TikTok Lasagna Soup is the perfect hybrid between two of the most beloved comfort foods, paired together in one simple, satisfying, scrumptious bowl.
I’m about to say something rather controversial, so please don’t judge me: I don’t like TikTok. There, I said it. I mean, what was wrong with good ol’ Instagram reels, or even better, the YouTube videos of yore, when you could watch your favorite home chef whip up a meal that would make you drool? Now, instead of a 30-minute tutorial, you have just 30 seconds or less to watch someone chop, dice, sauté, and plate an intricate dish. And if you’re lucky, you only have to pause and rewatch it a dozen times to understand how to replicate it at home.
Perhaps I’m simply too old for TikTok. And while I refuse to download the app and allow my attention span to be shortened further by yet another social media platform, I will admit that TikTok is full of many tempting viral recipes. It started with things like the viral baked tomato-feta pasta that my sister still swears by and Emily Mariko’s salmon bowl that comes together with just three main ingredients and also teaches home cooks an important, lesser-known hack when reheating fluffy rice.
The latest recipe to come out of the TikTokverse? Lasagna soup. It’s exactly how it sounds, and it’s perfect for those who’d rather slurp their pasta than bite into it. It’s lasagna simplified because, well, you’re getting the same deeply satisfying flavors without worrying about the precariously balanced structural integrity of a perfectly layered lasagna. The stakes are lower and much easier to achieve. Plus, it’s a novel way to serve a well-loved comfort dish. Try it, and you’ll see exactly why this delicious dish has earned its spot in TikTok’s hall of fame.
How did lasagna soup come to be?
It’s hard to pinpoint the exact origin of lasagna soup. Campbell’s released a recipe for it in the 1990s that brought it to the mainstream. As for how it took TikTok by storm? One of the creators you can thank is Danny Freeman, or @dannylovespasta, as he’s known on TikTok. Apparently inspired by a viral TikTok experiment testing how many sheets of lasagna it would take to stop a LEGO train, Danny made a video cooking lasagna soup in his kitchen. His method? Just mixing broken lasagna noodles into a pot of marinara and ground beef. The dish is a nod to the many Italian-inspired American dishes that have formed their way through history, like fettuccine Alfredo and chicken Parmesan—rarely authentic in their preparation, but marrying the flavors of familiar Italian dishes that you know and love into something fit for the American palate.
How do I store leftovers?
If you have any leftover lasagna soup, cool it down, cover it tightly with plastic wrap or transfer it to an airtight container, and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Simply reheat it on the stovetop when you’re ready to eat. For longer storage, it’s best to freeze the lasagna soup without the cheese in a freezer-safe container for 2-3 months. Then, when you’re ready to tuck in, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and reheat it on the stovetop.
My advice if you’re going to be batch-prepping this and freezing it to get you through the winter? Leave the noodles and cheese out of the initial soup base, and freeze the soup in portions. Then, when you’re ready to eat, thaw the soup, boil some lasagna noodles, and mix them into the reheated soup, adding as much cheese as your heart desires. This will maximize freshness and ensure that your noodles are still al dente when you’re finally digging in.
Serving suggestions
The journey from lasagna to lasagna soup isn’t far, and therefore, you can treat it the same way you would a lasagna dinner. Feel free to season the soup with a dollop of your favorite Basil Pesto, providing some brightness to cut through the creaminess of the marinara, and serve it with some freshly baked Garlic Toast on the side. Pair it with some classic Olive Garden Salad or a simple Green Salad to dial up the Italian dining experience. And if you want, swap out the ground beef in the recipe for a batch of Turkey Meatballs that are hearty, healthy, and oh-so-flavorful.
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion diced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 1/2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 4 1/3 cups low-sodium beef broth
- 1 jar marinara sauce (24 ounces)
- 1 can diced tomatoes (15 ounces) with juices
- 10 lasagna noodles broken into pieces
- 1 1/2 cups cottage cheese plus more for serving
- 2/3 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup fresh spinach chopped
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the diced onions and minced garlic, and sauté for about 3-4 minutes until softened.
- Add the ground beef to the pot. Break it up as it cooks, until it is no longer pink, about 5-6 minutes. Stir in the Italian seasoning, oregano, salt, pepper, and tomato paste, and cook for another minute.
- Pour in the beef broth, marinara sauce, and diced tomatoes. Bring to a boil, and then add the broken lasagna noodles. Cover and simmer for 12-15 minutes until the noodles are tender.
- Stir in the cottage cheese, shredded mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, and chopped spinach. Add more broth if needed and allow the spinach to wilt for about 2 minutes. Remove from heat, and garnish with chopped basil and a dollop of extra cottage cheese. Serve warm.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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