TikTok's Lasagna Soup Reinvents Two Classic Comfort Foods

Any time of year can be soup season if you make a really tasty pot, and TikTok's viral lasagna soup is the kind of recipe you are going to want to make regardless of weather or season. As the name implies, it combines two tried-and-true comfort foods — soup and lasagna — for a hearty one-pot meal that can easily be modified to suit your preferences, dietary restrictions, or the ingredients you have on hand.

@eatpayylove

If you’ve never tried the viral lasagna soup, this is your sign to😍 This soup can be pretty filling so if you have leftovers, I recommend the @rubbermaidbrand brilliance glass containers! These containers are my all-time FAVORITE for food storage and will be perfect for storing all the soups you make this fall because they are 100% leak proof. They also have a beautiful stackable design to help you save space in your fridge and keep you organized🙌🏼 #RubbermaidPartner   Ingredients 1 onion 4 cloves garlic 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage or can do half and half 2 tbsp tomato paste 1 tsp each of dried oregano, dried parsley, red chili flakes, salt & pepper. 1 24 oz jar of marinara sauce 5 cups chicken broth ½ a box of lasagna sheets, broken up ½ cup heavy cream Fresh parsley, basil and spinach to your liking   Ricotta topping: Ricotta Mozzarella Parmesan Parsley Basil Plus, some of seasonings listed above I do the topping to taste so feel free to add as much or as little as you prefer!

♬ original sound – Christine Paytas

The dish starts by simply sauteing aromatics, and then adding in ground meat. Once cooked, a scoop of tomato paste and a jar of marinara sauce are added in to make a kind of meat sauce that you might even want to spoon over spaghetti. But, adding in chicken broth takes it into soup territory. Broken-up lasagna noodles are also cooked right in the flavorful tomato broth, and once they're tender, the whole pot gets finished with fresh herbs, baby spinach, and a drizzle of heavy cream for the perfect combination. 

Is it lasagna? Not quite. But slurping up noodles in a bright, creamy, meaty, sauce without the time or effort of layering and baking will definitely scratch that itch. Is it soup? Sort of, but it is richer, thicker, and heartier, so you won't be left feeling like you just drank a bunch of savory water.

This TikTok famous recipe falls somewhere in between a bowl of pasta, filling stew, and a comforting soup, and it provides a great opportunity to use up some items you may have stashed in your freezer — or the chance to take advantage of your well-stocked pantry. Onions and garlic make a great base, but vegetables like carrots, celery, bell peppers, and mushrooms would be nice additions as well. This recipe is also a perfect opportunity to use up reserved stems from hearty greens like collards, kale, and chard. 

Any ground meat or sausage crumbles will work. Just make sure the protein is on the leaner side so the dish doesn't end up greasy. You can also stir in shredded rotisserie chicken or braised beef at the end if you have leftovers laying around. As for the chicken broth, you can substitute it with any broth, stock, or some bouillon and water. Just avoid fish or shellfish products for this dish as the taste can be overpowering. Broken-up lasagna noodles make this dish special, but other dried pasta will do just fine, too. Perhaps opt for o-shaped anelli or anelletti for an adult Spaghetti-Os vibe.

To finish, fresh herbs like parsley, basil, tarragon, or oregano would all be lovely. The heavy cream adds a delightful decadence, but you can use some cream cheese, crème fraîche, full-fat yogurt, ricotta cheese, or whole milk instead. You can also skip it altogether if you want to keep the soup dairy-free.

Lasagna soup can also easily become a delicious vegetarian meal. Double down on the sauteed vegetables, and then use plant-based ground meat or sausage instead. If meat substitutes are not your vibe, brown lentils, garbanzos, or white beans can all stand in, too. Using finely chopped or riced cauliflower, summer squash, or mushrooms can also create a pleasantly meaty texture in lieu of any animal products.

Vegetable stock can bring the soup factor. But, one pro tip: Save your veggie scraps in a bag in the freezer, and then make a pot of stock on the stove or in the slow cooker once it is full. Don't skimp on the tomato paste, and make sure to deeply caramelize it, too. This will bring lots of umami richness, but you can also add a scoop of miso paste or a dash of soy sauce. 

When combined with the other ingredients, the flavor profile will still come off as Italian — it just provides a delicious depth of flavor that you can't quite put your finger on. For a creamy vegan finish, nutritional yeast, dairy-free parmesan, nut-based ricotta, or even a touch of coconut milk will bring this lasagna soup home.