Imagine diving into a bowl of pure comfort that combines the classic flavors of lasagna with the convenience of a hearty soup! 🥄 Get ready to revolutionize your dinner routine with the most incredible Crockpot Lasagna Soup that will have your family begging for seconds. This mind-blowing recipe transforms the traditional lasagna into a soul-warming soup that's not just easy to make, but absolutely irresistible - and the best part? It's ready with minimal effort and maximum flavor!
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 4 hrs
Total Time: 4 hrs 15 mins
Cuisine: Italian
Serves: 6 servings
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 8 oz lasagna noodles, broken
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat, breaking it into small crumbles. Drain excess fat.
- Transfer the browned beef to the crockpot and add diced onions and minced garlic. Stir to combine.
- Pour in the crushed tomatoes and beef broth. Add Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix well to distribute seasonings evenly.
- Cover the crockpot and cook on LOW setting for 3-4 hours, allowing flavors to meld together.
- About 30 minutes before serving, break lasagna noodles into smaller pieces and add them to the crockpot. Stir gently to ensure noodles are submerged in the liquid.
- Cook for an additional 20-30 minutes until noodles are tender but not mushy.
- In a small bowl, mix ricotta cheese until smooth.
- When ready to serve, ladle the soup into bowls. Top each serving with a dollop of ricotta cheese and sprinkle shredded mozzarella on top.
- Let the cheese melt slightly and serve hot, optionally garnishing with fresh basil or parsley.
Tips
- • For the most tender meat, choose ground beef with a slightly higher fat content (80/20 works best) to ensure juiciness and rich flavor. • Break lasagna noodles into smaller, uneven pieces to create a more rustic, homemade feel in your soup. • Don't overcook the noodles - add them in the last 30 minutes to prevent them from becoming mushy and maintaining the perfect al dente texture. • For an extra flavor boost, consider using fresh garlic instead of pre-minced, and toast your Italian seasoning briefly in the skillet before adding to enhance its aromatic qualities. • If you want to make this recipe ahead, you can prepare the base soup and add noodles just before serving to prevent them from absorbing too much liquid. • Experiment with cheese variations - try adding a sprinkle of parmesan or a dollop of cream cheese for added richness.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 450kcal
Carbohydrates: 35g
Protein: 28g
Fat: 22g
Saturated Fat: 10g
Cholesterol: 85mg
