Easy Crockpot Lasagna Soup (Hearty, Cheesy & Family-Friendly!)

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 6-8 hours (low) or 3-4 hours (high) | Total Time: 6-8 hours | Servings: 8 | Difficulty: Easy

Imagine all the incredible flavors of classic Italian lasagna—rich tomato sauce, savory ground beef and Italian sausage, tender pasta, and three kinds of melted cheese—transformed into a hearty, comforting soup that practically cooks itself in your slow cooker! This easy crockpot lasagna soup delivers all the indulgent goodness you crave without the hassle of layering noodles or dirtying multiple dishes. Simply brown your meat, toss everything into the crockpot, and let it simmer into pure comfort food magic. Whether you’re feeding a hungry family on a busy weeknight, need a cozy meal for chilly weather, or want impressive leftovers for the week ahead, this soup delivers every single time. It’s loaded with protein, packed with Italian flavors, and topped with a dreamy mixture of ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan that makes every spoonful taste like a slice of lasagna. Don’t forget to follow us on Pinterest for more delicious recipes!

Why You’ll Love This Crockpot Lasagna Soup Recipe

This crockpot lasagna soup is an absolute game-changer for busy home cooks! It requires minimal hands-on time—just brown the meat, dump everything in the slow cooker, and walk away while it transforms into something magical. The combination of ground beef and Italian sausage creates incredible depth of flavor, while the three-cheese topping (ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan) adds that signature lasagna creaminess. It’s incredibly versatile and customizable to suit dietary needs or ingredient availability. The leftovers taste even better the next day as the flavors meld together. Plus, it’s a complete meal in one pot—no need for complicated sides!

What You Need for Crockpot Lasagna Soup

For the Soup Base

  • 1 pound ground beef – 80/20 blend works perfectly for flavor
  • 1 pound Italian sausage – mild or spicy based on preference
  • 1 medium yellow onion – diced, adds sweet savory depth
  • 3 cloves garlic – minced fresh for aromatic flavor
  • 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes – creates rich tomato base
  • 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce – adds smooth consistency
  • 4 cups beef broth – use low-sodium for better control
  • 2 cups water – thins soup to perfect consistency
  • 8 ounces lasagna noodles – broken into bite-sized pieces

Seasonings and Cheese

  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning – blend of oregano, basil, thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil – classic Italian herb
  • 1 teaspoon salt – adjust to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper – freshly ground preferred
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese – whole milk for creaminess
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese – freshly shredded, never pre-shredded
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese – freshly grated for best flavor
  • Fresh parsley – chopped, for garnish and freshness
Hearty crockpot lasagna soup in white bowl with ground beef, Italian sausage, tender pasta, melted three-cheese topping, and fresh parsley on wooden board

Easy Crockpot Lasagna Soup (Hearty, Cheesy & Family-Friendly!)

Hearty slow cooker lasagna soup with ground beef, Italian sausage, tender pasta, and three cheeses. All the flavors of lasagna in an easy one-pot soup!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 15 minutes
Course Main Course, Soup
Cuisine American, Italian
Servings 8 bowls
Calories 450 kcal

Equipment

  • 6-quart slow cooker or larger
  • Large skillet
  • Wooden spoon
  • Ladle
  • Knife and cutting board
  • Small bowl for cheese mixture

Ingredients
  

For the Soup Base

  • 1 pound ground beef 80/20 blend for best flavor
  • 1 pound Italian sausage mild or spicy based on preference, casings removed
  • 1 medium yellow onion diced, about 1 cup
  • 3 cloves garlic minced fresh for best flavor
  • 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes creates rich tomato base
  • 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce adds smooth consistency
  • 4 cups beef broth low-sodium recommended for better control
  • 2 cups water adjusts soup consistency

Seasonings

  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning blend of oregano, basil, thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil classic Italian herb
  • 1 teaspoon salt adjust to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper freshly ground preferred

Pasta and Cheese

  • 8 ounces lasagna noodles broken into bite-sized pieces, add last 30 minutes
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese whole milk for best creaminess
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese freshly shredded, never pre-shredded
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated for best flavor
  • fresh parsley chopped, for garnish

Instructions
 

  • Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and Italian sausage. Break apart with wooden spoon and cook 7-10 minutes until completely browned with no pink remaining.
  • Drain excess fat if needed, leaving about 1 tablespoon in skillet. Transfer browned meat to 6-quart slow cooker.
  • In the same skillet with reserved drippings, add diced onion. Sauté 3-4 minutes until softened and translucent.
  • Add minced garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant. Scrape onion and garlic into slow cooker with meat.
  • Pour crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, and water into slow cooker. Add Italian seasoning, dried basil, salt, and black pepper. Stir until well combined.
  • Cover slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours until flavors meld together.
  • About 30 minutes before serving, break lasagna noodles into bite-sized pieces (1-2 inches long). Stir into soup.
  • Turn slow cooker to high if on low. Cover and cook 20-30 minutes, stirring once halfway, until noodles are tender but not mushy.
  • While noodles cook, mix ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheeses together in a small bowl until combined.
  • Taste soup and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
  • Ladle hot soup into bowls. Top each serving with generous dollop of cheese mixture and sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley. Serve immediately.

