If you need to make this recipe, but are extra short on time, here are a few ideas that can help make this recipe even faster!
Use marinara sauce– A super quick way to add that classic tomato sauce flavor is by using a good, jarred marinara sauce in place of the tomatoes and Italian seasoning. It will already be pre-seasoned and ready to go. Use the same amount of marinara that you would the 3 cans of tomatoes, so about 44-45 ounces.
Swap in granulated seasonings– I always recommend fresh garlic and onions because they create the best flavor, but when you’re short on time you can skip the chopping. Use granulated garlic and onion to add flavor to the meat as it browns. You’ll need 1 tablespoon of onion powder, and 1 teaspoon of garlic powder.
Start with smaller noodles– Part of making lasagna soup is using the traditional noodles, but the actual flavor of the soup won’t be affected if you use a different type of pasta. You can skip the time it takes you to break noodles into the soup and instead use small pasta like elbows, shells, or bowties. Make sure you adjust how long you let them cook according to the package directions, that way they don’t end up mushy.
Recipe Variations
If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!
Spicy Lasagna Soup– Use a spicy Italian sausage and add crushed red pepper flakes to your seasonings to make this a spicy soup really easily. Start with 1/4 teaspoon of pepper flakes during the browning of the meat and taste it. If desired, add 1/4 teaspoon more at a time until the meat is spicy, then add in the remaining ingredients and cook as directed.
Spinach Lasagna Soup– Wash and dry 1 pound of fresh spinach or thaw 1 cup of frozen spinach and drain off the water. When the soup is finished cooking, stir in the spinach and let it wilt, then serve.
Veggie Lasagna Soup– Brown the meat and onions as directed. Slice one summer squash or zucchini into 1/2″ thick semi-circles. Then slice 1 cup of baby mushrooms. Add both to the browned ground meat and sauté for 1-2 minutes. Then continue with the recipe as directed.
Cheesy Lasagna Soup– This soup recipe can already be more or less cheesy depending on how much of the ricotta mixture you use, but if you want EXTRA cheesy lasagna soup, you can add mozzarella cheese over the top as well to make it extra cheesy and extra delicious!
Creamy Lasagna Soup– Once you stir in the ricotta this soup transforms to a creamy lasagna soup. To give it an extra rich creamy boost, you can also stir in 1-2 cups of heavy cream and a little extra salt to taste. This makes the soup extremely rich, velvety and creamy. If you love creamy comfort food, you will love this version.
Freezer Meal Instructions
