Cheesy Sausage Lasagna Soup is the ultimate cozy meal for nights when you’re tired, hungry, and craving something warm and cheesy—without the effort of layering a full lasagna. Born from that exact moment, this comforting one-pot soup combines turkey sausage, rich tomato broth, tender mafalda pasta, and melty cheese into a bowl of pure satisfaction.
With all the flavor of classic lasagna and the ease of a soup, Cheesy Sausage Lasagna Soup is perfect for weeknights when you want comfort fast. Ready in 30 minutes and topped with melty cheese, it’s hearty, rich, and guaranteed to bring everyone back to the table.
Recipe
Ingredients You’ll Need for Cheesy Sausage Lasagna Soup
Creating this soul-warming Cheesy Sausage Lasagna Soup is all about using simple, everyday ingredients that come together in a big, comforting way. Let’s break down what you’ll need to make this recipe shine.
Star Ingredients & Smart Substitutes
Italian turkey sausage (1 lb): A lighter alternative to traditional pork sausage that still delivers bold, savory flavor.
Tip: If you prefer a vegetarian version, swap in plant-based sausage crumbles or cooked lentils.Mafalda pasta (1 cup, uncooked): This short, ruffled noodle mimics the shape of lasagna, giving you those signature edges in soup form.
Substitute: Farfalle, rotini, or broken lasagna sheets work well too.Chicken broth (4 cups): Forms the flavorful base of the soup.
Optional: Use low-sodium broth to control salt levels or swap for veggie broth to go meat-free.Tomato sauce (15 oz) + Italian-seasoned diced tomatoes (14.5 oz): These deliver that classic lasagna flavor in a ready-to-go form, essential to building the rich base of your Cheesy Sausage Lasagna Soup.
Cheese Makes the Magic
Mozzarella (1 cup, shredded): Adds that irresistible stretchy, gooey texture when stirred in at the end.
Parmesan (¼ cup): Sharp and salty, it gives depth and balances the richness of the mozzarella.
Both cheeses melt beautifully into the broth, making every bite of this Cheesy Sausage Lasagna Soup incredibly satisfying.
Fresh Flavor Boosters
Onions (2 cups, chopped) and garlic (4 cloves, minced): Aromatics that create the savory base.
Fresh mushrooms (2 cups, sliced): Add an earthy depth.
Spinach (2 cups, chopped): Stirred in at the end to keep its color and nutrients intact.
Fresh basil (4 tsp, thinly sliced): Adds a fresh, herbaceous finish that brightens every bowl of Cheesy Sausage Lasagna Soup.
This ingredient spread shows everything you need to prepare Cheesy Sausage Lasagna Soup, from turkey sausage to gooey cheese and fresh spinach.
How to Make Cheesy Sausage Lasagna Soup (Step-by-Step)
Making Cheesy Sausage Lasagna Soup is surprisingly easy—and the payoff is huge. With just one pot and under an hour, you’ll have a bowl of rich, cheesy, and comforting lasagna in spoonable form.
Step 1: Brown the Sausage and Build the Flavor Base
In a large soup pot or Dutch oven, heat a little oil over medium heat and add your Italian turkey sausage (casings removed). Cook and crumble it until browned, about 5 minutes.
Next, stir in the chopped onions, sliced mushrooms, and minced garlic. Sauté everything together for a few more minutes until the vegetables are tender and fragrant—this is where the flavor begins to bloom.
Step 2: Add Broth and Tomatoes, Then Simmer
Pour in the chicken broth, tomato sauce, and Italian-seasoned diced tomatoes. Stir to combine all the layers of flavor. Bring everything to a gentle boil.
Once the broth is bubbling, stir in the uncooked mafalda pasta. Let it cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally so the pasta doesn’t stick.
At this point, your kitchen will smell like you’ve got lasagna in the oven—but way faster!
Step 3: Stir in Spinach and Finish with Cheese
When the pasta is almost tender, lower the heat. Add the chopped spinach, shredded mozzarella, and grated Parmesan directly into the soup. Stir gently until the cheese melts into the broth and the spinach wilts.
Finally, turn off the heat and add the fresh basil. Let the soup sit for 2 minutes—this gives the pasta time to finish cooking in the residual heat and allows the flavors to meld.
