Whole30, paleo, Keto, and gluten-free, this is the best healthy and easy Italian wedding soup recipe. Loaded with nutrient-rich veggies and perfectly tender baked chicken meatballs. It’s a great family dinner for any day of the week.

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It’s soup weather! There’s just something so comforting about being curled up with a warm bowl of soup under some fuzzy blankets and in your comfy clothes.

This hearty and flavorful soup is sure to warm your soul.

Whole30 season is also around the corner. Are you ready for some healthy eating ideas for January?

Gluten-free dairy-free soup is my go-to, like my Healthy Butternut Squash Soup.

Two bowls of warming winter soup packed with veggies and chicken meatballs

This easy stovetop Italian wedding soup is packed with so many delicious flavors. It’s hearty, healthy, and perfect for the whole family (no pun intended).

Wanna know a funny fact? Italian wedding soup has nothing to do with weddings. It was named after the tasty “marriage” of meat and vegetables. Fooled me!

What Makes Whole30 Italian Wedding Soup Healthy?

A pot with Italian wedding Soup. There is kale, carrots and chicken meatballs visible in the pot.

This easy Italian Wedding Soup recipe includes all of the classic ingredients traditionally found in an authentic Italian wedding soup recipe.

However, a few tweaks were made to make it Whole30 compliant.

The biggest difference was with the meatballs: instead of using a combination of ground beef and pork, I used ground chicken which is a much leaner meat.

I also eliminated the use of breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese which you probably find in most of your grandmother’s meatball recipes (Don’t get me wrong grandma, those are still on top of my list).

Not to worry though, these meatballs are still just as tasty as ever, and you can feel good knowing you’re nourishing your body with a nutrient-packed, heart-healthy dish.

Soups are also a great way to increase your veggies intake for the day.

You can easily throw in extra kale or any other vegetables that you love.

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Ingredients Needed for Whole30 Italian Wedding Soup

A white bowl filled with a broth, veggies and chicken meatballs

For the meatballs:

  • Ground chicken
  • Eggs
  • Italian spice
  • Garlic
  • Paprika
  • Arrowroot flour
  • Salt pepper
  • Nutritional yeast (can use parmesan cheese if not following Whole30)

Note: I like to refrigerate the meatball mix for at least half an hour easier rolling and better flavor.

For the soup:

paleo broth is being poured into a pot with kale and carrots.
  • Celery stalk
  • Carrots
  • Yellow onion
  • cloves of garlic, minced
  • Chopped kale
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Bay leaves, dry or fresh
  • Parsley
  • Cooking oil
  • Chicken broth or bone broth

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How to Make Whole30 Italian Wedding Soup

Once everything is prepped, this gluten-free dairy-free soup comes together in about 20 minutes.

You can prep your ingredients ahead of time and throw them together when you’re ready to eat some delicious and hearty soup!

Healthy Chicken meatballs on an oven tray about to be baked in the oven

First, prep the baked chicken meatballs. Gently mix all of the ingredients for the meatballs together. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

After the meatballs have chilled, roll into balls (approx 12 – 16 meatballs) bake them in a 400 F oven for 8 minutes, or until thoroughly cooked to an internal temp of 160 F.

While the chicken meatballs are baking, prepare the soup.

celery, onion, and carrots are being sautéed in a large pot

First, Wash and chop celery, carrots, and onion and mince the garlic.

Heat up 3-4 Tbsp cooking oil in a big pot or dutch oven.

Then sauté chopped celery, carrots, onion, minced garlic, and bay leaves together until soft (about 10 minutes).

Next, add kale and season with salt and pepper.

Once kale is wilted, add broth. Bring broth to a boil, then simmer for 10 minutes.

veggies in a pot

Then, add meatballs and simmer for an additional 5 – 10 minutes.

Ladle into servings bowls and serve with fresh parsley.

If you’re not following Whole30, you can also add orzo to the soup or/and some parmesan to the meatballs.

Orzo pasta is a tiny grain-shaped pasta that looks similar to rice, which would be amazing in this soup. Another good pasta option, if you decide to add it, would be acini de pepe.

Acini de pepe is those small little round balls of pasta that you often see in this soup as well.

