Hearty Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup: Easy Weeknight Comfort Food Recipe
Imagine all the rich, savory, and incredibly comforting flavors of classic lasagna, but without the intricate layering and lengthy baking time. This Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup brings you exactly that – a deeply satisfying and wonderfully easy one-pot meal that’s perfect for any occasion. It’s packed with tender lasagna noodles, rich Italian sausage, and a robust tomato broth, all crowned with a trio of melty, creamy cheeses. This recipe transforms a traditional favorite into a convenient slow cooker sensation, making it an absolute must-try for busy weeknights or cozy weekend dinners when you crave hearty comfort food without the fuss.
If you’re a fan of warming, family-friendly meals that practically cook themselves, like my Slow Cooker Zuppa Toscana Soup or my incredibly popular Slow Cooker Rotel Creamy Chicken Pasta, then this easy lasagna soup recipe is about to become your new kitchen hero. It delivers all the beloved taste of lasagna in a simple, scoopable form, perfect for chilly evenings or when you need a soul-soothing meal with minimal effort.
And don’t forget to round out your meal with something sweet! My delightful Berry Cobbler offers the perfect sweet ending to this savory and satisfying feast. It’s the ultimate way to complete a truly memorable comfort food experience.
This Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup truly captures the authentic flavor of classic lasagna, all simmered together in a single, hearty pot. Crafted with savory Italian sausage, perfectly cooked noodles, and a rich blend of cheeses, it offers a warm, comforting, and incredibly satisfying dinner that requires surprisingly little prep time. It’s the ideal solution for busy households looking for maximum flavor with minimal kitchen hassle.
For more inspiration to keep you warm and cozy, explore my curated list of 15 Cozy Slow Cooker Soups to Make This Fall: https://www.juliapacheco.com/15-cozy-slow-cooker-soups-to-make-this-fall/
Watch Me Make This Easy Lasagna Soup!
See exactly how simple it is to bring this incredible Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup to life in your kitchen. This video walks you through each step, ensuring you achieve perfect results every time.
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Why You’ll Love This Easy Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup Recipe
This Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup is more than just a meal; it’s a culinary hug in a bowl, designed for maximum flavor with minimum fuss. You’ll absolutely adore how this recipe delivers on comfort and convenience, making it a staple in your rotation. It truly is a set-it-and-forget-it dinner that tastes like you spent hours slaving over a hot stove. Every spoonful is a symphony of flavors and textures, loaded with perfectly tender noodles, a rich and deeply savory tomato broth, and an irresistible cheesy goodness that melts in your mouth. It’s the ultimate comfort food, ideal for chasing away the chill on cold nights or providing a satisfying meal on the busiest of days.
- ⏰ Total Time: Approximately 6 hours and 50 minutes, mostly hands-off slow cooking. This extended simmering time allows the flavors to meld beautifully, creating a depth that rushed meals simply can’t achieve.
- 🍂 Perfect For: This soup shines during cozy weeknights when time is precious, heartwarming family dinners where everyone craves comfort, or any cold day when you need a meal that truly warms you from the inside out.
- 🛒 Key Ingredients: The star components include savory Italian sausage, classic lasagna noodles (broken for easy eating), robust marinara sauce, and a luscious blend of cottage cheese, mozzarella, and Parmesan. These simple ingredients come together to create an unforgettable flavor profile.
- 🍽️ Servings: This recipe generously yields 5 servings, making it perfect for a family meal or providing delicious leftovers for lunches throughout the week.
- 🥄 Skill Level: Easy! Whether you’re a novice cook or a seasoned pro, this recipe is incredibly straightforward, requiring basic cooking skills and minimal active prep.
- 🧊 Storage: Designed for convenience, this soup is both fridge and freezer friendly, allowing you to easily prepare it in advance or save portions for later.
For another incredibly popular and family-favorite slow cooker recipe, be sure to try my irresistible Slow Cooker Queso Chicken Tacos. They’re another testament to how delicious and simple slow cooker meals can be!
