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Italian Wedding Soup This hearty, Italian-style stew is chock-full of tender veggies, lots of orzo pasta, and the most tender meatballs ever in a rich, flavorful broth.--A perfect Sunday dinner with warm bread! Serves 6-8 8 cloves garlic 1 onion 3 cups carrots 3 cups parsnips 6 cups chicken broth 1 can (28 oz) diced tomatoes 2 tablespoons oil 1 cup orzo pasta 2-1/2 cups spinach 1/2 cup parsley 2 lbs ground beef 1/2 cup breadcrumbs 1-1/2 teaspoons salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1 egg

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Italian Wedding Soup

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This hearty, Italian-style stew is chock-full of tender veggies, lots of orzo pasta, and the most tender meatballs ever in a rich, flavorful broth.–A perfect Sunday dinner with warm bread!

This hearty, Italian-style stew is chock-full of tender veggies, lots of orzo pasta, and the most tender meatballs ever in a rich, flavorful broth. @WholeHeavenly

So. Just when you think that the last of the snow is going-going-ALMOST-GONE what happens? We get dumped on with about another foot of the white stuff this past weekend.

Once again my hopes and dreams of ever seeing green grass again were shattered by a blanket of white. YAY. 

 Okay, I won’t gripe too much. I get the feeling that I’m annoying when I complain about the weather but still….I think the groundhog is gonna be seeing his shadow in Wisconsin for awhile. Just sayin’

 And until he doesn’t, I plan to just keep my face firmly planted in a bowlful of this soup. #coping.

This hearty, Italian-style stew is chock-full of tender veggies, lots of orzo pasta, and the most tender meatballs ever in a rich, flavorful broth. @WholeHeavenly

Okay, so Italian food. I’m clearly obsessed with it as you can plainly see if you’ve spent even 5 minutes on my blog. Comfort food. Can’t get ’nuff. Oh, my pants say they’ve definitely had enough, but I ignore them and take orders directly from my comfort-cravin’ tastebuds.

Since the frigid temps and knee-high snow outside are obviously calling for comfort, I would say that today is the DAY for this soup. In other news, I’ve been hiding this recipe for about 2 months now. SORRY!!

Oh, and if you’re currently residing some heat-wavish place like Florida or Cali where it’s above 10F degrees, I still think you need to make this soup. Slather on the sunscreen and take a bowl of this soup out to the lawnchair with you.

And feel sorry for Sarah who is currently buried under a pile of about 7 fuzzy blankets.

This hearty, Italian-style stew is chock-full of tender veggies, lots of orzo pasta, and the most tender meatballs ever in a rich, flavorful broth. @WholeHeavenly

Okay, I promised that I wouldn’t complain too much in this post so I’ll try to stop my winter-moaning and get back the point. Which is soup. Italian Wedding Soup.

So romantic, so dang amazing for you and your sweetheart to dine in style.

HECK, yes.

This hearty, Italian-style stew is chock-full of tender veggies, lots of orzo pasta, and the most tender meatballs ever in a rich, flavorful broth. @WholeHeavenly

So what the heck is Italian Wedding soup you may ask? Let me fill you in. It’s pretty much just a pot full of spot-on flavor and comfort.

So. Much. Goodness piled into one pot. A soup pot fulla’ zee LOVE.

This hearty, Italian-style stew is chock-full of tender veggies, lots of orzo pasta, and the most tender meatballs ever in a rich, flavorful broth. @WholeHeavenly

We’ve got the veggies (carrots, parsnips, spinach, tomatoes, ect) we’ve got orzo pasta, and literally THE most melt-in-your mouth beef meatballs ever floating around in a rich, flavorful broth.

Give me ALL the seconds, thirds, and possibly even fourths.

With extra slices of the extra-crusty french bread.

You say it’s diet-season? I say this soup is WORTH IT.

This hearty, Italian-style stew is chock-full of tender veggies, lots of orzo pasta, and the most tender meatballs ever in a rich, flavorful broth. @WholeHeavenly

‘Kay, so I was pretty disappointed, guys. When I first heard the name of this soup, I was like COOL! They probably used to eat this soup at weddings in Italy!

Well, um actually no. According to Cooks Illustrated, this soup’s name did NOT originate from it being served at ancient Italian weddings. Apparently, it was named Italian Wedding soup to refer to the “marriage” of so many flavorful ingredients into one stew.

This hearty, Italian-style stew is chock-full of tender veggies, lots of orzo pasta, and the most tender meatballs ever in a rich, flavorful broth. @WholeHeavenly

And here I was mentally planning to serve this soup as the main course at my future wedding. BOO.

Either way, I still freakin’ love the name. And I freakin’ HEART this soup. Take that Mr. Winter!

This hearty, Italian-style stew is chock-full of tender veggies, lots of orzo pasta, and the most tender meatballs ever in a rich, flavorful broth. @WholeHeavenly

You should make this for dinner tonight. I think we all need some comfort food. 🙂

Soup is ON.

