Craving the cozy comfort of lasagna but don’t want to spend hours layering and baking? This lasagna soup is your new best friend! It packs all those classic Italian flavors into a warm, hearty bowl of goodness that comes together in a fraction of the time.

What You’ll Need

For the soup base:

• 1 pound Italian sausage (sweet or spicy)
• 1 onion, diced
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 8 lasagna noodles, broken into pieces
• 2 cups fresh spinach (optional)
• Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper

For the cheesy topping:

• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
• Fresh basil for garnish

Let’s Make Some Magic

Start by browning your Italian sausage in a large pot, breaking it into small pieces. Once it’s nicely browned, add your diced onion and cook until soft and translucent. Toss in the garlic and let it get fragrant – about 30 seconds.

Add your tomato paste and stir it around until it darkens slightly (this brings out the rich tomato flavor). Pour in those crushed tomatoes and chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot – that’s pure flavor right there!

The Pasta Party

Break your lasagna noodles into bite-sized pieces and add them to the pot. Let everything simmer until the pasta is tender, about 8-10 minutes. If you’re using spinach, toss it in during the last minute of cooking.

The Cheesy Crown

While the soup’s simmering, mix together your ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan. This is going to be the creamy dollop that makes each bowl extra special.

Serving It Up

Ladle your hot soup into bowls, top each with a generous scoop of the cheese mixture, and sprinkle with fresh basil. Watch that cheese get all melty and delicious!

Pro Tips

• Don’t overcook the pasta – nobody likes mushy noodles
• Make the cheese mixture ahead and let it come to room temperature
• Use high-quality Italian sausage for the best flavor
• Feel free to add more broth if you like it soupier
• The spinach is optional but adds nice color and nutrients

Make It Your Own

Want to customize? Try:

• Using different pasta shapes
• Adding more vegetables like carrots or zucchini
• Making it vegetarian with plant-based sausage
• Spicing it up with red pepper flakes
• Using dairy-free alternatives for the cheese mixture

Storage Notes

The soup base keeps well in the fridge for 3-4 days, but store the pasta separately if you’re planning on leftovers. The noodles tend to soak up the broth overnight. For best results, cook fresh pasta when reheating.

A Note About Reheating

When reheating, you might need to add a splash of broth or water as the soup tends to thicken in the fridge. Heat gently and add the cheese topping just before serving.

This lasagna soup is perfect for those cold nights when you want comfort food but don’t have the time or energy for traditional lasagna. It’s also great for feeding a crowd – just set out the soup and cheese mixture and let everyone help themselves!

Plus, it’s way easier to eat than regular lasagna (no sliding layers here!) and just as satisfying. Give it a try – it might just become your new favorite winter comfort food!