• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Free Ebook!Subscribe to updates & get a recipe book!

Subscribe & Receive My Free Recipe Ebook!

The Chunky Chef

Comforting Family Recipes

  • All Recipes
  • Learn to Cook
  • Shop
    • My eBooks
    • Favorite Products
  • About
  • Contact
  • Trending:

    Slow Cooker

    Easy Dinners

    Desserts

    My Saved Recipe Box
  • Browse By:
  • Course
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Main Dishes
    • Sides
    • Drinks
    • Desserts
    • Salads
    • Soups
    • Sandwiches
    • Healthy-ish
  • Ingredient
    • Chicken
    • Beef
    • Pork
    • Turkey
    • Seafood
    • Meatless
    • Pasta
  • Cuisine
    • Asian
    • Italian
    • Mexican
    • Hawaiian
    • Middle Eastern
    • Comfort Food
  • Method
    • One Pot
    • Crockpot
    • Instant Pot
    • Oven
    • Fried
    • Grilling/BBQ
  • Trending:

    Slow Cooker

    Easy Dinners

    Desserts

Home / Comfort Food

Slow Cooker Italian Meatball Soup

4.41
/5
6 hours 20 minutes
78 Comments
Jump to Recipe Print Pin
By: The Chunky Chefpublished: 08/28/2018

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

This hearty and rich Italian meatball soup is made easily in the slow cooker. With only 4 WW smart points, it’s a delicious dinner or lunch idea!

Looking for a great weeknight dinner idea?  Give this Italian meatball soup a try!  Full of vegetables, hearty meatballs and pasta, you’d never know it was only 4 smart points.

This Slow Cooker Italian Meatball Soup is hearty, easy, and incredibly satisfying!  You'll never guess it's only 4 smart points per serving. #italian #meatball #soup #slowcooker #crockpot #weightwatchers #smartpoints #comfortfood

Much to my dismay, we still have a several weeks (or more) of summer and humidity left.  Ugh.  I know, I’m SO ready for Fall!  I’m a huge soup lover, and am so ready for all things comforting.  We eat soup year round, but there’s just something extra comforting and delicious about soup in the Fall!

Especially a soup like this hearty Italian meatball soup!  It’s light, but not light-tasting… which is the best kind of soup isn’t it?

Italian meatball soup in crockpot

Another great thing about this Italian meatball soup is that there’s nothing to pre-cook or brown… it all goes right in the slow cooker!

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO COOK MEATBALLS IN SOUP?

Normally, with freshly made meatballs, on the stovetop, they’d have to simmer for at least 20 minutes.  But in this soup, I’ve made it incredibly easy by using frozen fully cooked meatballs.  No messy meatball hands, and no guessing if the meatballs are cooked all the way through!

Bowl of hearty Italian meatball soup

This Italian meatball soup is only 4 Weight Watchers smart points per serving, but there are several ways to change that:

TO POTENTIALLY DECREASE THE POINTS:

  • Use additional beef broth or water instead of the red wine
  • Use chicken meatballs
  • Use turkey meatballs
  • Use a less pasta

TO POTENTIALLY INCREASE THE POINTS:

  • Use more meatballs
  • Use more pasta
  • Use the optional cheese garnish

Bowl of meatball soup with cheese on top

I know you may be wondering why on earth you’d want to INCREASE the points in a meal… and I know it seems a little counterintuitive.  But eating only 0-2/3 point foods will likely not keep you satisfied, and can lead to some unhealthy snacking, which totally undoes all the good you’ve been doing!  So sometimes adding a few extra points here and there (while still staying within your daily/weekly allowance) actually helps you stick to your healthy way of eating.

Ladle of Italian meatball soup in slow cooker

OTHER GREAT SLOW COOKER SOUPS

  • Skinny Crockpot Loaded Potato Soup
  • Hearty Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup
  • Creamy Crockpot White Chicken Chili
  • Slow Cooker Beef Barley Soup
  • Slow Cooker Cheesy Ham Chowder
  • Slow Cooker Zuppa Toscana (Olive Garden copycat recipe)

HELPFUL TOOLS:

  • 6 quart slow cooker – This is a recent addition to my slow cooker collection, but it cooks wonderfully and the lid locks in place!

