📖 Instructions

1. Gather Your Ingredients: Make sure you have everything prepped and ready to go. This includes dicing your vegetables, measuring your spices, and having your broth ready.
2. Brown the Meat: In a large pot or Dutch oven, brown the ground beef or Italian sausage over medium-high heat. Break it up with a spoon as it cooks. Drain off any excess grease. Nobody likes a greasy soup now, do they?
3. Sauté the Aromatics: Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the pot. Sauté for about 3-5 minutes, or until the onion is softened and translucent. Your kitchen will start to smell amazing at this point, just saying...
4. Add Vegetables: Stir in the diced carrots, celery, and bell pepper (if using). Cook for another 3-5 minutes, until slightly softened. Dont be afraid to add in some of your favorite vegetables, anything from spinach to zucchini will work.
5. Stir in Tomato Paste: Add the tomato paste to the pot and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly. This will help to deepen the flavor of the soup. Some people skip this step, but it really makes a difference!
6. Add Tomatoes and Broth: Pour in the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and beef broth. Stir well to combine. If you like a thinner soup, add a bit more broth.
7. Season Generously: Add the dried oregano, dried basil, salt, pepper, sugar (if using), and bay leaf. Adjust the seasonings to your liking. A pinch of red pepper flakes can add a nice kick.
8. Bring to a Boil: Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for at least 30 minutes. The longer it simmers, the more the flavors will meld together. Give it a stir every now and then.
9. Cook the Pasta: About 15 minutes before serving, stir in the broken lasagna noodles. Cook until the pasta is tender, about 8-10 minutes. Be careful not to overcook the noodles, or they will get mushy. Nobody likes mushy noodles.
10. Remove Bay Leaf: Before serving, remove the bay leaf from the soup. Its done its job.
11. Stir in Cheese: Stir in about half of the ricotta cheese. This adds a lovely creaminess to the soup. You can also add parmesan cheese, or leave it out entirely if youre not a fan.
12. Serve and Garnish: Ladle the lasagna soup into bowls and top with a dollop of ricotta cheese, a sprinkle of fresh basil or parsley, and a generous grating of Parmesan cheese. Serve with crusty bread for dipping. There you have it, a delicious and hearty meal!
13. Tips For the Road: Want to make your soup even better? Try browning the ground beef with a little bit of pancetta or bacon for added flavor. You can also add a splash of red wine to the soup while its simmering. Just make sure to let it simmer for a few extra minutes to cook off the alcohol. If you're short on time, you can use store-bought marinara sauce in place of the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, and tomato sauce. But homemade is always better, right?