Crock Pot Wedding Soup: Hearty, Easy, Delicious

Italian Wedding Soup is a hearty, flavourful dish that combines meatballs, pasta, vegetables, and broth. It is a popular dish in the USA, commonly found in Italian restaurants. The soup is typically made on the stove, but it can also be made in a crock pot or slow cooker. This article will provide a step-by-step guide on how to make this delicious soup in a crock pot.

Meatball preparation

Meatballs are a key component of Italian Wedding Soup, and preparing them is a fairly straightforward process. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you make delicious meatballs for your Crock Pot soup:

Ingredients

Firstly, gather your meatball ingredients. You will need:

• Ground beef or ground chicken/turkey
• Breadcrumbs (Italian-style, if possible)
• Parmesan cheese, grated
• Garlic, minced
• Fresh parsley, finely chopped
• Salt and pepper, for seasoning
• Olive oil

Mixing and Shaping

Gently combine the meatball ingredients in a large bowl, taking care not to overwork the meat. The mixture should be well-incorporated but still light and airy. Use a scoop or a teaspoon to shape the mixture into small meatballs, about 3/4-inch to 1-inch in diameter. This size ensures they are easy to eat and cook evenly.

Browning (Optional)

While this step is optional, browning the meatballs before adding them to the Crock Pot can enhance the flavour of your soup. Heat some olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the meatballs in batches to ensure even cooking, for about 2-3 minutes, until they develop a nice colour. The meatballs will continue cooking in the soup, so they don't need to be fully cooked at this stage. Remove the meatballs and set them aside.

Crock Pot Instructions

Once your meatballs are prepared, it's time to add them to your Crock Pot. Place the vegetables (onions, carrots, celery, garlic) and other soup ingredients like broth and seasonings into the Crock Pot first, then add the meatballs on top. For a slower cook, cook on LOW for 4-8 hours. For a quicker option, cook on HIGH for 2-6 hours.

During the final 15-30 minutes of cooking, add the dry pasta and spinach. Cover and continue cooking until the pasta is tender and the spinach is wilted.

And that's it! Your Crock Pot Italian Wedding Soup is now ready to be served and enjoyed. Bon appétit!

Slow cooker preparation

The slow cooker is a great option for preparing Italian wedding soup, especially if you're short on time or want to make the process more convenient. Here's a step-by-step guide to making this delicious soup in a slow cooker:

Ingredients:

• Meatballs (you can use ground beef, ground chicken, ground turkey, ground pork, or a combination)
• Italian-style breadcrumbs
• Grated Parmesan cheese
• Freshly chopped vegetables (onion, carrots, celery, garlic)
• Chicken broth
• Small pasta (such as acini di pepe, orzo, ditalini, or stelline)
• Fresh baby spinach
• Spices and seasonings (Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, garlic powder, etc.)

Step 1: Prepare the Meatballs

Combine the meatball ingredients in a large bowl and mix them well. Shape the mixture into small meatballs, about 3/4-inch in size. You can pan-fry these meatballs in a skillet with some olive oil to add extra flavor and color, but this step is optional.

Step 2: Combine Ingredients in the Slow Cooker

In your slow cooker, add the chopped vegetables, chicken broth, and spices. If you pan-fried the meatballs, add them to the slow cooker as well. Give everything a good stir to combine.

Step 3: Cook on Low or High

Cover the slow cooker and cook the soup on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. The low setting will give the ingredients more time to develop flavors, but the high setting can be convenient if you're short on time.

Step 4: Add Pasta and Spinach

About 15-20 minutes before the end of the cooking time, add the dry pasta and chopped spinach to the slow cooker. Stir everything well to combine. The pasta should be cooked until it's al dente or soft, depending on your preference.

Step 5: Serve and Enjoy!

Once the pasta and spinach are cooked, your Italian wedding soup is ready to serve! Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. You can also add a sprinkle of fresh herbs like parsley or basil. Enjoy this delicious and hearty soup with a side of crusty bread or a green salad.

