Lasagna Soup

The perfect mashup of lasagna and soup, this dish combines all the flavors you love spicy sausage, rich tomato broth, tender curly noodles, and a cheesy trio of ricotta, parmesan, and mozzarella.

This Lasagna Soup is a must for your winter dinner rotation. Whether you’re feeding a crowd or just craving comfort, this hearty one-pot meal is satisfying, simple, and undeniably delicious. Top it with a generous scoop of cheese and serve with crusty bread for the ultimate cozy experience.

Full Recipe

Ingredients:

For the Soup:

  • 1 lb hot Italian sausage

  • 1 lb ground beef

  • 2 small onions, chopped (about 2 cups)

  • 4 garlic cloves, minced

  • 2 tbsp Italian seasoning

  • ½–1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)

  • 6 oz tomato paste

  • (2) 14.5 oz cans diced tomatoes with garlic

  • 8 cups chicken broth

  • 1 tsp kosher salt

  • ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper

  • 6–8 oz mafalda pasta (or other curly pasta)

For the Cheese Topping:

  • 1 cup ricotta cheese

  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

  • ½ cup freshly shredded Mozzarella

Directions:

  1. In a large soup pot or Dutch oven, cook and crumble the sausage and ground beef over medium-high heat.

  2. Add chopped onions and garlic, cooking with the meat until softened.

  3. Sprinkle in Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes. Stir well.

  4. Add tomato paste, diced tomatoes, chicken broth, salt, and pepper. Stir thoroughly.

  5. Increase heat to high and bring the mixture to a simmer.

  6. Reduce heat to medium-high and add pasta. Simmer for 8-10 minutes, or until noodles are tender but still chewy.

  7. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Remove from heat.

  8. In a small bowl, mix together ricotta, Parmesan, and Mozzarella cheeses.

  9. Serve soup hot with a generous scoop of the cheese mixture on top of each bowl.

Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cooking Time: 45 minutes | Total Time: 55 minutes
Kcal: 438 kcal | Servings: 10 servings

Lasagna Soup: The Cozy Classic You Didn’t Know You Needed

There’s something inherently magical about the intersection of tradition and innovation in the kitchen. Lasagna Soup is one of those dishes that bridges generations of comfort food lovers and modern, busy cooks who crave flavor without fuss. Born from the flavors of classic Italian lasagna and reimagined into a spoonable, soul-warming soup, this dish has become a beloved staple in kitchens around the country especially when the temperatures drop and we all reach for something hearty, filling, and familiar.

Lasagna, in its traditional form, is a labor of love. With its multiple layers of pasta sheets, meat sauce, cheese, and often hours of preparation, it’s a dish that’s best reserved for special occasions or leisurely weekends. But what if you could achieve all that rich, meaty, cheesy satisfaction in under an hour? That’s the brilliance of Lasagna Soup. It’s everything you love about lasagna  the savory meat, the tangy tomatoes, the creamy cheeses, and the carb-loaded comfort  simmered together into one rustic, easy-to-make bowl of happiness.

A Soup That Channels Comfort and Nostalgia

From the first spoonful, Lasagna Soup brings an immediate sense of nostalgia. It channels the essence of home  the smell of garlic sizzling in olive oil, the bubbling tomato sauce, and the warmth of melted cheese. It’s the kind of meal that wraps you in a metaphorical blanket, one that’s rich with familiar flavors and the kind of satisfaction that only Italian-inspired comfort food can offer.

It’s no wonder this soup has become a go-to in cooler months. Unlike many soups that lean heavily on broth and veggies, Lasagna Soup is substantial. The inclusion of hearty proteins like sausage and beef, combined with pasta and a velvety cheese topping, gives the soup a stew-like quality that feels like a full meal in every bite. It’s a bowl that satisfies both hunger and heart.

The Essence of Lasagna, in Soup Form

At its core, Lasagna Soup is all about deconstructing traditional lasagna and reconstructing it in a way that makes it weeknight-friendly. It keeps the essential building blocks: a robust meat base, rich tomato flavors, aromatic herbs, tender pasta, and of course, the triumphant finale  a melty, gooey blend of cheeses. But instead of layering and baking, everything simmers together in one pot, allowing the flavors to meld and intensify while dramatically cutting down on time and clean-up.

