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This easy lasagna soup recipe gives you all the cozy flavors of classic lasagna without the work of layering. Everything cooks in one pot with a rich tomato broth, choice of pasta, and a simple three-cheese topping that melts right into the soup.
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What Is Lasagna Soup?
Lasagna soup is a deconstructed version of traditional lasagna made in one pot. Instead of layering noodles, sauce, and cheese in a baking dish, all the ingredients simmer together in a cozy tomato-based soup, then finished with classic lasagna cheeses on top.
You get the same comforting flavors, but with a lot less effort and cleanup.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It delivers all the comfort of lasagna without layering or baking.
- Everything cooks in one pot, which keeps cleanup simple.
- The instructions are easy enough for beginner cooks.
- It travels and reheats well, making it perfect for leftovers and lunches.
Lasagna Soup Ingredients
Soup base: Olive oil is used to sauté the ground beef, onion, and fresh garlic to build flavor. Any neutral oil will work for this recipe.
Protein: Ground beef adds classic lasagna flavor. Any fat content works here, so use what you usually buy.
Tomato broth: Canned tomatoes form the base of the soup. Whole, diced, or crushed all work. Tomato sauce smooths the broth, and tomato paste adds richness and thickness.
Liquid: Broth is the main cooking liquid. Chicken broth is my go-to, but vegetable or beef broth works too. Add water as needed as the pasta absorbs liquid.
Seasoning and pasta: Italian seasoning brings familiar lasagna flavor with no extra steps. Sturdy pasta shapes like bowtie, penne, rigatoni, or macaroni hold their texture best, especially for leftovers.
Toppings: Ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan give the soup its classic lasagna finish. Fresh parsley adds color and a little freshness.
Best Pasta for Lasagna Soup
Sturdy pasta shapes like bowtie, penne, rigatoni, or macaroni work exceptionally well in lasagna soup because they hold their shape and reheat well. If you’d like to use lasagna noodles, break them into pieces before adding them to the pot. They soften more as the soup sits, so they’re best enjoyed the same day or added closer to serving time.
How to Make Lasagna Soup
Start by heating a large, heavy-bottomed soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil, then cook the ground beef with the onion and garlic until the meat is fully browned and the vegetables are softened. If there’s excess grease in the pot, drain it before moving on.
Next, stir in the canned tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, broth, and Italian seasoning. Give everything a good stir so the tomato paste dissolves and the soup base is smooth and evenly combined.
Add the pasta to the pot and bring the lasagna soup to a gentle boil. Loosely cover, reduce to a steady simmer, and cook until the pasta is tender, stirring occasionally. Add small amounts of water or broth as needed, as the pasta absorbs liquid and thickens the soup.
Once the pasta is cooked, the soup is ready to be served and devoured.
How to Serve Lasagna Soup
Lasagna soup doesn’t need as much cheese as traditional layered lasagna, but it still delivers that classic flavor. You can:
- Stir ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan directly into the pot, or
- Add the cheeses to individual bowls for a more customizable option
Finish with fresh parsley for color and a little brightness. Serve it with homemade French bread or homemade focaccia and a kale salad.
Recipe Tips and Variations
- Pasta options: Sturdy shapes like bowtie, macaroni, rigatoni, or penne hold up best for leftovers and reheating. You can also use lasagna noodles broken into pieces, but they soften more quickly, so I recommend enjoying the soup within a day or two.
- Protein swaps: Any ground meat can be substituted for ground beef using the same cooking method.
- Tomato texture: For a thicker tomato soup-style broth, use canned crushed tomatoes instead of diced tomatoes.
- Marinara shortcut: If you don’t have the individual canned tomato products on hand, a 24-ounce jar of marinara sauce plus about one cup of water works well as a simple substitute.
- Reheating tips: When reheating, add small amounts of broth or water as needed since the pasta continues to absorb liquid even after the soup has cooled.
