Ultimate Lasagna Soup Recipe

Ultimate lasagna soup recipe with beef delivers authentic Italian flavors in 30 minutes. Perfect homemade comfort food with step-by-step instructions.

Hi, I’m Linda, and welcome to Tasty at Home—a cozy corner where bold flavors meet everyday kitchens. Last winter, I watched my teenage son devour three bowls of what I thought was just “another soup experiment.” However, this wasn’t just any soup.

This lasagna soup captured every layer of traditional Italian lasagna in liquid form. Moreover, it took just thirty minutes instead of the usual two-hour lasagna marathon. After testing this recipe fifteen times and perfecting the cheese-to-pasta ratio, I knew I had discovered something special.

Whether you’re craving comfort food on a busy weeknight or need to feed a hungry crowd, this recipe delivers authentic Italian satisfaction. Furthermore, it uses simple pantry staples that most home cooks already have on hand.

Let’s dive into this game-changing soup that transforms ordinary ingredients into extraordinary comfort food.

What Makes This Lasagna Soup Absolutely Irresistible

This lasagna soup recipe stands apart because it captures authentic Italian flavors without the typical time commitment. Additionally, the secret lies in layering flavors just like traditional lasagna, but in liquid form.

The combination of three different tomato products creates incredible depth. Meanwhile, the pasta cooks directly in the soup, absorbing all those rich Italian flavors. Most importantly, the three-cheese blend melts into creamy perfection that coats every spoonful.

After years of perfecting soup recipes, I’ve learned that timing makes all the difference. Therefore, this recipe includes precise cooking windows that guarantee perfect pasta texture every time.

Essential Ingredients for Perfect Lasagna Soup

Bold Add-ins for Creative Variations

Transform your basic lasagna soup with these exciting additions:

• Spicy Italian Sausage: Replace ground beef for extra heat
• Fresh Spinach: Add 2 cups in the last 5 minutes
• Mushrooms: Sauté 8 ounces with the onions
• Red Wine: Replace ½ cup broth for deeper flavor

Lasagna Soup Shopping Tips for US Grocery Stores

When shopping for ingredients, head to the pasta aisle for the best Italian seasoning blends. Additionally, the canned tomato section offers the most variety for building complex flavors.

Look for ground beef that’s bright red without brown spots. Meanwhile, fresh garlic should feel firm and heavy for its size. Most importantly, choose pasta shapes with ridges or curves that hold onto the soup broth.

International Substitutions

For readers outside the US, substitute these ingredients:

• Heavy cream instead of ricotta cheese
• Passata for tomato sauce
• Stock cubes plus water for chicken broth
• Any short pasta shape for bowtie pasta

Essential Equipment and Preparation Steps

Equipment You’ll Need for your Lasagna Soup

A 4.5-quart soup pot works perfectly for this recipe. However, any large, heavy-bottomed pot prevents scorching and ensures even cooking. Additionally, keep a wooden spoon handy for stirring without scratching your cookware.

If you don’t have a large soup pot, use your biggest saucepan instead. Meanwhile, a pressure cooker speeds up the process significantly (instructions included below).

Step-by-Step Cooking Instructions

Step 1: Build the Flavor Base

Heat your soup pot over medium-high heat until hot. Then, add olive oil and swirl until it shimmers across the bottom.

Add ground beef, diced onions, and minced garlic all at once. Next, sauté everything together, breaking up the beef with your spoon. Cook for 6-8 minutes until the beef browns completely and the onions turn translucent.

Pro Tip: Don’t drain the fat if using 80/20 ground beef. However, if using fattier meat, drain excess grease before continuing.

Step 2: Create the Tomato Base

Stir in diced tomatoes with their juice, tomato sauce, and tomato paste. Meanwhile, scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot—these add incredible flavor.

Add chicken broth, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Furthermore, this is when the kitchen starts smelling absolutely amazing.

Common Mistake I Made: Initially, I forgot to stir the tomato paste properly. Consequently, it clumped together instead of dissolving. Therefore, make sure to stir vigorously for smooth integration.

Step 3: Add Pasta and Simmer

Bring the mixture to a rolling boil over high heat. Then, add the uncooked pasta and stir immediately to prevent sticking.

Reduce heat to medium and maintain a gentle simmer. Cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring frequently, until pasta reaches your preferred tenderness.

Timing Tip: Test the pasta at 10 minutes for al dente texture. However, cook longer if you prefer softer noodles.

Step 4: Adjust Consistency and Finish

Add water or additional broth to reach your desired consistency. Meanwhile, the pasta continues absorbing liquid even after cooking stops.

Remove from heat and let cool slightly before adding cheese. This prevents the cheese from becoming stringy or clumpy.

Expert Tips and Creative Variations

Lasagna Soup Professional Cooking Secrets

Julia Child’s Technique: Brown the meat properly by not overcrowding the pan. Additionally, this creates the fond that builds incredible flavor depth.

Emeril’s Essence: Layer your seasonings throughout cooking rather than adding everything at once. Therefore, taste and adjust at each step.

Storage and Make-Ahead Instructions

Important Note: The pasta absorbs broth during storage. Therefore, always add extra liquid when reheating leftovers.