Made With Love,
Key Ingredients for the Best Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup
Crafting the perfect Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup begins with a selection of fresh, high-quality ingredients that truly capture the essence of traditional lasagna. Each component plays a vital role in building the rich flavors and comforting textures of this easy one-pot meal. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need:
- Italian Sausage: This is the heart of our soup, infusing it with that distinctive, savory Italian flavor that’s essential to any lasagna-inspired dish. The spices in Italian sausage (fennel, garlic, paprika) contribute significantly to the soup’s overall richness. For a leaner option without sacrificing flavor, ground turkey seasoned with a pinch of Italian seasoning works wonderfully as well.
- Crushed Tomatoes & Marinara Sauce: These two tomato-based powerhouses form the luscious, deeply flavorful base of the soup. Crushed tomatoes provide body and a vibrant tomato tang, while a good quality marinara sauce adds layers of herbaceous Italian flavor, making the broth incredibly rich and authentic.
- Beef Broth: More than just a liquid base, beef broth is crucial for balancing the acidity of the tomatoes and deepening the overall savory profile of the soup. It contributes to the hearty, substantial feel that makes this dish so satisfying.
- Lasagna Noodles: The namesake ingredient! Break these classic pasta sheets into smaller, bite-sized pieces before adding them to the slow cooker. This ensures every spoonful has that familiar chewy lasagna texture, without the effort of layering. They absorb the flavorful broth beautifully as they cook.
- Cheese Trio: No lasagna is complete without an abundance of cheese! This recipe calls for a delightful combination of cottage cheese, mozzarella, and Parmesan. Cottage cheese provides a creamy, slightly tangy element, mozzarella offers that irresistible stretch and mild, milky flavor, and Parmesan delivers a sharp, salty finish that ties all the flavors together. This trio ensures a rich, gooey, and utterly delicious cheesy finish.
For another incredibly comforting and hearty dinner, especially if you love savory Italian flavors, be sure to try my Slow Cooker Zuppa Toscana Soup. It’s another slow cooker gem that’s sure to please!
Full Ingredient List for Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup
Below is the complete list of ingredients you’ll need to create this amazing slow cooker lasagna soup. You’ll find specific measurements here, ensuring you have everything ready for a seamless cooking experience. Remember, precise ingredients are the secret to a perfectly balanced and flavorful soup!
- 1 lb ground Italian sausage (or substitute ground turkey for a lighter option)
- 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 4 ½ cups beef broth
- 24 oz jar marinara sauce
- 2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp pepper
- 6 uncooked lasagna noodles
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
🔒 The printable recipe card below includes the full ingredient list and exact amounts — perfect for saving or printing for later reference, making your grocery shopping and meal prep incredibly easy.
How to Make Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup: Step-by-Step Guide
Making this hearty Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup is incredibly straightforward, transforming classic lasagna flavors into a convenient, hands-off meal. Follow these simple steps for a perfect bowl of comfort:
Step 1: Brown the Sausage. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook and crumble your Italian sausage until it’s beautifully browned and thoroughly cooked. Browning the sausage properly is key to developing a rich flavor base for the soup. Once cooked, be sure to drain any excess grease to prevent the soup from becoming oily.
Step 2: Combine Ingredients in Slow Cooker. Transfer the cooked and drained sausage to your slow cooker. Then, add the crushed tomatoes, minced garlic, beef broth, marinara sauce, and your chosen seasonings (salt, Italian seasoning, pepper). Stir all these ingredients thoroughly to combine them well, ensuring all the flavors will meld together during the slow cooking process.
Step 3: Slow Cook the Soup Base. Cover the slow cooker and cook the soup base on the LOW setting for 6–7 hours, or on the HIGH setting for 4 hours. This long, slow simmer allows the tomato base and spices to develop a deep, rich flavor profile.
Step 4: Add Lasagna Noodles. Once the soup base has cooked, break the uncooked lasagna noodles into small, bite-sized pieces and stir them directly into the slow cooker. Continue to cook the soup on the HIGH setting for approximately 40 minutes, or until the noodles are perfectly tender. Adding them at the end prevents them from becoming mushy.
