Creamy Lasagna Soup

Ingredients

• 1 lb Italian sausage (mild or hot, casings removed)
• 8 oz button mushrooms (sliced or whole, roughly chopped)
• 1 onion (small, any kind, diced)
• 5 garlic cloves (minced)
• 2 tbsp fresh sage (chopped)
• 1.5 tsp kosher salt (divided; Diamond Crystal preferred)
• 0.5 tsp crushed red pepper
• 6 cup chicken broth
• 6 lasagna noodles (broken into small to medium pieces)
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 0.5 cup grated Parmesan (plus more for serving)
• 1.5 cup baby spinach
• 1 lemon (zested then cut into wedges for serving)

Steps

1. 1

   Heat a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the Italian sausage and cook, breaking it into small pieces with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer the cooked sausage to a bowl and set aside, leaving the rendered drippings in the pot.

2. 2

   Add the chopped mushrooms to the pot. Cook undisturbed for a few minutes to allow them to release moisture and begin browning, then continue cooking, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pot occasionally, until the mushrooms are deeply browned, about 4 to 5 minutes.

3. 3

   Stir in the diced onion, minced garlic, and chopped sage. Season the mixture with 1/2 teaspoon of the kosher salt and the crushed red pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onion softens and the mixture becomes highly fragrant, about 3 minutes.

4. 4

   Pour in the chicken broth and bring the liquid to a gentle boil. Stir in the broken lasagna noodles and cook, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until the noodles are just tender (al dente), about 7 to 8 minutes.

5. 5

   Stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese. Return the browned sausage to the pot and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the sausage to warm through.

6. 6

   Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the baby spinach and cook just until the leaves are wilted. Season the soup with the remaining 1 teaspoon of kosher salt.

7. 7

   To serve, ladle the soup into bowls. Finish each serving with a sprinkle of lemon zest, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, and additional grated Parmesan cheese.

Notes

To break lasagna noodles easily, wrap them in a clean kitchen towel and snap them into 1- to 2-inch pieces to prevent shards from flying. For a spicier soup, use hot Italian sausage and increase the crushed red pepper.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• soup
• lasagna
• one-pot
• comfort food
• sausage
• spinach
• creamy