Description

A budget-friendly, one-pot creamy lasagna soup that tastes like comfort food without the hassle of traditional lasagna preparation. Perfect for busy weeknights and feeding a crowd.

Ingredients

Scale

1 lb ground beef (80/20 lean-to-fat ratio)
8 oz lasagna noodles (broken in half)
24 oz marinara sauce
32 oz beef broth (low-sodium)
½ cup heavy cream
15 oz ricotta cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium onion, chopped
Olive oil (optional, for cooking lean beef)

Instructions

Heat a large pot over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and break it up with a wooden spoon. Cook for 5-7 minutes until no longer pink. Drain excess fat if necessary, leaving some for flavor.
Reduce heat to medium. Add chopped onion and garlic to the beef. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until the onion is translucent and fragrant.
Pour in the marinara sauce and beef broth. Stir well, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Add the broken lasagna noodles and stir to submerge them in the liquid. Bring the mixture to a boil.
Once boiling, reduce heat to low. Cover the pot and simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until noodles are tender but not mushy. Add a splash of broth or water if the soup becomes too thick.
Turn off the heat. Stir in the heavy cream. Gently fold in the ricotta cheese to create pockets of cheese. Stir in half of the mozzarella cheese, allowing residual heat to melt it.
Serve hot with crusty bread or garlic toast. Top with remaining mozzarella and fresh basil if desired.

Notes

Break lasagna noodles in half for even cooking. Do not drain the ricotta cheese to maintain creaminess. If the soup is too thick, add reserved pasta water or broth. If using no-boil noodles, add extra liquid. This soup freezes well for up to 3 months; add extra liquid when reheating.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
Category: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian-American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bowl
Calories: 450
Sugar: 6
Sodium: 800
Fat: 22
Saturated Fat: 10
Carbohydrates: 35
Fiber: 2
Protein: 25

Keywords: lasagna soup, creamy soup, budget meal, one pot dinner, family meal, easy dinner, comfort food, ground beef recipes