Cozy Lasagna Soup Recipe

If you love classic homemade lasagna but don’t always have the time or patience to layer noodles, sauce, meat, ricotta, and cheese before waiting for everything to bake, this Cozy Lasagna Soup Recipe is about to become one of your favorite comfort-food dinners. It has everything you love about traditional lasagna—savory ground beef, rich tomato sauce, tender lasagna noodles, plenty of melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, and creamy ricotta—but it all comes together in one warm and comforting bowl of soup.

This easy lasagna soup is especially perfect once the weather starts cooling down and you’re craving hearty fall and winter dinners. There is something so comforting about a big pot of soup simmering on the stove, especially when that soup tastes like cheesy homemade lasagna. The combination of tomato, beef, cream, pasta, and cheese creates a rich and satisfying soup that feels indulgent while still being incredibly easy to prepare.

One of my favorite parts of this recipe is the way the broken lasagna noodles cook directly in the flavorful tomato broth. They absorb all of that delicious flavor while also helping the soup become slightly thicker and heartier. Then, once the noodles are tender, shredded mozzarella and Parmesan are stirred directly into the soup for even more cheesy goodness.

And you absolutely cannot skip the finishing touch: a generous scoop of creamy ricotta cheese right on top of each bowl. As the ricotta starts to melt into the warm soup, you get that unmistakable creamy lasagna flavor in every spoonful. Finish it with extra Parmesan and fresh parsley, and you have the ultimate one-pot lasagna soup for a cozy family dinner.

Why You’ll Love This Easy Lasagna Soup

Traditional lasagna will always be one of my favorite comfort foods, but it can definitely be a process. This recipe gives you so many of those same flavors without having to carefully assemble all of those layers.

Everything is cooked in one large pot or Dutch oven, making this a fantastic option for a weeknight dinner when you want something hearty without creating a sink full of dishes.

It’s also an incredibly easy recipe to customize. You can use chicken broth, beef broth, or a combination of the two. You can adjust the seasonings, add more cheese, make it extra creamy, or add vegetables such as spinach if you have some that need to be used.

Best of all, this recipe makes approximately 4–6 servings, so it’s perfect for a family dinner while still potentially leaving you with some delicious leftovers.

Cozy Lasagna Soup Ingredients

For the Soup

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 pound ground beef
• 3 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
• 5 cups chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon salt, plus additional salt to taste
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, optional
• ¾ cup heavy cream
• 8 lasagna noodles, broken into small pieces
• 1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• ¾ cup shredded Parmesan cheese

For Serving

• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• Additional shredded or freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• Fresh parsley, finely chopped

Chicken Broth or Beef Broth?

I love making this lasagna soup with chicken broth because it provides plenty of flavor without overpowering the tomato sauce and other ingredients. However, beef broth is another delicious option.

For an even richer soup, try using a combination of the two. For example, you could use 3 cups chicken broth and 2 cups beef broth. The beef broth enhances the flavor of the ground beef while the chicken broth keeps the overall soup balanced.

Either option works, so this is also an easy recipe to make using whatever broth you already have in your pantry.

How to Make Lasagna Soup

1. Sauté the Onion and Garlic

Place a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat and add the butter. Once the butter has melted, add the diced onion.

Cook the onion for approximately 4–5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it begins to soften and becomes slightly translucent. Add the minced garlic and continue cooking for approximately 30–60 seconds.

You only need to cook the garlic until it becomes fragrant. Be careful not to let it burn.

2. Cook the Ground Beef

Add the ground beef to the pot and use a wooden spoon or spatula to break it into small pieces as it cooks.

Continue cooking until the beef is completely browned and no pink remains.

Once the beef has finished cooking, carefully drain away the excess grease. This is an important step because too much grease can make your finished lasagna soup oily.

Another option—and one I especially recommend if you’re using fattier ground beef—is cooking the beef separately in a skillet. Once it is completely cooked, drain the grease thoroughly and then add the cooked ground beef to the onions and garlic.

3. Cook the Tomato Paste

Add the tomato paste to the ground beef mixture and stir until everything is evenly coated.

Allow the tomato paste to cook with the beef for approximately 1–2 minutes before adding the remaining liquids.

It may seem like a small step, but cooking tomato paste briefly helps deepen its flavor and gives the soup a richer tomato base.

4. Add the Tomato Sauce and Broth

Pour in the tomato sauce and stir everything together.

Next, slowly add the chicken broth while stirring. If you are using a combination of chicken and beef broth, add both at this point.

Season the soup with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and optional Italian seasoning.

Bring everything to a gentle simmer and allow the broth to cook for about 5 minutes so all of those flavors can begin coming together.

