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Cozy Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup

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A comforting, easy-to-make soup that captures the flavors of classic lasagna without the tedious assembly. This slow cooker recipe features tender pasta, savory meat, and creamy ricotta dollops for a hearty weeknight meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound lean ground beef (85/15 or 90/10)
  • 1/2 pound mild Italian sausage (optional)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 jars (24 oz each) high-quality marinara sauce
  • 2 cups low-sodium beef broth
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 8 ounces rotini or small shell pasta
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
  • 1 tablespoon parmesan cheese (for ricotta dollop)
  • Pinch of salt and black pepper (for ricotta dollop)
  • Fresh basil leaves, torn (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and Italian sausage (if using). Break up meat with a wooden spoon and cook until browned with no pink remaining.
  2. Drain excess fat from the skillet. Stir in diced onion and garlic during the last 2 minutes of cooking until softened.
  3. Transfer the meat mixture to a 6-quart slow cooker.
  4. Add marinara sauce, beef broth, tomato paste, dried oregano, dried basil, and red pepper flakes to the slow cooker. Stir until tomato paste is dissolved.
  5. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
  6. About 30 minutes before serving, add the dry pasta to the slow cooker. Stir to submerge noodles. Cover and cook on high for 30 minutes, checking at 25 minutes to prevent overcooking.
  7. While soup finishes, whisk ricotta cheese with parmesan, salt, and pepper until smooth.
  8. Turn off the slow cooker. Stir in half of the shredded mozzarella until melted.
  9. Ladle soup into bowls. Top with a generous dollop of seasoned ricotta, remaining mozzarella, and fresh basil.
  10. Let soup rest for 10 minutes before serving to allow flavors to settle.

Notes

[‘Do not skip browning the meat; it adds essential flavor depth.’, ‘Add pasta only in the last 30 minutes to prevent mushiness.’, ‘Season the ricotta dollop with parmesan and spices for better flavor.’, ‘For freezing, store soup without pasta. Cook pasta separately.’, ‘Use low-sodium broth and sauce to control salt intake.’]

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker lasagna soup, comfort food, easy dinner, italian soup, ground beef soup, ricotta dollop, weeknight meals

Find it online: https://zoeplate.com/cozy-slow-cooker-lasagna-soup-easy-comfort-food/