All the comfort of classic lasagna—minus the layers, the fuss, and the pile of dishes. This One-Pot Lasagna Soup uses jarred marinara for max flavor with zero effort, and it’s ready faster than you can preheat the oven!
Let's get started!
Jump to:
Pull Up A Chair and Let's Chat!
Some nights you want lasagna…but you also want to be eating in the next 20 minutes. This Easy One-Pot Lasagna Soup gives you everything you love about the real deal—rich sauce, tender noodles, and that irresistible cheese situation—without the work. Thanks to jarred marinara (yes, we’re embracing convenience), you get all the flavor with none of the drama.
Let’s get into why this soup is such a win.
- One pot. Zero hassle. No layering, no baking, no marathon simmering.
- Jarred marinara = big flavor fast. It gives you a gorgeous, rich sauce base instantly.
- Comfort food but doable on a weeknight. Ready in ~30 minutes.
- Crowd-pleaser. Kids love it. Adults love it. Everybody wins.
- Flexible. Beef, sausage, turkey, or no meat at all—it all works.
What You'll Need and Why
Here’s what makes this soup taste like lasagna in a bowl.
- Ground beef or Italian sausage — Your flavor foundation; use turkey if you want it lighter.
- Jarred marinara — The magic shortcut; pick a brand you love.
- Chicken broth — Thins the sauce into a perfect soup consistency.
- Lasagna noodles — Broken into bite-size pieces so every spoonful is perfect.
- Onion, mushrooms & garlic — Classic aromatics that make everything taste better.
- Seasonings (Italian seasoning, salt, pepper) — Boost the flavor already in the marinara.
- Ricotta — The creamy “lasagna layer.”
- Mozzarella & parmesan — Melty, stretchy, salty goodness on top.
- Fresh basil — Optional but so good for brightness.
Swaps and Flavor-Boosting Variations
Make this cozy bowl work for whatever you need.
- Use cottage cheese instead of ricotta — The age-old swap and totally perfect here.
- Go lower-carb — Skip the noodles entirely (the soup is still amazing), or use zucchini or squash noodles.
- Add Italian sausage — Brown it with the ground beef for extra flavor and richness.
- Boost the veggies — Zucchini, kale, spinach, or even broccoli all taste fantastic in this soup.
- Make it creamy — Stir in a spoonful of ricotta or a splash of cream at the end.
- Make it vegetarian — Swap the meat for mushrooms or a mix of hearty veggies.
- Add heat — Chili flakes, Calabrian chili, or hot Italian sausage for a spicy kick.
Tips and Tricks
These little moves make a big difference.
- Cook the noodles separately if storing leftovers — Pasta sitting in soup = mush city. Keep them separate if you won’t eat it all at once.
- Finish with a drizzle of balsamic — Adds the perfect pop of tang and makes the whole bowl taste richer and brighter.
- Break the lasagna noodles into similar sizes — Ensures they cook evenly and every bite feels “lasagna-y.”
- Pulse the mushrooms in a food processor — They disappear into the soup, add tons of flavor, and sneak in extra nutrients (kid-proof!).
- Use a marinara you truly love — It’s the entire flavor backbone of this soup. Don’t skimp.
- Simmer gently — Hard boils can toughen the meat and overcook the noodles.
- Adjust thickness with broth — More broth = soupier. Less broth = thicker and stew-like.
- Season at the end — Marinara and sausage (if using) vary in salt; taste after everything comes together.
Easy Lasagna Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 (32 oz) jar marinara
- 4-6 cups chicken broth
- 8 oz mushrooms, minced
- 1 med yellow onion, diced
- ¼-½ lb lasagna noodles, broken into 2-inch pieces
- 1 (16 oz) container full fat ricotta
- 1 cup part skim mozzarella, shredded
- 1 cup parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, minced
- 1-2 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ tsp fresh ground pepper
Instructions
- In a large dutch oven, brown ground beef, mushrooms, and onions.
- Once the meat is cooked through and the veggies are soft, add the jar of marinara and broth.
- Bring to a boil and add the noodles, cooking until al dente.
- In a separate bowl, mix the ricotta, mozzarella, parmesan, Italian seasoning, fresh parsley, salt, and pepper together until combined.
- When the noodles have finished cooking, ladle the soup into a bowl. Add a generous scoop of the cheese mixture to the top. Stir it in and let it melt just a bit.
- Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
What to Serve With This Lasagna Soup
Turn this bowl into a full, cozy dinner.
- Garlic bread or Texas toast — Perfect for soaking up all that saucy broth.
- Simple green salad — Fresh and light to balance the richness.
- Caesar salad — Crunchy, creamy, and classic.
- Roasted veggies — Broccoli, zucchini, or green beans add brightness.
- Caprese-style side — Tomatoes, mozzarella, and balsamic keep things fresh.
- More cozy favorites:
Storage & Reheating
Here’s how to store this soup so it stays delicious.
- Fridge — Leftover lasagna soup will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. For best results, store the noodles separately so they don’t get mushy.
- Freezer (base only) — This soup freezes beautifully IF you leave out the noodles and cheese mixture. Pasta turns mushy when frozen, and the cheese mixture can separate when reheated.
- How to freeze — Portion the soup base into deli containers and freeze for up to 3 months.
- To reheat — Thaw, warm the soup on the stovetop, cook fresh noodles, and add the cheese mixture when serving.
You Asked, I Answered
Do you have to use lasagna noodles?
Nope! Use whatever pasta you love — elbows, rigatoni, shells, bowties… they all work.
Can you make this recipe gluten-free?
Yes. Just swap in your favorite certified gluten-free pasta.
Can I make this soup dairy-free?
Absolutely. Leave off the cheese mixture or use your favorite dairy-free swaps. A sprinkle of nutritional yeast is a great flavor boost.
Do I have to add the mushrooms?
No, but they add fantastic flavor and extra nutrients. Totally optional, but highly recommended.
Who’s Stirring the Pot?
Hi, I’m Ruth—recipe developer, comfort-food creator, and the voice behind Rufus For Real. I specialize in cozy, doable, flavor-packed meals for real-life kitchens, and I’m a firm believer that breakfast, dinner, and everything in between should be simple, satisfying, and impossible to mess up.
You’ll find me sharing even more comfort-food goodness, kitchen tips, and behind-the-scenes chaos over on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube (@rufusforreal everywhere).
If you love approachable recipes with a whole lot of personality, pull up a chair—there’s always room at this table.
Happy Cooking!
-Ruth aka Rufus
Sheila H says
LOVE this soup! So hardy and full of flavor, kids love it too! It's on our meal rotation in the winter!
Rufus says
Thank you so much for letting me know! It means the world to hear from you all!
Tonya D says
comfort soup at its finest! whole family loves it, we never have leftovers!
Rufus says
Thank you so much!