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bowl of meatball soup with spoon and fresh herbs sprinkled on top
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Low-Carb Italian Wedding Soup with Homemade Meatballs

This low-carb meatball soup is an adaptation of one of my favorite wintertime meals, Italian Wedding Soup made with a combination of ground beef and pork, onion, carrots, celery and spinach in a light chicken broth.  
Course Main Course, Soup
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Refrigeration Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 45 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 328kcal
Author Amee

Ingredients

  • For the meatballs:
  • 1 lb lean ground beef 90% lean or leaner
  • 1 lb ground pork
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 1/2 tbsp sweet onion very finely minced
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp minced parsley dried is fine1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tsp salt
  • For the Soup:
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 cup sweet onion diced
  • 1 cup celery diced
  • 1 cup carrots diced
  • 1 tbsp garlic minced
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 8 cups chicken broth
  • 3 cups baby spinach leaves trim off stems
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Mix all meatball ingredients together in a large bowl.
  • Roll balls slightly smaller than the size of a golf ball and place on a parchment-lined sheet pan. Cover and refrigerate for several hours or overnight.
  • Sweat onions, garlic, carrots and celery in olive oil in a large covered pot for 10 minutes on medium heat, stirring occasionally.
  • Deglaze your pot with chicken broth and add your bay leaf, salt and pepper.
  • Bring to a boil and reduce heat.
  • Simmer for 10 minutes.
  • Add the meatballs to the pot (they will cook in the soup and remain nice and tender.
  • Cook meatballs for about 15-20 minutes in the simmering soup then add the spinach and cook until just wilted.

Notes

  • Small vs. large meatballs - I like to roll large meatballs (a little smaller than a golf ball), but that is a personal preference. This recipe makes about 34 meatballs with a standard cookie scoop. Feel free to make smaller meatballs if that is your preference. 
  • Serving - I love enjoying this cozy soup with freshly grated parmesan, a squeeze of fresh lemon, and a slice of crusty bread. YUM.

Nutrition

Calories: 328kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 119mg | Sodium: 1268mg | Potassium: 729mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 3854IU | Vitamin C: 23mg | Calcium: 63mg | Iron: 3mg