Italian Wedding Soup Recipe - Low Carb, Keto, Gluten-Free, THM S (2024)

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5 from 13 votes

This is a classic and hearty soup that you will want to make over and over again. Skip the canned soup, and make homemade Italian wedding soup, or meatball soup today. However you call it, you will love this keto meatball soup that is loaded with hearty vegetables. A light but filling main dish recipe!

Italian Wedding Soup Recipe - Low Carb, Keto, Gluten-Free, THM S (1)

My friend Lisa posted a photo of her meatball soup on Facebook a few weeks ago, and since then I’ve been craving it. When I got a 1.5 lb pack of ground pork for $2.41 at Walmart yesterday I knew it was time to make some. We are also in the middle of a cold, rainy week here in the Northeast which always screams soup to me.

This soup is full of vegetables and meatballs in broth. It is light but filling. Even if you don’t get meat on clearance like I did it is budget-friendly. A huge pot shouldn’t cost more than $5-$8. Best of all, it makes a large amount so you will have leftovers to enjoy the next day.

Italian Wedding Soup Recipe - Low Carb, Keto, Gluten-Free, THM S (2)

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Italian Wedding Soup Recipe - Low Carb, Keto, Gluten-Free, THM S (3)

The Best Italian Wedding Soup

This is the best Italian soup I've tried. The fresh ingredients paired with the bite-sized pork meatballs have comfort in every bite. It is one of our favorite cold-weather meals.

Italian Wedding Soup Recipe - Low Carb, Keto, Gluten-Free, THM S (4)

Why is it Called Italian Wedding Soup

You might think this soup is served at weddings. If you guessed that, you would be wrong. This soup is named after the way all the ingredients combine and "marry in flavor" as it cooks.

That is one of the best things about any soup in my opinion. When they are made well the flavors complement and enhance each other.

Italian Wedding Soup Recipe - Low Carb, Keto, Gluten-Free, THM S (5)

Do You Have To Use Pasta?

You do not have to use pasta when cooking keto meatball soup. In my recipe, I skip the pasta and use veggies like spinach and zucchini to replace the pasta with wholesome vegetables. It is a lighter version but still packs some incredible taste.

You don't need pasta as a filler when your soup has delicious broth, fresh veggies, and a protein!

Italian Wedding Soup Recipe - Low Carb, Keto, Gluten-Free, THM S (6)

What Other Ground Meats Can Be Used In This Soup Recipe

I reached for ground pork when making mymeatballs. You are welcome to use ground chicken, turkey, or even turkey sausage.

All of these meats will work well with the other ingredients used in the meatball portion of the recipe.

Italian Wedding Soup Recipe - Low Carb, Keto, Gluten-Free, THM S (7)

How Do You Make Italian Wedding Soup

Start by prepping and cooking your meatballs as directed below. You want to make sure your meatballs reach at least 160 degrees to ensure they are cooked safely to be mixed with the soup.

Once your meatballs are done, go ahead and work on the stock of the soup. Add in some olive oil to your pot, and toss in your diced onion and garlic. Cook until soft and fragrant. Then stir in your zucchini and cover the pan. You want it to break down and cook for around five to ten minutes. Add in your stock, and heat until you see it begin to simmer. Add in your cooked meatballs, spinach, and top with parmesan cheese.

Italian Wedding Soup Recipe - Low Carb, Keto, Gluten-Free, THM S (8)

Can You Use Frozen Meatballs Instead Of Making Your Own

You sure can! If you don't want to mess with making homemade meatballs, buy your favorite brand of meatballs in the store. You can use frozen or look for pre-made meatballs in the refrigerator section at your meat market. Both work great in the recipe.

I prefer to make my own because the teeny tiny meatballs traditional to Meatball Soup aren't available in any freezer section I've seen.

Italian Wedding Soup Recipe - Low Carb, Keto, Gluten-Free, THM S (9)

Can You Freeze Keto Meatball Soup?

You are welcome to freeze any of your leftover Italian soup. I will say that your veggies will break down a bit more once you go to warm them up. But the flavors will be the same, and it tastes phenomenal.

Just place your soup in freezer bags or containers and toss in the fridge for one to two months. Thaw in the refrigerator the night before and then warm up on the stove.

I like to pour my soup into freezer bags and then lay them flat in the freezer. Once they are frozen, you can set them up, and it uses almost no room in the freezer.This is an excellent tip if you are a meal prepper who enjoys having a freezer full of meals.

Italian Wedding Soup Recipe - Low Carb, Keto, Gluten-Free, THM S (10)

What to Pair With Meatball Soup

Most of the time we eat soup alone and don't pair it with other sides. But if you are on the hunt for some tasty sides to match with this soup, let me share a few ideas below.

  • Green Salad
  • Low Carb Panini
  • Keto Biscuits

If you are a fan of soup give my meatball soup recipe a try. It is simple to make, minimal ingredients required and can serve a crowd. Best of all it reheats beautifully for meals down the line.

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Italian Wedding Soup Recipe - Low Carb, Keto, Gluten-Free, THM S (12)

Italian Wedding Soup

Taryn

This is a classic and hearty soup that you will want to make over and over again. Skip the canned soup, and make homemade meatball soup today. However you call it, you will love this meatball filled soup that is loaded with hearty vegetables. A light but filling keto meatball soup recipe!

5 from 13 votes

Print Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Italian, Italian American

Servings 6

Calories 401

Ingredients

Meatball Ingredients:

Soup Ingredients:

  • 2 onions chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic chopped
  • 1 large zucchini quartered lengthwise and sliced
  • 5 oz fresh spinach cut into bite sized pieces
  • 1 quart chicken or beef stock
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400. Mix all meatball ingredients together. Form into small balls. Put on a greased baking sheet (I line mine with foil). Bake for 10-15 until a meat thermometer reaches 160.

