Last weekend, I got to taste this Crock-Pot Italian Wedding Soup at my niece's confirmation party in Texas. My brother warned me that his wife's family loves this soup so I should be among the first in line. I was second. Thank goodness because it was all gone in 20 minutes. My brother only got to eat half a bowl!
This recipe seems perfect for post-Thanksgiving turkey leftovers. You can turn that turkey carcass into turkey stock. You can substitute turkey meat for the cooked chicken. The best part: if you have guests in the days following Thanksgiving, this no-fuss recipe gives you more time to spend with your guests. (Unless of course, you are trying to avoid them by hiding in the kitchen absorbed with complicated recipes.)
Lowes Foods has fresh meatballs on sale for $3.99 a pound, which keeps this recipe far from complicated. Or as I discovered Wednesday night, Harris Teeter has Centeno frozen meatballs on sale for half price, which works out to about $4.50 for a 1-pound 12-ounce bag of meatballs. I used those Thursday to make my soup.
Crock-Pot Italian Wedding Soup
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 pound meatballs, cut in half or quartered
6 cups chicken or turkey broth
1 cup cooked chicken or turkey, chopped
1/2 cup carrot, diced
1/2 cup celery, diced
1/4 (8-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, defrosted
garlic salt to taste
pepper to taste
1/4 cup romano cheese
1/4 cup acini de pepe pasta (small pasta - my brother used Orzo)
Heat oil in a skillet. Saute meatballs until cooked all the way through. Set aside on paper towel-lined plate to drain. Let cool and then cut them in halves or quarters.
Combine meatballs, broth, chicken or turkey, carrot, celery, spinach, garlic salt, pepper and cheese in the crock pot. Cook all day on low.
Add the pasta during the final hour of cooking.
Serve with some grated romano on top.
This soup also freezes well.
Makes 8 servings.
Source: Adapted from www.recipezaar.com
Cost Breakdown
Meatballs, $3.99 for a pound, Cost for meal: $3.99
Chicken broth, 1 14-ounce cans cost 89 cents, Cost for meal: $3.56
Chicken, $1.97 for three count, Cost for meal: 66 cents
Carrot, 99 cents for a bag, Cost for meal: 17 cents
Celery, $2.29 for a bunch, Cost for meal: 29 cents
Spinach, 99 cents for 10-ounce box, Cost for meal: 25 cents
Romano cheese, $4.25 for 6 ounces, Cost for meal: $1.41
Pasta, $1.39 for 16 ounces, Cost for meal: 17 cents
Cost for meal: $10.50
Cost per serving: $1.31
This assumes you have basic spices and oil already in your pantry.
