lasagna soup recipe

Hearty Lasagna Soup recipe: The Ultimate One-Pot Comfort Food Ready in 30 Minutes

Discover our irresistible Lasagna Soup recipe that transforms the classic Italian dish into a cozy, one-pot meal ready in just 30 minutes. With savory Italian sausage, tender noodles, and melty cheese, this hearty soup delivers all the flavors of traditional lasagna with half the effort!

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Have you ever craved the rich, complex flavors of homemade lasagna but didn’t have hours to spend in the kitchen? Enter Lasagna Soup – the brilliant solution that delivers all the comfort and satisfaction of traditional lasagna in a fraction of the time. This game-changing recipe has quickly become a family favorite in our household, especially during those busy weeknights when we need something hearty, delicious, and ready in about 30 minutes.

As someone who grew up in an Italian-American household where Sunday lasagna was sacred, I was initially skeptical about a soup version capturing that same magic. But after perfecting this recipe over countless winter evenings, I can confidently say this Lasagna Soup not only honors the classic dish but brings something uniquely comforting to the table.

Why Lasagna Soup Deserves a Spot in Your Recipe Collection

There’s something undeniably special about transforming a labor-intensive classic into an accessible weeknight meal without sacrificing flavor. Lasagna Soup manages this balancing act beautifully by preserving the key components we love about traditional lasagna – the savory meat sauce, aromatic herbs, tender pasta, and creamy cheese – while simplifying the preparation process dramatically.

Unlike traditional lasagna that requires careful assembly and lengthy baking, Lasagna Soup comes together in one pot, significantly reducing both active cooking time and cleanup. The broken lasagna noodles cook directly in the flavorful broth, absorbing all those delicious savory notes while releasing starch that naturally thickens the soup.

Perhaps most brilliantly, the “ricotta dollop” – a creamy mixture of ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan – melts into each serving, recreating that quintessential cheese pull we all love about traditional lasagna.

The Secret Ingredients for Perfect Lasagna Soup

The beauty of this recipe lies in its thoughtful balance of ingredients, each contributing essential flavors that make lasagna so beloved:

The Protein Foundation

Italian sausage forms the flavor backbone of this soup. I recommend using a combination of sweet and hot Italian sausage for the perfect balance of flavor and subtle heat. The fat rendered from the sausage creates the ideal base for sautéing aromatics, infusing the entire soup with rich, meaty goodness.

For those preferring a leaner option, ground turkey or chicken works beautifully, though I suggest adding an extra tablespoon of olive oil and increasing the Italian seasoning to compensate for the flavor difference.

The Aromatic Base

The classic Italian soffritto of onions, carrots, and celery creates an aromatic foundation that adds depth and complexity. Don’t rush this step – allowing these vegetables to sweat and slightly caramelize develops essential flavor compounds that elevate the entire dish.

Garlic, added toward the end of sautéing the vegetables, provides that unmistakable aromatic punch without risking bitterness from burning.

The Rich Tomato Broth

A combination of tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, and quality chicken broth creates the perfect soup base. The tomato paste should be briefly “toasted” in the pot before adding liquids – this simple step caramelizes the natural sugars in the tomatoes, adding remarkable depth of flavor.

San Marzano crushed tomatoes are worth seeking out for their perfect balance of sweetness and acidity. If using regular crushed tomatoes, a half teaspoon of sugar can help balance any excess acidity.

The Herb Symphony

Dried Italian seasoning provides convenience, but the addition of fresh basil just before serving makes an enormous difference, bringing bright, aromatic notes that cut through the richness. A couple of bay leaves simmered in the broth contribute subtle complexity that most tasters can’t identify but would certainly miss if absent.

The Perfect Pasta

While any pasta works in theory, broken lasagna noodles are the authentic choice, creating a playful reference to the original dish. For best results, choose traditional lasagna noodles (not the no-boil variety) and break them into roughly 2-inch pieces.

The pasta cooks directly in the broth, releasing starch that naturally thickens the soup to a satisfying consistency. Be vigilant about cooking time – perfectly al dente pasta is crucial since it will continue absorbing liquid even after the heat is turned off.

