Homemade Italian Wedding Soup That Beats Olive Garden Every Time”
Dust off your slow cooker—this is one recipe you’ll want simmering before the day even begins.
Slow cooker devotees don’t just love the gadget—they swear by it. It’s the magic of tossing in a handful of simple ingredients and returning hours later to a fully cooked, aromatic masterpiece. And with an ocean of slow cooker recipes out there, the possibilities truly never run dry.
Food blogger Vanessa Beatty believes she’s uncovered the holy grail of slow cooker creations. In fact, she’s making a bold proclamation: her version of Italian wedding soup doesn’t just hold up to Olive Garden’s—it surpasses it.
You’d assume wedding soup got its name from being served at weddings but surprisingly, that’s not the origin at all.
Surprisingly, Italian wedding soup is more closely tied to festive holidays like and than to actual wedding ceremonies. The name itself stems from a linguistic twist a mistranslation, really. In its native tongue, it’s closer to “minestra maritata,” meaning “married soup.” But it’s not about nuptials it’s about the harmonious union of meat and greens coming together in one flavorful, soul-satisfying bowl.
Bursting with depth and comfort, this iconic soup has captured hearts across continents. Though variations abound, most recipes follow a familiar blueprint: robust dark greens such as kale, escarole, or cabbage; tender meatballs or savory cuts of pork or beef; and a well-seasoned broth that ties it all together. Once a humble peasant dish crafted from leftovers, it has since risen to fame as a beloved staple in Italian kitchens and beyond simple, hearty, and worthy of any celebration.
In the Italian immigrants reimagined traditional wedding soup, infusing it with local flavors and ingredients from their new homeland.
In their adopted homeland, Italian immigrants gave wedding soup a flavorful makeover swapping rustic meat scraps for handcrafted meatballs, dialing back the greens, and folding in tender rice or petite pasta like orzo or bulgur. These additions brought a hearty richness to the bowl, lending the American version more body and warmth than its Old World predecessor, which leaned more toward garden fare than grain and protein.
Food blogger Vanessa Beatty puts a fresh twist on the timeless favorite, reimagining the classic with bold, flavorful flair.
She insists her version surpasses even the beloved bowl served at her go-to Italian spot—Olive Garden. That’s no small assertion. Devoted fans of the chain, especially those who swear by its iconic soup and salad combo, might be quick to challenge such a bold statement. Fortunately, Beatty didn’t leave anyone guessing she’s shared the full recipe. And for those with a slow cooker on hand, the proof is just one simmering batch away.
“What I really adore is that it all comes together in the slow cooker,” Beatty shares with enthusiasm.
“That means I can get on with the rest of my day while my go-to soup simmers away in the background. I’m genuinely attached to my slow cooker it’s my weekday lifesaver when I’m juggling appointments and a dozen other things.”
Beatty’s take on wedding soup blends tender chicken, savory broth, sweet white onions, vibrant carrots, hearty bulgur, and a medley of Italian herbs, garlic, parsley, and spices. The process is refreshingly straightforward toss the ingredients in and let it cook low and slow for four hours. Well, there are a couple of small steps tucked in there, but nothing too complicated.
“If you’re a fan of Olive Garden or just love a good Italian wedding soup,” Beatty says with a smile, “this one’s going to win you over. It’s the perfect dinner for those crisp fall nights or frosty winter evenings.”
Here’s Beatty’s recipe:
- 1 ½ cup of cooked chicken, shredded
- 7 cups of chicken broth
- ½ large white onion, chopped
- 2 small carrots, chopped
- ⅔ cup of bulgur, rinsed
- 1 tbsp. of dried Italian herbs
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- Chopped fresh parsley for serving
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Place all of the ingredients into your slow cooker.
- Cover with the chicken broth.
- Cook on HIGH for 4 hours or until bulgur and vegetables get soft. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve sprinkled with chopped parsley.
Naturally, Beatty isn’t the sole voice declaring she’s cracked the code to Olive Garden’s iconic wedding soup.
A more intricate rendition, boldly titled “Copycat Olive Garden Italian Wedding Soup,” calls for a medley of ingredients from warming nutmeg and dainty pastina to a savory blend of beef and pork. It’s clear that while Olive Garden’s version enjoys a devoted following, there’s little consensus among fans on the true formula behind the beloved bowl.
Curious foodies hoping to try the official version might consider heading to their nearest Olive Garden. The catch? Italian wedding soup isn’t listed on the regular menu. However, the restaurant does cater to soup lovers with bulk offerings in four of their staple varieties: chicken and gnocchi, pasta e fagioli, minestrone, and zuppa toscana.
The restaurant first opened its doors in Orlando, Florida, back in 1982 and over the decades, it’s cemented its place as a beloved staple of Italian dining.
Today, the chain boasts an expansive menu featuring low-carb, vegetarian, and allergy-friendly selections catering to the modern diner’s ever-evolving needs. Their convenient family meal pickup service has also surged in popularity, especially with the rise of at-home dining trends and delivery culture.
Still, plenty of fans enjoy recreating Olive Garden’s iconic dishes in their own kitchens. A quick search will reveal a treasure trove of copycat recipes aiming to capture that signature flavor. What sets Beatty’s version apart is its simplicity crafted in a slow cooker, it demands minimal hands-on time. Toss in the ingredients, walk away, and return to a warm, flavorful meal ready to be served.
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Article Sources: DIYnCrafts The Spruce Eats Recipe 4 Living Olive Garden
