Hearty Crock Pot Lasagna Soup: Weeknight Comfort (Print Version)

Hearty Crock Pot Lasagna Soup is a simple, flavorful weeknight meal. Get cozy with this easy, cheesy slow cooker recipe, perfect for family dinners.

# Recipe Info:

Prep Time: 20 Minutes minutes
Cook Time: 4 Hours minutes
Total Time: 24 minutes
Servings: 6 Servings
Difficulty: Beginner
Cuisine: Italian-American
Dietary: Contains Meat, Dairy

# Ingredients:

→ Main Ingredients

01 - 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage
02 - 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
03 - 1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
04 - 4 cups beef broth (low sodium preferred)
05 - 8-10 lasagna noodles, broken into 1-inch pieces

→ Aromatics & Flavor Boosters

06 - 1 yellow onion, chopped
07 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 2 tsp Italian seasoning
09 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Creamy Elements

10 - 15 oz whole milk ricotta cheese
11 - 1.5 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
12 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving

→ Finishing Touches

13 - Fresh parsley or basil, chopped, for garnish

# Instructions:

01 - First things first, get that ground beef (or sausage, if you're feeling spicy!) browned in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Break it up with a spoon as it cooks. I always try to get a nice, deep brown on it because that's where all the flavor lives, you know? Once it's cooked through, drain off any excess fat. I usually just tilt the pan and use a spoon to scoop out the grease, being careful not to lose any of that precious meat. This step always makes my kitchen smell amazing, a promise of good things to come!
02 - Now, if you're using the same skillet, wipe it out a little if there's too much residual grease. Add a tiny bit of olive oil if needed, then toss in your chopped onion and minced garlic. Sauté them until they're softened and fragrant, about 5 minutes. This is where the magic starts to happen; the smell of garlic and onion cooking together is just... everything. I once got distracted by a phone call and burned my garlic here, and the whole soup had a bitter undertone. Learn from my mistakes, friend, keep an eye on it!
03 - Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, and beef broth to the skillet with the cooked meat and aromatics. Give it a good stir to combine everything. Bring it to a gentle simmer, just for a few minutes, to let those flavors start melding. This step really lets you see the potential of your Crock Pot Lasagna Soup. It's already smelling so rich and promising!
04 - Carefully pour the entire contents of your skillet into your trusty slow cooker. Put the lid on and set it to cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours. Honestly, I usually go for the low setting because I think it allows the flavors to deepen and become even more complex. It's the kind of set-it-and-forget-it cooking that makes weeknights so much easier. I've definitely thrown it in on high when I'm in a pinch, and it still turns out delicious, just maybe a little less developed.
05 - About 30-45 minutes before you're ready to serve, stir in your broken lasagna noodles. This is crucial! You don't want to add them too early, or they'll turn into mush. I've done that, and it's not pretty. Just let them cook until they're tender, but still have a little bite. Give it a stir every 10-15 minutes to make sure they don't stick together. This is where your Crock Pot Lasagna Soup really starts to look like the delicious meal it's about to be.
06 - Once the noodles are tender, stir in the ricotta cheese, mozzarella, and half of the Parmesan. Let it cook for another 10-15 minutes, or until the cheeses are melted and bubbly. The ricotta will create little pockets of creamy goodness, and the mozzarella will get wonderfully stringy. Ladle into bowls, top with the remaining Parmesan, and a sprinkle of fresh parsley or basil. It's an explosion of flavors and textures, just like a deconstructed lasagna, but in a bowl!

# Notes:

01 - Don't overcook the noodles! They can go from al dente to mush surprisingly fast in a slow cooker.
02 - Storage advice that actually works from my kitchen trials.
03 - Substitution I've tried that worked surprisingly well.
04 - Serving suggestion that makes this dish extra special.

# Equipment Needed:

01 - Large skillet
02 - slow cooker (6-quart or larger)

# Nutrition (Per Serving):

Calories: 450
Total Fat: 20g
Total Carbohydrate: 40g
Protein: 30g

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