Panera Italian Wedding Soup Recipe

Panera Italian Wedding Soup Recipe is a mix of delicious meatballs, pasta and vegetables all swimming in an amazing chicken broth. This warm and comforting copycat recipe lets the taste of Panera’s soup come to you, and gives you an easy homemade meal.

Warm, satisfying and delicious this Panera Bread Copycat Italian Wedding Soup is fun to make and full of flavor. Tender meatballs, firm to the touch pasta and fresh vegetables all in a savory flavorful broth that taste like my restaurant favorite!

This soup is so quick and simple to whip up in the Instant Pot – great for hectic weeknights, meal prep, or just a cozy dinner at home. It’s healthy, kid-friendly and will be a favorite in your home!

If you fall in love making soups in the Instant Pot or Ninja Foodi, some of my family’s favorite Instant Pot Soup Recipes are INSTANT POT COPYCAT PANERA’S BROCCOLI AND CHEDDAR SOUP, INSTANT POT CURRIED PUMPKIN SOUP, INSTANT POT CHICKEN POT PIE SOUP, and INSTANT POT FRENCH ONION SOUP

Why You Will Love This Recipe!

• Restaurant style: Recreate the delicious, warming taste of Panera soup in your own kitchen.
• Rapid and Easy: Instant Pot significantly reduces the cooking time, prepare a meal as easily as making it at home.
• Family-Friendly: Kids and grown-ups love the tender meatballs, pasta and veggies.
• Meal prep conducive: A big-batch that’s great for lunch or weeknight dinner.
• Adaptable: Substitute the meat, your favorite pasta, or vegetable you are trying to unload.

Panera Italian Wedding Soup Ingredients

• Minced meat – Choose your preference; chicken, beef or turkey
• Italian bread crumbs – For taste and to hold the meatballs together
• Parmesan cheese – Finely grated, for savory cheesy flavor
• Egg – To bind the meatball mixture and give that firm consistency.
• Kosher salt – Adds a nice all around flavor and balance to most flavors strictly in the meat.
• Garlic -Adds a fragrant umami to the meatballs
• White powder – A slight kick to the meatballs, like black pepper
• Chicken broth- For a flavorful base to the Italian wedding soup.
• Ditalini pasta – Tiny sized paste is ideal for hearty soup.
• Chopped frozen spinach – For color, nutrition and mild flavor

How To Make Panera Italian Wedding Soup

Step One: Start by making the meat mixture in a large mixing bowl. Mix the meat, breadcrumbs, cheese, egg, and spices. Mix well. Then roll them out on a greased baking sheet (about one teaspoon). Pop into the freezer for about 10 minutes.

Step Two: Meanwhile, mix well with the chicken broth (stock), spinach, and pasta in the bottom of the pot. Then add the frozen meatballs. Add the lid to the Instant Pot, ensure the vent is sealed, set the pressure cook function, set high pressure, and set the cooking time for 4 minutes. Right before adding your lift, use a wooden spoon, to mix the bottom of the pot.

Step Three: Let the pressure naturally release when the time is up. When all of the pressure has been removed from the Instant Pot, open the lid (it should freely open, NEVER force a cover open). Mix well. Season with additional salt and pepper, and garnish with Parmesan cheese if you would like.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

• Meat: The perfect meatball recipe for any meal! Use beef, chicken, or turkey to make these tasty bites. You can also use diced Italian sausages if you wish. You can use turkey meatballs or chicken malls for this recipe.
• Vegetables: You can add veggies like carrots, swiss chard, leafy greens, and green beans to the soup. Or you could use kale instead of spinach and endive for something with more flavor!
• Pasta: You can substitute ditalini pasta for elbow macaroni, Israeli Couscous, or orzo.

Panera Italian Wedding Soup Recipe Tips

• Use small meatballs – Roll meatballs into bite-sized pieces for even cooking and classic soup texture.
• Don’t overcook pasta – Add pasta toward the end to prevent it from becoming mushy.
• Fresh vs. frozen spinach – Frozen works perfectly, but fresh spinach can be added at the end for a vibrant color.
• Season to taste – Adjust salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning for your preferred flavor profile.
• Make ahead – Meatballs can be prepared in advance and stored in the fridge or freezer until ready.
• Broth matters – Use high-quality chicken broth or stock for rich, flavorful soup.
• Optional Parmesan garnish – Sprinkle extra Parmesan before serving for a restaurant-style touch.

Panera Italian Wedding Soup Recipe Faqs

Can I make this soup without an Instant Pot? Yes! You can make it on the stovetop—simmer meatballs in broth until cooked, then add pasta and spinach.

What kind of meat works best for the meatballs? Ground chicken, turkey, beef, or a mix of beef and pork all work well.

Can I use fresh spinach instead of frozen? Absolutely! Add fresh spinach at the end of cooking for vibrant color and texture.

Can I freeze this soup? Yes, but freeze without pasta for best texture. Add freshly cooked pasta when reheating.

Can I make this soup ahead of time? Yes! Prepare meatballs and broth in advance and store in the refrigerator. Assemble and cook pasta and spinach when ready to serve.

Can I substitute the ditalini pasta? You can use orzo, small shells, or any small pasta that fits well in soup.

More Easy Soup Recipes

• INSTANT POT COPYCAT PANERA’S BROCCOLI AND CHEDDAR SOUP
• INSTANT POT CURRIED PUMPKIN SOUP
• EASY INSTANT POT CHICKEN POT PIE SOUP
• INSTANT POT FRENCH ONION SOUP
• INSTANT POT CREAM OF BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP
• EASY INSTANT POT BROCCOLI AND CHEDDAR CHEESE SOUP
• INSTANT POT HOMEMADE TOMATO SOUP
• INSTANT POT CHICKEN AND GNOCCHI SOUP (OLIVE GARDEN COPYCAT)

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