Weight Watchers Recipe of the Day: Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup {Instant Pot Variation}
I've been on a bit of an Italian food kick recently.
I just can't seem to get enough of it.
So, when I came across this recipe for a lighter version Paula Deen's Tastes Like Lasagna Soup on Spectacled Owl's Roundup of 50 Weight Watchers Recipes for Weight Loss, it went right to the top of my "Recipes to Try" list.
Recipe Notes
I adapted Paula Deen's Sons' Take It Lighter recipe, turning it into an even lighter slow cooker lasagna soup.
The lighter recipe already was much skinnier than Paula's original, with 404 fewer calories and 28 fewer grams of fat.
By using the microwave (affiliate link) and slow cooker, I was able to eliminate the need for additional oil altogether, shaving off about 1 WW Point per serving.
I also used fewer lasagna noodles and added 1 cup chopped fresh mushrooms.
This slow cooker lasagna soup was even more delicious than I had hoped.
So much easier than lasagna, but with all the same delicious flavors, I'll be making this easy lasagna soup again the next time I need an Italian food fix!
How Many Calories and WW Points in this Soup?
According to my calculations, each 1-cup serving has 202 calories and:
4 *SmartPoints (Green plan)
4 *SmartPoints (Blue plan)
3 *SmartPoints (Purple plan)
5 *PointsPlus (Old plan)
To see your WW PersonalPoints for this recipe and track it in the WW app or site, Click here!
How to Make Instant Pot Lasagna Soup
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- Turn on a multi-functional pressure cooker (such as Instant Pot (affiliate link)®) and select Saute function. Add sausage and onion to the pot and cooking stirring often and breaking up the sausage, until browned, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the bell pepper, mushrooms, garlic, broth, tomato sauce, tomatoes, salt and crushed red pepper and broken lasagna noodles, making sure they are completely submerged in the liquid.
- Close and lock the lid and set vent to "sealing." Set for 3 minutes on High Pressure. (Allow 10 to 15 minutes for the soup to come to pressure.)
- When time is up select "cancel" and do a quick release according to manufacturer's instructions.
- Unlock and remove the lid. Stir in the basil, mozzarella and Parmesan. Taste and add any additional seasonings, such as salt, pepper, additional crushed red pepper, to suit your tastes.
If you like this lightened up recipe for lasagna soup, be sure to check out my other easy, healthy Weight Watchers friendly crockpot recipes including Easy 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan Lasagna, Crock-Pot Hamburger Stew, Slow Cooker Porcupine Meatballs, Slow Cooker Sausage Spaghetti Sauce and Crock Pot Macaroni, Beef & Tomato Soup
Are You Ready To Slow Cook Yourself Slim?
If you've made this low calorie Slow Cooked Lasagna Soup, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.
Skinny Slow Cooker or Instant Pot Lasagna Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound Italian turkey or chicken sausage, casings removed
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 1 green or red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 cup chopped mushrooms
- 3 cloves garlic, minced (I used 3 teaspoons jarred)
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 can (14 to 15 ounces) tomato sauce
- 1 can (14 to 15 ounces) diced tomatoes
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 3 ounces whole wheat lasagna noodles (about 3 or 4 noodles)
- ½ cup chopped fresh basil
- ½ cup reduced fat mozzarella cheese
- 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
In the Slow Cooker
- Ideal slow cooker size: 4-Quart.
- Put the the sausage and chopped onion in a microwave safe bowl (affiliate link) and microwave (affiliate link), stirring occasionally, until the sausage is no longer pink, 5 to 8 minutes.
- Transfer the mixture to the slow cooker, breaking up any large pieces of sausage.
- Stir in the bell pepper, mushrooms, garlic, broth, tomato sauce, tomatoes, salt and crushed red pepper. Cover and cook on LOW until the sausage and vegetables are tender, 6 to 8 hours.
- Add the broken lasagna noodles, cover and cook on HIGH, until tender, about 30 minutes.
- Turn off the slow cooker and stir in the basil, mozzarella and Parmesan.
In the Instant Pot
- Turn on a multi-functional pressure cooker (such as Instant Pot (affiliate link)®) and select Saute function. Add sausage and onion to the pot and cooking stirring often and breaking up the sausage, until browned, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the bell pepper, mushrooms, garlic, broth, tomato sauce, tomatoes, salt and crushed red pepper and broken lasagna noodles, making sure they are completely submerged in the liquid.
- Close and lock the lid and set vent to "sealing." Set for 3 minutes on High Pressure. (Allow 10 to 15 minutes for the soup to come to pressure.
- When time is up select "cancel" and do a quick release according to manufacturer's instructions.
- Unlock and remove the lid. Stir in the basil, mozzarella and Parmesan. Taste and add any additional seasonings, such as salt, pepper, additional crushed red pepper, to suit your tastes.
Recipe Notes
*Points® calculated by WW. *PointsPlus® and SmartPoints® calculated by Simple Nourished Living; Not endorsed by Weight Watchers International, Inc. All recipe ingredients except optional items included in determining nutritional estimates. SmartPoints® values calculated WITHOUT each plan's ZeroPoint Foods (Green plan, Blue plan, Purple plan) using the WW Recipe Builder.
Watch this video to see how easy it is to make your own healthy lasagna soup at home:100 Days of Weight Watchers Freestyle Crock Pot Recipes
If you like this low calorie lasagna soup, you might also like...
Martha is the founder and main content writer for Simple-Nourished-Living.
A longtime lifetime WW at goal, she is committed to balancing her love of food and desire to stay slim while savoring life and helping others do the same.
She is the author of the Smart Start 28-Day Weight Loss Challenge.
A huge fan of the slow cooker and confessed cookbook addict, when she's not experimenting in the kitchen, you're likely to find Martha on her yoga mat.
This post contains affiliate links to products I like. When you buy something through one of my Amazon links or other (affiliate links), I receive a small commission that helps support this site. Thank you for your purchase!
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Marge Morrison
I was lucky enough to be one of the people who got to try this new version of Lasagna Soup; compliments of one of my favorite chefs in the city, who also happens to be a close family member! Love homemade soups of all kinds (pretty much); and Italian food has been a long-time favorite so together, they are the best! The soup was wonderful, full of flavor - much lighter than you would think with the name it has! I look forward to a pot of it myself - not too far down the road.
Martha McKinnon
Thanks, Mom. You're the best. Glad your liked it.
Charlene
This sounds so good. I think I'll try it out tomorrw.
As always, thank you for doing this series. I am a Weight Watcher and enjoy finding yummy, somewhat easy recipes.
Martha McKinnon
Hi Charlene,
We all thought it was very yummy! Hope you do to. Thanks for taking the time to stop by and leave a comment. I really appreciate it!!
Barb
Did you use No Boil lasagna noodles?
Martha McKinnon
No, Barb. I just used regular lasagna noodles. I think either boil or no boil would work fine.
heather
Why Not just get Grounded Sausage and why would I have to cook it before, putting in the slower cooker, isn't that was the slow cooker is suppose to do? It just seems like you could make it a little easy, but I might be missing something
Martha McKinnon
Hi Heather. Recipes are always only a guide. Ultimately, you should make it however works best for you 🙂 Most recipes I've read suggest cooking ground meat before adding it to the slow cooker. This may be for a couple of reasons: 1) to drain off any accumulated fat before adding it to the pot and 2) for food health/safety reasons. Hope this helps.
GailA
Just made this tonight for dinner. Delicious!! I put the cheese on top of the soup after it was served; did not add it directly to the crock pot.
GailA
Made this for dinner tonight. Delicious! I added the cheese to the top of the soup in each bowl instead of directly into the crock pot.
Martha McKinnon
Thanks, Gail! Love the idea of adding cheese to the top of each bowl instead of into the crock!
Amy
Why did you choose to microwave the meat and onion instead of browning it on the stove?
Martha McKinnon
Hi Amy, It's a trick from the folks at America's Test Kitchen/Cook's Illustrated that I read about. It's quicker, less mess and is supposed to help the ground meat from getting overly grainy during the slow cooking. Of course, browning on the stove will work too. And now that I have in instant pot that allows browning and slow cooking all in the same pot, I'll probably be using the microwave less. Hope this helps!
Amy
Thanks! I try to stay away from the microwave. I never put ground meat raw in the crockpot/slow cooker. What kind of pot do you have now?
Martha McKinnon
Hi Amy, I have several slow cookers of varying sizes. Right now I'm having fun with a new Instant Pot I treated myself to for Christmas. It's an all in one cooker that can be used for browning, slow cooking, pressure cooking, etc. I'm really liking it so far.
Laura
Can you tell me what the Smartpoints for this recipe are? Thanks!
Martha McKinnon
Hi Laura, It's 4 SmartPoints. Enjoy!
Cegalphl
I can't seem to find the actual directions anywhere. It looks delicious and I have all of the ingredients but feel frustrated. Every link I click takes me to a site that doesn't contain the recipe. I'm sure I can wing it but can you tell me how long you cooked it for and on what setting? I'm guessing 7 hours on low? Thanks!
Martha McKinnon
You should see the instructions now! 6-8 hours on low should do the trick!!
inc1961
Just curious, the video used lentils in place of the ground meat. Do the smart points differ between the lentil version and the meat version?
Also, she used ricotta cheese, not mozzarella, how does that affect the smart point value?
Thank you
PAM D.
Would you please include what constitutes a serving?
Marcia
How long in an Instant Pot?
Amy
This recipe was delicious. I will be making it regularly because of how easy and tasty it was. I did add some kale and a diced zucchini for added nutritional value. I’m not a fan of the microwave so I sautéed the onions and sausage instead.
Martha McKinnon
So glad you liked it Amy. Love the idea of boosting the nutrition with diced kale and zucchini!!
Jane OBrien
I have not made this soup yet but it sounds wonderful and I will be trying it this weekend. I am really commenting to say how helpful I find your recipes, quotations, and general advice and approach. Thank you so much!
Martha McKinnon
Hi Jane, Thank you so much for you kind words. I am delighted to learn that you find my recipes, quotations and general advice helpful!! - Martha
Gwen
Great recipe. Love it will make it again.
Cydney
I can’t wait to try this recipe! I will enjoy watching this video and belly laughing again in the future. You’re too cute. Especially about the packers game.. made me giggle.
Also- GO Cowboys!!
Annemarie
Can you use spaghetti squash instead of noodles? Would you not cook it or only cook it half way? TIA
Debby
This soup was excellent and just what we needed on a cold winter day. My husband even took seconds. I love it when I cook something that keeps me on track and he enjoys as well.
Linda McKeirnan
Made this on Sunday, but I just had my first serving of this soup for lunch today. It is delicious. Will definitely be making this again.
Marge
Anything that is, or resembles, a good Italian meal is a hit with me and this one is a knock-out! Have made it a few times - and have also made a soup by following my son's recommendation of adding some seasoning and chicken broth to left-over lasagna, which is also good!
A lighter version of a lasagna dinner, and delicious!