If you love classic Italian lasagna, you’re going to love this comforting lasagna soup recipe. It combines the rich, savory flavors of traditional lasagna in a warm, hearty soup that’s simple to prepare and perfect for any occasion.
Whether you’re planning a family dinner, entertaining guests, or craving a cozy meal on a chilly evening, this easy lasagna soup delivers all the delicious flavors you love without the time and effort of assembling a traditional lasagna.
If you’re a fan of Italian food, there are plenty of delicious dishes to try. Pair fresh homemade pasta with Classic Marinara Sauce, or enjoy comforting favorites like Butternut Squash Ravioli and Three Cheese Ravioli made with homemade pasta.
This page contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click a link, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Key Takeaways:
- Lasagna soup brings classic lasagna flavors into a comforting soup. Instead of layering pasta and sauce in a baking dish, the ingredients are served together in a flavorful tomato-based broth.
- This is a vegetarian lasagna soup. The recipe uses plant-based beef instead of traditional ground beef or Italian sausage, making it a satisfying meat-free option.
- Homemade ricotta gnocchi makes this recipe unique. The soft ricotta-based dumplings add a creamy, cheesy element that sets this lasagna soup apart from many traditional versions.
- Lasagna noodles give the soup its signature texture. The noodles can be broken into smaller pieces before cooking, making them easier to serve and eat.
- The recipe is flexible. Crushed tomatoes, blended whole tomatoes, or home-canned tomatoes can be used, while egg noodles or another pasta can substitute for lasagna noodles when necessary.
- The toppings complete the dish. Ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, basil, or parsley add richness and fresh flavor to the finished soup.
Overview
Lasagna soup is a deconstructed version of traditional lasagna made with a tomato-based soup, pasta, Italian seasonings, and cheese. Instead of layering noodles, sauce, and cheese and baking them in a casserole dish, the ingredients are combined in soup form. This vegetarian lasagna soup uses plant-based beef, crushed tomatoes, vegetable broth, lasagna noodles, and Italian herbs, then finishes each bowl with ricotta gnocchi, mozzarella, ricotta, and fresh herbs. The result is a hearty and comforting meal that delivers many of the familiar flavors of lasagna in a warm soup.
SIS Tip - Simple is Smart Tip for Lasagna Soup.
When making a recipe, try to use the ingredients you already have in your pantry whenever possible. If you are missing an exact ingredient, look for a similar option that can work as a substitute. For example, you may not have home-canned tomatoes, vegetable broth, or lasagna noodles on hand. In that case, you can use egg noodles instead of lasagna noodles and purchase the broth and tomatoes you need. If you do not have crushed tomatoes but have whole tomatoes, simply blend them in a blender until they reach a similar consistency before adding them to the soup.
Neuro Nutrition Nugget - Tomatoes
Tomatoes are rich in antioxidants that help protect brain cells from oxidative stress, a process associated with cognitive decline and neurodegenerative conditions. Adding tomatoes to your diet regularly may support long-term brain health and help maintain mental sharpness. They are also an excellent source of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that has been studied for its potential role in supporting cognitive function, memory, and healthy brain aging.
Tomatoes are also packed with vitamin C, an important nutrient that supports normal brain function and helps protect cells from oxidative damage. They contain vitamin K as well, which plays a role in overall brain and nervous system health and may support healthy cognitive function as we age.
In addition to antioxidants and vitamins, tomatoes provide important nutrients such as folate and potassium. Folate contributes to the production of neurotransmitters, which help brain cells communicate effectively. Potassium supports proper nerve signaling and helps maintain the electrical activity needed for normal brain function. Together, these nutrients make tomatoes a simple and nutritious addition to a brain-healthy diet.
Make the Lasagna Soup Base
- Add the plant-based beef, such as Beyond Burger, to a large pot over medium-high heat. Use a meat masher or wooden spoon to break the beef into small pieces as it cooks. Continue cooking for about 6 to 8 minutes, or until browned.
- Add the onions to the pot with the plant-based beef and cook until they become soft and translucent. Stir in the garlic and cook just until fragrant, being careful not to let it burn. If using roasted garlic, add it at the same time as the onions.
- Stir in the crushed tomatoes, vegetable broth, and seasonings. Bring the mixture to a simmer and allow the flavors to combine.
- While the soup simmers, bring water to a boil in two 3-quart pots over high heat. In one pot, cook the lasagna noodles according to the package directions. Once cooked, drain the noodles and set them aside. Use the second pot to cook the gnocchi according to the package directions.
Make the Ricotta Gnocchi
- Spread the whole milk ricotta cheese over a paper towel and gently pat the top with another paper towel to remove excess moisture. Aim to absorb about 4 ounces of liquid. The ricotta should not stick to the paper towel, but if it does, simply scrape it off with a spatula.
- Transfer the drained ricotta to a medium bowl. Add the whole egg, flour, salt, and Parmesan cheese.
- Mix everything together until a soft ricotta gnocchi dough forms. If the dough remains too soft or sticky to handle, gradually add a few tablespoons of flour until it reaches a workable consistency.
