This Easy Lasagna Soup is a delicious and easy twist on the classic Italian favorite! It has 7 simple ingredients and takes less than 30 minutes to prepare! Topped with a flavored ricotta cheese blend, shredded cheese or served with toasted cheese sandwiches, it's a great weeknight dinner win!
Lasagna, in any form, is the epitome of comfort food. The combination of a meaty, rich tomato sauce, perfectly cooked noodles, and melty cheese is just what a cold winter night calls for. Lasagna Soup takes comfort to a whole new level by transforming the classic Italian lasagna into a warm and soothing bowl of yummy goodness.
With minimal preparation and a lot less hassle than its traditional counterpart, Lasagna Soup is an excellent go-to meal on busy weeknights and for entertaining guests.
My Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup and Crockpot Chicken Gnocchi Soup are two more of my favorite Italian-flavor inspired soups. They're both quick to make on the stovetop or can be made in the Crockpot during the busy work week!
Table of Contents
Why You'll Love this Recipe
- Comfort in a Bowl: There's nothing better than a bowl of soup when it's cold outside, when you're feeling under the weather, or simply want a meal that's easy to make so that you can relax and enjoy it. This easy recipe is like a cozy hug for your taste buds.
- Simplifies the Lasagna-Making Process: Lasagna soup offers a simplified version of traditional lasagna with the same rich and hearty flavors without the fuss.
- Versatility and Adaptability: Lasagna soup is incredibly versatile. You can change up the meat and seasonings, add heat, or include additional vegetables if desired.
- Filling and Hearty Soup: This easy Lasagna Soup recipe is undeniably filling. The combination of pasta, meat, and cheese ensures that it satisfies your hunger and leaves you feeling content.
Ingredients for Easy Lasagna Soup
Scroll Down for Ingredient Amounts Listed in the Recipe Card Below
- Ground Beef and/or Ground Italian Sausage: Adds richness, protein, and savory flavor to the soup. Hot or mild Italian sausage, especially, can contribute additional spices and herbs that enhance the overall taste.
- Fresh Garlic: An aromatic that adds depth and an extra level of flavor.
- Marinara Sauce or Italian Gravy: Forms the main tomato base of the soup, providing acidity and sweetness, reminiscent of lasagna sauce.
- Beef Broth: Adds liquid to the soup, creating the desired soup consistency. It also contributes a savory background flavor.
- Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes: Adds a smoky flavor and additional acidity to the soup.
- Italian Seasoning: Provides the distinctive Italian flavor profile.
- Lasagna Noodles: Gives the soup its characteristic lasagna feel. They absorb the flavors of the broth and add a comforting, hearty texture.
Tools You'll Need
- Large Skillet or Stockpot
- Garlic Press
- Meat Chopper
- Liquid Measuring Cups
- Can Opener
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Cheese Grater (optional)
- Ladle
How to the Best Lasagna Soup
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, crumble and cook ground beef/sausage over medium-high heat until browned and no longer pink. Using a strainer or paper towel, remove and discard excess grease.
- Stir in garlic cloves, and cook for 1 minute.
- Add marinara sauce or Italian gravy, beef broth, fire roasted diced tomatoes, salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning. Stir and bring to a boil, then turn the heat to medium.
- Add the broken pasta noodles and cook until al dente, about 10 minutes.
- Check the consistency of the soup. If it has thickened, you can add a little broth or water to reach the desired consistency.
- Ladle and serve with your favorite garnish(es).
What to Serve with Easy Lasagna Soup
- Ricotta: Whether it's plain or seasoned, a dollop of ricotta cheese provides creaminess and a luxurious texture. It mimics the ricotta layer found in traditional lasagna. For my flavored dollop, combine ricotta cheese, basil, salt and fresh minced garlic in a small bowl. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Sandwich: Toasted cheese sandwiches are an excellent complement to this soup. Use your favorite sandwich bread and Italian cheeses and toast in a skillet on both sides until the cheese has melted and the bread has a golden crust.
- Italian Cheeses: You can also top the soup with a blend of cheeses, such as shredded mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, and provolone, for a gooey and flavorful finish.
- Garlic Bread: Store-bought or homemade bread spread with my Epic Garlic Butter Spread are perfect soup accents. Garlic croutons are also an option.
- Basil: Top the soup with fresh basil to add a burst of fresh flavor and color!
Pro Tips for Recipe Success and Substitutions
- Brown the Meat: Ensure that you brown the beef and Italian sausage well before adding them to the soup. This step enhances the flavor and texture of the meat.
