Easy & Healthy Instant Pot Lasagna Soup: Gluten-Free Comfort for 21 Day Fix & Weight Watchers
Imagine a hearty, flavorful lasagna that tastes like it’s been simmering on the stove all day, yet comes together in a fraction of the time. This is precisely what you get with our **Healthy Instant Pot Lasagna Soup**! It’s a game-changer for anyone craving comfort food without the long prep. Perfect for chilly evenings, this gluten-free recipe is also tailored to fit popular healthy eating plans like the 21 Day Fix and Weight Watchers, making it a delicious and guilt-free choice.
Why This Instant Pot Lasagna Soup is a Must-Try
We’ve all been there: a busy weeknight, a craving for something warm and comforting, but no time for an elaborate meal. That’s where the Instant Pot truly shines, transforming traditional, time-consuming dishes into quick, effortless masterpieces. This Lasagna Soup recipe perfectly captures the rich, layered flavors of classic lasagna but simplifies it into a nourishing, one-pot wonder.
Unlike many recipes that require store-bought jarred sauce – which can be expensive and often loaded with hidden sugars and sodium – our recipe focuses on building flavor from scratch using pantry staples like crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce. This approach gives you complete control over ingredients and helps keep things budget-friendly. Plus, with fresh garlic and basil, the aroma alone will make your kitchen smell like an authentic Italian eatery!
Customizing Your Healthy Lasagna Soup: Key Ingredients & Variations
One of the best things about this Instant Pot Lasagna Soup is its versatility. You can easily adapt it to suit your taste preferences or whatever you have on hand. Here’s a closer look at the core components and how you can personalize them:
Protein Power
- Italian Poultry Sausage: This is our go-to for its robust flavor, adding a delicious depth to the soup. If you love a little spice, opt for a hot Italian sausage.
- Ground Turkey or Lean Ground Beef: For a lighter option, ground turkey or lean ground beef works beautifully. They absorb the flavors of the sauce wonderfully and keep the soup hearty. Remember to choose lean varieties for a healthier profile.
- Vegetarian Option: Skip the meat entirely and add extra vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, or mushrooms, or use a plant-based ground crumble for a vegetarian lasagna soup.
The Flavor Foundation: Tomatoes & Aromatics
The secret to a rich, “all-day cooked” taste lies in the high-quality tomato base and fresh aromatics. We use a combination of crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce, creating a balanced and robust flavor without needing a jar of pre-made sauce. This not only saves money but also allows you to control the freshness and quality of your ingredients.
- Garlic & Onion: These classic Italian staples are sautéed to perfection, forming the aromatic backbone of the soup. Don’t skimp on the garlic – it makes a huge difference!
- Fresh Basil: A generous amount of fresh basil adds a bright, authentic Italian flavor that elevates the entire dish. Stir some in during cooking and save extra for garnishing.
- Chicken Broth: This provides the liquid base and helps deglaze the Instant Pot, scraping up all those delicious browned bits that add incredible flavor.
Veggie Boost
This soup is an excellent vehicle for sneaking in extra vegetables. We love adding fresh spinach, which wilts down seamlessly into the broth, adding a boost of nutrients and a beautiful green hue. Feel free to experiment with other additions like diced zucchini, sliced mushrooms, or finely chopped carrots for even more “green power.” They cook quickly in the Instant Pot, making it an easy way to increase your daily vegetable intake.
Noodle Choices: Gluten-Free & Beyond
To keep this Instant Pot Lasagna Soup gluten-free, we use brown rice lasagna noodles, broken into bite-sized pieces. These cook perfectly in the Instant Pot and maintain their texture. If you don’t require a gluten-free option, feel free to substitute with whole wheat lasagna noodles, using the same cooking time. Breaking them ensures even cooking and easy serving – no need for precise layering!
