Yahoo Lifestyle I Tried This Viral Lasagna Soup Recipe From TikTok—and Even My Italian Momma Gave Her Full Approval
In case you don't know who Danny Freeman is—the voice behind the infamous @dannylovespasta on TikTok—you should probably give him a follow—especially for his lasagna soup recipe that went viral on the platform. The lawyer-turned-full-time content creator was enjoying a bowl of this hearty soup online when it caught the eye of singer and songwriter SZA who immediately reached out in a comment, asking for the recipe. This prompted Freeman to record the process, which now has over 15.5M views and 1.7M likes on TikTok.
Because we've been a bit obsessed with the classic Italian pasta dish turned into a soup, we had to learn how to re-create it at home.
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To an Italian girl like myself, I'll admit I was a bit skeptical about this lasagna soup at first. But trust me when I say don’t knock it until you try it because Freeman's lasagna soup is really that good! I invited my momma over to make this soup with me, and she agreed. Maybe it's the mixture of beef and crumbled pork sausage, or the marinara sauce or the handfuls of grated Parmigiano Reggiano mixed in...I really can't say what makes it so good. Either way, I'm hooked.
Theresa Greco
What Is Lasagna Soup?
Classic Italian-American lasagna is typically cooked in a casserole dish with the long, thick, wide pasta noodles of the same name, laid out and topped with oodles of cheese, layers of sauce and lots of meat. Lasagna soup, however, cleverly brings the same ingredients together in an easy-to-make one-pot meal.
What does that mean exactly? For one thing, no layering and no extra prep time are needed. The entire recipe can be on your table in less than 40 minutes. It's the perfect meal for those days when you are craving the Italian American classic and just can't find the time or energy to make the "real thing." This easy recipe requires little more than a quick trip to the store for ingredients, a large pan and minimal time. You can even get the kids (or in my case, the older folks), involved. Having them break the noodles and grate the cheese is a huge help.
Theresa Greco
Related: How Much Lasagna Do You Need to Feed Your Family
Why You Will Love This Lasagna Soup Recipe
It's understandable to me why this recipe is trending—people love lasagna and this is an effortless way to bring a family favorite recipe to the dinner table on a busy weeknight. Although it lacks the fundamental creamy ricotta cheese you find in traditional lasagna, the addition of heavy cream helps you forget. You really can't go wrong with this one.
How to Make This Lasagna Soup Recipe Your Own
While this is the official recipe from TikToker @dannylovespasta that SZA requested, it's not set in stone and is simple to adjust to accommodate your tastes. For instance, I've tried it with dollops of ricotta cheese which was delicious. I've also swapped the ground beef for pork and found it equally tasty—if not better than the original. Another idea to try is to stir in some spinach or other leafy greens toward the end of the cooking process to add a little color and freshness. Once you have the basics down this is a recipe you can really have fun with.
Related: 14 Incredible Ways to Make Lasagna
Ingredients for TikTok Lasagna Soup
Theresa Greco
This recipe may look a little daunting because of the long list of ingredients, but in reality, most are pantry staples you likely already have on hand. You'll need ground beef, Italian sausage, onions, garlic, olive oil, chicken broth, heavy cream, marinara sauce, a few spices (salt, pepper, red pepper flakes) and, of course, lasagna noodles. To finish the dish, you'll need Parmesan, mozzarella and basil.
Theresa Greco
How to Make TikTok Lasagna Soup
Start by heating olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until the color has faded, about 7 minutes. Stir in the garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Next, add the beef, Italian sausage, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes, if you want a little heat. Cook the meat, breaking it up with a spoon, until there are no pink spots left.
Stir in your favorite marinara sauce (Freeman and I like Rao's), then add chicken broth and heavy cream and bring to a boil. Once the soup is boiling, add the lasagna noodles and cook until tender, 10 to 15 minutes.
Remove from heat and stir in the Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses until melted. Top with basil.
What to Serve With Lasagna Soup
I enjoy a classic Caesar salad alongside a meat sauced pasta. In my opinion, the pairing can't be beat. However, an Italian antipasto salad is also a good choice.
Theresa Greco
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TikTok Lasagna Soup
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, crushed or minced
1/2 pound ground beef
1/2 pound Italian sausage
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
1 (24-ounce) jar Rao's Homemade Marinara sauce
3 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup heavy cream
8 ounces lasagna noodles, broken into pieces
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
8 ounces fresh mozzarella, shredded
1/4 cup basil, chopped
Heat olive oil in a large sauce or saute pan over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until color has faded, about 7 minutes.
Stir in garlic and saute for 1 minute. Then add beef, Italian sausage, salt, pepper, and optional red pepper flakes. Break up meat and cook until there are no pink spots left.
Stir in Rao's Marinara sauce. Then add chicken broth and heavy cream and bring to a boil.
Once the soup is boiling, add lasagna noodles and cook until tender, 10 to 15 minutes.
Remove from heat and stir in Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses until melted. Top with basil.