Lasagna Soup Five Amazing Variations

1. Vegetarian Lasagna Soup

Replace ground beef with 2 cups mixed vegetables. Additionally, use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.

2. Spicy Southwestern Style

Add 1 tablespoon chili powder and 1 diced jalapeño. Meanwhile, top with pepper jack cheese and cilantro.

3. Holiday White Sauce Version

Use heavy cream instead of tomato sauce. Furthermore, add cooked chicken and fresh herbs for elegance.

4. Slow Cooker Sunday Special

Brown meat first, then transfer everything to a slow cooker. Cook on low for 6 hours, adding pasta in the final hour.

5. Pressure Cooker Express

Follow the pressure cooker instructions below for weeknight convenience.

Perfect Pairings and Serving Suggestions

Serve this hearty soup with crusty Italian bread or garlic butter chicken bites for extra indulgence. Additionally, a simple Caesar salad balances the rich flavors perfectly.

For beverages, try Chianti wine or sparkling water with lemon. Meanwhile, kids love chocolate milk alongside this comforting soup.

Consider pairing with other crowd-pleasing recipes like easy cheesy zucchini bake for a complete Italian-inspired meal.

Pressure Cooker Instructions for Busy Weeknights

Transform this recipe into a 15-minute meal using your pressure cooker. First, select “Sauté” and heat olive oil in the cooker.

Add beef, onions, and garlic, then sauté until cooked through. Next, drain excess fat and deglaze with a splash of broth. Press “Cancel” to stop the sauté function.

Stir in tomatoes, sauce, tomato paste, broth, seasonings, and pasta. Secure the lid, set valve to “Sealing,” and pressure cook on high for 1 minute.

For al dente pasta, use quick release immediately. However, for softer pasta, allow natural release for 10 minutes.

Important: Double recipes require an 8 or 10-quart cooker to accommodate the volume safely.

FAQ about Lasagna Soup Recipe

Final Thoughts and Serving Inspiration

This ultimate lasagna soup recipe proves that comfort food doesn’t require hours of preparation. Moreover, it delivers all the satisfaction of traditional lasagna in a fraction of the time.

The beauty lies in its versatility—serve it for casual family dinners or dress it up for entertaining guests. Additionally, the recipe doubles easily for meal prep or feeding large crowds.

Remember that cooking should bring joy, not stress. Therefore, don’t worry about perfect measurements or timing. Instead, taste as you go and adjust seasonings to match your family’s preferences.

Try pairing this soup with crockpot buffalo chicken dip for your next game day spread, or serve alongside cinnamon roll pumpkins for a cozy fall meal.

Share your lasagna soup creations on social media and tag us @TastyAtHome. Meanwhile, we’d love to see your creative variations and family reactions to this crowd-pleasing recipe.

What comfort food will you transform into soup form next? The possibilities are endless when you approach cooking with creativity and confidence.

Ultimate Lasagna Soup

This lasagna soup captures every layer of traditional Italian lasagna in liquid form, delivering authentic Italian flavors in just 30 minutes. Perfect comfort food using simple pantry staples with the perfect cheese-to-pasta ratio.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Soup

Cuisine American, Italian

Servings 6 servings

Equipment

• 4.5-quart soup pot
• wooden spoon

Ingredients

  

Main Ingredients

• 1 pound Ground Beef 80/20 for best flavor
• 1-2 tablespoons Olive Oil extra virgin preferred
• 1 large Onion diced
• 4 cloves Garlic minced
• 15 ounce can Diced Tomatoes with juice
• 15 ounce can Tomato Sauce low-sodium preferred
• ⅓ cup Tomato Paste
• 4 cups Chicken Broth low-sodium recommended
• 1-2 cups Water as needed for consistency
• 1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning
• 1 teaspoon Sea Salt adjust to taste
• Black Pepper to taste
• 8 ounces Bowtie Pasta or penne/rigatoni

Instructions

 

• Heat soup pot over medium-high heat until hot. Add olive oil and swirl until it shimmers across the bottom.
• Add ground beef, diced onions, and minced garlic all at once. Sauté everything together, breaking up the beef with your spoon. Cook for 6-8 minutes until the beef browns completely and the onions turn translucent.
• Stir in diced tomatoes with their juice, tomato sauce, and tomato paste. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot for extra flavor.
• Add chicken broth, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Stir vigorously to ensure tomato paste dissolves completely.
• Bring the mixture to a rolling boil over high heat. Add the uncooked pasta and stir immediately to prevent sticking.
• Reduce heat to medium and maintain a gentle simmer. Cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring frequently, until pasta reaches your preferred tenderness.
• Add water or additional broth to reach your desired consistency. Remove from heat and let cool slightly before serving.

Notes

The pasta absorbs broth during storage, so always add extra liquid when reheating leftovers. This soup can be stored in the refrigerator for 5 days or frozen for up to 90 days. For variations, try adding spinach, mushrooms, or using spicy Italian sausage instead of ground beef.

Keyword beef soup, comfort food, lasagna soup, Quick Dinner, weeknight meal