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @the_chunky_chef on Facebook and Instagram!

This Slow Cooker Italian Meatball Soup is hearty, easy, and incredibly satisfying!  You'll never guess it's only 4 smart points per serving. #italian #meatball #soup #slowcooker #crockpot #weightwatchers #smartpoints #comfortfood

Slow Cooker Italian Meatball Soup

4.41 from 37 votes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 6 hours 5 minutes
Total Time: 6 hours 20 minutes
Calories: 170
Servings: 10 servings
(hover over # to adjust)
Print Rate Pin
This hearty and rich Italian meatball soup is made easily in the slow cooker.

Ingredients

  • 3 medium carrots , sliced
  • 2 ribs celery , sliced
  • 1 medium yellow onion , diced
  • 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 12 oz frozen Italian meatballs (the fully cooked kind)
  • 32 oz beef broth (reduced sodium)
  • 2 cups water
  • 5 oz dry red wine (like a cabernet sauvignon)
  • 2 (15 oz each) cans diced tomatoes with Italian seasonings
  • 3/4 cup dry ditalini pasta
  • 3-5 oz fresh baby spinach
  • sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional and not included in point value)

Instructions

  • To a 6 quart or larger slow cooker, add carrots, celery, onion, Italian seasoning, black pepper, bay leaf, meatballs, broth, water, wine, and canned tomatoes.
  • Stir to combine, cover and cook on LOW for 6-7 hours, until vegetables are tender and flavors are combined.
  • Stir in ditalini pasta, cover and cook on HIGH for 15 minutes, until pasta is tender. Remove bay leaf and stir in spinach until wilted.
  • Serve hot, with freshly grated Parmesan cheese if desired (this is not included in the point value).

Want to save this recipe for later? Click the heart in the bottom right corner to save to your own recipe box!

Video

Nutrition Disclaimer

The Chunky Chef is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

Did You Make This?Tag @the_chunky_chef on Instagram and hashtag it #thechunkychef so I can see what you made!
Tag on Insta! Leave a Rating Save for Later Saved!

Calories: 170 | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 386mg | Potassium: 317mg | Sugar: 1g | Fiber: 1g | Vitamin A: 77.8% | Vitamin C: 5.8% | Calcium: 3.7% | Iron: 5.5%

I’m not a nutritionist, and nutritional values here on my recipes should be used for general information purposes only.  This information is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should seek prompt medical care for any specific health issues and consult your physician before starting a new diet and fitness regimen.

This Slow Cooker Italian Meatball Soup is hearty, easy, and incredibly satisfying!  You'll never guess it's only 4 smart points per serving. #italian #meatball #soup #slowcooker #crockpot #weightwatchers #smartpoints #comfortfood

You May Also Like...

  • Slow Cooker Shredded Italian Beef | Tangy and spicy, this Italian beef is easily cooked in a slow cooker until fork tender, then shredded, for the ultimate in delicious easy weeknight dinners! | http://thechunkychef.com
    Slow Cooker Shredded Italian Beef
  • Way better than the soup from that popular Italian restaurant chain, this minestrone soup is bursting with hearty flavors and is made easily in the slow cooker!  Vegetables, beans and pasta are simmered in a rich vegetable broth to make a soul-warming soup. | #minestrone #soup #slowcooker #crockpot #copycat #souprecipe
    Hearty Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup
  • Guaranteed to warm you from the inside out, this homemade chicken noodle soup is made in the crockpot for an ultra-easy home-cooked meal that will feed your soul! #chickennoodlesoup #crockpotrecipe #slowcookermeal #chickennoodle #souprecipe #chickensoup
    Homemade Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup
  • Slow Cooker Shredded Italian Beef | Tangy and spicy, this Italian beef is easily cooked in a slow cooker until fork tender, then shredded, for the ultimate in delicious easy weeknight dinners! | http://thechunkychef.com
    Slow Cooker Shredded Italian Beef
Previous Post
Next Post

Meet The Chunky Chef

Hey there! I'm Amanda. Wife, mother, photography nerd, and bacon lover! I believe that delicious meals should be easy to make. Now that you’re here, stay a bit, browse a few recipes, and let’s get cookin’!

