Chicken Meatball Escarole Soup In The Crock Pot Recipes

EASY CHICKEN-ESCAROLE SOUP

Steps:

• In a small Dutch oven or a large soup pot, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the chicken thighs on both sides with salt and pepper; put them in the pan, fattier side down, and cook until browned on the bottom and some of the fat has rendered out, 4 minutes. Flip the thighs over, tuck the garlic in around them and cook until the garlic is browned and aromatic, about 1 minute. Pour in the chicken stock and simmer until the thighs are cooked through, about 12 minutes. Remove the thighs from the pot and cut into bite-size pieces.
• While the soup is cooking, cut the leaves of the escarole away from the core and wash well in cold water, especially the white part near the base, where most of the dirt collects. Tear the leaves into 2-inch pieces.
• Stir the escarole into the pot a handful at a time until it all fits, then cover and cook until tender, 3 minutes. Return the chicken to the pot and bring back to a simmer. Serve hot.

SLOW-COOKED MEATBALL SOUP

Steps:

• Place first 11 ingredients in a 6-qt. slow cooker. Cook, covered, on low until vegetables are tender and flavors are blended, 5-6 hours., Stir in pasta; cook, covered, on high until pasta is tender, 15-20 minutes. Discard bay leaf; stir in spinach until wilted. Serve with cheese.

ESCAROLE AND LITTLE MEATBALL SOUP

Steps:

• Trim the escarole and discard any bruised leaves. Cut off the stem ends. Separate the leaves and wash well in cool water, especially the center of the leaves where soil collects. Stack the leaves and cut them crosswise into 1-inch strips. You should have about 4 cups.
• Combine the escarole, carrots, and stock in a large pot. Bring to a simmer and cook until the escarole is almost tender, about 30 minutes.
• To make the meatballs
• Meanwhile, combine the ground meat, bread crumbs, cheese, onion, egg, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Shape the mixture into tiny balls, less than 1 inch in diameter.
• To assemble
• When the escarole is almost tender, stir in the pasta and return the soup to the simmer. Drop the meatballs into the soup. Cook over low heat, stirring gently, until the meatballs and pasta are cooked, about 20 minutes. Taste for seasoning. Serve hot with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.

CROCK POT ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP

Steps:

• Meatballs: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Mix all ingredients together.
• Form into very small balls (I get approximately 90 meatballs from 1 pound ground beef. I bake mine on a nonstick cookie sheet and turn them half-way through the cooking time).
• Bake about 10-15 minutes, until the meatballs have browned but are still soft (watch closely).
• Remove from oven and drain on paper towel, if necessary.
• Soup: Place all of the ingredients, except the pasta and escarole or spinach, into the crock pot with meatballs.
• Cook on low for 8 hours (Add pasta and escarole or spinach during the last hour of cooking and salt to taste, if necessary).
• Remove bay leaves.
• Top each serving with grated parmesan or romano cheese.
• Note: The meatballs must be prepared before being put into the crock pot (make them the night before and put them in the refrigerator, or even keep a batch in the freezer. I basically prepare as much as I can in advance so all I have to do is just put it all in the crock pot in the morning).