Description
This One Pot Lasagna Soup delivers all the comforting flavors of classic lasagna in a warm, hearty soup. Made with ground beef, rich tomato broth, creamy ricotta, and melted mozzarella, it’s a quick and easy one-pot meal perfect for busy weeknights or chilly evenings. The recipe combines tender pasta, Italian herbs, spinach, and savory cheeses to create a family-friendly dish that’s both satisfying and simple to make with minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Soup:
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20 or 85/15 fat content)
- 3 garlic cloves, finely minced
- 1/2 yellow onion, diced
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp dried basil
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp kosher salt, plus more as needed
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 14 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 32 oz chicken broth, plus more if needed
- 1 cup water
- 2 tsp tomato paste
- 6 oz lasagna noodles, broken into ~2-inch pieces
- 1 cup frozen chopped spinach
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
For Serving:
- Ricotta cheese
- 4 oz mozzarella cheese, sliced
- Parmesan cheese, optional
Instructions
- Brown the Ground Beef: In a large pot over medium-high heat, add the ground beef and cook until it is well-browned, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Once fully browned, drain off any excess grease to prevent the soup from becoming too oily. For extra flavor, allow some crispy browned bits to form before draining.
- Sauté Aromatics and Season Beef: Add the minced garlic, diced onion, garlic powder, onion powder, dried basil, dried oregano, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper to the browned beef. Stir together and cook over medium-low heat for about 5 minutes until the onions soften and the aromatics become fragrant. Stir often to prevent burning the garlic.
- Add Liquids, Tomato, and Noodles: Pour in the crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, water, and tomato paste. Break the lasagna noodles into approximately 2-inch pieces and add them to the pot. Stir well to combine, then bring the soup to a boil. Immediately reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes until noodles begin to soften.
- Add Spinach and Cream, Finish Simmering: Stir in the frozen chopped spinach and heavy cream. Continue cooking uncovered on low heat for an additional 5 minutes until the spinach is heated through and the soup is creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
- Assemble and Serve Lasagna Soup: Place a slice of mozzarella cheese at the bottom of each serving bowl. Ladle hot soup over the cheese to allow it to melt. Top with a dollop of ricotta cheese and optionally sprinkle with parmesan. Serve immediately for the best melty lasagna flavor in every spoonful.
Notes
- Use ground beef with about 80/20 to 85/15 fat content for best flavor and tenderness. Ground chuck is ideal.
- Do not add lasagna noodles too early to avoid mushy pasta; cook them just until tender.
- Brown the beef in small pieces rather than one clump to get a better sear and richer flavor.
- Add the cream at the end of cooking to prevent curdling.
- Keep extra chicken broth on hand as pasta absorbs liquid even after cooking; thin soup as needed when reheating.
- Substitute ground turkey, Italian sausage, or ground chicken if preferred, adjusting seasonings accordingly.
- Any short pasta like penne, rigatoni, or broken spaghetti works as a substitute for lasagna noodles.
- Vegetable broth or beef broth can replace chicken broth depending on desired flavor.
- Fresh spinach or kale can replace frozen spinach; add fresh greens near the end of cooking.
- Half-and-half or whole milk can swap for heavy cream but results in less richness.
- Cottage cheese or cream cheese can substitute ricotta, with quantity adjustments for cream cheese.
- Store leftovers in airtight containers refrigerated up to 4 days; freeze up to 3 months without cream and add cream fresh when reheating.
- Reheat gently on stovetop or microwave, stirring frequently and adding broth if too thick.
- Prep Time: 13 minutes
- Cook Time: 27 minutes
- Category: Soups
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: one pot lasagna soup, lasagna soup recipe, Italian soup, quick weeknight dinner, hearty soup, ground beef soup, creamy tomato soup
