Perfect Lasagna Soup No Ricotta Cheese

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The Perfect Lasagna Soup Recipe with No Ricotta Cheese is one of our family’s soup favorites for cold days. All the flavor and comfort of oven-baked lasagna in soup form!

Lasagna Soup Without Ricotta Cheese

For some of us cooks, ricotta cheese is not a staple ingredient that we keep in our refrigerators at all times.

For others of us, this dairy product is simply not a delight to our taste buds.

Whatever the reason why you find yourself needing a recipe for lasagna soup without ricotta cheese, you’ve found what you’re looking for!

I was so excited to throw this recipe together for my family one chilly evening and couldn’t wait to serve it up with delicious 20-Minute Garlic Parmesan Breadsticks.

When I got to planning out the recipe, I quickly realized that lasagna is not lasagna without some kind of dairy product.

There is the cheese, yes. (And two kinds of cheese, at that!)

But the real flavors of lasagna also require ricotta cheese, cottage cheese, or something of the like.

Oh, what to do when you live outside of the USA and don’t have access to any of those ingredients? You get creative…and sometimes (as in the case of this perfect lasagna soup recipe) find a new favorite.

Lasagna Soup with Cream Cheese

Lasagna, as I’ve said, is simply not true lasagna without some kind of creamy dairy product.

Cream cheese transforms this lasagna soup recipe without ricotta cheese into all that lasagna is meant to be.

And while there are other acceptable alternatives to ricotta cheese (namely, cottage cheese, sour cream, more mozzarella cheese, etc.), I’m partial to this version and its cream cheese.

When you try it yourself, leave a comment to let me know that you agree. 😉

How to Make Lasagna on the Stove

Lasagna is meant to be an oven-baked dish. The noodles themselves are fashioned to be laid down in layers–deliciously creamy and saucy layers.

But when you don’t have an oven, you don’t have to skip out on lasagna.

Lasagna soup is the perfect solution for indulging in lasagna without firing up your oven–whether you don’t have one at all or you just don’t want to add the extra heat to an already toasty summer day.

Personally, I prefer lasagna soup on one of those first truly chilly days of fall or one of those bone-freezing days of deep winter. It warms up the insides with its tomato flavors of late summer.

Seasonings for Perfect Lasagna Soup No Ricotta Cheese

One of the key aspects of making lasagna soup taste like the real deal is using the right seasonings.

Like many Italian dishes, this one benefits from a blend of Italian seasonings. And we use a generous portion, but don’t be afraid to add more, if the fancy so strikes.

Minced garlic and onion also have their place in this delicious lasagna soup recipe.

And, while not a traditional “spice” per se, real parmesan cheese also lends its flavor to make this soup complete.

Lasagna Soup with Extra Vegetables in the Sauce

When little kids are in the home (or even when serving dinner to only adults), working vegetables into the menu whenever possible is always a plus.

Our favorite way to mix up this lasagna soup recipe without ricotta cheese is to use Healthy Spaghetti Sauce Recipe with Hidden Vegetables {Real Food, No Sugar} as the tomato sauce.

While we also recommend trying our other homemade tomato sauce, Healthy No-Peel Fresh Roasted Tomato Sauce {No Sugar}, in this recipe, the veggie sauce adds so much flavor. Why not use it?

Equipment Needed

For this recipe, all the tools you need are:

• a medium-sized stock pot
• a cheese grater for parmesan cheese (these usually have smaller holes than regular cheese graters)
• a good soup spoon

Ingredients for Lasagna Soup Without Ricotta Cheese

(For the full printable recipe, see the recipe card at the end of this post.)

• 1 1/2 cups tomato sauce (we use our recipe for Tomato Sauce with Hidden Veggies)
• 3/4 cup minced yellow onion
• 1/2 cup minced green or red bell pepper
• 6 garlic cloves, minced (about 2 Tbsp.)
• 1 1/2 cups minced fresh tomatoes
• 1 lb. ground beef
• 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup tomato paste
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup filtered water
• 1 Tbsp. Italian seasoning
• 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
• 8 lasagna noodles, broken into pieces
• 1/2 cup cream cheese
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup real Parmesan cheese

How to Make Lasagna Soup with Cream Cheese

1. In a medium-sized stock pot, add the olive oil. Brown the ground beef, minced onion, minced garlic, minced tomato, and minced bell pepper. Sauté until the beef is browned, the onion is translucent, and the bell pepper and tomato are tender.
2. Add the tomato sauce. (We use and recommend our favorite Healthy Spaghetti Sauce Recipe with Hidden Vegetables. If you don’t use this recipe, then you will want to taste the soup and possibly add some garlic powder to give it more flavor.)
3. Stir in the tomato paste, chicken broth, and filtered water.
4. Season with the Italian seasoning and ground black pepper.
5. Bring the soup to a boil and add the lasagna noodles. Reduce the heat to a simmer. Simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until all the lasagna noodles are cooked through.
6. Stir in the cream cheese, mozzarella cheese, and real Parmesan cheese until fully incorporated, with no lumps of cream cheese remaining.
7. Taste the soup and season with salt, to taste.
8. Remove from the heat and serve hot with 20-Minute Garlic-Parmesan Breadsticks. If desired, garnish with more grated real Parmesan cheese and a dollop of sour cream or cream cheese.

Recipe Tips and Tricks for Best Results

• We highly recommend using a homemade tomato sauce in this recipe. Our favorite? Healthy Spaghetti Sauce Recipe with Hidden Vegetables. The flavor will vary if you use a store-bought tomato sauce rather than a homemade version, so taste the soup before adding any extra salt, as canned tomato sauces tend to have higher sodium and sugar content.
• When I make this soup, I rarely have chicken broth on hand. If you find yourself in this situation too, an acceptable alternative solution is to mix chicken bouillon with hot water.
• If you find that the soup lacks enough flavor when you taste it before serving (as all good cooks should do), consider adding a little bit of garlic powder or dried oregano.

Storage Instructions

This soup stores well in the refrigerator for up to five days. The lasagna noodles will continue to soak up the liquid in the soup, so add a little more chicken broth or water before serving the leftovers.

Can You Freeze Lasagna Soup?

Because this soup has noodles, freezing it and reheating will alter the texture of the pasta. If you know ahead of time that you want to freeze this soup, I suggest making it sansthe lasagna noodles, following all other recipe instructions.

When you want to serve the soup, simply warm it to near-boiling on the stovetop and add the lasagna noodles. Cook for about 10 minutes, or until the noodles test done.

What to Serve with This Perfect Lasagna Soup No Ricotta Cheese

Side dishes that perfectly pair with this soup:

• 20-Minute Garlic-Parmesan Breadsticks
• Steamed broccoli topped with healthy homemade cheese sauce
• Honey-Lemon Fruit Cocktail Salad

Other Budget Dinner Recipes to Try

Add these other tasty recipes to your weekly meal plan:

• Egyptian Rice with Nuts
• Authentic Brazilian Chicken Coxinha Recipe
• Lemon Chicken Salad {Secret Ingredient!}

Perfect Lasagna Soup No Ricotta Cheese Recipe Card

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