Ingredients
Scale
Creating this soul-soothing dish doesn’t require a pantry full of ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 8 lasagna noodles, broken into pieces
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil, for garnish (optional)
Feel free to substitute the ground beef with turkey, or go completely vegetarian by adding more vegetables like mushrooms and zucchini. The flexibility of this recipe is what makes it so delightful for families of all tastes.
Instructions
Let’s get cooking! Here’s how you can bring this comforting soup to life:
- In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef with the diced onion and minced garlic until the meat is no longer pink. Drain any excess fat.
- Transfer the cooked meat mixture to your crockpot.
- Add the chicken broth, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, dried basil, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper to the crockpot. Stir everything together.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours, or on high for 3-4 hours.
- About 30 minutes before serving, stir in the broken lasagna noodles. Cover and continue to cook until the noodles are tender.
- Before serving, mix the ricotta cheese with half of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Stir this creamy mixture into the soup.
- Top each bowl with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, and garnish with fresh basil if desired.
Cooking this soup always reminds me of the simplicity and beauty of letting flavors meld together over time, much like the best family memories.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: International