Notes

Don’t add noodles too early or they’ll become mushy. Drain fatty meat well to prevent oily soup. Use freshly shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan for best melting. Store cheese topping separately from soup. Soup thickens when refrigerated; thin with beef broth when reheating. Freeze soup base without noodles or cheese for up to 3 months. Add fresh noodles and cheese when reheating frozen soup. Makes 8 generous servings. Leftovers taste even better next day.
Keyword crockpot lasagna soup, easy slow cooker soup, Hearty Soup, italian soup, lasagna soup, slow cooker lasagna soup

How to Make Crockpot Lasagna Soup (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Browning the Meat (10 minutes)

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and Italian sausage, breaking them apart with a wooden spoon as they cook. Cook for 7-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the meat is completely browned with no pink remaining. If there’s excessive fat, drain most of it but leave about 1 tablespoon for flavor. Transfer the browned meat to your 6-quart slow cooker. This browning step is crucial—it develops deep, savory flavors that make the soup taste restaurant-quality!

Step 2: Sautéing Aromatics (5 minutes)

In the same skillet with the reserved meat drippings, add the diced onion. Sauté for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion softens and turns translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until wonderfully fragrant. The residual heat from the pan will release the garlic’s aromatic oils without burning. Scrape all the onion and garlic into the slow cooker with the meat—these aromatics are the foundation of incredible flavor!

Step 3: Adding Base Ingredients (5 minutes)

Pour the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, and water into the slow cooker. Sprinkle in the Italian seasoning, dried basil, salt, and black pepper. Stir everything together thoroughly until well combined. The liquid should fully cover the meat and vegetables. Cover the slow cooker with the lid and set it to low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. This long, slow simmer allows all the flavors to meld together beautifully.

Step 4: Adding Noodles and Cheese (30 minutes before serving)

About 30 minutes before you’re ready to serve, break the lasagna noodles into bite-sized pieces (approximately 1-2 inches long). Stir them gently into the soup. Turn the slow cooker to high if it was on low. Cover and cook for 20-30 minutes, stirring once halfway through, until the noodles are tender but not mushy. While the noodles cook, mix the ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheeses together in a small bowl. This cheese mixture is the magical topping that makes every bowl taste like authentic lasagna!

Expert Tips for Perfect Crockpot Lasagna Soup

Don’t add the noodles too early—they’ll become mushy and absorb too much liquid. Wait until the last 30 minutes for perfectly tender pasta. If your meat is particularly fatty, drain most of the grease after browning to prevent an oily soup. Taste the soup before serving and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed—every brand of broth has different sodium levels. Use freshly shredded mozzarella and freshly grated Parmesan for the best melting quality; pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents that affect texture. For maximum flavor, use fresh basil and parsley when available. This soup freezes beautifully—make a double batch for easy future meals! If you love hearty Italian soups, try our Sausage Tortellini Soup for another cozy option!

How to Store and Serve Crockpot Lasagna Soup

Store leftover lasagna soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Keep the cheese topping separate to maintain its fresh texture—add it to individual bowls when reheating. For freezing, cool the soup completely and pour it (without the cheese topping) into freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw frozen soup overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. To reheat, warm gently on the stovetop over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through. Add a splash of beef broth if the soup has thickened too much during storage. Microwave individual portions in microwave-safe bowls for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through. Serve the hot soup in deep bowls with a generous dollop of the cheese mixture on top and a sprinkle of fresh parsley. Pair with crusty garlic bread, our Garlic Bread, or a crisp Caesar salad for a complete Italian feast!

Crockpot Lasagna Soup Recipe Variations You’ll Love

Make it vegetarian by replacing the ground beef and Italian sausage with plant-based meat alternatives, or add extra vegetables like diced zucchini, bell peppers, and mushrooms. Use vegetable broth instead of beef broth. For a spicy kick, add 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes with the other seasonings or use hot Italian sausage instead of mild. Swap the lasagna noodles for penne, rotini, or any short pasta shape you have on hand—cooking time remains the same. Create a creamy version by stirring in 1/2 cup heavy cream just before serving for a richer, more indulgent broth. Make it low-carb by replacing the lasagna noodles with spiralized zucchini or cauliflower florets added during the last 10 minutes. Try different cheese combinations like adding fontina or provolone to the cheese mixture. If you enjoy hearty slow cooker meals, check out our Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup for another restaurant-inspired favorite!

Frequently Asked Questions About Crockpot Lasagna Soup

Can I make crockpot lasagna soup on the stovetop instead?

Absolutely! Brown the meat and sauté the onion and garlic in a large pot. Add all remaining ingredients (except noodles and cheese) and simmer for 20-30 minutes. Add the lasagna noodles and cook for 10-12 minutes until tender. Top with cheese mixture and serve.

Can I use gluten-free noodles in this soup?

Yes! Swap regular lasagna noodles for gluten-free pasta. Check the package cooking time as gluten-free noodles may cook faster or slower. Add them during the last 15-20 minutes and check frequently for doneness.

Should I freeze lasagna soup with or without the noodles?

It’s best to freeze the soup without the noodles, as pasta can become mushy when frozen and reheated. Freeze just the broth base, then add fresh noodles when reheating for optimal texture.

What other cheeses can I use besides ricotta?

Cottage cheese makes an excellent ricotta substitute with similar texture and protein content. You can also use more mozzarella for extra stretchiness, or swap Parmesan for Asiago or Romano for a sharper, more intense flavor.

Final Thoughts on This Crockpot Lasagna Soup Recipe

This crockpot lasagna soup delivers all the comfort and satisfaction of traditional lasagna in an easy, hands-off format that fits perfectly into busy lifestyles! The slow cooker does all the work while you go about your day, and the result is a rich, hearty soup loaded with meat, pasta, and melted cheese. Serve it with our Homemade Ciabatta Bread or Italian Herbs and Cheese Bread for dipping. The leftovers taste even better the next day, making this perfect for meal prep. It’s family-friendly, freezer-friendly, and endlessly customizable to suit your preferences. Once you try this recipe, it’ll become a regular in your dinner rotation! Love this recipe? Save it to your Pinterest boards and follow us on Pinterest for more amazing recipes!

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating