Ingredients
Equipment
Method
Brown and build the broth
- Brown the ground beef in a large pot over medium-high heat, then drain the fat when it’s no longer pink.
- Sauté the diced onion in the same pot for 4 minutes, then add the minced garlic and tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes, stirring until fragrant.
- Add the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, beef broth, Italian seasoning, dried basil, dried oregano, red pepper flakes, and black pepper; bring to a boil.
Simmer the noodles
- Add the broken lasagna noodles to the boiling soup, reduce the heat to a gentle simmer (about 200°F–210°F/93°C–99°C), and cook for 10–12 minutes until tender.
- Season with salt and stir occasionally so the noodles don’t stick to the bottom of the pot.
Make and serve with the cheese dollop
- Mix the ricotta, shredded mozzarella, and parmesan into a cheese dollop, then let it sit briefly off-heat so it holds its shape.
- Serve the soup in bowls and add a very generous spoonful of the cheese dollop to each, topping with fresh basil so it starts to melt into the hot broth.
Notes
Pro tip: break the lasagna noodles into small pieces so they simmer evenly in the soup without becoming mushy. Store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 3 days; reheat gently on the stove. Freezing is not recommended for best noodle texture. For a lighter option, use 93% lean ground beef and part-skim mozzarella.
