This easy soup has everything you love about lasagna, all in one bowl, with a fantastic ooey-gooey “cheesy yum” ricotta and mozzarella topping! Italian sausage gives it so much flavor, met with a rich tomato broth. You can make it on the stovetop or in a crockpot. It’s the ORIGINAL lasagna soup recipe to hit the internet, and still the BEST!
THE Lasagna Soup Recipe That Started It All.
I first shared this soup recipe way back in March 2011, before any other lasagna soup recipes appeared on the internet. And over the years I’ve received hundreds of reader’s comments — I hear over and over again that this recipe is their favorite version. Whenever someone asks me to recommend a recipe that’ll please the whole family, I point them straight to this one!
Because, seriously, who doesn’t welcome lasagna’s bold flavors, variety of textures, and big-long-hug kind of comfort?
The “cheesy yum” adds a ton of delicious fun to this recipe. Our family coined this term for the 3-cheese mixture of ricotta, Parm, and mozzarella that gets dolloped into individual bowls of soup. We love how the hot soup broth melts the cheesy yum and offers a creamy, gooey, comforting lasagna-like experience in every spoonful.
Another thing that’s key is that I use Italian sausage because it adds a big boost of savory flavor and incredible texture. I’ve tested this recipe using other proteins, and they just don’t measure up.
And while it’s not a deal-breaker for this soup, I hold a special place in my heart for anyone who uses mafalda pasta — it’s shaped like mini lasagna noodles (adorable!), and I never make lasagna soup without it!
When this soup is on the menu, my family insists on cheesy garlic bread for dipping. And if we invite friends and family to join us, I add a big bowl of Italian chopped salad. Besides a good amount of fresh ingredients, it has slices of salami, provolone, and black olives – and the zippiest Italian vinaigrette that everyone loves!
If we’re lucky enough to leftovers, it’s truly a win-win situation. Because leftover lasagna soup is even more amazing the next day, after the flavors have had extra time to mingle.
“I have been making this lasagna soup since 2011-2012, so for a long time. It is a family favorite for sure! It really is the best lasagna soup!”
Stephanie
Here’s My Simple Method:
I am not a fan of mushy noodles!
So I cook the noodles separately. Otherwise, the noodles keep absorbing the broth as the soup simmers, which makes them overly soft and can cause them to break down.
Plus, any leftover soup reheats much better if noodles are stored separately. Noodles require very little time to reheat, and heating them separately keeps them perfectly tender and chewy.
But if you plan to serve the soup right away and think you’ll eat most of it in that first meal (with little to no leftovers), it works great to cook the noodles right in the hot soup!
Just add the noodles during the simmering time – they should cook in 10 to 15 minutes, but it will depend on the temperature of your soup and the type of pasta you are using.
Whatever you do, do NOT let the soup simmer for a long period of time with the noodles.
Lasagna Soup with Cheesy Yum (stovetop or crockpot)
Ingredients
Soup:
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1½ pounds bulk Italian sausage
- 1 extra-large yellow onion, chopped (about 3 cups chopped)
- 4 large garlic cloves, minced
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon Morton kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste (add more for even deeper tomato flavor)
- 2 cans (14.5 ounces each) fire-roasted diced tomatoes
- 2 bay leaves
- 6 cups low-sodium chicken stock
- 8 ounces mafalda pasta (fusilli and farfalle are also good options)
- ½ cup fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced sliced thinly
Cheesy Yum:
- 8 ounces full-fat ricotta
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ teaspoon Morton kosher salt
- freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (See my mozzarella tip in Notes below)
Instructions
- Soup: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add sausage and brown for 3 minutes, breaking it up into bite-size pieces with a wooden spoon.
- Add onion, garlic, oregano, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes, and cook until onion is softened and sausage is browned, about 7 more minutes.
- Stir in tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes more.
- Add diced tomatoes, bay leaves, and chicken stock. Bring just to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, cook pasta in a separate saucepan according to package directions, just to al dente. Do not over-cook. Drain.
- Cheesy Yum: In a medium bowl, create the "cheesy yum" by combining the ricotta, Parmesan, mozzarella, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
- Serve: Stir fresh basil into soup right before serving. Then add cooked pasta to individual bowls and ladle soup over the top. Serve with dollops of cheesy yum, plus additional shredded mozzarella, if desired, over the top.
CROCK-POT DIRECTIONS:
- Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and add oil. Once hot, add sausage and brown for 3 minutes, breaking it up into bite-size pieces with a wooden spoon. (*If you have a multi-cooker, set it to BROWN/SAUTE and add the oil. Once hot, add sausage and brown for 3 minutes, breaking it up into bite-size pieces with a wooden spoon.)
- Add onion, garlic, oregano, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes, and cook until onion is softened and sausage is browned, about 7 more minutes.
- Stir in tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes more.
- Transfer sausage mixture to slow cooker (or just proceed if using a multi-cooker) and add diced tomatoes, bay leaves, and chicken stock. Cover and set slow cooker to low 8 hours or high 4 hours.
- About 30 minutes before soup is ready, add pasta to slow cooker. Cover and cook until pasta is just al dente, checking after 15 minutes. (If you plan to let the soup sit for awhile before serving or are planning on leftovers, I strongly recommend cooking the pasta separately to avoid mushy noodles.)