Storage and Reheating
- Refrigerate: Let the lasagna soup cool completely, then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Freeze: Transfer cooled soup to airtight freezer containers and freeze for up to 3 months. For the best texture, freeze without the cheese toppings.
- Thaw: Move frozen soup to the refrigerator and let it thaw overnight. Avoid thawing at room temperature.
- Reheat: Warm gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding broth or water as needed to loosen the soup.
More Cozy Soup Recipes to Try
- Italian Sausage Soup
- Zuppa Toscana
- Lemon Chicken Soup with Orzo
- Split Pea Soup with Ham
- Cabbage Roll Soup
- Stuffed Pepper Soup
📖 Recipe
Easy Lasagna Soup Recipe
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Video
Note about scaling
When scaling, the light gray ingredient notes after the comma don’t change. Adjust as needed.
Ingredients
This amount yields 12 cups
- 1-2 tablespoons Olive Oil, or preferred oil
- 1 pound Ground Beef
- 1 large Onion, diced
- 4 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 (15-ounce can) Diced Tomatoes, don't drain
- 1 (15-ounce can) Tomato Sauce, or tomato puree
- ⅓ cup Tomato Paste, about half of a 6-ounce can
- 4 cups Chicken Broth
- 1-2 cups Water, to adjust consistency
- 1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Salt, or more as needed to adjust flavor
- Black Pepper, to taste
- 8 ounces Bowtie Pasta (uncooked), or similar sturdy pasta * see footnote
Suggested toppings: You can measure these with your ❤️
- ½ cup Ricotta Cheese
- 2 ounces Mozzarella Cheese, shredded (about ½ cup)
- ¼ cup Parmesan Cheese, shaved, shredded, or fresh grated
- ¼ cup Fresh Parsley, chopped
Instructions
See recipe footnotes for pressure cooker instructions
- Heat a 4.5-quart soup pot over medium-high heat. Add OLIVE OIL and heat until shimmering.
- Add GROUND BEEF, ONIONS, and GARLIC. Sauté until the beef is cooked through, stirring as needed. Drain excess fat, if needed.
- Stir in TOMATOES (with their juice), TOMATO SAUCE, TOMATO PASTE, BROTH, ITALIAN SEASONING, SALT, PEPPER, and PASTA NOODLES.
- Increase the heat to HIGH and bring the soup to a boil.
- Reduce heat to a medium simmer and cook soup for 10 to 15 minutes until the pasta is cooked to your liking, stirring frequently to prevent the pasta from sticking together.At this point you can add WATER or more broth in small amounts to adjust the soup consistency to your liking.
- Serving options: 1) Add the RICOTTA, MOZZARELLA, and PARMESAN to the whole soup after it cools slightly; or 2) Serve the cheeses on the side and add it to individual servings. Garnish with FRESH PARSLEY.
- To store: Cool completely and refrigerate in an airtight container up to 5 days or up to 90 days in the freezer (or more if vacuum sealed).To reheat: Add more water or broth as desired because the noodles will have absorbed much of the broth.
Recipe Notes
Pressure Cooker Instructions
Select Sauté and heat the olive oil in the cooker. Add the ground beef, onion, and garlic, and cook until the beef is browned. Drain excess fat, then deglaze the pot with a small splash of broth and press Cancel. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, broth, seasonings, and pasta. Secure the lid, set the valve to Sealing, and pressure cook on High for 1 minute. For al dente pasta, use a quick release. For softer pasta, allow a natural release for about 10 minutes. Open the lid, stir, and adjust the consistency with water if needed. Serve as directed above. Note: If doubling the recipe, use an 8- or 10-quart pressure cooker to safely accommodate the volume.Equipment
- 4.5-quart Dutch oven or stockpot or 6-quart pressure cooker
Nutrition
Nutrition facts are estimates and may vary based on brands, ingredients, and portions.