Serve hot, topped with an extra sprinkle of Parmesan or a swirl of olive oil if you’d like. And yes, a breadstick on the side is always a good idea.
Tips & Variations to Make It Your Own
One of the best things about this Cheesy Sausage Lasagna Soup is how flexible it is. Whether you’re cooking for picky eaters, looking to meal prep, or trying to lighten things up, this soup easily adapts to your kitchen and your goals.
Ingredient Swaps
Gluten-Free? Use gluten-free lasagna noodles or short pasta alternatives like brown rice fusilli.
Vegetarian version: Swap the turkey sausage for plant-based sausage or sautéed lentils for that same meaty texture.
Lower sodium: Use no-salt-added broth and tomatoes, and control salt levels to your taste.
No mafalda pasta? Broken lasagna sheets, farfalle, or even penne work beautifully in this Cheesy Sausage Lasagna Soup.
Storage & Make-Ahead Tips
Refrigerator: This Cheesy Sausage Lasagna Soup keeps well for up to 4 days in an airtight container. Reheat gently over the stove or in the microwave.
Freezer: Freeze in individual portions for up to 2 months. Let thaw in the fridge before reheating to preserve texture.
Pro Tip: Cook the pasta separately and add it to each serving of Cheesy Sausage Lasagna Soup if freezing. This keeps it from getting too soft or soaking up the broth.
Flavor Boosters
Add a splash of balsamic vinegar or a teaspoon of sugar if your tomatoes taste too acidic.
Toss in a pinch of red pepper flakes for heat or a spoonful of ricotta when serving for extra creaminess.
Garnish your Cheesy Sausage Lasagna Soup with a drizzle of olive oil, fresh cracked pepper, or even more cheese if you dare.
This flexible version of Cheesy Sausage Lasagna Soup is already a weeknight wonder—but with these tips, it can become your signature comfort dish.
Ready to Make This Cheesy Sausage Lasagna Soup Tonight?
If you’re looking for a weeknight meal that delivers maximum comfort with minimum effort, this Cheesy Sausage Lasagna Soup is it. It’s cozy, cheesy, packed with flavor, and comes together in one pot—what’s not to love?
Whether it’s your first time making it or your fifth, this soup has a way of becoming a regular on your dinner rotation. It’s the kind of dish that gets people gathered around the table and asking for seconds.
So grab your favorite pot, gather your ingredients, and bring the magic of lasagna to your spoon.
Looking for More Cozy, Cheesy Comfort?
Keep the comfort food going with these CookMinutes.com favorites:
Smoked Mac and Cheese – bold, smoky, and irresistibly creamy
Cottage Cheese Alfredo Recipe – a protein-packed twist on a creamy classic
Cowboy Meatloaf and Potato Casserole – Quick Guide – hearty, easy, and made to satisfy
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FAQ – Your Questions About Cheesy Sausage Lasagna Soup
In this Cheesy Sausage Lasagna Soup, we use a classic combo: shredded mozzarella for that gooey melt, and Parmesan for a salty, savory finish. You can also stir in a spoonful of ricotta at the end for extra creaminess.
It’s simple: brown the sausage, sauté aromatics like onion and garlic, then simmer with tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, broth, and pasta. Finish with spinach, mozzarella, and Parmesan. You get all the flavor of traditional lasagna—in a bowl of Cheesy Sausage Lasagna Soup.
Absolutely! Chop up the cooked lasagna into bite-sized pieces (noodle, filling, sauce) and heat it gently with broth and a bit of extra tomato sauce. It won’t be exactly the same as this Cheesy Sausage Lasagna Soup, but it’s a great way to reduce waste and reinvent leftovers.
For soup or baked lasagna, mozzarella is the gold standard for meltiness, while Parmesan or Pecorino adds depth. In this Cheesy Sausage Lasagna Soup, mozzarella melts into the broth, while Parmesan finishes it off with a sharp, nutty note. These cheeses are essential for recreating that true lasagna feel in soup form.
If you love the comfort of classic lasagna but want something quicker, this Cheesy Sausage Lasagna Soup is your new go-to recipe.
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