Get ready to enjoy all the rich, savory, and cheesy flavors of a classic lasagna, but without any of the layering or long baking times! This Crock Pot Lasagna Soup is the ultimate one-pot comfort food, transforming the beloved casserole into a cozy and incredibly easy slow cooker meal. This is truly the Best Crockpot Soup Recipe for a chilly evening, packed with a savory combination of ground beef and Italian sausage, tender broken lasagna noodles, and a rich, cheesy tomato broth. It’s a hearty, satisfying, and family-friendly dinner.
Why This is the Ultimate Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup
This Lasagna Soup Crock Pot recipe is a game-changer for anyone who loves easy, hearty meals.
- Incredibly Easy: After a quick browning of the meat, you simply let the slow cooker do all the work. It’s a perfect meal for a busy day.
- Tastes Just Like Lasagna: It perfectly captures the classic flavors of a savory meat sauce, tender pasta, and a creamy, cheesy finish.
- A Hearty One-Pot Meal: This is a substantial and satisfying soup that eats like a full meal, with minimal cleanup.
- A Family-Friendly Favorite: The classic, comforting flavors are a guaranteed hit with both kids and adults.
Your Simple Ingredient Checklist
This recipe uses classic, comforting ingredients for a truly authentic taste.
The Ingredient Lineup:
- 1 lb of lean ground beef
- 1 lb of Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 4 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 (28-ounce) can of crushed tomatoes
- 4 cups of low-sodium chicken broth
- 8 oz of lasagna noodles, broken into bite-sized pieces
- 1 (15-ounce) container of ricotta cheese
- 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese
- Seasonings: 2 tsp Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper to taste.
Step-by-Step Instructions
This impressive soup comes together with just a little prep before the slow cooker takes over.
Part 1: Prepare the Meat and Base
- Brown the Meat: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef and Italian sausage until they are fully browned, breaking them apart with a spoon. Drain off any excess grease.
- Sauté the Aromatics: In the same skillet, sauté the chopped onion until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for one more minute until fragrant.
Part 2: Slow Cook the Soup
- Combine in Crockpot: Transfer the cooked meats, onions, and garlic to your slow cooker. Add the crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Add Noodles: Add the broken lasagna noodle pieces and stir everything together gently.
- Cook: Cover the crockpot and cook on LOW for 4 hours or on HIGH for 2 hours, until the noodles are tender.
Part 3: Make it Cheesy and Serve
- Add the Cheese: Once the noodles are cooked, stir the ricotta cheese into the soup until it has melted throughout and the soup is creamy.
- Serve: Ladle the hot soup into bowls and top each serving with a generous sprinkle of shredded mozzarella cheese. The heat from the soup will melt the mozzarella. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley if desired.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Can I make this a vegetarian Lasagna Soup? Yes, absolutely! To make a vegetarian version, simply omit the ground beef and sausage. You can add extra vegetables like chopped zucchini, mushrooms, or bell peppers to make it heartier. Sauté them with the onion and garlic at the beginning. Be sure to use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
2. Can I make this with a different kind of pasta? While broken lasagna noodles give this soup its signature name, you can definitely use other pasta shapes for this Easy Slow Cooker Soup. A medium-sized pasta that is good at catching sauce, like rotini, penne, or bow ties, would be a fantastic choice. You may need to adjust the cooking time slightly depending on the pasta you choose.
3. Do I have to brown the meat before putting it in the crockpot? For the best flavor and texture, it is highly recommended that you brown the meat and sauté the onions first. This step creates a deep, savory flavor through caramelization that you won’t get if you put the raw ingredients directly into the slow cooker. It also allows you to drain off excess grease.
4. How do I store and reheat leftovers of this Crock Pot Lasagna? This Crock Pot Lasagna soup makes fantastic leftovers! Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The noodles will continue to absorb liquid, so the soup will be much thicker the next day. Reheat it gently in a saucepan on the stovetop over low heat, stirring occasionally. You may need to add a splash of chicken broth to thin it back down to your desired consistency.
Crock Pot Lasagna Soup
Equipment
- Large skillet for browning meat
- Slow cooker to cook soup
- Wooden spoon for stirring
- Ladle for serving
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 lb Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 8 oz lasagna noodles, broken into bite-sized pieces
- 1 15-ounce container ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Fresh basil or parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- In a large skillet, cook ground beef and Italian sausage over medium-high heat until fully browned. Drain excess grease.
- Add chopped onion to skillet and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Transfer browned meat, onions, and garlic to your slow cooker. Stir in crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Add broken lasagna noodles to the crockpot and stir gently to combine.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4 hours or HIGH for 2 hours, until noodles are tender.
- Stir ricotta cheese into the soup until melted and creamy.
- Ladle soup into bowls. Top each serving with shredded mozzarella and garnish with fresh basil or parsley if desired. Serve hot.