Instant Pot Lasagna Soup

Learn how to make a delicious Instant Pot lasagna soup with Italian sausage, vegetables, and flavorful herbs. A perfect weeknight meal for the whole family.

There’s nothing quite like the comforting taste of lasagna. Imagine capturing all those rich, hearty flavors in a bowl of soup and having it ready in under 30 minutes. Perfect for a busy weeknight, this recipe is both easy and utterly delicious.

Ingredients and Preparation

Sauteing the Base

First things first, we need to get our Instant Pot ready by hitting the “saute” button. Once it’s heated up slightly, add just a splash of oil. You don’t need much.

Then, take one pound of ground Italian sausage and add it to the pot. I prefer to use my homemade Italian sausage because it’s more affordable and I can control the spice level, but you’re free to use any ground sausage of your choice—be it chicken, turkey, or pork.

If you’re using sausage in casing, make sure to remove the casing before cooking.

Next, add one small onion that’s been finely minced and one carrot, peeled and diced.

Carrot adds a hint of sweetness to balance the acidity of tomatoes, making it a crucial addition without the need for any added sugar.

Let the mixture sauté until the sausage turns brown and the onions and carrots caramelize beautifully, infusing the base with loads of flavor.

Adding Garlic and Essentials

Once your sausage is about browned, it’s time to toss in two teaspoons of minced garlic.

Let it sauté for about 30 to 60 seconds, just until your kitchen starts to smell amazing.

Be cautious not to burn the garlic—burnt garlic can turn bitter and spoil the taste of our soup.

Deglazing and Adding Broth

Hit the “cancel” button on your Instant Pot to turn off the sauté function. Now, it’s time to deglaze the pot.

Pour in a quarter cup of low-sodium chicken broth and use it to scrape up all those delicious brown bits stuck to the bottom of the pot.

These bits are packed with flavor and will enrich your soup. Once deglazed, add the remaining broth, bringing the total to four cups.

Seasoning the Soup

Seasoning is key. Add a pinch of salt, but be careful not to overdo it. You can always adjust the seasoning once the soup has cooked.

Next, add two teaspoons of dried oregano and a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes—these are optional, but they add a wonderful depth of flavor.

Tomato Goodness

For the tomato base, you’ll need one cup of prepared spaghetti sauce. Homemade marinara works wonders for this recipe.

Unlike plain canned tomato sauce, a prepared sauce layers in more flavor. Along with that, add 16 ounces of Italian stewed tomatoes.

My son is picky about tomato texture, so I blend the stewed tomatoes into a smoother consistency. This step is optional but can make the soup more family-friendly.

Choosing the Noodles

Now, for the noodles. Lasagna isn’t lasagna without pasta. You only need a cup of dried noodles as they will plump up during cooking.

You can use rotini, capanelle, elbow macaroni, or, as I prefer, broken-up lasagna noodles. If you have a few leftover sheets from a lasagna night, this is a great way to use them up and avoid waste.

Cooking the Soup

Setting the Instant Pot

After stirring everything together, place the lid on your Instant Pot and make sure the venting knob is set to the sealed position.

Set the cooking time to four minutes using the manual or pressure cook setting. Once the cook time is over, let the pressure release naturally for exactly five minutes. This five-minute natural release is crucial for perfectly cooked pasta.

Controlled Pressure Release

After the natural release, a controlled pressure release follows. Carefully knock the venting knob from the sealed to the venting position.

This method prevents a messy quick release, especially important when dealing with soups. To protect your cabinets from steam, you might consider covering the vent knob with a kitchen towel.

Finishing Touches

When the float valve has dropped and the lid unlocks, open up your Instant Pot to be greeted by the smell of home-cooked lasagna.

At this point, I like to add a cup of fresh baby spinach to introduce some greens to the dish. Stir until the spinach wilts into the soup.

Serving and Toppings

Finally, it’s time to serve. Ladle the soup into bowls and, if you like cheese as much as I do, top it with shredded mozzarella and freshly grated Parmesan. Fresh mozzarella balls also make an excellent addition.

Final Taste Test

Get ready for a bite of your newly made lasagna soup. The noodles should be plump and perfectly cooked.

The sausage adds a rich depth of flavor that complements the marinara sauce beautifully. It’s truly a knockout dish that’s deceptively simple to make.

Wrapping Up

This Instant Pot Lasagna Soup is a family favorite because it embodies the comforting flavors of lasagna with much less fuss.

It’s versatile, easy, and incredibly satisfying. Plus, the use of the Instant Pot means you’ll have dinner on the table in no time at all.

Whether for a cozy weeknight meal or a quick lunch, this soup is bound to become a go-to in your household.

So, next time you need some comfort food in a hurry, give this lasagna soup a try. And if you’re still craving traditional lasagna, keep an eye out for my next recipe where I’ll show you how to make a classic Instant Pot Lasagna. Happy cooking and enjoy your soup!