Ingredients
Equipment
Method
Brown sausage and build the soup
- Brown and drain the Italian sausage, then add it to the crockpot along with the diced onion and minced garlic.
- Add the crushed tomatoes, diced fire-roasted tomatoes, beef broth, and tomato paste to the crockpot.
- Stir in Italian seasoning, dried basil, dried oregano, and red pepper flakes until evenly combined.
Slow cook
- Cook on Low for 5-7 hours (or on High for 3-4 hours) until the flavors develop and the broth is hot and simmering from the slow cooker.
Add noodles and finish
- In the last 30 minutes, add the broken lasagna noodles and increase to High if you’re cooking on Low.
- Cook until the noodles are tender, stirring occasionally so the pieces don’t stick together.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Make three-cheese topping and serve
- Mix whole milk ricotta, shredded mozzarella, parmesan, fresh basil, and nutmeg thoroughly until combined.
- Ladle the soup into bowls and top each with a heaping spoonful of the three-cheese mixture so it melts into the hot soup.
Notes
For best texture, stir once or twice during the final 30 minutes so the broken lasagna noodles cook evenly without clumping. Store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 4 days; reheat gently until hot. Freezing is not recommended because the noodles can soften further after thawing. For a lighter option, use part-skim mozzarella and reduce the ricotta to 3/4 cup.
