Freezer Friendly Italian Wedding Soup

Introduction

Did you know that Italian Wedding Soup isn’t traditionally served at Italian Weddings? In fact, the name comes from the phrase “minestra maritata” or “married soup”, referring to the perfect marriage between leafy greens and savory meats. This version is hearty and brightened with a splash of lemon and it is great for any weekday lunch or dinner. 

Why You'll Love This Freezer Friendly Italian Wedding Soup Recipe

Easy & efficient - Love that this is a one-pot approach to keep things easy and clean up minimal.

Family-friendly - This soup is fun with its small pasta shapes and tiny meatballs.

Perfect for leftovers or meal prep - Purposely make this a larger batch for meal prep to freeze and store.

Customizable - Any greens could be used here instead of kale for example spinach, chard, kale or collards. You may need to simmer it slightly more or chop finer to achieve the perfect results.

Freezer-friendly - We added a bit more broth and undercooked the pasta slightly in order to account for the pasta absorbing liquid once frozen and thawed.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Our version uses 100% beef for our meatballs combined with Italian flavored breadcrumbs, parmesan, and a ton of aromatics from the classic mirepoix and fresh garlic, spices, and herbs. You can use your own homemade chicken stock, Our Family's Chicken Broth or store-bought for the backbone of flavor for this soup.  Find a small pasta like Acini de pepe or Stelline to add to the soup while it’s simmering. At the end add some kale for some color and texture. Fun toppings to serve with this soup are some crusty bread with butter, extra grated Parmesan cheese, drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil, and fresh parsley.

How to Make Freezer Friendly Italian Wedding Soup Step-by-Step

Start by mixing the meatball ingredients together, rolling and browning them in a large pot. In the same pot, saute your mirepoix until tender, then add garlic and herbs at the end for a quick flavor burst.

Finally pour the broth, meatballs and pasta together back in the pot and finish by stirring in kale and lemon juice.

Pro Tips for the Best Freezer Friendly Italian Wedding Soup Ever

Variations

• Protein - swap ground beef for ground turkey or chicken if you prefer.
• Greens - if you are not a fan of kale, try chopped spinach, escarole or chard. 
• Vegetarian - Swap chicken broth for vegetable broth and use pre-made veggie meatballs or meat alternatives to make meatballs. You can add a bit of white miso or dried mushrooms to get some of the umami depth that the meat normally provides.

Tips

• Form smaller meatballs - So that it’s easier to place on a spoon and eat. If they’re too big you'll have to break them up to eat.
• Don’t overwork the meat - use a light, gentle hand. Over mixing can lead to tough, rubbery meatballs.
• Use the microplane - grating your garlic into a paste or on a microplane ensures it melts and distributes flavor evenly.
• Browning in one-pot - using the same pot that you brown meatballs and make the soup ensures that you capture all the fond (tiny brown bits of flavor) on the bottom of the pan.

FAQ

What pairs well with Freezer-Friendly Italian Wedding Soup? 

Even though Italian Wedding soup is a complete meal in a bowl you may want to add some sides to offer a crunch texture or bright, acidic contrast to the savory broth. Here's a few pairings we suggest.

• Garlic Bread  or Crostini or Breadsticks - Classic choice that is buttery, garlicky and crunchy.
• Crusty Italian Bread - Ciabatta or baguette with a side of olive oil an balsamic vinegar.
• Caesar Salad - Crispy romaine and salty parmesan mirror the flavors in the soup.
• Italian Chopped Salad - Typically this salad uses radicchio, chickpeas and a red wine vinaigrette that will cut thru the richness of the meatballs.
• Zucchini Fries - Parmesan crusted fries offer a satisfying crunch.

Can I use a different type of pasta?

Yes! If you can’t find acini de pepe or Stelline, a good choice would be pearled couscous, orzo or ditalini, which is found at most grocery stores. If you are freezing the soup, try cooking the pasta al dente so it doesn't get too soft during reheating. 

How long does Freezer-Friendly Italian Wedding Soup last in the refrigerator?

Store in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 4 days.

How do you freeze Italian Wedding Soup recipes in Souper Cubes Trays?

Our favorite way to freeze the Italian Wedding Soup is with Souper Cubes trays by building and freezing the soup in two Souper Cubes 1-cup trays. First, pour the soup into desired Souper Cubes trays up to the desired fill line. We like using our Souper Cubes 1-cup trays or Souper Cubes 2-cup trays. Place the lid on top once the food has fully cooled.

Label the lid with our labeling tape or water-based paint makers. Set the tray flat in your freezer and stack remaining trays on top and freeze overnight. Once the food is solid, you can leave your meal in the Souper Cubes trays, but then that ties up your trays for freezing other meals until you use the soup. We suggest transferring the components of each well to a freezer-safe zippered bag, reusable bag, or Souper Cubes pre-cut vacuum sealed bags for longer storage.

How long does Freezer-Friendly Italian Wedding Soup recipe last in the freezer?

We say 3-4 months for optimal freshness. However, as long as it has been consistently frozen, it’s safe to eat indefinitely. For longer term storage transfer frozen cubes to a vacuum sealed bag for best results and to prevent freezer burn.

How to reheat frozen Italian Wedding Soup recipe?

When it’s time to reheat the Italian Wedding Soup, you will want to pull the tray from the freezer and transfer it to Souper Cubes Baking Dish and to the fridge to thaw. This lets you cut down on the reheating process. However, if you forget to thaw in advance, that’s okay too! The easiest way to reheat from frozen is using your microwave. You can also place the frozen cubes in a pot with a splash of water over a low heat until it begins to simmer.