Crockpot Lasagna Soup

WE’RE BACK. Yesterday, after 17 days in Thailand and Vietnam, 30 consecutive hours of flying, a 2-hour drive to Milwaukee, and an emergency pizza run (TRUTH), Ben and I arrived home. I’m exhausted, exhilarated, and my body can’t tell day from night. Please pass me the Crockpot Lasagna Soup and a cup of coffee. Or a sleeping mask. Have I mentioned that I’m not sure what day it is?

Our trip was…how do I explain this without sounding completely cliché, nondescript, and vague? Amazing? Accurate, but cliché and vague. Horizon-expanding? Still true. And cliché. And vague.

Two weeks that pushed me to my limits, broke and rebuilt my heart, and overwhelmed me with its colors, its flavors, and its soul? Better, but still too far from telling you enough.

To put it exceptionally mildly, I have a lot to process. Whether you are referencing my emotions, my laundry hamper, or my 5,978,462,539 unread emails, there’s a hefty amount of sorting to be done.

Although it felt wonderful to truly disconnect these past few weeks—I often turned on my phone to see the words “No Signal” displayed in its upper lefthand corner—a piece of my heart stayed back here with this blog and each of you. I’ve missed my kitchen and sharing with you in real time. The beauty of technology meant that I could schedule several posts ahead while we were away (hello, PISTACHIO TRUFFLES), but nothing feels quite as good as hitting “Publish” and knowing that you’ll be seeing the recipe almost as soon as I do.

My first recipe now that we’re back at home, this scrumptious Crockpot Lasagna Soup is the sort of easy and healthy meal that will be my anthem in the coming weeks of general holiday crazy and mass cookie consumption. Made with butternut squash, mushrooms, whole wheat noodles, and a splash of white wine, this slow-cooker vegetarian lasagna soup has wonderful flavor, but it is completely hands-off to prepare.

The ingredients go into the crock pot, and you go on your merry way. Return a few hours later to find your kitchen perfumed with garlic and tomatoes and your cozy meal ready to serve.

This Crockpot Lasagna Soup does have one, highly important final step we need to discuss: the cheesy herb ricotta topping. Do you see that creamy dollop on top of the bowl? You must, MUST add it. A blend of ricotta cheese, mozzarella, and fresh herbs, it melts into the lasagna soup, makes it wonderfully creamy, and gives the recipe its true “lasagna” taste. I tried one bowl of this easy lasagna soup with the ricotta topping and one without, and believe me, you do not want to be without it.

The ricotta topping will last several days in the refrigerator, so it’s easy to make ahead, and you can enjoy a scoop with each bowl of your leftovers too. The lasagna noodles are fun and theme-appropriate, but you can certainly swap in a different pasta shape you prefer or have on hand. Also, because the noodles are cooked and added just before serving, this Crockpot Lasagna Soup recipe is a great way to repurpose leftover pasta noodles too.

Tools I used to make this recipe:

• 6-quart programmable slow cooker
• Pasta insert

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Crockpot Lasagna Soup

Easy Crockpot Lasagna Soup. Tastes like lasagna, without the layering or dishes! A healthy slow-cooker vegetarian soup recipe your whole family will love.

Yield: Serves 6

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 6-7 hours (on low) or 3-4 hours (on high)

Total Time: 6-7 hours (on low) or 3-4 hours (on high)

Ingredients:

• 1 medium (2-pound) butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 5 cups total)
• 16 ounces sliced cremini (baby bella) mushrooms
• 1 small/medium yellow onion, finely chopped (about 3/4 cup)
• 1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• 4 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 1/2 tablespoons)
• 2 dried bay leaves
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 (26-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 4-6 cups reduced-sodium chicken or vegetable stock
• 8 ounces whole wheat lasagna noodles
• 4 cups fresh baby spinach leaves
• 1/2 cup dry white wine (or substitute additional vegetable stock, or simply omit it)
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme

For topping:

• 8 ounces part-skim ricotta cheese
• 1/3 cup freshly grated mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

Directions:

1. To a 6-quart or larger slow cooker, add the butternut squash, mushrooms, onion, beans, garlic, bay leaves, salt, pepper, crushed tomatoes, and 4 cups broth. Cover and cook for 6-7 hours on low or 3-4 hours on high, until the squash is tender. In a small bowl, stir together the topping ingredients: ricotta, mozzarella, parsley, and kosher salt. Cover and refrigerate topping until ready to serve.
2. Once the soup is ready, remove the ricotta mixture from the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the noodles until al dente, according to the package instructions. Drain the noodles, then rinse and cut into bite-sized pieces.
3. Remove the bay leaves from the slow cooker. Add the spinach, white wine, thyme, and cooked noodles to the slow cooker. If the mixture seems too thick, add additional vegetable stock to reach your desired consistency. Stir just until the spinach wilts. Serve warm, topped with a dollop of ricotta cheese.

• Store leftover Crockpot Lasagna Soup in the refrigerator for up to five days or freeze for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat gently. The topping can be refrigerated for 3-4 days. (I have not tried freezing the topping but think it might work.)

All images and text ©Erin Clarke/Well Plated.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 serving

• Amount Per Serving:
• Calories: 383
• Total Fat: 5g
• Saturated Fat: 2g
• Cholesterol: 13mg
• Sodium: 1255mg
• Carbohydrates: 68g
• Fiber: 14g
• Sugar: 7g
• Protein: 24g