- Drain Excess Fat: After browning the meat, drain excess fat. This helps control the richness of the soup and prevents it from becoming too greasy.
- Fresh Italian Herbs: The dried Italian seasoning can be substituted with fresh herbs like oregano, basil, and thyme. Add some during the browning of meat and others during simmering to help build complex flavors.
- Meat Substitutions: If you prefer, you can use ground turkey, chicken, or a meat substitute in place of ground beef/Italian sausage.
- Tomato Variations: Instead of fire-roasted tomatoes, you can use diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, or a combination to suit your taste. Homemade marinara sauce can be used as well. Adjust seasonings as needed.
- Broth Options: If you don't have beef broth, you can use chicken broth or vegetable broth. If the soup seems too thick, you can add additional beef broth to reach your desired consistency.
- Pasta Choices: Instead of traditional lasagna noodles, you can use small shells, rotini, or any pasta of your choice.
- Vegetable Additions: Sautéed mushrooms, diced zucchini, green pepper, or fresh spinach can add extra flavor and nutrients.
- Spice Level: If you enjoy heat, add red pepper flakes or a pinch of cayenne pepper during the seasoning process.
Variations
- White Lasagna Soup:
- Create a white lasagna soup by using a creamy base. Add Alfredo sauce or heavy cream for richness and white cheeses like ricotta and mozzarella cheese.
- Lasagna Soup with Pesto:
- Swirl a dollop of pesto into each serving for a burst of herbal and nutty flavors. Pesto complements the Italian seasonings in the soup.
- Seafood Lasagna Soup:
- Incorporate seafood like shrimp or crab for a unique twist. Consider using a seafood broth and add a splash of white wine.
- Mushroom and Spinach Lasagna Soup:
- Create a vegetarian version with a combination of sautéed mushrooms and fresh spinach.
Make this Lasagna Soup in the Slow Cooker
Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup is another easy way to make this dish! Brown the meat until fully cooked, then drain the excess fat. Transfer the browned meat to the slow cooker and combine with the rest of the ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
About 30 minutes to an hour before serving, add the broken lasagna noodles to the slow cooker. Stir them in, ensuring they are submerged in the liquid. Cook on high until the noodles are tender. If the soup seems too thick, you can add additional beef broth to reach your desired consistency.
Instant Pot Lasagna Soup is another go-to, convenient way to prepare this perfect comfort food!
Storage and Freezing
Leftover Lasagna Soup is even better than the day it was made.
Refrigeration: Allow the lasagna soup to cool to room temperature before refrigerating in an airtight container. Store all in one container or in individual portions. Store lasagna soup in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Freezing Completely: Ensure that the leftover soup is completely cooled before freezing. If you plan to freeze individual portions, use freezer-safe containers or sealable plastic bags. Leave some space at the top of the containers or bags to account for expansion as the soup freezes. Freeze up to 3 months.
Thaw Overnight: To thaw lasagna soup, transfer it from the freezer to the refrigerator and allow it to thaw overnight.
Reheating: Reheat the thawed soup on the stovetop over medium heat. Stir occasionally to ensure even heating. If you're in a hurry, you can use the microwave to thaw and reheat individual portions. Heat in short intervals, stirring in between.
Check Consistency: After reheating, check the consistency of the soup. If it has thickened, you can add a little broth or water to reach the desired consistency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, lasagna soup is a great dish to prepare ahead of time. You can make it a day or two in advance and store it in the refrigerator. This allows the flavors to meld, and you can reheat it before serving.
Absolutely. Lasagna soup freezes well. Allow it to cool completely, portion it into freezer-safe containers or bags, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Don't overcook the noodles. You can also cook the noodles separately and add them to individual servings just before eating.
Absolutely. Skip the meat or use a meat substitute, and use vegetable broth instead of beef broth. Add extra vegetables like zucchini, spinach, or bell peppers for a hearty vegetarian version.
Yes, you can use gluten-free lasagna noodles or any gluten-free pasta of your choice to make the soup gluten-free.
Certainly. Browning the meat first, then adding all ingredients to the slow cooker (except for noodles and cheese), and cooking on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours works well. Add noodles and cheese during the last hour of cooking.
Yes, you can use fresh herbs. When substituting fresh for dried, use about three times the amount called for in the recipe.
Regardless of the type of lasagna noodles you choose, the key is to ensure they are added to the soup at the right time to cook to perfection. You can cook them separately and add them just before serving to prevent them from becoming overly soft or mushy during the simmering process. You can use broken up regular lasagna noodles as shown or no-boil, whole wheat, vegetable-based, gluten-free, or a different pasta like fettuccini, spaghetti.
