Ingredients
Scale
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage (hot or sweet), casings removed
- 1 medium sweet onion, roughly chopped into ¼-inch pieces
- ½ tsp Kosher salt
- 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 2 tsp dried oregano or Italian seasoning
- ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 3 Tbsp tomato paste
- 1 (28oz) can crushed tomatoes
- 6 cups (48oz) low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 bay leaf
- ⅓ cup loosely packed basil leaves (about 15 basil leaves)
- 1 Parmesan rind (optional)
- 8 oz pasta noodles (mafaldine, fusilli col buco, or lasagna noodles broken into bite-size pieces)
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1 cup (4oz) shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley or basil leaves for serving
- Baguette (optional, for serving)
Instructions
- Brown the meat in olive oil in a Dutch oven or large pot over medium-high heat (4-5 minutes). Drain excess grease if needed.
- Add chopped onion and salt. Cook until softened (2-3 minutes), then add garlic and cook 1 more minute. Stir in oregano and red pepper flakes.
- Add tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, bay leaf, basil leaves, and Parmesan rind (if using). Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
- Stir in pasta noodles and cook for 12-15 minutes or until tender.
- Mix ricotta, Parmesan, salt, and pepper in a separate bowl for the topping.
- Remove bay leaf and Parmesan rind. Stir in heavy cream and mozzarella until melted. Adjust seasoning.
- Serve in bowls, top with ricotta mixture, and broil for 1-2 minutes until golden and bubbly. Garnish with fresh parsley or basil.
Notes
- Use Italian sausage for extra flavor.
- Parmesan rind adds depth but is optional.
- Broiling the ricotta topping gives a lasagna-like finish.
- Serve with crusty bread for dipping.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
- Diet: Low Lactose
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 75mg