Craving the ultimate comfort food but short on time? Get ready to discover your new favorite weeknight meal: a hearty and delicious easy lasagna soup recipe. This one-pot wonder captures all the rich, cheesy flavors of a classic Italian lasagna without all the fuss. You can have a satisfying, family-favorite meal on the table in under an hour, proving that incredible taste doesn’t require endless effort.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Lasagna Soup
This easy lasagna soup brings all the joy of a traditional pasta bake right to your bowl. It’s a fantastic solution for busy parents and beginner cooks alike.
- One-Pot Wonder: Enjoy minimal cleanup thanks to cooking everything in a single pot.
- Authentic Flavor: Savor the true taste of lasagna, complete with rich tomato sauce and creamy cheese, in a cozy soup form.
- Quick Preparation: Get dinner on the table fast, making it ideal for hectic weeknights.
- Customizable: Easily adapt this recipe to fit various dietary needs and preferences.
- Ultimate Comfort: Indulge in a deeply satisfying and warm meal that everyone will love.
Easy Lasagna Soup
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Heat a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and diced onion. Cook until beef is browned and onion softened. Drain excess fat.
- Stir in minced garlic and red pepper flakes; cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add Prego sauce, 6 cups of broth, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, vinegar, sugar, basil, parsley, oregano, salt, pepper, and bay leaf. Stir well and bring to a boil. Reduce to simmer.
- Break lasagna noodles into small pieces and add to the pot. Simmer for 20–30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until noodles are tender. Remove bay leaf.
- Stir in heavy cream (optional). Adjust soup consistency with remaining broth if desired. Serve hot with mozzarella, Parmesan, and a dollop of ricotta.
Notes
Ingredients for Easy Lasagna Soup
To create this incredible soup, gather these simple ingredients. You’ll soon have a robust and flavorful easy lasagna soup recipe simmering on your stove.
- 1 pound lean ground beef (or half Italian sausage)
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 4-5 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 24 oz. jar Prego Traditional Italian Sauce
- 8-10 cups low sodium chicken broth, divided
- 1 14 oz. can crushed tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- 1 tsp EACH dried parsley, dried oregano, salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 whole bay leaf
- 10 uncooked lasagna noodles (broken into approx. 1-2 inch pieces*)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream, optional**
- shredded mozzarella cheese
- freshly finely grated Parmesan cheese
- ricotta cheese
Notes & Substitutions
You can easily tailor this soup to your liking. Lean ground beef provides a classic taste, but using mild or spicy Italian sausage adds extra depth and flavor. Opt for a high-quality jarred marinara, like San Marzano, for the best taste foundation. The better the sauce, the richer your soup will be! Recognized for their ideal balance of sweetness and low acidity, San Marzano tomatoes are a prized variety for creating rich, flavorful sauces.
Remember to use regular uncooked lasagna noodles, not the “no-boil” variety, as they hold their texture better in soup. If you don’t have lasagna noodles, feel free to substitute with other short pasta shapes like penne, rotini, or small shells. For quick prep, use pre-minced garlic or frozen diced onion. A pinch of sugar helps balance the acidity of the tomatoes, but you can adjust this to your taste. For extra richness without heavy cream, stir in a cornstarch slurry (1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water) at the end. Boost the nutrition by adding fresh spinach or zucchini during the last 5 minutes of cooking.
Equipment Needed
Gathering your tools before you start makes cooking much smoother. You likely have most of these items already in your kitchen.
- Large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed soup pot
- Cutting board and sharp knife
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Wooden spoon or spatula for stirring
- Ladle for serving
How to Make Easy Lasagna Soup (Step-by-Step Instructions)
Following these simple steps will guide you to a delicious and comforting meal. This process makes creating your homemade easy lasagna soup recipe straightforward and enjoyable.
Step 1: Brown Meat & Aromatics.
Heat a large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and diced onion to the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the beef is fully browned and the onion is softened. Drain off any excess fat from the pot. Stir in the minced garlic and red pepper flakes (if using). Sauté briefly for about 30 seconds until the garlic becomes fragrant.
Step 2: Simmer the Soup Base.
Pour in the entire jar of Prego Traditional Italian Sauce. Add 6 cups of low sodium chicken broth, crushed tomatoes, and tomato paste to the pot. Stir in the balsamic vinegar and granulated sugar. Mix in the dried basil, dried parsley, dried oregano, salt, pepper, and the whole bay leaf. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a gentle simmer.
Step 3: Cook the Lasagna Noodles.
Break the uncooked lasagna noodles into approximately 1-2 inch pieces. Add the broken noodles directly into the simmering soup base. Cook until the lasagna noodles are tender-crisp, stirring occasionally to prevent them from sticking to the bottom of the pot. This usually takes about 20-30 minutes. Before serving, carefully remove and discard the bay leaf.