Learn More

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Have a question? Submit your question, comment, or review below.

Recipe Rating




  1. Wilma Lightfoot says

    Posted on 3/2 at 6:15 pm

    Can you leave out the wine in this recipe?

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 3/2 at 8:51 pm

      Yes, you will need to replace it with an equal amount of additional beef broth or water though 🙂

      Reply
  2. Shawna says

    Posted on 2/12 at 3:05 pm

    I used ground up Italian sausage, added banana peppers and even put some juice in the pot, added more noodles. After it cooled off it was really good. My husband eats with spicy cheese it’s

    Reply
  3. Cathy says

    Posted on 1/13 at 9:07 pm

    Do you leave the juice in the diced tomatoes? I feel like you shoul but don’t want to mess it up.

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 1/13 at 9:45 pm

      Yes, leave the juice in 🙂

      Reply
  4. Rose says

    Posted on 1/3 at 11:43 am

    I can’t find ditalini. Any suggestions for a substitution. And if so, how much of another pasta?

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 1/3 at 8:59 pm

      Use the same amount of any small pasta, orzo or small shells would be a good substitute 🙂

      Reply
  5. Rose says

    Posted on 10/14 at 11:30 am

    My husband doesn’t care for spinach, would you just leave it out. I saw on the internet to use cabbage as a substitute. How do you think that would work? We like most vegetables, so I would appreciate any suggestions. Thanks.

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 10/14 at 10:05 pm

      The only substitution I’ve made for the spinach was to use kale, which worked well. I’ve not tested using cabbage or any other veggies, so I can’t speak to how well that would work.

      Reply
  6. Lori says

    Posted on 10/13 at 12:02 pm

    This soup is so easy to prepare and is absolutely delicious!

    Reply
  7. Angela says

    Posted on 4/15 at 1:42 am

    Hi wondering if this soup could be frozen after cooking.

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 4/15 at 8:49 pm

      I’ve not tested freezing this recipe, so I can’t say for certain how well that would work. If you experiment with freezing it, I’d love to know how it goes 🙂

      Reply
  8. Paullette S says

    Posted on 1/29 at 7:14 pm

    DELICIOUS ! Great for a cold winter dinner !

    Reply
  9. Paulette says

    Posted on 1/6 at 6:58 pm

    I am going to use freshly made meatballs instead of the frozen ones which I couldn’t find. What do you suggest for cooking time in the slow cooker? Should I brown them first?

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 1/6 at 10:31 pm

      I’ve only tested this recipe as written. So without testing and retesting it myself, I can’t say for certain how long they would take to cook in the slow cooker, as it will also depend on how large you make them 🙂 I would brown them first, just to make sure they don’t fall apart. If you try it, I’d love to know how it turns out!

      Reply
  10. Jamie says

    Posted on 10/16 at 6:17 pm

    This is my family’s absolute favorite dish I make! I never measure the ingredients I go by what we like! You can never go wrong with this dish! The PERFECT fall go to meal! Add a side of toasted bread sticks and your good to go! Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
  11. Addie says

    Posted on 9/29 at 3:49 pm

    Can I do this on high for 3-4 hours instead of low for 7-8 hours? I forgot to start the slow cooker this morning.

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 10/5 at 9:23 pm

      Yes, that should work well.

      Reply
Older Comments

Primary Sidebar

welcome!

Hey there! I'm Amanda. Wife, mother, photography nerd, and bacon lover! I believe that delicious meals should be easy to make. Now that you’re here, stay a bit, browse a few recipes, and let’s get cookin’!

New! Save Recipes To Your Own Account!

Free eBook!

Subscribe & receive my most popular recipes compiled into an easy ebook format!

download now!

Subscribe & Receive My Free Recipe Ebook!

Game Day Recipes!

