Description
Comfort meets convenience in this hearty Crockpot Lasagna Soup that brings Italian-style warmth to your dinner table. Rich layers of cheese, savory ground beef, and tender pasta mingle in a soul-satisfying broth you’ll crave all season long.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef
- 1 pound (454 grams) Italian sausage (optional)
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (28 ounces/794 grams) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (15 ounces/425 grams) can diced tomatoes
- 1 (6 ounces/170 grams) can tomato paste
Liquid and Seasonings:
- 4 cups (946 milliliters) beef broth
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 8 lasagna noodles, broken into pieces
Cheese and Garnish:
- 1 cup (226 grams) shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup (28 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup (226 grams) ricotta cheese
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Sauté ground beef with diced onions in a skillet over medium heat until meat browns and loses its raw appearance, ensuring to drain any accumulated fat.
- Introduce minced garlic to the meat mixture and allow it to release its aromatic essence for approximately one minute, stirring continuously to prevent burning.
- Transfer the seasoned beef and onion blend into the crockpot, creating a robust foundation for the soup.
- Incorporate crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, beef broth, and tomato paste into the crockpot, whisking to create a harmonious liquid base.
- Sprinkle Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes throughout the mixture, ensuring even distribution of flavors.
- Secure the crockpot lid and allow the soup to simmer on low temperature for 6-8 hours or on high temperature for 3-4 hours, developing deep, complex flavors.
- Thirty minutes before serving, break lasagna noodles into rustic pieces and gently fold them into the simmering soup.
- While noodles soften, prepare a creamy ricotta topping by blending ricotta cheese with fresh chopped parsley and a pinch of salt.
- Introduce shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan into the soup, stirring until the cheeses melt and create a luxurious, velvety texture.
- Ladle the steaming soup into serving bowls and crown each portion with a dollop of herbed ricotta mixture.
Notes
- Customize the meat by using ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a lighter, healthier version of the soup.
- Break lasagna noodles into smaller pieces to ensure even cooking and easier eating experience throughout the soup.
- Prevent pasta from becoming mushy by adding noodles only during the last 30 minutes of cooking, allowing them to maintain perfect texture.
- Enhance flavor depth by using fire-roasted diced tomatoes instead of regular diced tomatoes for a smoky, richer taste profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 367
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 789 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 31 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg