Love Italian wedding soup but don’t have the time? Try this Italian wedding soup recipe! It’s fast, easy, and a perfect slow cooker dinner for busy weeknights.

(Any information in the post is for general information purposes only and is NOT medical advice. Please consult a healthcare professional for individual medical and nutrition advice.)

Of all the soups we make in my house, this is by far my favorite. I love the complexity of flavors and the savoriness of the soup. Despite being cooked in mostly chicken broth, this is a rich and hearty soup, with most of the flavor coming from the sausage. This can cook for many hours, and is ready to eat when you get home. I often make this for those days I’m at work for 10+ hours and need to eat immediately upon getting home before heading off to some sporting event. I’ve even let this cook for 12-13 hours, and it tastes just as good!

Another reason I love making this recipe? It reheats well to pack in lunches. I will frequently pack this for both myself and my husband in water-tight containers, to be reheated in the microwave. It tastes almost like it was cooked fresh! This also keeps well in an insulated mug, and my daughter likes to take this for her lunch at school or for her dinner on the go before or after sports.

Why Italian sausage instead of meatballs? In my personal opinion, it adds more flavor. Although you could easily just add store-bought meatballs (even the frozen variety), I find them too bland for this recipe, especially to be cooked in chicken broth. Both myself and the rest of my family very much prefers the spices in the sausage and the richness of the pork (rather than, say, Italian sausage made with chicken).

Some of you may be wondering, where’s the beef? Good question. Although I used to add a pound of ground beef to this recipe for the extra protein and flavor, food prices have sky rocketed in the last two years, and I’m a somewhat frugal person! To get that same beef flavor on a budget, I have started to add a can of beef broth instead. I do not notice a difference in taste between the broth and the ground beef, but it does make a somewhat less filling soup, and we have less leftovers.

My family loves to serve this over elbow macaroni pasta. However, it would go just as well with crusty Italian bread and dipping oil. Want more vegetables? Use any leftover spinach to make a delicious salad.

Cheater’s Italian Wedding Soup Recipe

Prep Time: 20-30 minutes

Cook Time: 6-12 hours

Ingredients

• 1 package Italian sausage links (19 oz)
• 6 ounces shredded carrots
• 4 ounces raw baby spinach
• 1/4 cup diced onion
• 2 Tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
• 32 ounces fat free, reduced sodium chicken broth
• 14 ounces fat free, reduced sodium beef broth
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• black pepper to taste

Directions

1. Remove the casing from the sausage links (I use a sharp knife to cut a long slit, then remove the casing with my hands).
2. Cut the sausage links into bite-size pieces, about 1/2 inch to 1 inch across, then add to the slow cooker.
3. Add the carrots, spinach, and onion to the pot, then sprinkle the basil, garlic powder, and black pepper on top.
4. Gently pour the chicken and beef broth over the other ingredients.
5. Sprinkle the parmesan cheese over the soup, and stir the pot gently, making sure to mix the meat and vegetables together well.
6. Cover and cook on low for at least 6 hours.

Time Saving Tip: Cook some macaroni noodles ahead of time, then store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. When it’s time to eat, simply spoon the cold pasta into a bowl and pour the hot soup over top. The noodles will cool the soup, and the soup will heat the noodles.

*Nutrition Information (per serving)

Yield: 4 servings

• 365 calories
• 27 g Total Fat
• 10 g Saturated Fat
• 20 g Protein
• 790 mg Sodium
• 10 g Total Carbohydrate
• 2 g Fiber

*Nutrition information is approximate and based on the products that I buy in my home. Information will vary based on the products purchased in your home.