Name: Italian Wedding Soup Recipe
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 1 h
Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients: ½ lb ground turkey; 1 slice bread, crumbled in a blender; 1 egg, slightly beaten; 1 Tbsp onion, minced; 1 tsp garlic powder; 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning; 1 tsp chicken-flavored instant bouillon (for meatball mixture); 6 cups cold water; 1 Tbsp chicken-flavored instant bouillon (remaining); ½ cup Ronzoni® Orzo pasta; 1½ cups fresh spinach leaves, coarsely chopped; Grated Parmesan cheese (optional, for serving)

Introduction

Italian Wedding Soup is a comforting, flavorful dish featuring tender turkey meatballs, delicate orzo pasta, and fresh spinach in a savory broth. Perfect for cozy dinners, this soup brings a delightful balance of textures and tastes to your table.

A white bowl with a yellow patterned inside holds a dish with three layers: the bottom layer is a clear broth, the second layer has white orzo pasta grains scattered around, and the top layer has golden-brown meatballs and fresh bright green spinach leaves placed evenly on top. A woman's hand holds the bowl from the left side, and another woman's hand is lifting a spoonful of orzo and broth from the right side. The bowl sits on a white plate with a blue grid pattern, which is on a white marbled textured surface. Around the plate, there are slices of toasted bread, a bowl with olive oil and black pepper, and a plate with spinach leaves. A dark blue napkin is partly under the bowl. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

½ lb ground turkey
1 slice of bread, crumbled in a blender
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 Tbsp onion, minced
1 tsp garlic powder
1 Tbsp Italian seasoning
2 Tbsp chicken-flavored instant bouillon
6 cups cold water
½ cup Ronzoni® Orzo
1½ cups fresh spinach leaves, coarsely chopped
Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Instructions

Step 1: In a small bowl, combine ground turkey, crumbled bread, beaten egg, minced onion, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and 1 teaspoon of the bouillon powder. Mix well.
Step 2: Shape the mixture into ½-inch meatballs and set aside.
Step 3: In a large pot, bring 6 cups of cold water and the remaining 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon of bouillon to a boil.
Step 4: Add the meatballs and orzo pasta to the boiling broth. Cook for 10 minutes, until the pasta and meatballs are tender.
Step 5: Stir in the chopped spinach and simmer for 3 more minutes.
Step 6: Serve hot, topped with grated Parmesan cheese if desired.

Tips & Variations

For extra rich flavor, add a Parmesan rind to the broth during cooking and remove before serving.
Feel free to substitute ground turkey with chicken or beef based on preference.
Try different small pasta shapes like ditalini or small shells for a fun twist.

Storage

Store leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stove over medium heat until warmed through. The orzo may absorb more liquid when stored, so add a splash of water or broth when reheating if needed.

How to Serve

A bowl with a yellow patterned rim holds a clear broth with white orzo pasta, bright green spinach leaves, and small brown meatballs scattered evenly on top. The bowl sits on a white plate with a navy blue grid pattern, placed on a white marbled surface. A woman's left hand holds the bowl from the side, while her right holds a spoon lifting some orzo and broth. Around the bowl, there are fresh spinach leaves on a white plate, two toasted bread slices, a white bowl of yellow soup topped with black pepper, and a textured clear glass of water to the right. A dark blue cloth napkin is under the bowl. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make the meatballs ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the meatballs up to a day in advance and keep them refrigerated until ready to cook. This helps save time when making the soup.

Is Italian Wedding Soup gluten-free?

Traditional versions use bread crumbs and pasta containing gluten. For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free bread crumbs and substitute the orzo with a gluten-free pasta alternative.

Italian Wedding Soup Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 71 reviews

Italian Wedding Soup is a comforting and flavorful broth-based soup featuring tender turkey meatballs, orzo pasta, and fresh spinach. This classic Italian-American dish combines simple ingredients with easy preparation to create a hearty, family-friendly meal perfect for any season.

Author: Maya
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 60 minutes
Yield: 6 servings 1x
Category: Soup
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Italian-American

Ingredients

Scale

For the Meatballs

½ lb ground turkey
1 slice bread, crumbled in a blender
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 Tbsp onion, minced
1 tsp garlic powder
1 Tbsp Italian seasoning
1 tsp chicken-flavored instant bouillon (for meatball mixture)

For the Soup

6 cups cold water
1 Tbsp chicken-flavored instant bouillon (remaining)
½ cup Ronzoni® Orzo pasta
1½ cups fresh spinach leaves, coarsely chopped
Grated Parmesan cheese (optional, for serving)

Instructions

Prepare the Meatball Mixture: In a small bowl, combine ground turkey, crumbled bread, beaten egg, minced onion, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and 1 teaspoon of chicken-flavored instant bouillon. Mix well until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
Shape Meatballs: Form the mixture into small meatballs, approximately ½ inch in diameter. Set aside while you prepare the broth.
Bring Broth to Boil: In a large pot, bring 6 cups of cold water and the remaining 1 tablespoon of instant bouillon to a rolling boil over medium-high heat. For enhanced flavor, you can add a Parmesan rind to the broth at this stage.
Cook Meatballs and Pasta: Gently add the prepared meatballs and the orzo pasta to the boiling broth. Cook for about 10 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through and the pasta is tender.
Add Spinach and Simmer: Stir in the chopped fresh spinach leaves, then reduce heat to a simmer. Let it cook for an additional 3 minutes to wilt the spinach and meld flavors.
Serve: Ladle the soup into bowls and top with grated Parmesan cheese if desired. Serve hot and enjoy!

Notes

For extra depth of flavor, add a Parmesan rind to the broth while boiling.
You can substitute different Ronzoni pasta shapes like acini di pepe, small rigatoni, ditalini, or small shells based on preference.
Use low-sodium bouillon if you want to reduce salt content.
This soup can be refrigerated for up to 3 days; reheat gently before serving.

Keywords: Italian Wedding Soup, turkey meatballs, orzo pasta, spinach soup, comforting soup, Italian soup recipe