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–+ servings

Easy Meatball & Escarole Soup One Pot Recipe

This one pot recipe for Meatball and Escarole Soup combines tender meatballs, hearty cannellini beans, and fresh escarole for a satisfying Italian-inspired dish.
Using a slow cooker simplifies the process, ensuring rich flavors and minimal cleanup.
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Course Soup
Cuisine Italian
Servings 6 to 8 people

Equipment

  • Slow cooker
  • Microwave

Ingredients
  

Soup Base:

  • 1 onion chopped fine
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil plus extra for serving
  • 1/4 teaspoon table salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 4 garlic cloves minced, divided
  • 6 cups chicken broth
  • 1 15-ounce can cannellini beans, rinsed

Meatballs:

  • 1 slice hearty white sandwich bread torn into 1-inch pieces
  • 1/4 cup whole milk
  • 1 ounce Parmesan cheese grated (1/2 cup)
  • 3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh oregano or 1/2 teaspoon dried
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 pound ground pork

Escarole:

  • 1 head escarole 1 pound, trimmed and sliced into 1-inch pieces

Instructions
 

  • Microwave the onion, olive oil, salt, red pepper flakes, and half of the garlic in a microwave-safe bowl. Stir occasionally until softened, about 5 minutes. Transfer the mixture to the slow cooker and stir in chicken broth and cannellini beans.
  • Mash bread and milk together into a paste in a large bowl. Mix in Parmesan cheese, parsley, oregano, remaining garlic, and pepper until combined. Add the ground pork and knead the mixture until well combined. Shape into tablespoon-sized meatballs (approximately 24).
  • Microwave the meatballs until firm and no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Transfer them, along with any accumulated juices, into the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours or on high for 3 to 5 hours.
  • Stir the escarole into the soup one handful at a time (it will wilt down as it cooks). Cover and cook on high for 15 to 20 minutes, until tender. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Serve hot with extra olive oil drizzled on top, and pair with crusty bread or garlic toasts.

Notes

Cook Time: 4 to 6 hours on low or 3 to 5 hours on high, plus 15 to 20 minutes on high
Keyword Escarole soup with meatballs, Italian soup recipe, Meatball soup with beans, One pot slow cooker recipe, Slow cooker dinner ideas
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