The Cheese Mixture

The signature “ricotta dollop” transforms this from merely soup with lasagna ingredients to a true lasagna soup experience. A mixture of ricotta, shredded mozzarella, grated Parmesan, and a touch of fresh parsley creates the perfect creamy, melty topping that integrates into each spoonful.

Foolproof Recipe for Ultimate Lasagna Soup

Ingredients

For the soup base:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 pound Italian sausage, casings removed (half sweet, half hot recommended)
• 1 large onion, diced (about 1 cup)
• 2 medium carrots, diced (about ½ cup)
• 2 celery stalks, diced (about ½ cup)
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes (San Marzano preferred)
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 8 ounces lasagna noodles, broken into pieces
• 1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped, plus more for garnish

For the ricotta dollop:

• 1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
• ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

1. Prepare the cheese mixture: In a medium bowl, combine ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix well, cover, and refrigerate while preparing the soup.
2. Build the flavor base: Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium-high heat. Add Italian sausage and cook, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.
3. Develop the aromatics: Add onion, carrots, and celery to the pot with the sausage. Cook until vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
4. Create depth of flavor: Add tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes to caramelize slightly. Stir in Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes.
5. Simmer the soup base: Add crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook for 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
6. Cook the pasta: Add broken lasagna noodles to the simmering soup. Cook until pasta is al dente, about 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
7. Finish the soup: Remove bay leaves. Stir in chopped fresh basil and season with salt and pepper to taste.
8. Serve with the cheese dollop: Ladle hot soup into bowls. Top each serving with a generous dollop of the ricotta cheese mixture. Garnish with additional fresh basil and freshly ground black pepper.

Make-Ahead and Storage Tips

Lasagna Soup is ideal for meal prep, but a few strategic adjustments make all the difference in maintaining quality:

For make-ahead preparation:

• Prepare the soup through step 5, but do not add the pasta. Cool completely and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
• When ready to serve, bring soup to a simmer, add pasta, and cook until al dente.
• Prepare the ricotta mixture up to 24 hours ahead and keep refrigerated.

For leftovers:

• If planning for leftovers, consider cooking and storing the pasta separately to prevent it from becoming overly soft.
• The soup base (without pasta) freezes beautifully for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating and adding freshly cooked pasta.

Perfect Pairings

Lasagna Soup is substantial enough to serve as a complete meal, but these accompaniments create a memorable dining experience:

• Garlic bread: The classic Italian pairing – perfect for dipping!
• Simple green salad: A light salad with arugula, lemon, and Parmesan provides refreshing contrast.
• Italian wine: A medium-bodied Chianti or Sangiovese echoes the soup’s Italian heritage.

Customizing Your Lasagna Soup

One of the greatest strengths of this recipe is its versatility:

Vegetarian version: Replace the Italian sausage with 8 ounces of mushrooms (cremini or portobello work beautifully) and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth. Add 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning and 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika to compensate for the flavor from the sausage.

Gluten-free adaptation: Substitute regular lasagna noodles with gluten-free lasagna or your favorite gluten-free short pasta. Be vigilant about cooking time, as gluten-free pasta often cooks more quickly.

Extra vegetables: Enhance the nutritional profile by adding 2 cups of baby spinach or kale during the last 2 minutes of cooking.

Why This Lasagna Soup Recipe Works

What makes this particular Lasagna Soup recipe stand out from others you might find online? It’s the attention to detail and cooking techniques that build remarkable flavor:

1. Browning the sausage properly: Taking time to achieve good caramelization on the meat creates flavor compounds that enrich the entire soup.
2. Toasting the tomato paste: This simple step transforms the tomato flavor from one-dimensional to complex and robust.
3. Cooking pasta directly in the broth: The starch released naturally thickens the soup to the perfect consistency while the pasta absorbs the savory flavors.
4. The ricotta dollop: Rather than simply sprinkling cheese on top, this creamy mixture integrates perfectly into each spoonful, mimicking the layers of a traditional lasagna.

When winter winds blow or you’re simply craving familiar comfort with minimum effort, this Lasagna Soup delivers exceptional results. It’s become my go-to recipe for casual dinner parties and family gatherings – impressive enough to earn compliments yet simple enough to prepare without stress.

Try this recipe once, and I’m confident it will earn a permanent place in your comfort food rotation. It certainly has in mine!

Enjoy with wafa recipes for your dinner!