Video
Notes
- Refrigerator: Store the soup, cooked pasta, and cheesy yum in separate containers in the refrigerator. Do not combine the soup and pasta together, as the noodles will absorb most of the soup broth and become soft and mushy. I also like to drizzle a little olive oil over the pasta after it has drained, and then fold gently to coat. This helps keep the pasta from sticking together.
- Freezer: This soup freezes very well. Store the soup, pasta, and cheesy yum portions separately in the freezer. Let everything thaw overnight in the refrigerator prior to preparing it for the next meal.
- Microwave: Place desired amount of pasta in a microwave-safe bowl and cover with plastic wrap, leaving one corner slightly open to allow steam to escape. Heat on medium power to prevent overcooking. Heating time will vary depending on the amount of pasta you are reheating, but for 1 to 2 cups of pasta, start with 30 seconds. Give a stir and then microwave in shorter intervals, stirring in-between, until hot.
- Stovetop: Bring some water to a boil in a sauce pan. Be sure to use enough water to sufficiently cover the amount of pasta you are reheating. When the water comes to a full boil, add the leftover pasta and give a good stir. Boil for 30 seconds and then test to see if the noodles are hot. If needed, add time in 15-second intervals, until sufficiently heated. Remember that the pasta has already been cooked, and only needs to be reheated. Do not overcook or it will become mushy. Then drain the noodles.
This soup is so delicious!!!
This lasagna soup dish is amazing! My family loves it and especially my son, since he dips his garlic bread in soup.
By the way, I meant adding store bought raviolis may not seem 5 star. This recipe is easily 6/5 stars and our favorite soup to make for guests.
We absolutely love this soup!
Our only change is we weren’t a huge fan of the noodles or extra cheese, so instead we add store bought frozen cheese raviolis at the end and we simmer longer to bring them up to temperature. It’s not 5 star cooking, but they are just perfect for this recipe in our opinion.
This soup also tastes amazing after reheating, so make lots of extra.
I have to say, I’ve just sat down to wait for that 30 minutes of simmering before adding the pasta. This is the 4th time since Christmas 2016 that I’ve made this soup for my family. We make it with spicy sausage, so it’s a little less lasagna-y than expected, and as such I skip the pepper flakes. I also use cream cheese instead of ricotta and make this crumble I guess you could call it, to go on the bottom of the bowl. Came to look for your crock pot version for my work days. Thank you for posting this now family favourite.
Still one of my favorite recipes of all time! Making it tonight :) I don’t change much, but since I can’t buy noodles in 8oz bags I just pour the whole pound box in. Makes it a little less soupy but it works out nicely still!
Yayyy! Enjoy!
I stumbled upon this recipe on Pinterest. I made it this evening and it is SO good! Thank you for sharing this recipe, it really is delicious. 10/10!!
Wonderful! So glad you liked it! :)
amazing!
Made this tonight and it turned out great! Only thing I did differently was add some Philadelphia Cooking Creme Italian Cheese & Herb to the cheese mixture. I wanted it to have more flavor and it was a great addition. I would have sworn I had just made lasagna, it was that good. Mine wasn’t quite as soupy and it’s because I didn’t add as much chicken stock, so it resembles lasagna more than soup, but still great! I will DEFINITELY be making this again. Thanks!
Brenda,
this soup was AH-MAZING!!! My husband is not much of a soup man, not hearty enough to have for dinner, but this certainly won him over! Thank you and Happy New Year!
This is so delicious! Polar Vortex up in Wisconsin the past few days, and this hit the spot, not only for me, but the hubby and kids!! I served it with little garlic bread and a salad :)
Wonderful!! I hear you on the cold, as we’re just across the border in MN. Stay warm!!
So delicious! I used 1/2 beef and 1/2 Italian sausage and used radiatorre noodles. Even my dad ate this and he doesn’t eat tomatoes. Thank you for the recipe.
I love to hear this about your dad! Thanks for sharing, and enjoy!
I made this the other night and it was fabulous. I added mushrooms and fresh spinach but followed the rest of the recipe. I’ve been informed this is a keeper in our house :)
This looks and sounds so delicious. I think this would be great and so comforting. I also love that you can customize the ingredients based on what you love more or less of!
It’s a wonderfully comforting soup. I hope you like it!
I used your crock pot recipe I just added less or more . I Cooked the pasta like you said on stove , and I had a huge pot , everyone loved it , with garlic bread , and cornbread to prevent any disappointed guests . Most had a second bowl { had 4 guests } plus us , for a total of 6 ~ I had a medium size bowl left the first time , I froze it . This last time I made it none was left , getting ready here soon to make again ~ This is the best I’ve had , love it . It is hearty , spicy , and absolutely divine , the melding of flavors is a big high 5 , it’s that darn good . Thank You , for posting recipe , it rocks .
I like this recipe
I made this today and it was so good.
I’ve made this twice now! Except I throw everything in the crock pot and cook the sausage in a pan and throw it in. Adding the noodles to the bowl instead of the pot is a great idea because this recipe makes so much, if you don’t have a big family, you’re definitely going to be having leftovers. My house smells so good right now. I can’t wait for it to be done!
Wow!! This soup is absolutely delicious! ! I made it yesterday afternoon and couldn’t have been happier with the results. I added some celery and red bell pepper with the onion (cuz I had some in the fridge I wanted to use before it went bad). Thank you for sharing this recipe!!
I have a question are your images copyrighted?
Yes, my site and images are copyrighted.