Step 5: Prepare the Cheese Mixture. In a small separate bowl, combine the cottage cheese, shredded Parmesan cheese, and shredded mozzarella cheese. Gently mix them together. This cheese blend will be stirred into the hot soup at the very end to create that signature creamy, cheesy lasagna finish.
Step 6: Finish and Serve. Once the lasagna noodles are tender and perfectly cooked, stir the prepared cheese mixture directly into the hot soup until the cheeses are melted and beautifully incorporated, creating a creamy, irresistible texture. Serve your hearty Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup immediately, garnished with a sprinkle of fresh herbs or extra Parmesan, and enjoy!
🔒 The complete step-by-step instructions are also conveniently available in the printable recipe card located below — don’t forget to save it for easy access in your kitchen!
Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup Variations: Customize Your Comfort
One of the best things about this Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup recipe is how incredibly versatile it is! You can easily adapt it to suit your taste preferences, dietary needs, or whatever ingredients you have on hand. Don’t hesitate to get creative and make this comfort food uniquely yours:
- Lighter Meat Options: For a lighter version of this hearty soup, easily substitute the ground Italian sausage with lean ground turkey or ground chicken. If using unseasoned ground meat, remember to add extra Italian seasoning and a pinch of red pepper flakes to mimic the flavor profile of Italian sausage.
- Boost Your Veggies: Enhance the nutritional value and add extra texture by stirring in finely diced zucchini, chopped bell peppers, or fresh spinach during the last 30 minutes of cooking. The spinach will wilt beautifully, adding a subtle earthy note.
- Ricotta for Richness: While cottage cheese provides a lovely creaminess, you can swap it for an equal amount of ricotta cheese for an even richer, more traditional lasagna-like flavor and smoother texture. Full-fat ricotta will yield the most decadent results.
- Alternative Pasta Shapes: If you don’t have lasagna noodles on hand, or simply prefer a different bite, feel free to use other small pasta shapes. Rotini, penne, cavatappi, or even small shells would work wonderfully. Just be sure to adjust the cooking time for the pasta according to package directions, adding them towards the end of the slow cooker cycle to prevent overcooking.
For another creamy slow cooker favorite that’s packed with flavor, you absolutely must try my Slow Cooker Rotel Creamy Chicken Pasta. It’s another excellent recipe for easy, delicious meals!
My Pro TipS
Expert Tips and Tricks for Perfect Lasagna Soup
Achieving the best possible Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup is simple when you know a few key tricks. These expert tips will ensure your soup is flavorful, perfectly textured, and a true crowd-pleaser every time:
- Break Noodles Evenly: When adding your lasagna noodles, ensure you break them into consistent 1–2 inch pieces. This isn’t just for ease of eating; it helps them cook more evenly and prevents them from clumping together in the soup.
- Timing is Key for Noodles: Always add your lasagna noodles (or any pasta) near the end of the slow cooking process. This crucial step prevents them from becoming mushy and ensures they retain a pleasant al dente texture. If added too early, they’ll absorb too much liquid and disintegrate.
- Brown Sausage Thoroughly: For maximum depth of flavor in your soup, don’t rush the browning of the Italian sausage. A good, golden-brown crust on the meat adds layers of savory, caramelized notes that are essential to the overall taste profile.
- Stir Cheese Just Before Serving: To achieve that perfect, creamy, and melty texture, stir in the cheese mixture (cottage cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan) just before you’re ready to serve. This prevents the cheeses from separating or becoming grainy from prolonged heat, ensuring a smooth and luxurious finish.
Recipe FAQ: Your Questions Answered for Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup
Got questions about making this delicious Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup? Here are some frequently asked questions to help you master this comforting recipe:
Absolutely! If you have a preference for firmer noodles or simply want to have more control over their texture, you can cook them on the stovetop according to package directions. Once cooked al dente, stir them into the soup just before serving. This method also works well if you plan on freezing portions of the soup without pasta.