The soup starts with a flavorful meat mixture, typically a blend of ground beef and Italian sausage, that’s browned and seasoned to perfection. Tomatoes  both paste and diced create the base of the broth, along with a generous amount of Italian seasoning. The pasta is added directly into the soup pot, absorbing all those savory juices as it cooks. But what truly elevates this dish is the cheese topping. A luscious blend of ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan is dolloped onto each serving, slowly melting into the hot soup and creating pockets of cheesy joy.

Cheese: The Heart of This Soup

Let’s talk about the cheese. One of the signature characteristics of classic lasagna is the contrast between the creamy interior and the gooey, often crispy top. Lasagna Soup reimagines that balance by using a tri-cheese topping that’s mixed fresh and added to each bowl just before serving. The ricotta brings a mild, creamy richness; mozzarella adds that iconic melt and stretch; while parmesan offers a salty, umami punch that ties it all together.

This cheese topping does more than just mimic lasagna  it transforms the soup into an indulgent experience. Each spoonful becomes a dance of textures and flavors, with silky cheese ribbons balancing the robust meat and bright tomato notes.

Customizable for Every Kitchen

One of the most beautiful things about this soup is its versatility. It’s highly customizable, allowing you to tweak it based on dietary preferences, what’s in your pantry, or even just your mood.

For those looking to lighten it up, ground turkey or chicken can be substituted for the beef and sausage without sacrificing flavor. Vegetarians can enjoy a meatless version by using plant-based proteins or bulking up the soup with hearty mushrooms, zucchini, or lentils.

Even the pasta is flexible. While mafalda noodles  miniature lasagna noodles with curly edges  bring the closest visual and textural connection to lasagna, other pasta shapes like fusilli, rotini, or even broken lasagna sheets work beautifully. Gluten-free options can easily be used as well, and the broth can be adjusted with either chicken, beef, or vegetable stock depending on your preferences.

A Meal That Works Ahead

Another reason this soup is such a hit with home cooks? It’s fantastic for meal prep. The flavors deepen as it sits, making it even more delicious the next day. It can also be frozen in batches, ideal for those nights when you want a homemade meal but don’t have the time or energy to start from scratch.

A smart tip if you’re planning to make the soup ahead of time: cook and store the pasta separately. This prevents it from absorbing too much liquid and becoming mushy. When ready to eat, just reheat the soup, stir in the pasta, and top with fresh cheese.

The Nutritional Perspective

While Lasagna Soup is definitely a comfort food, it offers a balanced profile when enjoyed in moderation. The inclusion of protein, complex carbs, and fats makes it filling and sustaining. Using lean meats or adjusting the portion of cheese can tailor the recipe to different dietary needs without compromising on taste.

Adding vegetables like spinach, kale, bell peppers, or carrots is a great way to boost nutrition while keeping the soup hearty and colorful. You can also serve it with a simple green salad or roasted vegetables to round out the meal.

Why It Belongs in Your Cold-Weather Rotation

Let’s be honest when the cold hits, most of us aren’t dreaming of salads or grilled dishes. We crave warmth, richness, and soul-soothing meals that stick to our ribs. Lasagna Soup is all of that and more. It delivers the beloved flavors of lasagna in a way that’s practical for everyday cooking. It’s also a crowd-pleaser picky eaters, kids, and adults alike find comfort in its familiar taste.

There’s also something deeply satisfying about the way this soup brings people together. Like its casserole cousin, Lasagna Soup is made for sharing. Serve it in big bowls at a dinner party, bring it to a potluck, or freeze portions for new parents or a sick friend. It’s the kind of recipe that feels like a hug in a bowl  nourishing not just physically, but emotionally too.

Conclusion: More Than Just a Soup

Lasagna Soup is proof that comfort food doesn’t have to be complicated. It redefines a classic in a way that’s both modern and nostalgic, giving us all the flavor we love with half the effort. Whether you’re curled up on the couch on a snow day or feeding a busy family on a weeknight, this dish delivers on every level.

From its rich tomato broth to its savory meat base and indulgent cheese topping, Lasagna Soup is an all-in-one meal that’s perfect for the colder months or anytime you need a bit of comfort in a bowl. It’s versatile, satisfying, and irresistibly good. Once you try it, don’t be surprised if it becomes a permanent part of your cold-weather rotation.

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