Lasagna Soup: The best weeknight meal · i am a food blog (2024)

Lasagna soup is one pot weeknight meal that comes together super quickly with all the flavors of lasagna.

It’s perfect because soup. It has all the usual suspects: lasagna noodles, tangy-sweet tomato sauce, ground meat, and cheese, of course. Basically it’s a lasagna that you can scoop up with a spoon. I actually love making lasagna but sometimes you just have to have lasagna in under 30 minutes. For those times, this one pot weeknight lasagna soup is there for you.

Lasagna Soup: The best weeknight meal · i am a food blog (1)

What is lasagna soup?

Lasagna soup is exactly what it sounds like, lasagna in soup form! It’s all the amazing things about lasagna without the layering and time commitment. And best of all is the fact that you can eat it in a bowl with a spoon. It’s always lasagna soup season!

Tiktok lasagna soup

Lasagna soup is trending on Tiktok right now thanks to SZA and @dannylovespasta. SZA saw him making lasagna soup and asked him to drop the recipe, which he did of course! His lasagna soup doesn’t differ too much from mine, but if you want to make his exact recipe, just like SZA did, here it is:

1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 lb ground beef
1/2 lb Italian sausage
1/4 tsp chili pepper flakes
1/2 tsp dried oregano
2 tbsp tomato paste
2 cups marinara sauce
3 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 box lasagna noodles, broken
1 cup shredded mozzarella
1/2 cup shredded parmesan
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped

  1. Sauté the onion and garlic in 2 tbsp olive oil over medium heat, until soft, about 2-3 minutes.
  2. Add the ground beef and Italian sausage and break up, cooking over medium high heat, until browned. Season with salt and pepper and stir in the oregano and chili flakes.
  3. Add the tomato paste and cook, over medium hight heat, stirring into the meat, until slightly caramelized, about 1-2 minutes. Add the marinara sauce, chicken broth, and heavy cream.
  4. Bring to a simmer and add the lasagna noodles. Cook until the lasagna noodles are al dente, according to the package directions.
  5. Stir in the cheeses and finish with fresh basil once the noodles are tender to your liking. Enjoy!

Lasagna soup ingredients

  • onion and garlic – onions and garlic get cooked in olive oil until they turn into an aromatic mix that gives an amazing base layer of flavor to your soup.
  • ground pork, beef, or sausage – feel free to use your favorite kind of ground meat here! You can even go with ground turkey, chicken, or crumbled tofu.
  • crushed tomatoes – lasagna soup needs tomatoes and crushed is what I use, but truthfully, any canned tomatoes will work.
  • chicken stock – chicken stock is going to give us the soup portion of lasagna soup. If you like your soup on the thicker side, just lower the amount of chicken stock.
  • lasagna noodles – the star of the show! Use mini lasagna noodles called malfada corta or break up regular lasagna noodles into smaller pieces.
  • herbs – freshly chopped oregano and basil are amazing in this soup. You can also use dried if it’s all you have on hand.
  • toppings – CHEESE! Mozzarella, parmesan, a dollop of ricotta, a scoop of mascarpone, cottage cheese, this bowl of soup really an excuse to pile on the cheese, so go for it!

What kind of noodles for lasagna soup?

We make lasagna soup with either mini lasagna noodles called mafalda corta or broken up lasagna noodles. Either will work!

Can I make it vegetarian/vegan?

Absolutely. Just skip out on the meat. You can add some crumbled up firm tofu if you want extra protein. Swap the chicken stock for veggie stock. And for vegans, use vegan cheese or sprinkle on some nutritional yeast for a bit of cheesy jazz.

How to make lasagna soup

  1. Sauté the onions. Start off by browning some onions, you don’t have to chop them fancy or anything, they’re cooked down in the soup anyway.
  2. Brown the meat. After the onions, brown your choice of ground meat – usually we go with a mix of beef and pork, but this time we went with all pork because it’s what we had in the fridge.
  3. Add the liquids. Once the meat is browned, you dump in the tomatoes, chicken stock.
  4. Noodle time! Once every thing is at a simmer you add the noodles. Simmer until your house fills up with amazing smells and everything until tender.