Yes, this Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup is excellent for meal prep! You can prepare the soup base (everything except the noodles and the final cheese mixture) up to 2 days in advance. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to eat, reheat the soup base gently on the stovetop or back in the slow cooker, then add the broken noodles and cook until tender, followed by the cheese mixture.
Yes, leftovers freeze beautifully! For best results, it’s recommended to freeze the soup without the cheese mixture (and ideally without the noodles, or with noodles cooked separately and added upon reheating). Allow the soup to cool completely, then transfer it to freezer-safe containers or bags. It can be frozen for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat gently on the stove, adding fresh noodles and cheese at that point if desired.
Certainly! While Italian sausage provides a classic flavor, feel free to experiment with other ground meats. Ground turkey, lean ground beef, or ground chicken all work exceptionally well. If using a milder meat, you might want to increase the Italian seasoning or add a pinch of fennel seeds to achieve that distinctive Italian profile.
👉 For another comforting slow cooker soup classic that’s packed with vegetables and flavor, don’t miss my Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup.
Serving Suggestions for Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup
This Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup is a complete and satisfying meal all on its own, but pairing it with the right accompaniments can elevate your dining experience even further. Here are some delicious ideas to serve alongside your cozy bowl of lasagna soup:
- Garlic Bread or Breadsticks: The ultimate companion! Crusty garlic bread or warm, soft breadsticks are perfect for soaking up every last drop of the rich, savory broth.
- Fresh Green Salad: A crisp, light green salad with a simple vinaigrette provides a refreshing contrast to the hearty and rich flavors of the soup, adding freshness and balance to the meal.
- Extra Parmesan: For true cheese lovers, a generous sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan cheese on top of each serving is highly recommended. It adds an extra layer of salty, umami goodness that enhances the overall flavor.
- Berry Cobbler for Dessert: Conclude your comforting meal with a warm and fruity berry cobbler. Its sweet and tangy notes provide a delightful finish to the savory main course.
Make-Ahead, Storage & Reheating Instructions
This Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup is fantastic for meal planning and enjoying delicious leftovers. Knowing how to properly store and reheat it ensures you can savor its comforting flavors whenever you like.
- Fridge: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The noodles may soften further, but the flavors will continue to meld beautifully.
- Freezer: For longer storage, freeze the soup for up to 2 months. For best results, it’s recommended to freeze the soup base without the cheese mixture (and ideally without the noodles). If freezing with noodles, be aware they may become softer upon reheating.
- Reheat: To reheat, gently warm portions on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until heated through. Alternatively, microwave individual servings in a microwave-safe bowl. If you froze the soup without cheese, stir in a fresh batch of the cheese mixture just before serving for that perfect creamy, melty finish.
More Great Slow Cooker Recipes for Easy Meals
If you loved the simplicity and flavor of this Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup, you’re in for a treat! The slow cooker is a magical kitchen tool for creating incredibly delicious, hands-off meals. Discover more of my favorite easy slow cooker recipes that are perfect for busy schedules and comforting family dinners.
Soups + Stews
Slow Cooker Zuppa Toscana Soup
Soups + Stews
Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup
Chicken
Slow Cooker Rotel Creamy Chicken Pasta
Chicken
Slow Cooker Queso Chicken Tacos
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Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup
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Ingredients
- 1 lb Italian sausage
- 28 oz crushed tomatoes
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 4 ½ cups beef broth
- 24 oz marinara sauce
- 2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp pepper
- 6 uncooked lasagna noodles
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Cook sausage; drain grease.
- Add sausage, tomatoes, garlic, broth, marinara, and seasoning to slow cooker.
- Cook on LOW 6–7 hours or HIGH 4 hours.
- Add broken noodles; cook 40 minutes on HIGH.
- Mix cheeses; stir into soup and serve.
Notes
- Use ground turkey for a lighter version.
- Freeze without cheese mixture for up to 2 months.
- Add spinach for extra veggies.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.