This hearty, Italian-style stew is chock-full of tender veggies, lots of orzo pasta, and the most tender meatballs ever in a rich, flavorful broth. @WholeHeavenly

Print Pin
5 from 1 vote

Italian Wedding Soup

This hearty, Italian-style stew is chock-full of tender veggies, lots of orzo pasta, and the most tender meatballs ever in a rich, flavorful broth.--A perfect Sunday dinner with warm bread!
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 6 -8 servings

Ingredients

  • MEATBALLS:
  • 2 lbs ground beef
  • 1/2 cup fresh spinach minced
  • 1/2 cup fresh parsley minced
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • SOUP:
  • 3 cups sliced carrots
  • 3 cups peeled and diced parsnips
  • 1 large onion finely diced
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 can 28 oz Italian-style diced tomatoes
  • 6 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
  • 2 cups coarsely chopped fresh spinach
  • 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Prepare the meatballs: Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease a baking sheet. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, combine all meatball ingredients until evenly incorporated. Roll meatball dough into 1-in balls and place on prepared baking sheet. Bake meatballs at 350F 20-25 minutes or until they register 165F. Set aside.
  • Prepare the soup: In a large pot over medium-high heat, saute carrots, parsnips, onion, and garlic in olive oil until vegetables are fragrant and slightly browned, about 6-7 minutes. Stir in diced tomatoes, and chicken broth.
  • Bring soup to a boil over medium-high heat, then stir in orzo pasta, spinach, parsley, and cooked meatballs. Reduce heat to low and simmer until pasta is cooked and vegetables are tender.
  • Season soup with salt and pepper and let stand, covered for 30 minutes in order for the flavors to meld. Serve warm.

 Bring on the SOUP.

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  2. Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says

    We had such a mild January that this is what we get in February! My area had 20 inches of snow from Sat to Sunday, so crazy! This soup looks like the perfect dish to make me forget about all that white stuff. This looks delicious! I usually order this whenever it’s available at restaurants, so I’m loving this homemade version. Sounds great!

    Reply

    • Sarah says

      Wow, that’s crazy! I think you got even more snow then we did! I’d say you definitely need a bowlful of this soup to warm you up! 🙂

      Reply

  7. Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says

    I always thought it was called Italian Wedding Soup because it was served at weddings too! Now I’m a little disappointed. I pictured elaborate italian weddings, with people lining up for a big ladle full of this soup, haha! But it definitely is a marriage of all the best flavors. Your soup looks delicious!

    Reply

  8. Ashley says

    Italian wedding soup always brings back such memories for me! My grandma used to make it all the time! This looks soooo good and so comforting!

    I’ll take some of your snow 🙂 haha We haven’t gotten anything this year and I miss it a bit!

    Reply

    • Sarah says

      That’s so cool that your grandma made Italian wedding soup! It’s definitely the best kinda winter comfort food, right? 😉 And oh, girl I will give you ALL of my snow! You can come pick it up whenever you want. LOL.

      Reply

  10. Denise | Sweet Peas & Saffron says

    I’m sorry Sarah, but I can’t feel bad for you because I’m too busy feeling sorry for myself…it’s SO cold here, I don’t know what it is in Fahrenheit but it was -17 Celsius today 🙁 🙁 🙁
    I need a nice big bowl of this soup to warm me up and make me forget all about our sad winter weather. I’m SO ready for spring!!!!

    Reply

    • Sarah says

      Ugh! Isn’t that what always happens?! Grrrrr…you’ll definitely want to have this soup on hand! It definitely makes winter a little more easy to bear. 😀

      Reply

  16. Sarah @ The Gold Lining Girl says

    Awww, I do feel for you, girl! I grew up in Erie, PA so I’m not stranger to the rough climate. It’s truly the reason why I live in Florida now! And I totally will still eat this soup because I just LOVE soup, and this one looks dynamite. Like, so hearty and filling and the MEATBALLS OMG. Awesome.

    Reply

  21. Mandie @ Mandie's Kitchen says

    Pinned! I love Italian soups…Actually, I love soup, period. Definitely want to try this one….Oh, Sarah, how do you get the first few sentences of your post (and you Pinterest username) into the pin description of first photo on your posts?

    Reply

  25. CT says

    5 stars
    I just made this soup and it is wonderful! Absolutely yummy, great flavors. I was especially excited to find organic parsnips, so my soup was completely organic with grass fed beef. I did add a heaping tsp of Simply Organic Italian Seasoning because I only had regular diced tomatoes. The meatballs are fabulous on their own, my man kept sneaking them off the cookie sheet.
    I have your chocolate molasses crinkle cookies in the oven and I’ll get back to you on those, but they look and smell terrific.
    Thank you!
    Can’t wait to try your other recipes.

    Reply

    • Sarah says

      Hi Brenda! If you have an Instagram, I’d love to see a picture! Just post it to your Instagram and tag @WholeHeavenly and use the hashtag #wholeandheavenlyoven

      Reply

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