  • Meanwhile, grease a stock pot with olive oil. Cook onions and garlic until they are softened. Add zucchini and cover. Cook 5 min until softened. Add stock and heat until simmering. Add cooked meatballs and spinach and serve with extra parmesan cheese.

Nutrition

Calories: 401Carbohydrates: 8gProtein: 25gFat: 29gSaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 112mgSodium: 1150mgPotassium: 738mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 2365IUVitamin C: 27.5mgCalcium: 148mgIron: 2.6mg

Love this recipe?Please leave a 5 star rating!

Originally Published February 24, 2016. Revised and Republished January 27, 2020.

Italian Wedding Soup Recipe - Low Carb, Keto, Gluten-Free, THM S (2024)

FAQs

How many carbs in a bowl of Italian wedding soup? ›

Italian Wedding Soup (1 cup) contains 15.8g total carbs, 14.1g net carbs, 7.3g fat, 14g protein, and 188 calories.

What is a substitute for escarole in Italian wedding soup? ›

What greens to use in Italian Wedding Soup? The most traditional greens to use in this soup is escarole, but it's not always widely available. If you need to, substitute endive or kale. Spinach is my personal least favorite green to use, as it adapts a slimy texture in the soup.

What does Italian wedding soup contain? ›

This lovely Italian wedding soup recipe is a combination of homemade meatballs with sliced escarole, carrots, and orzo pasta in a flavorsome broth. Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan cheese.

What is another name for Italian wedding soup? ›

minestra maritata

Is wedding soup high in carbs? ›

Italian Wedding Soup contains 171 calories per 244 g serving. This serving contains 6.5 g of fat, 12 g of protein and 16 g of carbohydrate. The latter is 3.7 g sugar and 2 g of dietary fiber, the rest is complex carbohydrate.

How many carbs are in Progresso Italian wedding soup? ›

Nutrition Facts
Food component / NutrientAmount As Packaged% DV * As Packaged
Sodium670mg29%
Total Carbohydrate10g4%
Dietary Fiber<1g3%
Total Sugars1g
11 more rows

What vegetable is most like escarole? ›

Escarole Substitutes

There are a variety of greens out there that use can be used as a substitute. For salads, blends of arugula, curly endive and radicchio work well. For soups and stews, dandelion greens and young mustard greens will give you a similar flavor and also hold up well to cooking.

What is the closest vegetable to escarole? ›

Curly endive in particular has a similar appearance to escarole and is a good substitute. Other alternatives include: Belgian endive, bok choy, broad-leaved endive, Batavian endive, dandelion greens, Chinese cabbage, Napa cabbage, and turnip greens. Most bitter greens can be used in place of escarole.

What greens are closest to escarole? ›

Chicory of endives are your best bet, but if those aren't easily accessible—they're not always! —spinach and arugula are good bitter substitutes. Truly any dark leafy green'll do.

What is the tradition behind Italian wedding soup? ›

The name wedding comes from the Italian phrase minestra maritata which means 'married soup. ' Why is it married? It's the marriage of ingredients, and the resulting delicious flavor, in the soup! All wedding soups are going to have green vegetables and meat.

What is the original name of Italian wedding soup? ›

Rather, its name is a (somewhat) literal translation of its original Italian name of 'minestra maritata', which translates to 'married broth', referring to the fact that greens plus meat together in a broth were a perfect 'marriage of flavors'.

What's in Campbell's Italian Wedding Soup? ›

CHICKEN BROTH (WATER, CHICKEN STOCK), BEEF MEATBALLS (SOY), ACINI DE PEPE PASTA (WHEAT FLOUR, EGG WHITE), SPINACH, POTATO STARCH, SALT, DRIED ONION, PARMESAN AND CHEDDAR CHEESE (MILK), DRIED GARLIC, SPICES, FLAVOUR (CONTAINS CELERY), MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE, DISODIUM GUANYLATE, DISODIUM INOSINATE, AUTOLYZED YEAST EXTRACT, ...

What is the most famous soup in Italy? ›

Minestrone is a classic Italian soup known worldwide as one of the best Italian soups. It's got a flavorful broth and a variety of slow-cooked vegetables like potatoes, peas, and carrots. Adding Italian sausage gives it a kick of flavor and a shot of protein, so it's a complete meal all by itself.

Why is it called widow soup? ›

The epitome of Maltese soups is the Soppa ta' l-Armla - the Widow's Soup - traditionally called so because the ingredients were cheap and therefore affordable even by the 'poor' widow. The key secret of this thick soup is to stick to white or green vegetables.

What is the most common soup in Italy? ›

Minestrone is the ubiquitous Italian soup, made up of different kinds of seasonal chopped vegetables often paired with potatoes, beans and mushrooms.

How many carbs in a bowl of zuppa from Olive Garden? ›

Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Soup (1 Serving) contains 15g total carbs, 13g net carbs, 15g fat, 7g protein, and 220 calories.

How many carbs are in the Zuppa Toscana at Olive Garden? ›

Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana (1 serving) contains 15g total carbs, 13g net carbs, 15g fat, 7g protein, and 220 calories.

How many calories in a cup of homemade Italian wedding soup? ›

There are 190 calories in 1 cup of Italian Wedding Soup.

How many carbs are in a bowl of pasta fa*gioli soup? ›

Olive Garden Pasta E fa*gioli (1 serving) contains 21g total carbs, 17g net carbs, 6g fat, 9g protein, and 180 calories.

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