Lasagna Soup

By
Alexis deBoschnek
Alexis deBoschnek portrait
Alexis deBoschnek
Alexis' first book, To the Last Bite, was published in April 2022 by Simon & Schuster and is available everywhere books are sold.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 11/16/22
Tested by
Diana Chistruga
Tested by Diana Chistruga
Diana is a food photographer, stylist, and prop stylist from Moldova and currently based out of Mallorca, Spain.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Lasagna Soup

The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 25 mins
Total: 40 mins
Servings: 4 to 6 servings

If you love lasagna but don’t have the time or energy to whip one up, lasagna soup is the answer. Filled with all the classic elements of lasagna—there’s spiced ground beef, saucy tomatoes, ricotta, and even lasagna noodles—this soup is the perfect low-key alternative without all the fuss. 

Make It Your Own

Just like a tray of lasagna, there’s endless ways to make this dish your own. If you’re looking for an alternative to ground beef, try ground turkey or chicken. You can also use a combination of ground beef and hot Italian sausage for an extra kick. 

What Tomatoes to Use

I love the texture of crushing the whole tomatoes in the soup, but you could also use tomato puree or even jarred tomato sauce in a pinch. To me, the best part of lasagna soup is the topping. Ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan are mixed together before being dolloped on top of a piping hot bowl of soup, which gently melts throughout as you eat it. 

How to Make Lasagna Soup Ahead

In order to cut down on dishes and make this a true one-pot meal, the noodles get added straight to the soup to cook. If you’re looking to make this dish ahead of time, follow the recipe up until the noodles get added and store the soup in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to five days or three months in the freezer. Once you’re ready for dinner, simply bring the soup back to a boil, add the noodles, and simmer until the noodles are tender.

"This is a quick dinner option that deserves to be added to your regular fall-winter meal rotation. The cheese mixture complements the flavors, making the soup creamy and hearty. I loved that it's a versatile recipe that can be easily tweaked using extra ingredients like spinach or other vegetables." —Diana Chistruga

A white bowl filled with a red broth studded with tomato chunks and ground beef, lasagna noodles, and topped with a dollop of ricotta and a few basil leaves
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 1 large yellow onion, diced

  • 3 garlic cloves, minced

  • 1/4 cup tomato paste

  • 1 pound ground beef

  • 3/4 teaspoon fine salt

  • 3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

  • 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary

  • 1 (28-ounce) can whole tomatoes

  • 6 cups chicken stock

  • 8 ounces lasagna noodles, roughly broken

  • 8 ounces whole milk ricotta

  • 1/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

  • 1/2 cup shredded low-moisture mozzarella

  • 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, to serve

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients to make lasagna soup

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  2. Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.

    Olive oil in a large dutch oven

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  3. Once the oil begins to shimmer, add the onion and cook until softened and golden brown, about 5 minutes.

    Onion cooking in a dutch oven

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  4. Add the garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until aromatic, about 1 minute.

    Onion and garlic cooking in a dutch oven

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  5. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomato paste turns a brick red color, about 2 minutes.

    Tomato paste cooking in the dutch oven with onions and garlic

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  6. Add the ground beef, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, oregano, and rosemary, and cook, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 5 minutes.

    Ground beef and spices added to the dutch oven

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  7. Use your hands to crush the tomatoes and add them to the pot along with the tomato juice from the can.

    Hand-crushed tomatoes added to the dutch oven

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  8. Add the chicken stock and bring the soup to a low boil, stirring to combine.

    Chicken stock added to the dutch oven

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  9. Add the lasagna noodles and cook until al dente according to package instructions.

    Lasagna noodles added to the dutch oven

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  10. While the noodles are cooking, add the ricotta, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and mozzarella to a small bowl and stir to combine.

    A small bowl with Parmigiano-Reggiano and mozzarella

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  11. Ladle the lasagna soup into bowls and top with a dollop of the ricotta mixture and a few basil leaves.

    Bowl of lasagna soup topped with ricotta and basil

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

Recipe Variations

  • As an alternative to beef, try using ground turkey or chicken for an equally hearty soup. 
  • If you’re looking for a little more heat, try a mixture of Hot Italian sausage mixed with ground beef. 
  • Whole tomatoes add great texture, but a 28-ounce can of tomato puree or sauce will work too.

How to Store and Freeze

  • Lasagna soup can be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
  • To freeze, prepare the soup without the lasagna noodles. Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. When ready to serve the soup, bring it to a simmer, then add the lasagna noodles and cook until al dente.

Make Ahead

You can make the base of the soup ahead of time, just hold off on adding the noodles until you’re ready to serve. If you add the noodles and then reheat them, the noodles will become too soggy. Instead, bring the soup back to a boil and add the noodles right before serving, cooking to al dente according to package instructions. 

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
529 Calories
27g Fat
32g Carbs
38g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 529
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 27g 35%
Saturated Fat 11g 56%
Cholesterol 105mg 35%
Sodium 856mg 37%
Total Carbohydrate 32g 12%
Dietary Fiber 3g 12%
Total Sugars 10g
Protein 38g
Vitamin C 23mg 115%
Calcium 223mg 17%
Iron 4mg 23%
Potassium 1088mg 23%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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