Tips and Variations:

• You can make this soup in advance and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
• If you plan on freezing the soup, it's best to do so without the pasta, as cooked pasta doesn't freeze well.
• To add extra flavor to the soup, try sautéing the onions, carrots, and celery in some butter and oil before adding them to the slow cooker.
• For a spicier soup, add some red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper.
• You can use store-bought frozen meatballs or make your own homemade meatballs from scratch.
• If using homemade meatballs, make them smaller than usual so they're easier to eat in the soup.

Stovetop preparation

Ingredients

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1 egg, slightly beaten
• 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
• 6 cups chicken stock
• 1 cup boneless cooked chicken breast (baked or boiled and chopped into shreds)
• 1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup carrot, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup celery, finely chopped
• 2 cups escarole or 2 cups spinach, torn into small pieces
• 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup pastina pasta or 1/4 cup acini di pepe pasta
• Parmesan cheese, for serving

Method

First, make the meatballs by preheating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and mixing all the meatball ingredients together. Form the mixture into very small balls (you should get around 90 meatballs from 1 pound of ground beef). Bake for 10-15 minutes, until the meatballs are browned but still soft. Remove from the oven and drain on a paper towel if necessary.

Next, make the soup by placing all the other ingredients, except the pasta and escarole or spinach, into a large soup pot with the meatballs. Cook on low heat for 6-8 hours. Add the pasta and escarole or spinach during the last hour of cooking and salt to taste, if necessary.

Top each serving with grated parmesan or romano cheese.

Ingredients

The ingredients for crockpot wedding soup can be adjusted to your taste, but there are several key components:

Meatballs

Meatballs are essential to wedding soup. You can use ground beef, ground pork, ground chicken, ground turkey, ground Italian sausage, or a combination of these meats. If you're short on time, you can use store-bought frozen meatballs or make them from scratch.

Vegetables

The soup typically includes onions, carrots, celery, and garlic as a base. You can also add other vegetables like zucchini, summer squash, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, bell peppers, or greens such as spinach, kale, collard greens, or escarole.

Broth

Chicken broth is commonly used, but you can also use chicken stock, beef broth, or vegetable broth.

Pasta

Small pasta shapes like acini di pepe, orzo, ditalini, stelline, or elbow macaroni are often added to the soup. You can also use tortellini or skip the pasta altogether if desired.

Cheese

Parmesan cheese is a popular addition to the soup, and you can also garnish with freshly grated Parmesan.

Seasonings and Herbs

Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and bay leaf are commonly used to season the soup. You can also add fresh herbs like parsley, dill, thyme, rosemary, basil, oregano, or chives.

Optional Ingredients

To add extra flavour, you can include an egg, milk, breadcrumbs, olive oil, and ground black pepper.

Serving suggestions

Italian Wedding Soup is a hearty meal, so it can be served on its own in a bowl. However, if you want to serve it as part of a larger meal, there are several options that complement the soup well.

Bread is a classic pairing for any soup, and Italian Wedding Soup is no exception. Thick and crusty bread is ideal for dipping and absorbing the broth. Ciabatta, breadsticks, garlic bread, dinner rolls, and homemade buttermilk biscuits are all good choices.

Sandwiches are another great option. Grilled cheese is a popular choice, but you can also serve cucumber sandwiches, tomato sandwiches, or simple veggie sandwiches. Buttered toast is another good, simple option.

Salads are also a healthy and tasty accompaniment to Italian Wedding Soup. A mild vinaigrette or dressing is best so that it doesn't overpower the flavours of the soup.

Roasted vegetables are another healthy side dish option. Try a sheet pan of roasted vegetables such as zucchini, summer squash, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, and bell peppers.

For a more substantial meal, serve the soup with a protein dish such as grilled chicken or fish.

Finally, don't forget to offer something to drink! A glass of wine or a refreshing beverage will round out the meal.

Frequently asked questions