5. Make It Creamy

Pour the heavy cream into the tomato broth and stir until completely incorporated.

The heavy cream transforms the tomato broth into a creamy, rich lasagna soup without making it overly heavy. It also balances some of the acidity from the tomatoes and gives the finished soup that deliciously velvety texture.

6. Add the Lasagna Noodles

Break the uncooked lasagna sheets into relatively small pieces before adding them to your soup.

Don’t make the pieces too large!

Lasagna noodles expand considerably as they cook. Pieces that look small when they’re dry can become surprisingly large once they’re tender.

Add the broken lasagna noodles to the simmering soup and cook according to the approximate cooking time listed on your pasta package.

Stir the soup regularly while the noodles cook. This is especially important because pasta can stick together or settle onto the bottom of the pot.

7. Add Lots of Cheese

Once your lasagna noodles are tender, reduce the heat to low.

Add the shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheese and stir until the cheeses have melted into the soup.

The mozzarella gives the soup that wonderfully cheesy lasagna texture while Parmesan adds a salty, savory flavor.

If you love extra-cheesy lasagna, feel free to add a little more mozzarella or Parmesan. This is definitely not the recipe where you need to be shy with the cheese!

If the soup becomes too thick after adding the pasta and cheese, add a splash of additional chicken or beef broth until it reaches your preferred consistency.

The Best Way to Serve Lasagna Soup

Ladle the warm soup into individual bowls while it’s still piping hot.

Add a generous scoop of ricotta cheese directly into the center of each bowl. I love leaving the ricotta sitting right on top rather than stirring it into the entire pot because everyone gets their own creamy scoop.

Finish with additional Parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of freshly chopped parsley.

As you eat the soup, stir a little ricotta into each spoonful. The combination of the cool, creamy ricotta with the hot tomato broth, melted mozzarella, beef, and tender pasta is what really makes this taste like a bowl of homemade lasagna.

Serve it alongside garlic bread, warm crusty bread, breadsticks, or a simple salad for an easy complete dinner.

Tips for Making the Best Lasagna Soup

Drain your ground beef well. Excess grease can sit on top of the broth and make your soup oily. Drain the beef thoroughly before adding your tomato paste and liquids.

Break the noodles smaller than you think you need to. The pasta will expand as it cooks. Smaller pieces also make the soup much easier to eat with a spoon.

Stir the pasta frequently. Because you’re cooking the noodles directly in the soup, they can stick to each other and to the bottom of the pot.

Freshly shredded cheese melts beautifully. Pre-shredded cheese will still work, but shredding your own mozzarella and Parmesan can give you an especially smooth, cheesy consistency.

Adjust the broth as needed. Pasta continues absorbing liquid, so your lasagna soup will naturally become thicker as it sits.

Don’t skip the ricotta. That creamy scoop on top is one of the easiest ways to recreate the flavor and texture of traditional lasagna.

What to Serve With Lasagna Soup

Because this creamy lasagna soup already contains meat, pasta, tomato sauce, and plenty of cheese, it can absolutely be served as a complete meal on its own.

If you want to add something on the side, garlic bread is an obvious choice. A piece of warm, buttery garlic bread is perfect for dipping into the creamy tomato broth.

You could also serve the soup with crusty Italian bread, cheesy breadsticks, a Caesar salad, or a simple arugula salad.

For entertaining, place Parmesan, ricotta, chopped parsley, and even red pepper flakes on the table and let everyone customize their own bowl.

How to Store Leftover Lasagna Soup

Allow leftover lasagna soup to cool before transferring it into an airtight container. Store it in the refrigerator and enjoy within approximately 3–4 days.

Keep in mind that the lasagna noodles will continue absorbing broth as the soup sits in the refrigerator. Don’t be surprised if your leftovers look considerably thicker the next day.

When reheating the soup, simply add a splash of chicken or beef broth to loosen it back up.

You can reheat individual portions in the microwave or warm a larger amount in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally.

For the best texture, store extra ricotta separately and add a fresh scoop after reheating.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is lasagna soup?

Lasagna soup is essentially a deconstructed version of classic lasagna served as a hearty soup. Instead of layering pasta, meat sauce, and cheese in a casserole dish, the ingredients are cooked together in a pot. Broken lasagna noodles cook directly in a tomato-based broth along with ground beef and seasonings, and plenty of cheese is added for the familiar flavor of homemade lasagna.

Do you cook lasagna noodles before putting them in lasagna soup?

No. For this recipe, the dry lasagna noodles go directly into the simmering soup.

Cooking the pasta directly in the broth is convenient because you don’t have to dirty another pot, and the noodles absorb some of the flavorful broth as they cook.

