Big Family Favorite Meals - Lasagna Crockpot Soup


September is bringing gorgeous cooler weather in my corner of Canada. I’m so excited to get back to our favorite big family crock pot meals! These are the go-to meals that I regularly rotate in our meal planning. They are super simple to make, budget friendly, nutritious and delicious.  I keep things simple and flexible so the kids get protein, veggies and carbs and the adults can skip or substitute the carbs.  There are some food sensitivities so I keep that in mind with ingredients that can be added separately.

Monday is one of my ‘anchor’ meals to make my life easier -- no guesswork as to what we’re having for dinner -- Soup & Bread! (Sandwiches & Smoothies in hot weather).   Next week we will have one of our most requested Crockpot meals: Lasagna Soup!  It's so easy to make, a total crowd pleaser and feeds the whole family with a little leftover for the adults the next day.

My favorite Crockpot  - it's big and has lasted years with use several times a week. (click here to get quick & cheap on Amazon if you like. Or if you prefer the more expensive one with a locking lid for easy transport you can get it here.

To save you time scrolling I'm popping it below and keeping it ad free. Just click on the recipe card to print. Enjoy!

Lasagna Soup

Our family's favorite all time soup that I make twice a month in the cold weather season

  • Crockpot
  • 4 c chicken or beef stock
  • 1 can 680ml tomato sauce
  • 1 can 28 oz can diced tomatoes
  • 4-6 Italian sausages
  • 2 package 10 oz frozen spinach
  • 2 c grated zucchini
  • 1 medium diced onion
  • 1 tbsp oil
  • 1 tbsp dried oregano
  • 1 tbsp dried basil
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp pink Himalayan salt
  • ⅓ tsp black pepper
  • water as needed

Optional

  • 1 c optional grated parmesan
  • 8 c cooked pasta of your choice
  1. SHORT DIRECTIONS
  2. Chop or squeeze out the meat then fry it up with the onions in the oil. Add everything to your crockpot on low for 8 hours. Serve with cooked noodles, bread and salad. Done!

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Heat your oil in a medium size frying pan then gently cook your onions on med-low until translucent. Add to the crockpot.
  2. While those are cooking, squeeze the sausage meat out into a container to add to the hot pan next. Optional: just chop the life out of them with a strong flipper in the pan. That’ll work too! Move it around occasionally to brown the meat.
  3. While the meat is cooking add all your other ingredients to your crockpot. Give it a stir. Add your meat with the yummy juices for flavor. Add more water as needed. Keep it under 1 inch from the top to avoid bubbling over.
  4. Turn on low for 8 hours or high for 4.
  5. When dinner is about 30 minutes away, cook your noodles in a pot, drain and add some oil or butter so they don’t stick. You could do this in advance and just warm them up to save time at the dinner rush.
  6. Serve into bowls with a base of noodles. A Ceasar salad and bread with butter on the side can round out the meal if you like. My hubby and I enjoy it as is. Cauli-rice or low carb noodles are nice bulking alternatives.
 
Main Course
Italian

TIME SAVING TIPS

  • Prep this in the crock pot the night before then simply cover and refrigerate the ceramic part. Pot it in the base in the morning and BOOM! Dinner is a cinch!
  • I use this breadmaker have a loaf or baguettes ready to serve with the meal. It has 2 pound bread capacity! My 10 year old follows an index card I made with the ingredients listed in order. I check the settings and inexpensive homemade bread is ready for dinner.  Be sure to give it an hour to cool so it cuts nicely.

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