The Best Lasagna Soup Recipe: A Cozy Bowl of Italian Comfort (Ready in 30 Minutes!)

Quick Facts:

• Perfect one-pot meal that captures all the flavors of traditional lasagna without the fuss
• Ready in just 30 minutes with simple pantry ingredients
• Makes 4 generous servings with rich, cheesy goodness in every spoonful
• Easily customizable for vegetarian and gluten-free diets

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Missing the taste of lasagna but don’t have hours to spend in the kitchen? This lasagna soup brings all those beloved Italian flavors to your bowl in just half an hour. It’s the perfect solution for busy weeknights when you want something warm, filling, and absolutely delicious.

Time Breakdown

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Servings: 4

Kitchen Equipment

• Large pot or Dutch oven (5-6 quart)
• Sharp knife
• Cutting board
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Wooden spoon
• Ladle

Ingredients

For the Soup Base:

• 1 pound ground beef (80/20)
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 24 ounces marinara sauce
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 8 ounces lasagna noodles, broken into pieces
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• Salt and pepper to taste

For the Cheese Mixture:

• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Optional Garnishes:

• Fresh basil leaves
• Extra mozzarella cheese
• Red pepper flakes

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prepare Your Ingredients (Mise en Place)

1. Before starting, gather all your ingredients and equipment
2. Dice the onion: Cut in half, slice into strips, then cut across to make small pieces
3. Peel and mince garlic: Crush with the side of your knife, then finely chop
4. Break lasagna noodles: Place noodles in a clean kitchen towel, break into roughly 2-inch pieces
5. Measure out all other ingredients and have them ready

2. Cook the Ground Beef

1. Place your large pot on the stove burner
2. Turn heat to medium-high (about 7 on a numbered dial)
3. Once pot feels warm when you hold your hand 6 inches above it, add ground beef
4. Use a wooden spoon to break the meat into small pieces (about the size of peas)
5. Keep stirring every minute to prevent sticking
6. Cook until meat turns from pink to brown (about 5-7 minutes)
7. Tip: You’ll know it’s done when no pink color remains and the meat is crumbly
8. Using a spoon, carefully remove excess fat, leaving about 2 tablespoons (look for clear liquid at bottom of pot)

3. Build the Flavor Base

1. Add your diced onion to the pot with the cooked meat
2. Stir well to combine meat and onions
3. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring every minute
4. Watch for onions to become see-through (translucent) and softer
5. Add minced garlic and stir immediately
6. Cook for just 30 seconds – be careful not to burn the garlic
7. Tip: You’ll smell the garlic become fragrant – this is when it’s ready

4. Create the Soup Base

1. Pour in marinara sauce, scraping bottom of pot with wooden spoon
2. Add chicken broth slowly while stirring
3. Add Italian seasoning
4. Stir everything together well
5. Turn heat to high
6. Wait for liquid to start bubbling (about 5-7 minutes)
7. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper
8. Taste carefully (blow on spoon to cool) and add more salt/pepper if needed

5. Cook the Pasta

1. Once soup is bubbling, carefully add broken lasagna pieces
2. Stir immediately to prevent noodles from sticking together
3. Once soup returns to bubbling, reduce heat to medium (about 5 on dial)
4. Set timer for 8 minutes
5. Stir every 2 minutes to prevent noodles from sticking
6. At 8 minutes, test a noodle:

• Carefully remove one piece with spoon and let it cool
• It should be soft but still slightly firm when you bite it
• If too firm, cook for 1-2 more minutes

1. Turn off heat once noodles are cooked

6. Prepare Cheese Mixture

1. While pasta cooks, get a medium bowl
2. Add 1 cup ricotta cheese
3. Add 1 cup shredded mozzarella
4. Add 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
5. Add 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
6. Mix with a spoon until well combined
7. Tip: Let cheese mixture sit at room temperature while completing other steps

7. Serve the Soup

1. Let soup stand for 2-3 minutes after turning off heat
2. Stir gently to make sure nothing has stuck to bottom
3. Ladle soup into bowls, filling each about 2/3 full
4. Add a generous scoop (about 1/4 cup) of cheese mixture to center of each bowl
5. Optional: Sprinkle with fresh basil leaves, extra mozzarella, or red pepper flakes
6. Serve immediately while hot
7. Tip: The cheese mixture should start melting into the soup – this is perfect!

Troubleshooting Tips

Problem: Soup is too thick

• Add more chicken broth, 1/2 cup at a time, until desired consistency is reached

Problem: Noodles are too soft

• Cook noodles separately and add to individual bowls when serving
• Don’t let soup sit too long before serving

Problem: Cheese mixture isn’t melting

• Ensure soup is very hot when adding cheese
• Let cheese come to room temperature before using

Variations & Substitutions

Meat Options:

• Ground turkey or Italian sausage
• Vegetarian? Use plant-based meat or extra vegetables

Pasta Alternatives:

• Regular lasagna noodles
• Gluten-free lasagna noodles
• Other short pasta shapes like bow ties or penne

Dietary Modifications:

• Vegetarian: Use vegetable broth and plant-based meat
• Gluten-free: Use gluten-free lasagna noodles
• Dairy-free: Skip cheese mixture or use dairy-free alternatives

Storage & Reheating

Storage:

• Refrigerator: Up to 3 days in airtight container
• Freezer: Up to 2 months (store noodles separately)

Reheating:

1. Stovetop: Heat over medium-low, stirring occasionally
2. Microwave: Heat in 1-minute intervals, stirring between
3. Add extra broth if needed to thin

Safety Notes & Tips

• Always cook ground beef to 160°F (71°C)
• Keep hot soup away from edges of counters
• Let soup cool slightly before adding cheese mixture
• Store leftovers within 2 hours of cooking
• Don’t overcook noodles – they’ll continue softening in the hot soup

Pro Tips for Success

• Break lasagna noodles into bite-sized pieces before adding
• Stir occasionally to prevent noodles from sticking
• Make extra cheese mixture – it’s the best part!
• Use high-quality marinara sauce for best flavor
• Don’t skip the fresh basil garnish – it makes a difference