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Chicken Lasagna Soup

Chicken lasagna soup with a rich tomato broth, browned chicken, and broken lasagna noodles simmered until tender. Finished with a ricotta-mozzarella dollop that melts into the center for a lasagna-like bite.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Italian-American
Calories: 520

Ingredients
  

Soup base
  • 1.5 lb chicken breast or thighs, diced
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 4 garlic, minced
  • 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
  • 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
  • 4 cup chicken broth
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 0.5 tsp dried oregano
  • 0.25 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 8 lasagna noodles, broken into pieces
  • Salt and pepper to taste
Cheese dollop
  • 1 cup ricotta
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella
  • 0.25 cup parmesan
  • fresh basil

Equipment

  • 1 Dutch oven

Method
 

Brown the chicken
  1. Heat a large pot over medium-high heat with enough olive oil to coat the bottom. Add diced chicken and cook until browned, then remove and set aside.
  2. Keep the pot over medium-high heat with the browned bits in place. Sauté diced onion for 4 minutes, until softened.
  3. Add minced garlic and tomato paste to the pot. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring, until fragrant and darker in color.
Build the soup
  1. Add crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, chicken broth, Italian seasoning, dried basil, dried oregano, and red pepper flakes. Bring the mixture to a boil, then keep it at a steady boil for a moment to fully combine.
  2. Return the browned chicken to the pot. Add broken lasagna noodles and stir to spread them evenly through the broth.
  3. Simmer for 10-12 minutes, until the noodles are tender and the chicken is cooked through. If needed, stir once or twice so the noodles don’t stick.
  4. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Taste the broth and adjust until balanced.
Make the cheese dollop and serve
  1. Mix ricotta, shredded mozzarella, parmesan, and fresh basil together until combined. Keep the mixture thick enough to hold a spoonful.
  2. Ladle soup into bowls and add a generous spoonful of cheese dollop in the center of each bowl. Serve right away so the cheese melts into the hot tomato broth.

Notes

For the best texture, use a heavy pot and keep the simmer steady so the noodles cook through without turning mushy. Store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 3 days; reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave until hot. Freezing is not recommended because lasagna noodles can soften too much after thawing. For a lighter option, use part-skim mozzarella and serve with the cheese dollop slightly smaller, keeping the same lasagna-soup method.