9 BEST Cheap & Easy Soups ANYONE Can Make
9 BEST Cheap & Easy Soups ANYONE Can Make is a easy Italian-American recipe that serves 6. 350 calories per serving. Recipe by Julia Pacheco on YouTube.
Prep: 14 min | Cook: 25 min | Total: 54 min
Cost: $16.29 total, $2.72 per serving
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil (extra‑virgin preferred)
- 1 pound Italian Sausage (spicy or sweet, removed from casing if possible)
- 1 medium Yellow Onion (diced)
- 2 teaspoons Dried Parsley
- 0.5 teaspoon Dried Oregano
- 1 teaspoon Dried Basil
- 2 teaspoons Tomato Paste
- 24 ounces Marinara Sauce (jarred or canned)
- 7 cups Chicken Broth (low‑sodium preferred)
- 9 pieces Lasagna Noodles (broken into bite‑size pieces)
- 1 cup Cottage Cheese (full‑fat for creaminess)
- 0.5 cup Mozzarella Cheese (shredded)
- 0.5 cup Parmesan Cheese (freshly grated)
- 4 slices Garlic‑Herb French Bread (store‑bought, sliced)
- as needed Olive Oil Spray (for brushing bread before broiling)
Instructions
Prep Ingredients
Dice the yellow onion, break the lasagna noodles into bite‑size pieces, and measure out all spices, tomato paste, and cheeses.
Time: PT5M
Brown Sausage & Onion
Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium‑high heat. Add the Italian sausage (crumbled) and diced onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sausage is fully browned and the onion is translucent, about 8 minutes. Remove excess grease with a paper towel.
Time: PT8M
Temperature: medium‑high
Add Aromatics & Tomato Base
Stir in dried parsley, oregano, basil, tomato paste, and the marinara sauce. Cook for 2 minutes to meld flavors.
Time: PT2M
Temperature: medium
Add Broth and Noodles
Pour in 7 cups chicken (or veggie) broth, then add the broken lasagna noodles. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce to a simmer.
Time: PT13M
Temperature: medium
Prepare Cheesy Mixture
In a mixing bowl combine 1 cup cottage cheese, ½ cup shredded mozzarella, and ½ cup grated Parmesan. Stir until smooth.
Time: PT5M
Finish Soup with Cheese
When the noodles are tender, remove the pot from heat. Stir in the cheesy mixture until fully incorporated, creating a creamy texture.
Time: PT2M
Toast Garlic‑Herb French Bread
Arrange the French bread slices on a baking sheet. Lightly spray with olive oil spray, sprinkle a little extra Parmesan, and broil on high for 1–2 minutes until golden and crisp.
Time: PT2M
Temperature: broil
Serve
Ladle soup into bowls, top each with a generous spoonful of the cheesy mixture (if not already fully stirred in), and place a piece of toasted garlic‑herb French bread on the side.
Time: PT1M
Nutrition Facts
- Calories
- 350
- Protein
- 22 g
- Carbohydrates
- 30 g
- Fat
- 16 g
- Fiber
- 3 g
Dietary info: Contains meat, Contains wheat
Allergens: Dairy, Gluten
Last updated: April 11, 2026






