Slow Cooker Wedding Soup

Warm, hearty, and packed with flavor, Italian Wedding Soup is a classic favorite that's surprisingly easy to make at home.

With tender meatballs, fresh vegetables and little pasta floating in a savory broth, it's perfect for cozy dinners, family meals or make-ahead lunches.

Nothing beats a bowl of this classic soup with crusty bread or plain crackers on the side. I love that I can easily make it gluten free by using gluten free pasta and meatballs.

If you love the look of this recipe, try my Italian Meatballs, these Greek Chicken Meatballs or Grape Jelly Meatballs next!

Ingredients

Round up these basics to make your Slow Cooker Wedding Soup:

Small frozen meatballs (beef or turkey): A quick shortcut for tender, flavorful bite; use beef for richness or turkey for a lighter version.
Chicken broth: Forms the savory base of the soup; choose low-sodium to better control seasoning.
Carrots: Add natural sweetness and color, balancing the savory broth and meatballs.
Celery: Brings a mild, aromatic flavor that builds depth in the soup's base.
Small pasta (like orzo): Gives the soup heartiness and texture; tiny shapes cook quickly and soak up the broth's flavor.
Fresh spinach: Adds a pop of color and freshness; it wilts beautifully into the hot broth.
Dried Italian seasoning: Blends herbs like basil and oregano for classic Italian flavor in every spoonful.
Garlic powder: Adds mellow, savory depth without overpowering the other ingredients.

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

Here are the (insanely) simple steps to make your own Slow Cooker Wedding Soup:

ingredients for slow cooker wedding soup in crock pot

Step 1: Step 3: Add the meatballs, chicken broth, carrots, celery, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper to the slow cooker. Cover and cook on Low for 4-5 hours or High for 2-3 hours, until the vegetables are tender and the meatballs are fully heated.

Step 2: Stir in the pasta.

Step 3: Cook on High for 20 to 30 minutes, or until the pasta is soft and cooked through.

Step 4: Add the chopped spinach and stir until wilted, about 2 to 3 minutes.

Step 5: Taste and adjust seasoning as needed, then ladle into bowls and serve warm.

Substitutions

There are a bunch of ingredient swaps you can make here:

Meatballs: Substitute with cooked sausage slices, turkey or chicken meatballs or even small vegetarian/vegan meatballs.
Chicken broth: Use vegetable broth, beef broth or a mix of broth and water with bouillon for a different flavor base.
Small pasta (orzo): Swap with acini di pepe, ditalini or even small rice or quinoa for a gluten-free option.

Variations

Play around with the ingredients to make different versions of this Slow Cooker Wedding Soup:

Shredded chicken: Swap the meatballs for shredded rotisserie chicken and use chicken or turkey broth for a lighter version.
With homemade meatballs: Make small fresh meatballs with ground beef, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, and herbs for extra flavor and a traditional touch.
Vegetarian: Use vegetable broth, skip the meatballs and add white beans or lentils for protein and a hearty texture.

Equipment

I absolutely cannot live without my Slow Cooker! You'll need it for this recipe. Other than that, it's a pretty low-equipment recipe.

Storage

Refrigerate: Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Reheat: Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave.

Freeze: Best without pasta. Freeze after cooking but before adding pasta for best texture (up to 2 months). Add fresh pasta after thawing.

Top tip

For extra flavor, saute the carrots and celery briefly before adding them to the slow cooker to deepen their sweetness and aroma.

FAQ

Can I make Italian wedding soup ahead of time?

Yes! The soup tastes even better the next day as the flavors meld. Store in the fridge for up to 3 days and add the pasta just before reheating to prevent it from getting mushy.

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