Step 4: Finish and Serve.
Stir in the heavy cream now if you are using it for extra richness. Add the remaining 2-4 cups of chicken broth, a little at a time, until the soup reaches your desired consistency. Ladle the hot and flavorful soup into individual serving bowls. Garnish generously with shredded mozzarella, freshly grated Parmesan, and a dollop of creamy ricotta cheese.
Pro Tips for the Best Lasagna Soup
Elevate your soup with these simple tricks. Even a few small adjustments can make a big difference in the final taste and texture of your easy lasagna soup.
- Quality Marinara: Start with a good quality jarred marinara sauce for the best flavor foundation.
- Even Noodles: Break noodles into similar-sized pieces for consistent cooking and texture.
- Don’t Overcook Pasta: Cook the noodles until just tender, avoiding mushiness.
- Adjust Broth: Customize the thickness of your soup by adding more broth as needed.
- Season to Taste: Always taste before serving and adjust salt and pepper if necessary.
- Garnish Fresh: Add cheeses and fresh herbs right before serving for optimal presentation and flavor.
- Grate Your Own: Freshly grated Parmesan cheese melts beautifully and offers superior taste.
Serving Suggestions, Storage, and Variations
This versatile easy lasagna soup pairs wonderfully with several sides and adapts well to various dietary needs.
Serving Suggestions
Serve your hearty lasagna soup alongside warm, crusty garlic bread for dipping. A crisp green salad or a classic Caesar salad makes a refreshing counterpoint to the rich soup. Offer an extra bowl of shredded cheese at the table so everyone can customize their topping.
Storage Instructions
Allow the soup to cool completely before storing it. Transfer the cooled soup to airtight containers. You can refrigerate the soup for up to 4-5 days, making it perfect for meal prep.
Reheating Tips
Reheat leftovers gently on the stovetop over medium heat, stirring frequently until warmed through. Alternatively, microwave individual portions in intervals, stirring between each to ensure even heating. If the soup has thickened too much in the fridge, add a splash of extra chicken broth or water to achieve the desired consistency.
Recipe Variations
- Vegetarian: For a meatless option, omit the ground beef and use vegetable broth. Boost the protein with lentils, mushrooms, or plant-based crumbles.
- Different Pasta: If you don’t have lasagna noodles, feel free to use small shells, rotini, or penne pasta instead.
- More Vegetables: Increase the vegetable content by adding diced bell peppers, carrots, zucchini, or a handful of fresh spinach during the last few minutes of cooking.
Can You Freeze Lasagna Soup?
You can absolutely freeze lasagna soup, but with a small modification. It is best to freeze only the soup base without the noodles. Cooked pasta tends to become mushy and break down after freezing and thawing. When you’re ready to enjoy the frozen soup, simply thaw it, bring it to a simmer, and then cook fresh lasagna noodles directly in the reheated soup base until tender.
Nutrition Information
This homemade easy lasagna soup recipe offers a satisfying and flavorful meal. The exact nutritional content will vary based on specific ingredients and serving sizes. We recommend using an online nutrition calculator with your chosen brands for precise details.
- Yields: 6-8 servings
- Prep time: 10 minutes
- Cook time: 40 minutes
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Got questions about making the perfect easy lasagna soup recipe? Here are some common inquiries.
Can I use no-boil lasagna noodles?
We don’t recommend using no-boil lasagna noodles in this soup. They tend to break down too much and can create a mushy texture.
How do I prevent noodles from sticking?
Stir the soup frequently, especially after adding the noodles, to prevent them from clumping together or sticking to the bottom of the pot.
Can I make this soup spicy?
Absolutely! To add more heat, increase the amount of red pepper flakes or stir in a pinch of cayenne pepper with the spices.
What if my soup is too thick/thin?
If the soup is too thick, simply stir in additional chicken broth or water until it reaches your desired consistency. If it’s too thin, you can thicken it slightly by simmering for a few extra minutes, or whisk in a cornstarch slurry.
Is this recipe freezer-friendly?
Yes, but for best results, freeze the soup base without the pasta. Cook fresh noodles when you reheat the thawed soup to maintain their texture.
Conclusion
You now have all the tools to create a comforting, flavorful, and incredibly easy lasagna soup recipe. This one-pot wonder delivers all the classic tastes you love with minimal effort, making it a perfect hearty meal for busy weeknights or cozy family gatherings. Make this delicious soup a regular in your dinner rotation and savor the rich Italian flavors in every spoonful. Enjoy your homemade lasagna soup!
