soups-salads · easy
Quick Lasagna Soup (20 Minutes, One Pot)
All the flavor of lasagna in a cozy one-pot soup: halal ground beef, tomato broth and broken lasagna noodles, topped with creamy ricotta, mozzarella and basil.
Nutrition per serving (estimate): 460 calories · 29 g protein · 22 g fat · 37 g carbs
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Filed under easy soups and hearty salads, easy beef dinner recipes and quick pasta recipes.
Lasagna soup gives you everything you love about lasagna, rich meaty tomato sauce, tender ruffled noodles and creamy cheese, without the layering and baking. This quick lasagna soup recipe is made in one pot in 20 minutes.
“Lasagna soup recipe” is one of the rising US recipe searches in Google Trends this month, and it is easy to see why: it is the coziest way to get lasagna on a weeknight.
Why it is so fast
The noodles cook directly in the soup, so there is no separate pot of water, and the broth gets thickened by the pasta starch. Crushed tomatoes and tomato paste give a slow-cooked depth in minutes.
Ingredient notes
Ground beef and fennel. Most lasagna soups use Italian pork sausage. Halal ground beef with crushed fennel seed, oregano and chili flakes gives the same flavor.
Lasagna noodles. Regular dried noodles broken into pieces cook in about 8 to 10 minutes.
The cheese topping. Ricotta, mozzarella and parmesan go on at the table, so every spoonful has the classic lasagna creaminess.
No wine. Many recipes add red wine; this one does not need it. Tomato paste cooked for a minute gives the same depth.
Step by step
Brown. Beef and onion get color first.
Bloom. Garlic, herbs and tomato paste cook briefly.
Boil and simmer. Tomatoes and broth come to a boil, then the noodles simmer until tender.
Top. Cheese and basil go on each bowl.
Variations
- Chicken lasagna soup: Use halal ground chicken.
- Vegetarian: Use vegetable broth and swap the beef for chopped mushrooms and a can of lentils.
- Spinach: Stir in 2 handfuls of baby spinach at the end.
- Creamy: Stir 1/4 cup heavy cream into the pot before serving.
Common mistakes
Overcooking the noodles. Lasagna noodles keep soaking up broth after the heat is off. Cook them until just tender, then serve right away. If you are making it ahead, cook the noodles separately (see below).
Skipping the tomato paste step. Fry the tomato paste in the beef fat for a minute, until it darkens to brick red. This gives the soup the long-cooked taste of a baked lasagna without the wine many recipes use.
Stirring the ricotta into the pot. The ricotta topping is what makes it taste like lasagna. Mix the ricotta with the mozzarella and parmesan and spoon it onto each bowl, so it melts slowly as you eat.
Substitutions and halal swaps
- Sausage flavor without pork: the fennel seed, oregano and chili flakes are what give Italian sausage its flavor. Halal beef or chicken Italian-style sausage, casings removed, also works.
- Meat: halal ground turkey or chicken makes a lighter soup. Add an extra 1/2 tsp salt and the fennel.
- Cheese: use halal-certified or microbial-rennet ricotta, mozzarella and parmesan-style cheese. Cottage cheese blended until smooth can replace the ricotta.
- Noodles: mafalde, broken lasagna sheets, campanelle or any short pasta work. Gluten-free lasagna sheets also work, but cook them separately.
- Vegetables: stir in 2 handfuls of baby spinach or a diced zucchini with the noodles.
Make it ahead
For leftovers that do not turn mushy, cook the noodles separately and store them apart from the soup. Warm the soup, then add the noodles to each bowl. The soup base (without noodles or cheese) freezes for up to 3 months.
What to serve with it
Garlic bread is the classic partner, and a crisp green salad keeps things fresh. For another cozy soup, try the tomato tortellini soup with spinach or the easy taco soup. For a creamy tomato pasta dinner, see the creamy tomato pasta. Find more ideas in our easy soup recipes and beef dinners.
Storing leftovers
Refrigerate for up to 3 days. The noodles soak up broth, so add a splash of broth or water when reheating. Freeze the soup base without noodles for best results.
Quick supper
Recipe card
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb (450 g) halal ground beef
- 1 medium onion, finely diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1/2 tsp fennel seeds, lightly crushed (gives an Italian-sausage flavor without pork)
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 4 cups halal chicken or beef broth
- 8 lasagna noodles, broken into 2-inch pieces (about 6 oz)
- 1 tsp kosher salt, or to taste
- 1/2 cup whole-milk ricotta
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan (halal-certified or microbial-rennet cheeses if you need them)
- Fresh basil leaves
Instructions
Preparation images are AI-generated illustrations.
- 1
Heat the oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the beef and onion and cook 4 to 5 minutes, breaking up the meat, until browned.
Step 1 · AI-generated illustration - 2
Add the garlic, oregano, basil, fennel and pepper flakes and cook 30 seconds. Stir in the tomato paste and cook 1 minute until it darkens slightly.
Step 2 · AI-generated illustration - 3
Add the crushed tomatoes and broth, cover and bring to a rolling boil.
Step 3 · AI-generated illustration - 4
Add the broken lasagna noodles and salt. Simmer uncovered 8 to 10 minutes, stirring often so the noodles do not stick, until tender.
Step 4 · AI-generated illustration - 5
Ladle into bowls and top each with a spoonful of ricotta, a handful of mozzarella, parmesan and torn basil.
Step 5 · AI-generated illustration
Helpful tips
- Keep the broth at a real boil when the noodles go in and stir during the first 2 minutes; this stops the pieces from clumping.
- Fennel seed is the trick that makes ground beef taste like Italian sausage, so do not skip it.
- Season the ricotta with a pinch of salt and lemon zest for an extra-creamy topping.
Frequently asked questions
What is lasagna soup?
Lasagna soup has the flavors of a classic lasagna, a meaty tomato sauce, pasta and three cheeses, made as a brothy soup instead of a baked casserole. The noodles cook right in the pot.
Can I make lasagna soup without sausage?
Yes. This version uses halal ground beef with fennel seed, oregano and red pepper flakes, which give the same savory, sausage-like flavor without pork.
What pasta can I use instead of lasagna noodles?
Mafalda (mini lasagna), campanelle or any short pasta works. Cook it in the soup until tender, following the package time.
How do I keep the noodles from getting soggy?
The noodles keep absorbing broth. If you plan on leftovers, cook the pasta separately and add it to each bowl.
Is this lasagna soup halal?
Yes, with halal beef and broth. It contains no pork and no wine. For strict halal, choose halal-certified or microbial-rennet cheeses.
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