These crowd-pleasing tender meatballs are smothered in a super flavorful honey garlic bbq sauce.  Perfect for parties, this crockpot meatball recipe couldn't be more simple to make! #meatballs #crockpot #slowcooker #honeygarlic #bbq #appetizer #party #honey #garlic #easyrecipe

Honey Garlic Crockpot Meatballs

2 hours 5 minutes

Smooth and silky queso dip, made using NO velveeta!  Packed with flavor, yet so easy to make, and party ready in just 20 minutes! #queso #dip #cheese #mexican #appetizer #party #cincodemayo #easyrecipe

Queso Dip Recipe

20 minutes

Creamy, cheesy, and oh so addicting, this bacon cheeseburger dip is just like your favorite gooey cheeseburger... but in a party-ready dip form! #bacon #gameday #cheesy #cheeseburger #party #appetizer #dip #easyrecipe

Creamy Bacon Cheeseburger Dip

32 minutes

Insanely tasty chicken wing recipe, dry rubbed, then hickory smoked to perfection.  And don't forget the homemade bourbon bbq sauce! #chickenwings #wingrecipe #smoked #smoker #smokedchickenwings #bourbon #bbq #crispy

Bourbon BBQ Smoked Chicken Wings

3 hours

This easy game day appetizer combines classic buffalo wing flavors with cool creaminess in an easy dip made in the crockpot. Perfect for any party, serve it up with chips or celery sticks and watch everyone go back for seconds!

Buffalo Chicken Dip (Crockpot Recipe)

2 hours 10 minutes

Chicken Taco Mexican Pinwheels | These pinwheels are filled with a creamy chicken taco filling, which is easily customizable, and rolled up to make a perfect appetizer or party food! | http://thechunkychef.com

Chicken Taco Mexican Pinwheels

15 minutes

More Holiday Recipes >

Who doesn’t love free stuff?

Who doesn't love free stuff? Get an ad-free ebook of my most popular recipes, plus be the FIRST to know about new things coming to the site!

Looking for something?

As Seen On…

Stay Connected

subscribe to get new posts via email:

Quick & Easy

Dinner Favorites

Hearty and positively soul-warming, this beef barley soup simmers all day in the slow cooker, which makes for an incredibly rich soup recipe! #beefbarley #soup #slowcooker #crockpot #comfortfood #barley #beefsoup #easyrecipe #dinner
M

Crockpot Beef Barley Soup

white bowl of chicken and dumplings
T

Instant Pot Chicken & Dumplings

HONEY GARLIC SALMON - Succulent and tender salmon filets cooked in a mouthwatering simple honey garlic sauce, then broiled until sticky and caramelized.  Made with simple ingredients, in one pan, and in just 20 minutes! #salmon #honeygarlic #onepan #easyrecipe #dinner #seafood #fish
W

Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon

Light and filling, this Italian Wedding Soup is perfectly delicious comfort food, all year round.  Made in one pan, and ready in 30 minutes, this recipe is great for a weeknight meal! #soup #souprecipe #Italianweddingsoup #onepot #30minutemeal #weeknight #dinner #easyrecipe #homemaderecipe
R

Italian Wedding Soup

This Honey Garlic Chicken is one incredible weeknight dinner idea. Juicy chicken coated and cooked with a glorious sauce made with soy, hoisin, garlic, honey and more! Toss it all in the slow cooker and let it do the work for you! #dinner #chicken #asian #honey #garlic #honeygarlic #easyrecipe #weeknight #slowcooker #crockpot
F

Honey Garlic Chicken

S

Swedish Meatballs

Opens in a new window Opens an external site Opens an external site in a new window
free e-book!

Download MY Free Recipe eBook!

Subscribe & receive my most popular recipes compiled into an easy ebook format!

get my copy!

Subscribe & Receive My Free Recipe Ebook!

As Featured On:

Back to Top

Recipes

Dinners

Appetizers

Desserts

Slow Cooker

Learn to Cook

Start Here

Tips & Tricks

e-Cookbook

Easy Recipes

  • About
  • Work With Me
  • Privacy
  • Contact
© 2023 The Chunky Chef
Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled
Back to Top