The Glorious Cheese Topping
What’s lasagna without cheese? This soup is no exception! A combination of creamy ricotta, melty mozzarella, and salty Parmesan (we love Pecorino Romano for extra punch) creates that classic lasagna experience. Each spoonful is a delightful blend of savory broth, tender noodles, and rich, gooey cheese. If you’re dairy-free, don’t worry – you can easily skip the cheese or opt for your favorite vegan cheese alternatives. The soup is incredibly flavorful on its own!
The Magic of the Instant Pot: A Step-by-Step Guide
The Instant Pot makes this recipe incredibly fast and convenient. Here’s how it works its magic:
- Sauté the Base: Start by using the Instant Pot’s sauté function to brown your chosen protein (sausage, turkey, or beef) and then cook down the onions until translucent. Adding the garlic for just a minute at the end ensures maximum flavor without burning.
- Deglaze for Flavor: This crucial step involves adding chicken broth to the hot pot and scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. This not only adds immense flavor but also prevents the “burn” warning.
- Layer & Cook: Carefully layer in your crushed tomatoes and the broken lasagna noodles. Avoid stirring too much after adding the noodles to prevent them from sticking to the bottom. Add a tablespoon of fresh basil for an initial burst of aroma.
- Pressure Cook to Perfection: Secure the lid and set your Instant Pot to manual (or pressure cook) for just 6 minutes. The high pressure cooks the noodles and melds all the flavors together rapidly.
- Quick Release & Finish: After the cooking cycle, perform a quick release of the pressure. Once the pin drops, stir in the fresh spinach until it wilts, adding that beautiful vibrant green and extra nutrients.
- Serve & Garnish: Ladle the steaming soup into bowls and top generously with ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese. A final sprinkle of fresh basil makes it picture-perfect!
It’s truly that simple to achieve a rich, comforting meal that tastes like hours of effort but only takes minutes!
Slow Cooker Method: For Leisurely Cooking
If you prefer the “set it and forget it” approach, this Lasagna Soup can also be made in a slow cooker. The slow cooker allows flavors to deepen and meld over several hours, resulting in an incredibly rich and satisfying soup. Here’s how to adapt the recipe:
- Pre-cook & Transfer: Begin by browning your Italian poultry sausage (or other chosen meat) with the onion and garlic in a large pan on the stove. This crucial step develops flavor before transferring to the slow cooker.
- Combine Ingredients: Add the browned meat mixture to your slow cooker, followed by the chicken broth, crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, and a tablespoon of fresh basil. Stir everything well to combine.
- Slow Cook: Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. This long, gentle cooking time allows the flavors to truly infuse.
- Add Veggies: With about 30 minutes remaining in the cooking time, stir in the fresh spinach. It will wilt down perfectly into the simmering soup.
- Cook Noodles Separately: For the slow cooker version, the lasagna noodles are best cooked separately on the stovetop according to package directions. This prevents them from becoming mushy during the long cook time in the slow cooker.
- Combine & Serve: Once the soup is done and the pasta is cooked, add the cooked, broken lasagna noodles to the slow cooker and give it a good stir. Ladle into bowls and top with ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese, garnishing with extra fresh basil.
Both methods yield a fantastic Lasagna Soup, so choose the one that best fits your schedule!
Serving Tips and Make-Ahead Magic
This Healthy Instant Pot Lasagna Soup is a complete meal in itself, but it pairs wonderfully with a few simple additions:
- Crusty Bread: Perfect for dipping into the rich, tomatoey broth.
- Side Salad: A light, crisp green salad provides a refreshing contrast to the hearty soup.
- Extra Fresh Herbs: Don’t underestimate the power of a final garnish of fresh basil or a sprinkle of chopped parsley.
Make-Ahead & Storage: This soup is excellent for meal prepping! It stores well in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. For longer storage, freeze portions in airtight containers for up to 3 months. The noodles might soften a bit upon reheating, but the flavor will still be incredible. Thaw overnight in the fridge and gently reheat on the stove or in the microwave, adding a splash of broth if needed.