Tip: for even more flavorful meatballs, leave the baked chicken meatball mix to refrigerate overnight to allow all of the flavors to absorb and intensify.

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How to Serve Whole30 Italian Wedding Soup

a bowl of paleo Italian Wedding Soup. You can see baked chicken meatballs and veggies

While this soup in itself is a meal, sometimes you just want a little variety and that’s okay! Some great additions to serve along this soup are:

  • Side salads
  • Roasted vegetables; Brussels sprouts, potatoes, green beans, squash, broccoli
  • Toasted bread
  • Rolls
  • Biscuits
  • Cornbread
  • Garlic bread
  • Deli sandwiches

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How to Store Whole30 Italian Wedding Soup

A large pot with simmering veggies and healthy meatballs

You can keep this Whole30 Italian wedding soup tasty for up to 3 days by placing it in an airtight container in the fridge.

And YES, you can freeze it for later. So feel free to make a big batch to save time later.

What’s your favorite way to eat Italian wedding soup? Leave a comment below!

I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOUR CREATIONS! YOU CAN USE “TRIED IT” ON PINTEREST OR SHARE ON INSTAGRAM BY TAGGING #SHUANGYSEATS

a bowl of whole italian wedding soup packed with veggies and protein

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More Easy Whole30 Recipes You May Like:

1. Chicken Teriyaki Stir Fry {Whole30}

2. One-Pan Pineapple Chicken Teriyaki {Whole30}

3. Instant Pot Cashew Chicken {Whole30}

A pan of stove top gluten free dairy free soup using this easy Italian Wedding Soup recipe. There are baked chicken meatballs, celery, kale and carrots.

Get the recipe:Whole30 Italian Wedding Soup

Whole30, paleo, and gluten-free, this is the best easy Italian wedding soup recipe for the whole family to enjoy on a cold winter day.
4.46 stars (11 reviews)

Ingredients

Chicken Meatballs

  • 1 lb ground chicken
  • 1 egg
  • 1 heaping tsp Italian spice
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ¼ tsp paprika
  • 1 tbsp arrowroot flour
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • 2 tbsp nutritional yeast *

Soup

  • 2 Celery stalks, chopped
  • 2 medium carrots, chopped
  • Yellow onion, roughly 1 cup
  • 2 cloves of garlic minced
  • A couple of handful of chopped kale
  • Salt pepper to taste
  • 2 – 3 pieces of bay leaves, dry or fresh
  • 3 – 4 tbsp cooking oil
  • 3 – 3 ½ cup chicken broth, or bone broth
  • A few sprigs of chopped parsley to garnish

Instructions 

  • Prep Chicken Meatballs
  • In a medium bowl, gently mix all of the ingredients for the meatballs together. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (or up to overnight).
  • Once the meatball mix has chilled, roll into balls then bake them in a 400 F oven for 8 minutes, or until thoroughly cooked to an internal temp of 165 F. **
  • Soup
  • While your meatballs are baking, prepare the soup.
  • Wash and chop celery, carrots, and onion and mince the garlic.
  • Heat up 3-4 Tbsp cooking oil in a big pot or dutch oven.
  • Sauté chopped celery, carrots, onion, minced garlic, and bay leaves together until soft (about 10 minutes). Then add kale and season with salt and pepper.
  • Once kale is slightly wilted, add broth. Bring broth to a boil, then simmer for 10 minutes.
  • Add meatballs and simmer for an additional 5 minutes.
  • Ladle into servings bowls and serve with fresh parsley.

Notes

  1. * If you’re not following Whole30, you can use 3 – 4 tbsp grated parmesan cheese in the baked chicken meatballs. And sprinkle a generous amount of parmesan cheese in the soup once done cooking.
  2. ** Make sure your oven has reached 400 F (it usually reaches the target temp 10 minutes after beeping). I recommend using an oven thermometer.
Serving: 1g, Calories: 359kcal, Carbohydrates: 9g, Protein: 22g, Fat: 38g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 31g, Cholesterol: 121mg, Sodium: 1859mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 4g

The Nutrition Facts above are specific to the ingredients I chose to use for this recipe, which may vary.