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–+ servings

Slow Cooker Italian Wedding Soup

Melanie Kathryn - Gather for Bread
Real authentic Italian wedding soup. A traditional family favorite recipe is easy to make in the crockpot, delicious homemade meal. A comforting easy weeknight meal.
5 from 5 votes
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 20 minutes
Course Soup
Cuisine Italian
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 8 cups chicken broth
  • 3 large carrots peeled and chopped
  • 1 small onion diced
  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • salt and pepper to taste

Meatballs:

  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup onion finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1 slice bread torn into very small pieces
  • 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 tablespoon olive or other cooking oil (if sauteing)

Soup Add ins

  • 8 ounces endive or escarole trimmed and torn into 1/2 inch strips
  • 1 cup acini di pepe pastina or other small pasta, uncooked
  • freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions
 

  • In a slow cooker combine the following: chicken broth, carrots, onion, parsley, oregano and garlic. Turn on low heat for 6-8 hours or high for 4 hours.

For the meatballs:

  • In a medium bowl combine, egg, ground beef, onion, parsley, garlic, bread, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. Stir to combine. Shape into 1 inch balls.
  • Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake meatballs for 15 minutes or until no longer pink and cooked through.
  • Or you can cook in a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Cook meatballs, flipping as needed until cooked through. Place on paper towels to drain. 
  • Blot with a paper towel. Place the meatballs in slow cooker with chicken broth, vegetables, and seasonings.
  • Add the pasta and torn endive or escarole to slow cooker 20 minutes prior to mealtime. Cover again and cook until pasta and greens are tender, about 20 minutes. Ladle into bowls and top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Notes

You may choose to bake the meatballs or pan fry them. For less grease, I blot the cooked meatballs with a paper towel before throwing into the slow cooker.
You can also make ahead of time, bake and freeze. Just pop them into the slow cooker in the first step with the broth, carrots, and seasonings.
If you'd like you may also use spinach or kale in place of the endive or escarole.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!