How small should I break the lasagna noodles?

Break them into pieces that are small enough to comfortably fit onto a soup spoon once cooked. Remember that dry pasta expands significantly during cooking, so it’s better to make the pieces a little smaller than you initially think they should be.

They don’t have to be perfectly shaped or evenly sized. The rustic pieces are part of what makes homemade lasagna soup so easy.

Can I cook the ground beef separately?

Absolutely. In fact, this is a great option if you’re worried about your soup becoming greasy.

Cook the ground beef completely in a separate skillet, drain all of the excess grease, and then transfer the cooked beef into your soup pot.

Why is my lasagna soup greasy?

The most common reason is excess fat from the ground beef. After browning your beef, carefully drain the excess grease before adding the remaining ingredients.

Choosing a leaner ground beef can also help.

Can I use beef broth instead of chicken broth?

Yes. You can use chicken broth, beef broth, or a mixture of both.

Beef broth will generally create a deeper and slightly richer flavor, while chicken broth provides a lighter base that allows the tomato, garlic, cheese, and seasonings to stand out.

Can I use ground turkey instead of ground beef?

Yes. Ground turkey can easily be substituted for ground beef if you prefer it. Ground Italian sausage would also be delicious and would give the soup an even stronger Italian-inspired flavor.

You could even use half ground beef and half Italian sausage.

Can I add spinach to lasagna soup?

Definitely. Fresh baby spinach is an easy addition. Stir a few handfuls into the soup toward the end of cooking and let the leaves wilt before serving.

It’s an easy way to add vegetables without changing the basic recipe too much.

Can I make lasagna soup spicy?

Yes. Add crushed red pepper flakes with your other seasonings or use spicy Italian sausage in place of some or all of the ground beef.

You can also serve red pepper flakes on the side so everyone can adjust the heat level in their individual bowls.

What if my lasagna soup gets too thick?

This is completely normal. Pasta absorbs liquid both while cooking and while sitting in the soup.

Simply stir in additional chicken broth or beef broth until the soup reaches your desired consistency. You may also want to taste it again after adding more broth and adjust the salt and seasonings if necessary.

Can I make lasagna soup ahead of time?

Yes, although pasta is always best when freshly cooked.

If you know you’re preparing the soup significantly ahead of time, one option is to prepare the soup base without the lasagna noodles. When you’re ready to serve, bring the soup back to a simmer and cook the pasta in the broth.

This helps prevent the noodles from becoming overly soft.

What cheese goes on top of lasagna soup?

Ricotta is my favorite finishing cheese because it gives every bowl that classic lasagna flavor. Add a large spoonful of ricotta to the center of the bowl and finish it with extra Parmesan.

You can also add additional shredded mozzarella if you want an extra-cheesy bowl.

Can I make this lasagna soup without heavy cream?

Yes. The heavy cream gives the soup a richer, creamier texture, but it can be omitted if you prefer a more traditional tomato-based broth.

The mozzarella, Parmesan, and ricotta will still provide plenty of creaminess and cheesy flavor.

Can I freeze lasagna soup?

You can freeze lasagna soup, but for the best texture, I recommend freezing the soup base without the pasta, cream, and finishing cheeses.

Pasta can become very soft after freezing and reheating, while cream-based soups can sometimes change texture.

Prepare the tomato and beef portion, cool it completely, and freeze it in an airtight freezer-safe container. When you’re ready to serve it, thaw and reheat the soup, then add the cream and cook fresh lasagna noodles directly in the broth. Finish with your cheeses as usual.

Is lasagna soup good for a family dinner?

Yes! This recipe serves approximately 4–6 people and is especially good for a cozy family dinner because it’s hearty enough to be the main course.

Add garlic bread and a salad, and you have an easy dinner that feels like classic comfort food without having to assemble an entire pan of lasagna.

Why You’ll Want to Make This Cozy Lasagna Soup All Season Long

There are certain recipes that just belong in the fall and winter dinner rotation, and this easy cozy lasagna soup is definitely one of them. It’s warm, cheesy, hearty, creamy, and packed with the comforting flavors we associate with a homemade pan of lasagna, but it requires significantly less preparation.

From the buttery sautéed onions and garlic to the savory ground beef, concentrated tomato paste, creamy tomato broth, tender pieces of lasagna pasta, melted mozzarella, Parmesan, and that final scoop of ricotta, every layer of this soup brings something delicious to the bowl.

Make a big pot for Sunday dinner, serve it on a chilly weeknight, or add it to your list of cozy fall and winter soup recipes. Just make sure you have plenty of Parmesan and ricotta ready for topping—because when it comes to lasagna soup, the extra cheese might be the best part.