Lasagna Soup (Perfected Recipe!) - Cooking Classy (2024)

Published December 31, 2018. Updated April 19, 2021

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This Lasagna Soup is one of my all time favorites! You get all the flavors of a delicious hearty lasagna in a comforting soup form! It’s loaded with beef, tomatoes and Italian herbs and the melty cheese just takes it over the top.

Lasagna Soup (Perfected Recipe!) - Cooking Classy (1)

Lasagna Soup

I first shared this recipe way back in December 2013 and since then I’ve made it countless times. It’s been a go-to recipe for 5 years going strong so I figured it was time to update the photos and add tips.

How To Make Lasagna Soup Video Tutorial

On a chilly day this is one of my favorite ways to warm up. It’s such a cozy soup and it has such an incredibly flavor.

You get an herbed tomato based broth that’s filled with hearty bits of ground beef, and it’s finished off with a generous mound of cheese that melts perfectly into the steaming hot soup.

This simple recipe may look a little daunting due to the long list of ingredients but a lot of it is pantry staples you likely already have so don’t miss out on this recipe thinking it’s too much.

It’s actually easy to make and perfect for weeknights. Try it soon, it’s likely to become a chilly night staple!

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Ingredients Needed for Lasagna Soup

  • Olive oil
  • Lean ground beef
  • Yellow onion
  • Garlic
  • Low-sodium chicken broth
  • Canned diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, and tomato paste
  • Dried herbs basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme
  • Seasoning Salt and pepper
  • Cheeses mozzarella, parmesan, ricotta
  • Dried lasagna noodles (campanelle or bow-ties works great too)
  • Fresh parsley

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How to Make Lasagna Soup

  • Heat one tablespoon olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat.
  • Once hot, crumble beef into pot, season with salt and pepper to taste and cook, stirring occasionally until browned.
  • Drain fat from beef and set beef aside.

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  • Heat remaining 1 Tbsp olive oil in pot, add chopped yellow onion and saute until it begins to soften, about 3 minutes.
  • Add in garlic and saute 30 seconds longer.

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  • Pour in broth, diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste and herbs.
  • Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover and simmer 20 minutes.

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  • Meanwhile cook pasta according to package instructions.
  • In a mixing bowl, using a fork, stir together mozzarella, parmesan and ricotta.

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  • Add cooked pasta to soup and thin soup with a little more broth if desired. See notes below next photo.
  • Stir together cheeses then serve soup with dollops of cheese.

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Can I Cook the Pasta in the Soup?

  • If you plan on serving the soup right away you can also just simmer the noodles with the soup. Add 1 extra cup of broth or water to make up for what the noodles will absorb. They’ll likely take about 12 – 14 minutes to cook with soup.
  • I like to cook pasta separately and add to individual servings then reserve remaining noodles (tossed with oil) for leftovers separately. We don’t finish the whole pot in one sitting and I hate soggy pasta.

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What If I Don’t Have all Those Dried Herbs?

If you don’t have the long list of herbs I’ve also tried this with 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning and it works great.

Can I Use Fresh Herbs?

I’ve also made this with fresh basil in place of dried. If doing so use 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil. You could also use fresh oregano, rosemary or thyme too just triple those amounts.

Can I Freeze This Soup?

The soup will freeze great without the pasta or cheeses mixed in. Freeze cheeses and pasta separately (lightly rinse pasta, drain then drizzle and toss with a little oil so it doesn’t stick excessively).

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Tips for This Recipe

  • You can use half Italian sausage in place of the ground beef (or try half sausage half beef). You can use ground turkey to cut fat.
  • You could also replace parmesan cheese with romano cheese.
  • Freeze any leftover crushed tomatoes (if you had to use a large can and couldn’t find the small) or tomato paste for a later use.

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More Italian Soup Recipes You’ll Love!