More Delicious Soup Recipes
- Homemade Cream of Mushroom Soup
- Copycat Dolly Parton’s Stampede Soup
- Cheesy Chicken Alfredo Soup
- Cheesy Potato Crockpot Soup
Easy Lasagna Soup
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef and/or Italian sausage
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 32 ounce jar marinara sauce or Italian gravy
- 14.5 ounce can beef broth optional 1-2 cups more for thinner texture
- 14.5 ounce can fire roasted diced tomatoes undrained
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 cups lasagna noodles broken into 1-inch pieces
- Garnish Options: Ricotta Dollop, shredded Italian cheese blend, parmesan cheese, garlic croutons, cheesy garlic toasts, grilled cheese
Optional Ricotta Dollop Garnish
- 8 ounces ricotta
- 1 ounce fresh basil minced
- 1 garlic cloves minced
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
Soup
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, crumble and cook ground beef/sausage over medium-high heat until browned and no longer pink. Using a strainer or paper towel, remove and discard excess grease.
- Stir in garlic cloves, and cook for 1 minute.
- Add marinara sauce or Italian gravy, beef broth, fire roasted diced tomatoes, salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning. Stir and bring to a boil, then turn the heat to medium.
- Add the broken pasta noodles and cook until al dente, about 10 minutes.
- Check the consistency of the soup. If it has thickened, you can add a little broth or water to reach the desired consistency.
- Ladle and serve with your favorite garnish(es).
Optional Ricotta Dollop
- In a small mixing bowl, blend together ricotta cheese, fresh basil, garlic, and salt until well combined. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Video
Notes
Pro Tips for Recipe Success and Substitutions
- Brown the Meat: Ensure that you brown the beef and Italian sausage well before adding them to the soup. This step enhances the flavor and texture of the meat.
- Drain Excess Fat: After browning the meat, drain excess fat. This helps control the richness of the soup and prevents it from becoming too greasy.
- Fresh Italian Herbs: The dried Italian seasoning can be substituted with fresh herbs like oregano, basil, and thyme. Add some during the browning of meat and others during simmering to help build complex flavors.
- Meat Substitutions: If you prefer, you can use ground turkey, chicken, or a meat substitute in place of ground beef/Italian sausage.
- Tomato Variations: Instead of fire-roasted tomatoes, you can use diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, or a combination to suit your taste. Homemade marinara sauce can be used as well. Adjust seasonings as needed.
- Broth Options: If you don't have beef broth, you can use chicken broth or vegetable broth. If the soup seems too thick, you can add additional beef broth to reach your desired consistency.
- Pasta Choices: Instead of traditional lasagna noodles, you can use small shells, rotini, or any pasta of your choice.
- Vegetable Additions: Sautéed mushrooms, diced zucchini, green pepper, or fresh spinach can add extra flavor and nutrients.
- Spice Level: If you enjoy heat, add red pepper flakes or a pinch of cayenne pepper during the seasoning process.
Louanne Bertrand
All of Laura's recipes are 5-star worthy, but if I give this a 10, I would!
Laura Ashley
Aww!! You are SO sweet! Thank you SO SO much!!
Jenny Thomas
Sounds delicious cannot wait to try it!
Laura Ashley
Thank you SO much!! I hope you love it!
Terri Bishop
This looks delicious. I can’t wait to make it.
Laura Ashley
Thank you!! I hope you love it!!
Noni Lynne
You always have the best recipes! Every one I have made always turn out great!
Laura Ashley
Aww!! Thank you so much!! I'm so happy you make them and like them as well!
Jacki Fine
Ultimate comfort food!! Lasagna soup is the perfect winter dinner. So filling and delicious.
Laura Ashley
Thank you SO SO much!!
Linda Conley
I’ve seen several recipes for Lasagna Soup but never tried one until now. This soup was so very good. I’ve made it twice and second time I doubled it for leftovers!! Thanks Laura for another wonderful recipe.
Laura Ashley
Well that just made my heart so happy to read! Thank you SO much! I'm so happy you liked it so much!!
sally richardson
If you love lasagna….. you wil love this lasagna soup!! Lasagna in a bowl! … with a spoon! The spices are perfect and I absolutely love the combination of the two meats: sausage and beef!
Laura Ashley
YAY!! It makes my heart so happy to hear that you liked it too! Thank you!