5best2buy
The Recipe · No.512 · Italian Wedding Soup

Italian Wedding Soup, and where to source it

Italian Wedding Soup — 5best2buy.com 5BEST2BUY.COM Italian Wedding Soup Italian 5best2buy.com

Keep the meatballs small and drop them straight into the simmering broth so they poach tender and season the liquid. Cook the pasta separately or it drinks up the broth and swells overnight into a solid mass.

By Vince Gonzalez · Published July 2026 · Sourcing verified 5 Jul 2026

Prep30 min
Cook30 min
Makes6 servings
CuisineItalian
Cost$$
Contains  dairy · eggs · gluten
Make it gluten-free: swap in gluten-free versions of the wheat items (check the other labels too).
The Ingredients — and where to get them
Cook for 6 servings
Ground pork
The base of the little meatballs; its fat keeps them tender.
1 lb
Acini di pepe
The tiny pasta beads that give the soup its texture; cook them separately.
1 cup
Chicken bone broth
A clear, savory broth is the whole stage; make it good.
8 cups
Parmesan
Grated into the meatballs and over the bowl for salty depth.
1/2 cup
Egg & breadcrumbs
Bind the meatballs and keep them light.
1 egg, 1/3 cup
Escarole
The bitter green that wilts into the broth; spinach works if you cannot find it.
1 head
Local / market
Onion & garlic
The aromatic base of the broth and the meatball mix.
1 onion, 2 cloves

Using ground pork? It behaves the way it does for a reason — what this cut is for and how to cook it →

The Rundown
Greedometer ●●●● Squeaky clean
About as virtuous as dinner gets.
EffortSome doing
Cook it with
Instant PotSlow cookerOne-pot
The Method
  1. Mix the meatballsCombine the pork with egg, breadcrumbs, parmesan, minced garlic, and salt, then roll into 3/4-inch balls.
  2. Cook the pastaBoil the acini di pepe separately until just tender, drain, and hold it aside.
  3. Poach the meatballsBring the broth to a gentle simmer and drop the meatballs in; poach 10 minutes until cooked through.
  4. FinishStir in the chopped escarole and cook 3 minutes until wilted, then add the pasta and serve with parmesan.
The Toolkit

Heavy pot · Mixing bowl · Small cookie scoop · Slotted spoon · Ladle

Straight Answers
Can you make Italian Wedding Soup in an air fryer? — Yes, with an insert

Not on its own — an air fryer can’t hold a pool of liquid. You can simmer it in an oven-safe dish or a silicone insert made to fit the basket, but the broth won’t reduce or brown the way it does on the stove, and that insert comes out scorching, so use oven mitts. For real depth, a pot on the stove wins.

Can you freeze Italian Wedding Soup? — Yes

Yes — it freezes well. Cool it fully, portion into airtight containers, and it keeps a few months; thaw in the fridge and reheat gently.

Can you make Italian Wedding Soup ahead of time? — Yes

Yes — it holds well and often tastes better the next day. Make it ahead and reheat gently before serving.

Is Italian Wedding Soup gluten-free? — Not as written

Not as written — it contains gluten. Make it gluten-free: swap in gluten-free versions of the wheat items (check the other labels too).

Is Italian Wedding Soup vegan? — No

No — it contains meat, so it isn’t vegetarian or vegan.

Community Notes

Cooked it? Changed something that worked? Leave a note for the next person — first-name basis, no account.

Loading notes…

Notes are public and posted as written. Be kind, no links. Spam and abuse get removed.

More Italian recipes
Stuffed ZucchiniGarlic KnotsNegroniGremolataRisotto al Nero di SeppiaZuppa Toscana
All Italian recipes →  ·  Browse all 1433 →
One list, with a link to where to buy each one.

Some ingredient and tool links are affiliate links — if you buy through one, 5best2buy may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never costs the maker anything, and it never decides who we recommend. The list is the list.
© 2026 5best2buy.com · Recipe No.512

Open data. Every maker on this site is published as a free dataset under CC BY 4.0 — use it in anything, commercial or not, as long as you credit 5best2buy. Browse the datasets →