cozy delicious soup! My kids eat it too!! We are big Ambitious Kitchen fans in our house!!
So happy to hear that!!
This is our absolute favorite soup! The meatballs are perfectly seasoned and all the flavors meld beautifully. Thanks for the great recipe!
So happy to hear that!
The soup turned out amazing! I use ground turkey, I baked the meatballs instead of frying them. I guess I’m just lazy like that. I added a little bit of leftover finally chopped cauliflower and used frozen kale from my gardens abundance for the greens. I also only have a half a cup of pearl couscous. So used a half a cup of mixed quick cooking grains. Everything else, flavors and ingredients the same. So good on a cold winter afternoon! So good!
Baking them is perfect! That all sounds delicious – glad you enjoyed!
I’m making this for a soup swap party and need to take four quarts – would doubling the recipe do this or should I triple it? Sounds delicious and excited to be a little meatball making queen 😂
Great question! I think doubling it should be fine!
SO love Italian Wedding Soup and this one was wonderful and full of flavor. I did however make the meatballs into quarter sized balls. Then to save on time I coated them with a spritz of olive oil and baked them on parchment paper till lightly browned. They were perfect! Definitely a keeper and sending this recipe on. Thanks for sharing!
Amazing! Glad you loved it!
Made this last night for dinner. I did half chicken broth and half vegetable broth since that’s what I had on hand. I also substituted ground turkey instead of chicken, regular couscous (didn’t have pearl), and added about 1-2 cups of green beans. Even with the substitutions it turned out great! I think the only thing I’d change was that I would add more broth next time since the couscous absorbed a lot of it and I like my soups with more broth. I’ll definitely make this again!
Perfect! So glad you enjoyed!
This was delicious!
So glad you enjoyed!
This soup is so delicious. The family loved it. I didn’t change anything in the recipe because it is perfect. I also love, love the new cookbook and have made a few recipes already! ❤️
So happy to hear that! I hope you keep finding new recipes to try 🙂
I made this last week and it is so tasty. Making the meatballs is a bit fussy, but ultimately worth it. Definitely taste for salt. I ended up adding about .5 tsp. I don’t like too much salt, but you need a little to enhance the flavors. You won’t regret making this!
Absolutely! Glad you loved it!
Can you just boil the meatballs in a little broth to cook them and then add to the soup? I do that with beef and pork meatballs and wondered why that wouldn’t be possible in this recipe.
Sure feel free to cook them all the way first and then add them!
Super easy and delicious. Only change was small elbows cooked separately and added at the end. Will add this to my collection of soups.
Yummy thanks
Perfect! So happy you enjoyed 🙂
Our all time favorite recipe! Something has finally dethroned pumpkin lasagna 😁😉 This was a bit of a labor of love but I felt so proud putting all the pieces together. Put on a relaxing show in the background and enjoy the process! Will be making this one over and over.
Such a fun cooking project 🙂 Glad you loved this one!!
The flavor is good, I used chicken bone broth instead of boxed. Did not add salt to the soup. I think tho – once cup of cous cous is too much. It takes over and feels like you’re eating pasta rather than drinking soup. So, in my case, I’ll halve the cous cous, next time.
Bone broth sounds delicious in here! Yes, feel free to use less couscous or cook it separately if you like a more broth-y soup.
The soup was delicious. However, the recipe says to roll the meatballs to the size of a marble. Well, I was half way through the mixture and already had 50 meatballs, so went back and made all of them bigger. Browning them on the stovetop really makes a mess and leaves that smell in the house. Could you tell me how long and at what temperature I could bake them for? Or I assume I could toss them right into the broth and cook them that way? Regardless, the meatballs had great flavor and I would make it again.
Feel free to bake them instead (and yes, make them larger so you only get 40-50!) I’d suggest baking them at 375 degrees F for about 12-15 minutes or until they’re nice and golden on the outside. I think it’s key to brown them before adding them to the soup so they get their nice flavor 🙂
Really yummy – even without adding cheese at the end. Thank you. Next time I will cut down the amount of pasta because it soaked up so much of the broth.
So glad you enjoyed! Feel free to cook the pasta separately, too, and adding it to your portions 🙂
Absolutely loved this soup and family asked that I add to our ‘rotation’ 😄. This is the first time I’ve made chicken meatballs and they were so flavorful!!
So happy to hear that!
So yummy! I made a double batch to freeze. Will certainly make this in the future
Perfect! Glad you enjoyed!
This recipe is delicious!! My go-to for sick days as well!
Ours, too! Glad you love it!
Hi! Looks amazing do you think I could make and brown the meatballs and then throw everything into crock pot for a few hours on low? The couscous should cook in time and be ok right? Thank you for your time 🙂
That should work! I’d cook the couscous separately or add it in the last 15 minutes or so if you’re cooking everything on high.
This was delicious! I used frozen vegetables as well as frozen Italian sausage. I thawed all of them slightly in the microwave before cooking although probably could have just used from frozen and extended the time a bit more. Definitely going into our family’s dinner rotation!
Love that!
This was our snowed-in comfort meal! Made sure to grab all the ingredients before the grocery store got slammed and bought out and so grateful I did! The inly thing I had to sub was fresh collard greens for kale. This one is going on my soup rotation!
So glad you made it, Candace! It definitely is the perfect snow day soup 🙂
Delish!
Happy to hear you were a fan!
This soup is so good!! I love the pearl couscous in it, and it’s super versatile. I had a bunch of Italian sausage I needed to use so I just made balls out of that for the soup and it turned out incredible. Very flavourful, hearty and easy to make.
Will definitely be making this often!
Happy to hear this one was a winner for you!
I’ve made this soup several times, including for entertaining dinner guests, and it is always delicious. The only change I made was to bake raw meatballs on sheet pan in oven (400 for 10-15) and they were perfect.
So happy to hear you’re a fan of this one, Claire!
This soup is SO GOOD! I was skeptical about the effort required to make and brown all of the mini meatballs but it’s worth it I promise (maybe just make on a weekend though if you have little kids like I do and don’t have a ton of time to cook on week nights). Just made a batch to take to my sister who just had a baby and book marking this for future meal trains I do.
A labor of love but so worth it! And perfect for a meal train 🙂
This is a great recipe and a super nourishing and filling dinner (we didn’t even feel the need for bread). I would also say that it’s almost better the next day giving that couscous time to soak it all in. My only note is that I would make the meatballs bigger than a marble next time – it took me a long time to brown them and I had more than 50.
Absolutely! And yes, feel free to make them a bit bigger to save time on browning 🙂 I just like to scoop up the super mini ones!
One of my favorite AK soups! I’ve used veggie broth and impossible meat to make it vegetarian for my husband, turns out great every time.
Perfect! Glad you love it!
This soup is one of the best I’ve ever had! The meatballs are DELICIOUS!! I make this in my crockpot, cook the meatballs in the oven at about 400 degrees for 10 minutes before adding crockpot and make the noodles separate to add when we’re ready to eat. I’ll be coming back to this one time and again!
Perfect! So glad you loved it!
I have made this soup recipe 4? 5? times this winter! It’s so cozy and delicious I cannot get enough.
Amazing! One of my forever favorites 🙂
So delicious! So flavorful! I would say seasoned perfectly! I didn’t have fresh herbs so I substituted about 2 tsp of dried parsley and 2 tsp of dried basil for the meatballs (for those who may need to do that too).
This soup is definitely a keeper for our family. My 4 year old ate the whole bowl and kept telling me how yummy it was! Grateful for another delicious healthy recipe from AK!
Amazing! Glad it was a hit!