- Using a bench knife, cut off portions of the dough and roll each piece into a rope about 1/2 to 2/3 inch wide. Cut the ropes into 1-inch pieces. For traditional gnocchi, shape each piece using a gnocchi board. This step is optional, and you can also leave the pieces as small, soft pillows.
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and carefully add the gnocchi. Cook until all of the gnocchi float to the surface, which indicates that they are fully cooked.
- Remove the cooked gnocchi from the boiling water and set them aside. These homemade ricotta gnocchi will be added to the soup as the ricotta component.
Finish and Serve the Lasagna Soup
- Add 8 to 10 gnocchi and one-quarter of the lasagna noodles to each soup bowl. You may have a few gnocchi left over. Stir the heavy cream into the soup, then ladle the hot soup over the gnocchi and lasagna noodles.
- In a small bowl, combine 1/2 cup mozzarella with 3/4 cup ricotta cheese. Add a dollop of the cheese mixture to the top of each bowl, then garnish with fresh basil or parsley.
- Serve immediately and enjoy this comforting, hearty soup.
Serve and enjoy
Pop over to my social media sites, where you’ll find exclusive pictures of what’s new in my gardens. Also, what new recipes I’m creating in my kitchen. I love your comments. So let me know what you think in the Leave a Reply section at the end of this blog. Please leave your first name at the end of your comment so I can reply to you by name.
Vegetarian Lasagne Soup
Equipment
- gnocchi board optional
- This page contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click a link, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you
- To see the ingredient amounts in metric units, click the blue "METRIC:" button between the ingredients and the instructions for this recipe.
Ingredients
Soup
- 1 lb plant-based beef
- 1 medium onion
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 28 ounce can of crushed tomatoes (see notes)
- 1 32 ounce container of vegetable broth
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 A small handful fresh chopped basil or 1 tbsp dried basil.
- ½ tsp dried chili flakes
- 8-10 lasagne noodles broken into pieces.
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup Freshly shredded mozzarella cheese for topping
- ¾ cup Ricotta cheese for topping when serving
Ricotta gnocchi
- 1 cup Whole Milk Ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp sea salt
- ½ cup fresh grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
Make the Soup
- Add the plant-based beef (Beyond burger) to a large pot over medium-high heat. Break apart the beef with a meat masher or wooden spoon. Cook until browned about 6-8 minutes.
- Add the onions to the pan of ground beef and cook until soft. Add the garlic and cook until just fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic. I used roasted garlic and added it at the same time as the onions.
- Add the crushed tomatoes, vegetable broth,and seasonings.
- While the soup is simmering heat two large pots of water over high heat. Cook the lasagne noodles in one pot according to the directions on the package. Drain when done and set aside. The other kettle will be used to cook the gnocchi.
Make the ricotta gnocchi
- While the soup is simmering,
- Spread the whole milk ricotta cheese out on a paper towel and pat it with another paper towel. You want to absorb about 4 ounces of liquid. Don't worry the cheese won't stick to the paper towel. If it sticks a bit, scrape it up with a spatula.
- Add the drained ricotta to a medium bowl and add the egg, egg yolks, flour, salt, and parmesan cheese.
- Form a soft ball of ricotta gnocchi dough. You may need to add several Tbsp. of flour if the dough is still too soft and sticky to work with.
- Cut off pieces of the dough and roll them into ropes about 1/2 to 2/3 of an inch wide. Cut into 1-inch pieces and shape into gnocchi with a gnocchi board. This is optional, and you can cook the little pillow pieces.
- Cook the gnocchi in boiling salted water. The gnocchi is cooked when all the pieces have floated to the top of the kettle of boiling water.
- Remove the gnocchi and set aside. The gnocchi is the ricotta cheese for the soup.
Finish and Serve
- Add 8-10 gnocchi and a quarter of the lasagna noodles to each soup bowl. You may have some gnocchi left over.
- Stir the heavy cream into the soup and ladle the soup over the gnocchi and lasagna noodles.
- Mix 1/2 cup of mozzarella and 3/4 cup of ricotta cheese. Add a dollop of the cheese to the top of each bowl. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley. Serve and enjoy
Video
Notes
Nutrition
FAQ for Lasagna Soup
Does Lasagna Soup have Health Benefits?
Does Lasagna Soup Build Muscles?
Is Lasagna Soup a Healthy Dinner?
Why is Lasagna Soup so Good?
Final Thoughts
Vegetarian Lasagna Soup is a comforting and flavorful way to enjoy all the familiar tastes of classic lasagna in a simple, satisfying bowl of soup. The combination of tomatoes, Italian herbs, lasagna noodles, plant-based protein, and creamy ricotta gnocchi creates a hearty meal that is perfect for a cozy family dinner or a chilly evening. What makes this recipe especially enjoyable is its flexibility. You can use different noodles, homemade or canned tomatoes, fresh garden herbs, and your favorite plant-based protein depending on what you have available. The result is a delicious vegetarian lasagna soup that brings together comfort, convenience, and wholesome ingredients in every bite.