What kind of pasta is this

These tiny little mini lasagna noodles are actually called malfada corta and they’re super easy to find at better stocked grocery stores, specialty Italian markets, and online, of course.

The best way to serve lasagna soup

Serve this up in a bowl with ALL the cheese. We normally have a bunch of mozzarella in it – the cheese pulls you get are amazing – but this time around we only had parmesan, so it was just a teeny bit more sophisticated. Or at least as sophisticated as lasagna soup can get ;) Bonus points if you add a dollop of ricotta and some fresh basil!

Lasagna Soup: The best weeknight meal · i am a food blog (2)

What to serve with lasagna soup

  • Easy Parmesan Garlic Knots
  • The Ultimate Kale Salad
  • Roman Style Tripe in Tomato Sauce
Lasagna Soup: The best weeknight meal · i am a food blog (3)

Lasagna Soup

A simple dump and cook one pot stovetop weeknight lasagna.

Serves 4

4.69 from 16 votes

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 medium onion roughly chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 lb ground pork or ground pork, or a 50/50 mix
  • 24 oz crushed tomatoes
  • 2 qt chicken stock no sodium preferred
  • 8 lasagna noodles broken into small pieces, or 12oz malfalde
  • 1 tsp fresh oregano finely chopped
  • fresh basil chopped, and/or fresh leaf parsley
  • mozzarella cheese to finish
  • Parmigiano Reggiano cheese to finish

Instructions

  • In a large pot, heat up the oil over medium high heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft.

    Lasagna Soup: The best weeknight meal · i am a food blog (4)
  • Add the meat, breaking into pieces.

    Lasagna Soup: The best weeknight meal · i am a food blog (5)
  • Stir in the crushed tomatoes, chicken stock, pasta, and oregano. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce and simmer over medium until pasta is tender and cooked through, about 8 to 10 minutes.

    Lasagna Soup: The best weeknight meal · i am a food blog (6)
  • Taste and season with salt and pepper. Scoop into bowls and finish with basil, mozzarella, and Parmesan. Enjoy hot!

    Lasagna Soup: The best weeknight meal · i am a food blog (7)

Estimated Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Lasagna Soup

Amount Per Serving

Calories 683Calories from Fat 113

% Daily Value*

Fat 12.6g19%

Saturated Fat 3.1g19%

Cholesterol 141mg47%

Sodium 623mg27%

Potassium 1517mg43%

Carbohydrates 82.9g28%

Fiber 6.2g26%

Sugar 10.7g12%

Protein 56.9g114%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Lasagna Soup: The best weeknight meal · i am a food blog (2024)

FAQs

Why is lasagna a good meal? ›

Lasagna is packed with carbohydrates and proteins that are required to produce energy and help to lead life in a healthy manner. The ingredients like garlic and onions are an excellent source of antioxidants and prevent various diseases.

Why is lasagna better the next day? ›

Have you noticed if you cut your lasagne as soon as it comes out of the oven, it can be sloppy, falls apart easily and the sauce runs to the bottom of the dish? When you have it the next day, the sauce has had time to firm up and create an even richer tomato taste,” she says.

What are the tiny lasagna noodles called? ›

Mafalda Corta pasta – also known simply as Manfredine or reginette – is a pleasing pasta shaped like miniature lasagna ribbons. These tiny lasagna noodle-like squares cook up with a delightful al dente texture that makes them perfectly suited or both cold and hot pastas alike.

What can I add to lasagna to make it taste better? ›

Onion and garlic: An onion and two cloves of garlic are cooked with the meat to add tons of flavor. Tomato products: You'll need a can of crushed tomatoes, two cans of tomato sauce, and two cans of tomato paste. Sugar: Two tablespoons of white sugar add subtle sweetness and enhance the flavor of the sauce.