Stacey B says
This has become a new family favorite. The ONLY thing I add in addition to what is called for is a cup of cream at the end. Just because we like the creaminess it adds. What I love even more about this recipe, is eating it the next day. Flavor is soooo much better!!! THANK YOU!!!
Traci says
Yay! I love your customization–so decadent. Thank you for choosing my recipe for your occasion and thank you for letting me know how it went. I'm all for the leftovers too! Enjoy! xoxo
Shirley Murdock says
If I cook noodles separately as I will serve next day, do I add less liquid (water or broth) to recipe?
Looking forward to trying recipe as reviews are great
Traci says
Hi Shirley–great question! If you’re cooking the noodles separately, I’d recommend reducing the broth by half to start. You can always add more to adjust the consistency—some like it thicker, others prefer it thinner. I hope you enjoy the recipe—it’s a reader favorite for sure! Enjoy!! xoxo
Lashonda Jones says
This recipe was simple and easy to follow. Results were amazing.
Traci says
Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m thrilled to hear you went for it and love it as much as we do. Happy cooking! 😊 xoxo
Robin says
Delicious, but so easy to put together! Definitely a 5 star win/win!
Traci says
Yay!! Thank you so much for trying my recipe and for leaving this feedback. I'm thrilled to be part of your dinner enjoyment! xoxo
Chris says
I made This tonight! My family loved it! Also passed this recipe on to some of my friends!! I did Use the lasagna noodles and served the cheese on the side. This will be frequently made!!
Traci says
Yay! I’m so glad your family loved it! Serving the cheese on the side is my favorite way to do it and lasagna noodles are fun! Thank you for sharing the recipe with your friends—it means so much. I’m thrilled this will be a regular in your kitchen! xoxo
L says
if i have leftover meat sauce can i use that instead of making new sauce
Traci says
Great question! This recipe is essentially creates its own meat sauce as part of the soup, so swapping in a pre-made meat sauce would require quite a bit of adjustment to balance the flavors and liquid ratios. I’d recommend saving your meat sauce for another dish and giving this recipe a try as written—I think you’ll love it! xoxo
Shanti says
I found this lasagna soup to be much more flavorful and simpler to prepare than a traditional layered lasagna. It was so delicious that I couldn't resist having seconds, and my children devoured it as well. This will definitely become a regular dish in our household.
Traci says
Yay!! Thank you for trying my recipe! I love knowing your family enjoyed it too! That's the best! 🙂 Thanks for this feedback and please enjoy! xoxo
Sofia says
Oh my gosh, this soup is spectacular. Both my 10-year old brother and I rated it 10/10, and he is one tough judge. The soup is perfectly flavourful and just the right texture - not too watery nor too thick.
Traci says
Yayyy!! I'm so glad it passed the inspection! Thanks for choosing my recipe and thank you for this feedback. xoxoxo
AB says
So good! Kids (teen & child) & hubs loved it & super easy to make! Def going on my soup rotation!!
Traci says
Yayyy!! I'm so glad everyone enjoyed it! Thanks for choosing my recipe for your family dinner and thank you for this feedback. xoxoxo
Karon says
Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe!!! I prepared it according to your recipe. Served it with hot garlic cheese bread, Italian-style vegetables on the side and orange ricotta snack cake. Looking forward to trying more of your recipes!!!
Traci says
Always welcome! Your whole meal sounds amazing! Thank you for bringing my recipe into your kitchen and for writing this feedback. And let me know if you ever have any questions. Enjoy! xoxo
Jeannine says
wow. Wow. WOW!!! We loved this!!! My husband said, "This might be the best thing you've ever made!" And he loves my cooking, so that's saying a lot. I followed the recipe except I used ground sausage instead of beef, and I did not need to add any water -- the 4 cups of broth (homemade) was enough liquid. Easily came together in less than a hour. Thank you Traci for the excellent recipe!