  • Zuppa Toscana
  • Pasta e fa*gioli
  • Spinach Tomato Tortellini Soup
  • Italian Wedding Soup
  • Italian Vegetable Lentil Soup
  • Minestrone
  • Italian Beef Stew

16 Quick & Easy 30 Minute Recipes! (plus weekly recipe updates)

Lasagna Soup (Perfected Recipe!) - Cooking Classy (12)

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Lasagna Soup

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This Lasagna Soup is one of my all time favorites! You get all the flavors of a delicious hearty lasagna in a comforting soup form! It's loaded with beef, tomatoes and Italian herbs and the melty cheese just takes it over the top.

Watch the video

Servings: 6

Prep15 minutes minutes

Cook35 minutes minutes

Ready in: 50 minutes minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Heat one tablespoon olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Once hot, crumble beef into pot, season with salt and pepper to taste and cook, stirring occasionally until browned. Drain fat from beef and set beef aside.

  • Heat remaining 1 Tbsp olive oil in pot, add chopped yellow onion and saute until it begins to soften, about 3 minutes. Add in garlic and saute 30 seconds longer.

  • Add in chicken broth, diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, browned ground beef and season with salt and pepper to taste.

  • Bring just to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer 20 minutes.

  • Meanwhile, prepare lasagna noodles according to directions listed on package.

  • In a mixing bowl, using a fork, stir together mozzarella, parmesan and ricotta.

  • Stir cooked pasta into soup along with parsley, then thin soup with a little more broth if desired****.

  • Ladle soup into bowls, dollop with a large scoop of the cheese mixture and sprinkle with chopped parsley (cheese will melt well once stirred into soup).

Notes

  • *If you don't love garlic you can reduce to 2 or 3 cloves.
  • **If you don't have all the dried herbs listed then 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning can be use instead.
  • ***Another great option that's faster is to use campanelle pasta or bowtie pasta.
  • ****If you plan on left overs I like to add pasta to individual servings. If you plan on serving it all right away you can just simmer the noodles in with the soup for about 12 minutes (add 1 cup extra broth to make up for what they absorb).
  • If you'd like to add another veggie it's also good with a diced carrot added along with the onion.
  • Recipe originally listed 1 tsp sugar and 1/2 tsp crushed fennel seeds be added along with the other herbs, I've omitted this as I feel they aren't a must so we can cut down on ingredients.

Nutrition Facts

Lasagna Soup

Amount Per Serving

Calories 546Calories from Fat 234

% Daily Value*

Fat 26g40%

Saturated Fat 11g69%

Cholesterol 92mg31%

Sodium 649mg28%

Potassium 1041mg30%

Carbohydrates 41g14%

Fiber 4g17%

Sugar 9g10%

Protein 38g76%

Vitamin A 895IU18%

Vitamin C 17.9mg22%

Calcium 381mg38%

Iron 5.3mg29%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.

Course: Soup

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: Lasagna Soup

Author: Jaclyn

Lasagna Soup (Perfected Recipe!) - Cooking Classy (2024)

FAQs

What can I add to my lasagna to make it taste better? ›

Dried herbs + spices: Crushed red pepper flakes, dried oregano, bay leaf, sea salt and lots of freshly-cracked black pepper. Fresh basil: When it comes to fresh basil, I vote the more the merrier with this lasagna recipe. We will chop and stir a good amount of basil into the cheese mixture.

What is lasagna soup made of? ›

the viral lasagna soup recipe to make it! Start by sauteing onions and garlic, then add in either ground beef, Italian sausage, or both. Next add in your seasonings and tomato paste. Once that deepens in color, add in marinara sauce and chicken broth. Bring that to a boil, then add in broken up lasagna sheets.

How to stiffen up lasagna? ›

Cornstarch is cheap and widely available at most grocery stores with the flours and baking products. To use cornstarch as a thickening agent for lasagna sauce, add it in a slurry to the sauce as it simmers. A slurry consists of equal parts cornstarch and cold liquid.

Why is my lasagna so soupy? ›

The sauce could be too watery. The noodles can be holding on to water. The vegetables are releasing excess moisture. If you are using ricotta be careful of the moisture it can add.

