Description
Hearty Crockpot Lasagna Soup blends Italian comfort with convenient slow-cooking magic. Layers of pasta, rich tomato broth, and melted cheese create a satisfying meal for weeknight dinners that you’ll crave.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) ground beef
- 1 lb (454 g) Italian sausage (optional)
- 1 (28 oz/794 g) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (15 oz/425 g) can diced tomatoes
- 1 (6 oz/170 g) can tomato paste
- 4 cups (946 ml) beef broth
- 8 lasagna noodles, broken into pieces
- 1 cup (226 g) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup (226 g) ricotta cheese
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup (28 g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- ¼ tsp salt
Instructions
- Meat Preparation: Brown ground beef with onions in a skillet, draining excess fat to create a flavorful base for the soup.
- Aromatic Enhancement: Infuse minced garlic into the meat mixture, releasing its intense flavor profile for maximum depth.
- Liquid Foundation: Transfer the seasoned meat to the crockpot and blend crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, beef broth, and tomato paste into a rich, velvety liquid.
- Seasoning Fusion: Integrate Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes throughout the mixture, ensuring a balanced and complex flavor spectrum.
- Slow Cooking Process: Cover and allow the soup to simmer on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, developing robust and intricate taste layers.
- Noodle Integration: Thirty minutes before serving, break lasagna noodles into rustic fragments and gently fold them into the simmering liquid, allowing them to absorb the soup’s essence.
- Cheese Transformation: Stir in shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan until fully melted, creating a luxurious and creamy texture.
- Herbed Ricotta Topping: Blend ricotta with fresh parsley and a pinch of salt to create a bright, herbaceous garnish.
- Serving Finale: Ladle the steaming soup into bowls and crown with a generous dollop of herbed ricotta mixture, presenting a visually stunning and flavorful dish.
Notes
- Monitor Meat Browning: Properly brown ground beef to develop rich, caramelized flavors and eliminate excess fat, which prevents the soup from becoming greasy.
- Adjust Spice Levels: Customize red pepper flakes and seasonings to suit personal heat preferences, allowing flexibility for mild or spicier palates.
- Noodle Timing is Crucial: Add lasagna noodles only during the last 30 minutes of cooking to prevent over-softening and maintain a perfect al dente texture.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Stir cheese gradually and off direct heat to ensure smooth melting without clumping, creating a creamy, luxurious soup consistency.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 890 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg