There is nothing quite like diving into a rustic, hearty bowl of White Lasagna Soup on a chilly evening. This viral recipe has taken the internet by storm, and for good reason! It captures all the comforting, cheesy magic of a classic white lasagna, transformed into an easy-to-eat, mouth-watering soup.
Imagine tender ruffled pasta noodles swimming in a rich, creamy white broth infused with garlic and parmesan. Every spoonful is packed with the savory perfection of shredded chicken, bright wilted spinach, and the irresistible crunch of crumbled bacon.
Served hot in a heavy ceramic bowl, this home-cooked masterpiece is guaranteed to become a family favorite. It looks incredible, smells divine, and delivers that ultimate irresistible yum factor.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Perfect Textures: The combination of tender ruffled pasta, tender shredded chicken, and crispy crumbled bacon creates an incredible mouthfeel in every bite.
- Rich & Creamy: A decadent, velvety broth perfectly mimics the luscious ricotta and bechamel layers of a traditional white lasagna.
- Visual Appeal: The bright green streaks of wilted spinach against the creamy white base make this dish a stunning, photo-worthy dinner.
- One-Pot Magic: All these complex, slow-cooked flavors come together easily on the stovetop, saving you from a mountain of dishes.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Bacon
Thick-cut bacon is essential for providing that savory, crispy topping. The rendered fat is also used to sauté the aromatics, creating a deeply flavorful foundation.
Shredded Chicken breast
You will need about 1 lb (450g) of cooked chicken to add hearty protein to the soup. A store-bought rotisserie chicken works perfectly for saving time.
Ruffled Lasagna Noodles
Using 8 oz (225g) of classic lasagna noodles, broken into bite-sized pieces, provides the signature authentic pasta texture. The ruffled edges hold onto the creamy broth beautifully.
Fresh Spinach
Roughly 2 cups (60g) of fresh baby spinach adds a pop of vibrant green color and earthy nutrition. It wilts seamlessly into the hot soup right before serving.
Butter & Flour (The Roux)
Combining 2 tbsp (30g) of butter with 1/4 cup (30g) of all-purpose flour creates the thickening base. This ensures your soup has a velvety, rich body rather than a thin, watery consistency.
Garlic & Yellow Onion
One medium yellow onion and 4 cloves of minced garlic build the aromatic flavor profile. They are sautéed until translucent and fragrant to release their natural sweetness.
Chicken Broth
Using 4 cups (960ml) of high-quality chicken broth forms the liquid foundation of the soup. It balances the heavy dairy components while enhancing the savory chicken notes.
Heavy Cream & Cream Cheese
A blend of 1 cup (240ml) heavy cream and 4 oz (115g) softened cream cheese provides maximum creaminess. This dynamic duo replaces the traditional ricotta, melting into a smooth, luxurious broth.
Parmesan Cheese
Adding 1/2 cup (45g) of freshly grated parmesan cheese gives the soup a salty, nutty bite. Always grate from a block for the best melting texture.
Italian Seasoning, Salt & Black Pepper
A simple blend of 1 tbsp (5g) Italian seasoning, plus salt and pepper to taste, bridges all the flavors together. This spice mix ensures the dish tastes exactly like an authentic Italian casserole.
Equipment Needed
- Heavy-bottomed Dutch oven or large soup pot
- Wooden spoon or heat-safe spatula
- Whisk (for smoothing the cream cheese)
- Heavy ceramic bowls for serving
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Crisp the Bacon
Heat your Dutch oven over medium heat and add the chopped bacon. Cook for 5-7 minutes until the edges are a deep golden-brown and the fat has completely rendered.
Using a slotted spoon, remove the crispy bacon and set it aside on a paper towel-lined plate. Leave about 2 tablespoons (30ml) of bacon fat in the pot to flavor the soup base.
2. Sauté the Aromatics
Add the butter to the residual bacon fat and let it melt. Toss in the diced yellow onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes until it becomes soft and translucent.
Stir in the minced garlic and Italian seasoning. Cook for exactly one minute until the kitchen fills with a highly fragrant, savory aroma.
3. Build the Creamy Roux
Sprinkle the all-purpose flour over the onion and garlic mixture. Stir constantly for 1-2 minutes to cook out the raw flour taste.
The mixture will look like a thick, golden paste. Slowly whisk in the chicken broth, ensuring no clumps remain, and bring the liquid to a gentle simmer.
4. Cook the Ruffled Noodles
Once the broth is bubbling, drop in the broken ruffled lasagna noodles. Reduce the heat slightly and let them boil for 8-10 minutes.
Stir occasionally to prevent the noodles from sticking to the bottom of the pot. You will know they are ready when they are perfectly tender and slightly expanded.
5. Make it Rich and Creamy
Lower the heat to low. Whisk in the softened cream cheese until it is completely melted and the broth turns a milky white.
Pour in the heavy cream and grated parmesan cheese. Stir gently until the soup transforms into a luscious, velvety masterpiece.
6. Add the Chicken and Spinach
Fold the cooked, shredded chicken into the hot broth. Follow immediately with the fresh baby spinach.
Stir everything together and simmer for 1-2 minutes. Watch as the bright green spinach leaves wilt effortlessly into the delicious, hot soup.
7. Garnish and Serve
Ladle the hot, creamy white lasagna soup into heavy ceramic bowls. Top generously with the reserved crumbled bacon.
Serve immediately while the soup is piping hot and the textures are at their absolute peak!
Expert Tips for Success
- Use Room Temperature Dairy: Ensure your cream cheese and heavy cream are at room temperature before adding them. This prevents the dairy from separating or clumping when it hits the hot broth.
- Break Noodles Evenly: Break your lasagna noodles into uniform 1-inch to 2-inch pieces. This guarantees they cook evenly and fit comfortably on a soup spoon.
- Don’t Overcook the Spinach: Add the fresh spinach at the very last minute. It only takes about 60 seconds to wilt, keeping its vibrant color and delicate texture intact.
- Freshly Grated Cheese is Best: Pre-shredded cheeses contain anti-caking agents that can make your soup grainy. Always grate your parmesan directly from a wedge for a silky smooth finish.
Storage & Reheating/Freezing
Store any leftover white lasagna soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. The pasta will continue to absorb liquid as it sits, so it may become thicker the next day.
To reheat, simply warm it on the stovetop over low heat, adding a splash of chicken broth or milk to thin it back out. Because of the heavy dairy content, freezing is not recommended, as the cream and cream cheese may separate and become grainy upon thawing.
What to Serve With This & More Inspiration
Looking to turn this incredible soup into a full feast? Here are dozens of fantastic pairings and related recipes to keep your menu fresh!
Breads, Sandwiches & Carbs
Soup and bread are a match made in heaven. Dip a warm slice of homemade ciabatta bread, a crusty french baguette recipe, or even a sweet pineapple bread into your bowl. For sandwich lovers, try pairing it with a garlic bread grilled cheese, a savory bennigans monte cristo recipe, a quick pizza grilled cheese, or pepperoni croissant rolls. You can even elevate your baking skills with our homemade croissant recipe.
Cozy Soups & Quick Dinners
If you love comfort in a bowl, you have to try our classic lasagna soup recipe, the creamy white chicken chili, or a hearty egg roll soup. We also highly recommend our chicken tortilla soup recipe (and the alternate chicken tortilla soup), creamy tortellini soup, greek lemon chicken soup, italian sausage soup, and our quick crock pot ramen. Need more dinner ideas? Browse our easy lazy dinners!
Appetizers & Delicious Dips
Start your meal off right with appetizers like baked spinach artichoke dip, cottage cheese crackers, or some crispy hot honey fried shrimp. For a crowd, whip up our buffalo chicken dip recipe, mexican street corn dip, or a festive bacon cheddar ranch cheese ball. Other fun bites include baked feta rolls, cheesy pretzel dogs, starbucks egg bites recipe, and sweet pineapple fritters.
Irresistible Chicken Mains
If you have extra chicken, put it to work in our boursin chicken recipe, honey lime chicken, or creamy mexican chicken. We also love serving up air fryer salt and pepper chicken, bbq chicken sweet potato bowl, and chinese chicken wings. Craving bold flavors? Check out the dill pickle parmesan chicken, creamy pepperoncini chicken, creamy chicken casserole, spicy dragon chicken, jalapeno popper chicken enchiladas, gluten free chicken fried rice, dutch oven creamy ranch chicken, or the epic spicy korean bbq chicken sandwich.
Hearty Beef & Pork Dishes
Looking for meaty mains? You will love our black beans and rice with sausage, bavarian braised pork and sauerkraut, and our brown sugar pork chops. For ground beef fans, try the ground beef and cabbage stir fry, cheesy ground beef casserole, ground beef casserole, or ground beef and potatoes skillet. We also feature fun meals like homemade big mac wraps, grilled cheese burrito, philly cheesesteak tortellini, one pan italian sausage pasta, crock pot cube steak, garlic butter steak bites, slow cooker teriyaki meatballs, walking taco casserole, cheesy taco potatoes, hobo foil packets, slow cooker beef and noodles, roasted beef tenderloin, and cowboy butter steak bites.
Veggies, Salads & Fun Sides
Balance your plate with fresh sides like vietnamese vegetable pickles, vietnamese noodle salad, italian pasta salad, or mexican street corn salad. Try our famous crack green beans, crockpot green bean casserole, sauteed zucchini and mushrooms, or rich garlic butter mushrooms. Top your salads with our creamy balsamic dressing or homemade ranch dressing recipe. Don’t forget our fun fusion sides like mediterranean quesadilla, grilled mediterranean veggie quesadillas, spinach lentil burgers, taco rice bowl, bbq chicken coleslaw wraps, or the viral salmon sushi bake recipe.
Incredible Desserts
Finish your meal with a sweet treat! Explore traditional sweets like our yakgwa recipe, homemade red bean paste, or pastel de nata recipe. For chocolate lovers, bake our banana bread brownies, best fudge recipe, buckeye recipes, georgia toffee recipe, or the ultimate chocolate brownie cake. If you prefer cookies and cakes, check out our homemade vanilla cupcake recipe, no bake samoa cookies, ginger molasses sandwich cookies, raspberry filled snowball cookies, cannoli cheesecake bars, loaf pan cheesecake, and strawberry matcha sago.
Frequently Asked Questions
Freezing is not recommended for this recipe. Because the soup has a high dairy content from the heavy cream and cream cheese, it is prone to separating and developing a grainy texture once thawed and reheated.
Yes! Ground mild or spicy Italian sausage makes a phenomenal substitute for shredded chicken. Simply brown the sausage in the pot after cooking the bacon, then drain the excess fat before adding your aromatics.
Absolutely! Using pre-cooked or store-bought rotisserie chicken is a massive time-saver. Simply shred the breast meat and stir it into the hot soup during the final few minutes of cooking.
To prevent mushy pasta, boil the noodles directly in the broth only until they reach al dente. If you plan on having lots of leftovers, you can cook the pasta separately and add it to individual bowls before serving.
If you want a lighter soup, you can substitute the heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk. Just keep in mind that the final broth will be slightly less thick and velvety than the original recipe.
Recipe Schema
The Ultimate Creamy White Lasagna Soup Recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Heat your Dutch oven over medium heat and add the chopped bacon. Cook for 5-7 minutes until the edges are a deep golden-brown and the fat has completely rendered. Using a slotted spoon, remove the crispy bacon and set it aside on a paper towel-lined plate. Leave about 2 tablespoons (30ml) of bacon fat in the pot.
- Add the butter to the residual bacon fat and let it melt. Toss in the diced yellow onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes until it becomes soft and translucent. Stir in the minced garlic and Italian seasoning. Cook for exactly one minute until highly fragrant.
- Sprinkle the all-purpose flour over the onion and garlic mixture. Stir constantly for 1-2 minutes to cook out the raw flour taste. Slowly whisk in the chicken broth, ensuring no clumps remain, and bring the liquid to a gentle simmer.
- Once the broth is bubbling, drop in the broken ruffled lasagna noodles. Reduce the heat slightly and let them boil for 8-10 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. They are ready when perfectly tender.
- Lower the heat to low. Whisk in the softened cream cheese until it is completely melted. Pour in the heavy cream and grated parmesan cheese. Stir gently until the soup transforms into a luscious, velvety masterpiece.
- Fold the cooked, shredded chicken into the hot broth. Follow immediately with the fresh baby spinach. Stir everything together and simmer for 1-2 minutes until the spinach leaves wilt.
- Ladle the hot, creamy white lasagna soup into heavy ceramic bowls. Top generously with the reserved crumbled bacon and serve immediately.
Notes
Freshly Grated Cheese is Best: Pre-shredded cheeses contain anti-caking agents that can make your soup grainy.
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