Dietary Adaptations and FAQs
We’ve designed this recipe to be as accommodating as possible for various dietary needs:
- 21 Day Fix & Weight Watchers Friendly: As noted in the recipe card, this soup is perfectly portioned for 21 Day Fix containers and has a calculated Weight Watchers point value (using lean protein and part-skim cheeses). It’s satisfying and fits seamlessly into your healthy eating goals.
- Gluten-Free: Using brown rice lasagna noodles ensures this recipe is naturally gluten-free.
- Dairy-Free: Simply omit the ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan, or use your favorite vegan cheese alternatives. The rich tomato base still offers plenty of flavor.
FAQs:
- Can I use fresh tomatoes? Absolutely! If you have fresh, ripe tomatoes, you can use them. You’ll likely need to skin and crush them, and perhaps add a bit of tomato paste for depth.
- What if I don’t have fresh basil? Dried basil can be used, but fresh is highly recommended for the best flavor. Use about 1 teaspoon of dried basil for every tablespoon of fresh.
- Can I make this spicier? Yes! Add a pinch of red pepper flakes with the garlic for a little kick.
Experience the Ultimate Comfort Food
This Healthy Instant Pot Lasagna Soup truly brings the best of both worlds: the comforting, deeply satisfying flavors of classic lasagna and the incredible convenience of the Instant Pot. It’s a healthy, gluten-free meal that the whole family will love, making those busy weeknights a little bit easier and a whole lot tastier. Give it a try – you won’t regret bringing this effortless, flavorful dish into your meal rotation!
Looking for more Healthy Lasagna recipes? Check out these posts!
21 Day Fix Lasagna Recipes
21 Day Fix One Skillet Lazy Zucchini Lasagna
21 Day Fix Spaghetti Squash Lasagna
Instant Pot Zucchini Lasagna [CrispLid | Ninja Foodi Options]
Pumpkin Lasagna Roll Ups | The Foodie and The Fix
Healthy Instant Pot Lasagna Soup
Pin Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 1/4 lb Italian poultry sausage ground turkey, or lean ground beef
- 1 onion
- 4 cloves garlic
- 4 cups chicken broth or stock
- 28 oz crushed tomatoes
- 14 oz tomato sauce
- Fresh basil
- 2 cups fresh spinach chopped
- 6 gluten free lasagna noodles broken into bite sized pieces (or use whole wheat)
- 1 1/2 cups ricotta
- 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella
- 1/3 cup parmesan cheese I use Pecorino Romano
Instructions
Instant Pot
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Set IP to saute and add olive oil to the bottom of the pot. Remove sausage from casing and saute until cooked through. Add in onions and saute until translucent. Add in garlic and cook for an additional minute.
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Deglaze pot with chicken broth, then add in tomatoes and lasagna noodles. Stir in 1 Tbsp fresh basil.
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Place lid on Instant Pot and lock. Cook for 6 minutes on manual. After cook time, do a quick release. Stir in fresh spinach until it wilts.
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Ladle into bowls and top with 2 Tbsp mozzarella, ¼ cup of ricotta cheese, and 1 Tbsp of parmesan cheese. Garnish with additional basil.
Crock Pot
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Add olive oil to the bottom of a large pan. Remove sausage from casing and saute until cooked through. Add in onions and saute until translucent. Add in garlic and cook for an additional minute.
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Add to sausage to slow cooker then add in broth and tomatoes. Stir in 1 Tbsp fresh basil.
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Cook for 6-8 hours on low or 3-4 hours on high. With 30 minutes remaining, stir in spinach.
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Close to serving time, cook pasta according to package directions.
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When cook time is over, add cooked pasta the soup and give a good stir. Ladle into bowls and top with 2 Tbsp mozzarella, ¼ cup of ricotta cheese, and 1 Tbsp of parmesan cheese. Garnish with additional basil.
Video
Notes
WW: 7 points (per serving) [Calculated using 99% fat free ground turkey, and part skim mozzarella and ricotta]
Nutrition