Why You’ll Love this Cozy Italian Lasagna Soup
When winter chills settle into your bones, nothing warms you up quite like a steaming bowl of this Italian Lasagna Soup.
It’s all the comforting flavors of traditional lasagna, transformed into a hearty, slurpable soup. I’m talking about savory Italian sausage, tender pasta, and melty cheese in every spoonful.
What makes it truly special? The convenience factor.
While traditional lasagna demands hours of assembly, this soup comes together in about 30 minutes. Plus, that magical moment when the provolone melts into the hot broth? Pure comfort food bliss, without all the fuss.
What Ingredients are in Cozy Italian Lasagna Soup?
This soul-warming lasagna soup brings together the rich flavors of traditional Italian cooking in a convenient, slurp-worthy package. I absolutely adore how this recipe transforms the classic layered pasta dish into something you can enjoy by the spoonful. The beauty lies in its simple ingredient list, which creates complex flavors with minimal effort—just the kind of cooking we need during busy weeknights when comfort food cravings hit hard.
- 1 pound bulk Italian sausage
- 2 cups chopped onions
- 1 cup diced carrots
- 2 cups sliced mushrooms
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 (14½ ounce) can Italian-style stewed tomatoes, chopped
- 1 (10¾ ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 cup mafalda pasta (or campanelle pasta)
- 2 cups fresh chopped spinach
- 1 cup diced provolone cheese (or fresh mozzarella)
- ¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese (for garnish)
- 4 teaspoons thinly sliced fresh basil (for garnish)
When shopping for ingredients, seek out good quality Italian sausage—it forms the flavor foundation of the entire soup. Can’t find mafalda pasta, those mini lasagna-shaped noodles? No worries, campanelle works beautifully, or even broken lasagna noodles in a pinch. The cheeses are where you can really play around: while provolone offers a perfect tang, fresh mozzarella creates those irresistible stretchy cheese pulls that make soup-eating a delightfully messy experience. For vegetarians in the family? Simply swap the sausage for plant-based alternatives and use vegetable broth instead of chicken.
How to Make this Cozy Italian Lasagna Soup
Making this hearty Italian soup is almost embarrassingly simple—the kind of cooking that makes you look like a kitchen wizard while barely breaking a sweat.
Start by browning 1 pound of bulk Italian sausage in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. This creates that beautiful flavor foundation that’ll carry through the entire dish. Once the sausage has developed those gorgeous caramelized bits (you know, the ones you secretly scrape off the pan when nobody’s looking), add 2 cups of chopped onions and 1 cup of diced carrots. Let these veggies sauté for about 3 minutes until they begin to soften.
Next comes the fun part—toss in 2 cups of sliced mushrooms and 2 tablespoons of minced garlic, continuing to sauté for another 3 minutes. The kitchen smells absolutely incredible at this point, doesn’t it?
Now add 4 cups of chicken broth, one 14½-ounce can of chopped Italian-style stewed tomatoes, and one 10¾-ounce can of tomato sauce. Bring this aromatic mixture to a boil before dropping in 1 cup of mafalda pasta (those adorable mini lasagna-shaped noodles). Reduce to a simmer and cook until the pasta reaches your preferred tenderness, about 10 minutes or according to the package directions.
Just before serving, stir in 2 cups of fresh chopped spinach and watch it wilt into the soup, adding both nutrition and a pop of color.
For authentic flavor and presentation, consider using premium Mexican cookware which provides excellent heat distribution and gives your Italian dishes an unexpected but delightful twist.
The finishing touch is what transforms this from ordinary soup to something special. Place ¼ cup of diced provolone or fresh mozzarella cheese at the bottom of each serving bowl before ladling the hot soup on top. The cheese melts into the broth, creating those irresistible strings with every spoonful—honestly, it’s like the comfort food equivalent of a warm hug.
Garnish each bowl with a sprinkle of shredded Parmesan cheese and those fragrant slivers of fresh basil. And might I suggest serving with crusty garlic bread for dunking? Not officially part of the recipe, but some rules are meant to be broken.
Cozy Italian Lasagna Soup Substitutions and Variations
The beauty of this lasagna soup recipe lies in its flexibility—you’re never locked into using specific ingredients if you need to make changes.
Don’t have Italian sausage? Ground beef, turkey, or even plant-based meat works beautifully.
Vegetarians can skip the meat entirely and double the mushrooms for heartiness.
No mafalda pasta? Any short pasta shape captures the lasagna essence—bowties, rotini, or broken lasagna noodles are perfect substitutes.
For the cheese, ricotta dollops create that authentic lasagna layer feeling.
And the greens? Kale or arugula can replace spinach when needed.
Dairy-free? Nutritional yeast provides that cheesy flavor without actual cheese.
What to Serve with Cozy Italian Lasagna Soup
When you’ve got a steaming bowl of lasagna soup ready to serve, what accompaniments will round out your meal perfectly?
I always reach for crusty garlic bread—there’s something magical about dunking that buttery, herb-flecked goodness into rich tomato broth.
A simple Caesar salad with homemade dressing provides a crisp, invigorating contrast to the hearty soup.
The tangy, garlic-forward flavors complement the Italian theme beautifully.
For a truly indulgent meal, why not serve cannoli or tiramisu for dessert?
The sweet finale balances the savory start.
And let’s be honest, who doesn’t love ending an Italian feast with something sweet?
Final Thoughts
After simmering and savoring this lasagna soup, I’m convinced it’s the perfect solution for those nights when you crave Italian comfort food but don’t have the time for traditional layered lasagna.
The combination of savory Italian sausage, tender pasta, and melty cheese delivers all those classic flavors in just one pot.
What I love most about this recipe is its versatility.
Don’t have spinach? Toss in kale.
Prefer ground beef to sausage? Make the swap.
The soul of lasagna remains intact, just in a spoonable form that warms you from the inside out.
Comfort food shouldn’t be complicated, right?