What does lasagna do to your body? ›

Lasagna is a good source of protein, especially when it's packed with meat and cheese. A slice can deliver between 15-25 grams of protein, contributing to muscle growth and repair.

Is lasagna a healthy dinner? ›

If your lasagna includes pasta, veggies, cheese and meat, you've got yourself a pretty balanced meal. Plus the tomato sauce is a great way to get in the antioxidant lycopene. This dish is also easy to modify— pile on more veggies or eliminate the cheese to accomodate a dairy allergy.

When should you throw out lasagna? ›

Cooked lasagna keeps in the refrigerator for up to five days if stored in a tightly sealed container to keep out excess moisture and other contaminants. The best way to determine whether or not lasagna has turned is to look for dried-out noodles or a sour smell emanating from the tomato sauce and cheese.

How long should you let lasagna sit before you eat it? ›

When the lasagna is ready it is difficult to resist the temptation to immediately eat it, but be careful because even in this case you have to be a little patient. Wait for your lasagna to rest for about 20 minutes once it is baked, in this way it will not fall apart when cut.

Does lasagna go bad overnight? ›

How long does lasagna last unrefrigerated? Lasagna should not be left unrefrigerated for more than 2 hours. Any longer than that, and the risk of bacterial growth increases, which can cause foodborne illness.

What is the lasagna noodle trick? ›

Place your dry noodles in the water, making sure they're all equally submerged, and let them soak for about 20 minutes. Let this go while making your sauce or preheating the oven, and it shaves off all the extra time you'd spend boiling them.

What is the small pasta with a hole in the middle? ›

Bucatini (Italian: [bukaˈtiːni]), also known as perciatelli ( Italian: [pertʃaˈtɛlli]), is a thick spaghetti-like pasta with a hole running through the center.

What are the little balls of pasta called? ›

Acini di pepe – an extremely small, round pasta shape – translates to peppercorn, or seeds of pepper. It comes from the Latin word acinus, meaning grape stones. Though this tiny pasta translates to peppercorns, it is in fact much smaller than this. Acini di pepe are actually the size of a grain of couscous!

What not to do when making lasagna? ›

Too much between one layer and another will keep you from ever getting a perfect slice. Too little and all you'll taste is pasta. Do not put large pieces of vegetables or meat in lasagna for the same reason as above. To get a perfect lasagna, the filling should be finely sliced or even creamy.

What makes lasagna soupy? ›

Watery tomatoes aren't the only culprit for soupy lasagna: Oils from cheese and meat and water from lasagna noodles and vegetables can affect your lasagna's consistency. Draining excess fat from ground beef or sausage before adding it to tomato sauce is imperative to maintain a thick sauce.

Why add tomato paste to lasagna? ›

A good tomato paste helps to thicken but also adds a sweet and savory umami flavor. Lean Ground Beef: Lean beef adds a robust and hearty meatiness that's essential in a classic lasagna recipe.

Is lasagna a good dish? ›

A classic recipe of one of the most loved foods in the world. The ultimate comfort food = homemade lasagna. Family and friends gather around the dinner table at any time for this lasagna recipe. A big warm comforting hug within layers of pasta, tomato sauce, white sauce and melted cheese!

Is lasagna a good meal prep? ›

Layers of pasta, meat sauce, and mozzarella cheese are cooked to perfection in just a few minutes, making it a great meal prep option or quick weeknight dinner.

What is the lasagna love about? ›

Lasagna Love is a global nonprofit and grassroots movement that aims to positively impact communities by connecting neighbors with neighbors through homemade meal delivery. We also seek to eliminate stigmas associated with asking for help when it is needed most.

Is lasagne a comfort food? ›

Classic Italian comfort food at its best, this light and luscious recipe will become a favorite with your friends and family. Popular around the world, lasagne is great anytime of the year and can feed a crowd. It is relatively easy to assemble and bake a lasagna with just a few store bought ingredients.

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