Weight Watchers Italian Wedding Soup

Italian wedding soup is one of my favorite soups. This Weight Watchers version has all of the flavor of the original without all the extra unhealthy additives.

The meatballs, typically small and made from a mixture of pork and beef sausage, can also include chicken or turkey. The traditional pasta used is acini di pepe, tiny pasta balls, though other short pastas like ditalini or orzo can also be used.

Here’s how I made it Weight Watchers friendly: lean turkey sausage, subtly smoked, combined with generous portions of ground chicken gives us the flavor you traditionally get from the meatballs. Instead of traditional frying, using an air fryer or oven baking tray provides a healthier cooking method for the meatballs prior to adding them to the soup.

Why you Should try Italian Wedding Soup:

This soup strikes a perfect balance between vegetables, protein, and a hint of carbohydrates from the pasta, without any element overpowering the others.

It’s a hearty nutritionally balanced dish and it only has 3 Weight Watchers points!

Serving Size: 6

Serving size: 500 g. 

Preparation Time: 20 minutes

Cooking Time: 30 minutes

3 WW Points Per Serving

Ingredients In Light Italian Wedding Soup:

For the meatballs:

• 1 turkey chorizo sausage (7 oz.), crumbled
• 500 g. ground chicken 
• ¼ cup breadcrumbs (2 oz.), 20 g. 
• 1 teaspoon salt (5 g.)
• ½ teaspoon black pepper (2.5 g.)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoon dried Italian herbs (Optional)

For the soup:

• 1 teaspoon olive oil 
• 1 onion, chopped, 150 g. 
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 stalk celery, chopped
• 2 carrots, peeled and diced, 200 g. 
• 8 cups chicken broth (64 oz. or 1.9 liters)
• ¼ cup tiny pasta, such as acini di pepe or ditalini (7 oz.), 35 g.
• 2 cups fresh spinach, washed and chopped (60 g.)

Instructions:

Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C). In a large bowl, combine the crumbled turkey chorizo, ground chicken, breadcrumbs, salt, black pepper, minced garlic, and dried Italian herbs. Mix well until all ingredients are combined.

Shape small meatballs about the size of a teaspoon and place them in the preheated air fryer basket. Cook for 10-12 minutes, shaking halfway through, until the meatballs are browned and cooked through. Set aside.

In a large pot over medium heat, heat the olive oil. Add the chopped onion and cook until translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Add the minced garlic, celery, and carrots. Cook for a few more minutes until the vegetables are tender.

Pour the chicken broth into the pot and bring the soup to a boil. Once the soup is boiling, add the cooked meatballs directly to the pot.

Add the dry tiny pasta directly into the boiling soup, along with the chopped spinach. Cook for about 5 minutes, or until the pasta is tender and the spinach has wilted.

Taste the soup and adjust seasoning as needed with salt and pepper. Serve the hot soup in bowls and enjoy this comforting Italian wedding soup.

Variations and Substitutions:

You can opt to make the meatballs entirely from chicken or explore beef or pork, although it’s worth noting that this significantly affects the Weight Watchers points.

For a gluten-free version, swap the pasta for quinoa and substitute breadcrumbs in the meatballs with cornstarch or tapioca starch for firm, non-crumbling meatballs.

While spinach is traditional, some prefer escarole or curly cabbage as substitutes. Feel free to choose the greens that appeal most to you.

A popular variation is serving the soup with generous shavings of Parmesan cheese. However, it’s crucial to consider the Weight Watchers points of this cheese, as aged cheeses carry a higher point value. (A tablespoon of Parmesan cheese contains 1 Weight Watchers point.)

Tips and Tricks for Making Italian Wedding Soup:

1. Opt for homemade chicken broth if possible, as it elevates the flavor profile significantly.

2. Ensure the meatballs are well-seasoned for maximum flavor impact.

3. Sauté the vegetables before adding them to the broth to enhance their natural sweetness.4.  Allow the soup to simmer gently to meld the flavors together perfectly before serving.

WW Points

Smoked turkey Italian sausage 4 points
98% fat-free uncooked ground chicken breast 0 points
Olive oil 1 point
Onion 0 points
Celery 0 points
Seasoned breadcrumbs 3 points
Carrots 0 points
Table salt 0 points
Chicken broth 2 points
Black pepper 0 points
Uncooked orzo pasta 6 points
Garlic 0 points
Spinach 0 points
Member’s Mark Italian Herb Seasoning Grinder 0 points