Description
This Healthy Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup offers a delicious and comforting twist on traditional lasagna, made easy by slow cooking ground turkey or lean beef with tomatoes, broth, herbs, spinach, and pasta. Topped with creamy ricotta and melted mozzarella, it’s a warm, hearty meal perfect for busy days.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 pound ground turkey or lean ground beef
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup spinach, chopped (fresh or frozen)
Liquids and Dairy
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 (15-ounce) container part-skim ricotta cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Herbs and Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Others
- 9-12 lasagna noodles, broken into pieces
- Fresh basil, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Brown the Meat: In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground turkey or beef until fully cooked. Drain any excess fat and transfer the meat to the slow cooker.
- Add Aromatics: Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the slow cooker along with the cooked meat.
- Combine Liquids: Pour in the crushed tomatoes and broth, stirring to combine all ingredients well.
- Season: Add the dried basil, oregano, salt, and black pepper to the mixture. Stir well to evenly distribute the seasonings.
- Add Pasta: Break the lasagna noodles into pieces and add them to the slow cooker. Gently stir to ensure noodles are submerged in the liquid.
- Slow Cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 4-6 hours, or on high for 2-3 hours, until the noodles are tender.
- Add Spinach and Ricotta: About 30 minutes before serving, stir in the chopped spinach and ricotta cheese. Continue cooking for the remaining time to blend flavors.
- Serve and Garnish: Once cooked, serve hot in bowls and sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese on top. Optionally, garnish with fresh basil before serving.
Notes
- You can substitute ground turkey with lean ground beef depending on preference.
- Use low-sodium broth to keep the recipe heart-healthy.
- For a vegetarian version, omit meat and use vegetable broth; you can add mushrooms for umami.
- If you prefer, whole wheat or gluten-free lasagna noodles can be used to suit dietary needs.
- Fresh spinach can be substituted for frozen; just add it a bit earlier to cook through.
