A bright, updated wedding soup with fun-sized cheesy meatballs and tiny pasta
Hi friends—welcome back! If you’re new here, I’m so glad you dropped in. This Easy Summer Wedding Soup is fresh, fast, and truly love at first bite—a healthy, feel-good dish brimming with seasonal veggies, tender pasta, and a warm, flavorful broth. I made it during our anniversary week, and it’s already earned a spot in our regular rotation. It’s easy, it’s flexible, and it tastes like you worked way harder than you did.
🌿 What Makes This Summer Wedding Soup So Good
Let’s break it down:
- Juicy chicken meatballs—seasoned with lemon zest, Parmesan, and herbs
- Simple vegetable base with onion and celery
- A golden chicken broth, deepened by a Parmesan rind
- Tiny pasta like orzo or ditalini for just the right bite
- A medley of spring and summer vegetables: asparagus, snap peas, and a turnip if you’ve got one
- Finished with spinach, fresh herbs, and optional pesto
- 💛 Makes a thoughtful gift for anyone recovering at home—warm, nourishing, and full of care—just ladle into a jar and deliver with love.
✅ Easy to customize
✅ Great for meal prep
✅ Feels light—but totally fills you up
🌟 A Nod to Clare DeBoer
This soup was inspired by chef and writer Clare DeBoer, a five-time James Beard Award nominee. Clare owns Stissing House and co-owns King (both in New York), but much of her cooking magic happens at home with her husband and four sons. Her recipes are grounded, fresh, and filled with flavor—just like this one.
🛒 Quick Ingredient Glance
(Full printable recipe card and exact amounts below!)
For the Meatballs:
- Ground chicken (preferably dark meat, or turkey if you like)
- Ricotta
- Fresh breadcrumbs
- Lemon zest, Parmesan, herbs
- Egg and salt
For the Soup Base:
- Olive oil, diced onion, celery
- Chicken stock or broth
- Parmesan rind
- Tiny pasta: orzo, ditalini, tubetti
- Chopped fresh or frozen spring veggies (asparagus, snap peas, peas, turnips, or ramps)
- Baby spinach, fresh dill, chives, or parsley
- Optional: pesto and extra Parmesan on top
👩🍳 How This Easy Summer Wedding Soup Comes Together
- Mix & roll the meatballs — made tender with ricotta, herbs, and lemon zest.
- Brown the meatballs in your pot to build deep flavor.
- Sauté onion and celery in the same pot for a rich base.
- Add broth, pasta & Parmesan rind — simmer until the pasta’s just right.
- Return meatballs to the pot, stir in veggies, spinach, and herbs.
- Ladle it up and top with pesto and Parmesan, if you like!
🔥 Meatball Cooking Options!
Pan-frying the meatballs in your soup pot adds amazing flavor, but if you’d rather keep things hands-off, bake them instead. Just place them on a sheet pan and bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 30 minutes until golden and cooked through.
🔧 Helpful Tools for This Recipe
- Large Dutch oven or deep soup pot
- Box grater for Parmesan and zester for lemon zest
- Cookie scoop or spoon for forming meatballs
- Tongs and fish spatula for frying the meatballs evenly
- Fine mesh strainer if you’re using homemade stock
💡 Tips to Maximize Flavor
- Sear the meatballs right in the soup pot—this builds deep flavor with minimal effort
- If using a skillet, transfer the cooking oil and fond to the soup pot for best taste
- Don’t overcook the veg—just a minute in the hot broth keeps it vibrant and fresh
- Want fewer carbs? Leave out the pasta and enjoy it brothy
📦 Storage & Make-Ahead Tips
- Roll meatballs ahead and keep chilled up to 2 days
- Leftovers hold up well in the fridge for 4 days
- Freeze in single portions—this soup reheats beautifully
🎥 Watch the Video for Step-by-Step Guidance
Family Ratings Are In
My son and his roommate both gave it a solid 10/10. My husband—who’s not big on lemon lately—gave it a 9, just because of the zest. So, if you’re lemon-sensitive, feel free to skip it or just use a big pinch.
And me? I love how rich the broth is, how phenomenally delicious the meatballs are, and the bright pop of lemon zest they carry—while the fresh vegetables make it feel like a bowl of pure, nourishing goodness.
📌 This is the kind of healthy summer soup that’s simple, filling, and honestly…kind of addictive.
Summer Wedding Soup
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- To prepare the meatballs, combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix thoroughly until the mixture is evenly blended. Form into small, uniform balls approximately the size of popcorn, and refrigerate until ready to cook. (#see notes)
- Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large Dutch oven over high heat. Add the meatballs and let them sear undisturbed for a few minutes, until they naturally release from the bottom. Using tongs and a spatula, gently wiggle them back and forth to roll and brown evenly on all sides. Once browned, transfer them to a bowl beside the stove.
- Put the onion and celery in the pot with a little salt and scrape any meaty bits off the bottom and into the veg. Cover with the lid and sweat over medium heat until the veg is soft, about 10 minutes.
- Pour in the broth and add the Parmesan rind. Bring to a simmer, then add the pasta. When the pasta is al dente — a few minutes less than the stated cook time on the box — add the veg and meatballs.
- Bring back to a simmer, cook for one minute, then turn off the heat. Add the spinach and herbs. Let the soup sit for ten minutes before serving with pesto, Parmesan, and olive oil on top.
Notes
- Mix with your hands or a wooden spoon—no machines. Stop as soon as it looks uniform, so you don’t overwork the meat.
- Use wet or oiled hands to roll and don’t pack too tightly. Lightly-formed meatballs cook up better and soak in more flavor.
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📣 Hungry for More?
- Soupy, Sloppy Summer Orzo
- Tomato Corn Chowder with Bacon and Leeks
- Lentil Soup for a Spring Break
- French Bistro Parmesan Soup with Bacon and Garlic Croutons
- Simple Vegetable Potage
- Gingery-Miso Poached Fish
- Grilled Moroccan Spiced Meatball Dinner
- Grilled Arayes, a Middle Eastern Culinary Gem of a Dinner!
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5 responses to “Summer Wedding Soup”
I love a good Italian wedding soup no matter what season we are in…yummy
Thank you, Tracie. I agree!
Wedding soup is an interesting concept, this does look like it would make any marriage successful 👍🤭😹
Thankyou .Killa:) Have a great Sunday!
It’s my pleasure Robin, you are welcome; have a great Sunday too 🤟😆