Traci says
Omgosh, I love knowing you had this experience–and what a compliment to us both 🙂 Thank you for bringing my recipe into your kitchen and for taking the time to share this wonderful feedback! I really appreciate it!! Yay!! xoxo
Christina Wagar says
I made this tonight and it's absolutely amazing.. thank you!
Traci says
Yay!! I'm thankful you tried my recipe and even more for you taking the time to leave this feedback. Thank you so much. Enjoy!! xoxo
Kody says
wow! this recipe was so easy to bring together and it was absolutely delicious! the only change i made was to do 50/50 ground beef and hot Italian sausage. 5/5 you definitely need to make this recipe 🤤
Traci says
Yay!! Love that meat combo for this recipe. Thanks so much for trying my recipe and for leaving this feedback. Enjoy! xoxo
d says
as i went back and forth thinking what should i cook first, meat or noodles, i paused to actually read the recipe and low and behold it calls to do it in the same pot!!! tastes perfect and will be a cold-weather season staple!!!
Traci says
Yayyy!! I love knowing this was your happy medium!! Thank you for taking the time to leave this feedback. Enjoy! xoxo
Amy Hinton says
Could you omit the cottage cheese? I don't like it. It won't change the flavor will it? Thank you.
Traci says
Hi Amy, there's no cottage cheese in this recipe. There's ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan. Let me know if you have any other questions. Thanks and enjoy! xoxo
Sandina says
Loved it and easy to make
Traci says
Yay!! So easy, right?! Thank you for trying my recipe and for taking the time to leave this feedback. Enjoy! xoxo
Annie G. says
This soup was so easy to make and it was delicious. Will definitely make again. Thank you for the recipe.
Traci says
My pleasure!! I'm so glad you enjoyed and look forward to more. Thank you for taking the time to write this feedback. xoxo
Bridget says
This looks so good! Could I combine all ingredients (after browning the beef) and cook in the slow cooker? Add the cheese at the end?
Traci says
I’m so glad you like the look of the lasagna soup! You're more than welcome to adapt it but I cannot offer timing, tips, or outcomes until I have tested it myself. Let us know if you try it – we'd love to hear how it turns out! xoxo
David says
Does the nutrition information include the pasta?
Traci says
Yes, the nutrition information includes the pasta, but if you need specific numbers or adjustments, I’d recommend running recipes through your nutrition calculator of choice or a nutritionist for the most accurate details. Thanks and let me know if you have any more questions. Enjoy!
Nancy McAfee says
Simple to make but wonderful flavor! When I looked at the ingredients, I was afraid it would taste too much like chili, but it simply doesn’t.
Traci says
I'm so glad you went for it! Thanks for trying my recipe and for taking the time to leave this feedback. Glad you enjoyed! xoxo
Joyce Johnson says
This was very delicious, quick, and easy. We dolloped the cheese mixture into each individual bowl.
Traci says
Yayy!! Yes that's my favorite way to serve it so that everyone can customize their cheese amount. I'm so glad you enjoyed it and thank you for this feedback. Much appreciated! xoxo
K says
Delicious! My family and I loved this recipe. Thank you for sharing!
Traci says
Yay! I'm so glad it was so loved! Thanks for trying my recipe and for taking the time to leave this feedback. Glad you enjoyed! xoxo
Abbie says
This looks delicious! Do you have instructions for a slow cooker?
Traci says
Sorry I missed your comment. I haven’t tested that method, so I can’t give exact instructions. Let me know if you give it a try!
Becky Gambino says
my husband loved it! anytime I find something easy that he loves, I'm all in! It was 😋
Traci says
Yay! So glad the hubs gave thumbs up. I love knowing this. Thank you and enjoy! xoxo
Allison Narlock says
Can you substitute pasta sauce for all of the tomato/tomato products?
Traci says
Hello! Yes, please observe my recipe footnote that says "if you don't have the necessary canned tomato products, use a 24-ounce marinara sauce and 1 cup of water instead". Let me know if you have nay other questions. Thanks and enjoy!