Why do you put milk in lasagna? ›

Milk. It tenderises the meat, to leave you with the most tender ragù.

What not to do when making lasagna? ›

A well-made lasagna can be a delicious and satisfying meal, just as long as it's cooked correctly.
  1. Not cooking the noodles correctly. ...
  2. Not having all the ingredients ready. ...
  3. Not browning the meat. ...
  4. Using the wrong cheese. ...
  5. Skipping the dairy sauce. ...
  6. Skimping on the amount of marinara. ...
  7. Improperly layering the noodles.
Feb 21, 2023

What wine goes with lasagna soup? ›

Maybe a modern style Tuscan red rather than a classic Chianti or a southern Italian or Sicilian red like Nero d'Avola or Primitivo. Barbera is a good pairing too as are Italian grape varieties such as sangiovese from elsewhere.

What is the white stuff in the middle of lasagna? ›

Most lasagna recipes contain bechamel or ricotta to add a creamy element. Bechamel is traditional in many regions of Italy, while ricotta or cottage cheese is more prevalent in America.

Where did lasagna soup originate? ›

While the exact origin of lasagna soup is unclear, it is believed to have originated in the United States, likely as a creative adaptation of the popular pasta dish. Italy, known for its love of pasta, specifically lasagna, inspired the creation of lasagna soup.

Why is my ricotta cheese watery in lasagna? ›

Ricotta cheese, with its creamy texture and mild flavor, is a quintessential ingredient in many lasagna recipes. However, it can also introduce excess moisture if not handled properly. To avoid a runny mess, it's crucial to pat dry the ricotta before incorporating it into your lasagna.

Why is my ricotta runny in my lasagna? ›

An unfortunate soupy texture in lasagna is caused by excess moisture in the ingredients. Thoroughly draining the ricotta cheese you'd use in a classic lasagna recipe or squeezing the cooked spinach you might add to a vegetarian version can definitely help.

Why is my lasagna so dry? ›

When it comes to baking your lasagna, timing is everything. It's important to resist the urge to leave it in the oven for too long, as this can cause it to dry out. Instead, aim to slightly undercook it and then let it rest for about thirty minutes before digging in.

Is ricotta cheese or cottage cheese better in lasagna? ›

If you want a lasagna that's rich, creamy and decadent, turn to whole milk ricotta. It delivers on richness and creaminess! Be sure to season the cheese well with salt, crushed red pepper flakes, black pepper and dried herbs. Plain ricotta can be, well, very plain and mild.

How do you keep lasagne from being sloppy? ›

I can only think of two reasons that a lasagna might be soupy. The Ragu or the Béchamel. If the Ragu is too soupy, cook it down until it isn't. If the Béchamel is too thin, then remake the roux so that it's thicker.

How to prevent lasagna from being watery? ›

Squeeze out excess liquid from cooked vegetables or strain canned ingredients like diced tomatoes. Thicken the sauce: If your sauce is too thin, it can contribute to a watery lasagna. Simmer the sauce for a bit longer to reduce its moisture content and thicken it slightly.

Why add tomato paste to lasagna? ›

A good tomato paste helps to thicken but also adds a sweet and savory umami flavor. Lean Ground Beef: Lean beef adds a robust and hearty meatiness that's essential in a classic lasagna recipe.

Should you bake lasagna covered or not? ›

If uncovered, the prolonged exposure to heat will quickly dry out your lasagna, no matter how much sauce you've added. Make sure to always add a layer of tin foil over your baking dish, which will trap the moisture inside while still allowing the dish to cook properly.

Is it better to let lasagna sit before baking? ›

You can make it ahead.

The lasagna needs at least 5 hours to chill and let the sauce soften the noodles, but you can definitely make it the night before (even 3 days before) and bake it when you need it. Want your own freezer lasagna? Wrap it up in foil once you assemble it, no need to bake it beforehand.

Do you put sauce on top of lasagna? ›

Spread a thin layer of sauce at the bottom. Top with a layer of noodles, followed by half the ricotta, half your desired fillings, and more sauce.

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