Google's Top Trending Recipe of 2023 Is a Weeknight Winner

Every December, I wait with bated breath to see when Google reveals the top trending recipes of the past year. It just released the results of 2023 and what immediately surprised me was the top slot was not a recipe at all! Google ranked McDonald's Grimace Shake as the #1 recipe even though it's a limited-time menu item and not so much a recipe. 

That had me immediately looking to the second slot, which is indeed an actual recipe: lasagna soup. So despite what Google might say, I declare lasagna soup as the true top trending recipe of the year. Following close behind was chicken cobbler and traditional Trinidadian black cake (also the title of a novel and T.V. show). 

I can fully understand why lasagna soup ranked so high: It’s all the best parts of the cozy pasta casserole but a fraction of the work.

What Is Lasagna Soup?

Lasagna soup is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a soup inspired by the Italian American lasagna, a favorite classic comfort food. Rather than layers of pasta, tomato sauce, meat, and cheese, all four components are combined in a one-pot soup to be enjoyed with a spoon. 

The lasagna soup recipe on Simply Recipes features broken lasagna noodles, crumbled Italian sausage, crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, and lots of aromatics and Italian herbs. The hearty soup is garnished with a sprinkle of shredded mozzarella and a generous dollop of ricotta that’s made extra cheesy with Parmesan. 

Why Was Lasagna Soup Google’s Top Recipe?

While I don’t have a direct line to Google executives (I’m working on it), and I can’t pinpoint an exact cultural moment this past year that drove this soup to the top, I think it gained popularity simply because it’s a much easier alternative to making traditional lasagna but just as cozy and satisfying. 

While it can take hours to assemble a lasagna, you can make lasagna soup in less than half the amount of time, with a bowl in front of you in less than 60 minutes. This means you can satisfy your craving for cheesy, saucy Italian carbs on even the busiest weeknight. 

Another reason I think this soup was such a hit this year is because of how flexible it is. Like lasagna, it really can be customized to you and your family’s liking. Swap the pork sausage with chicken, turkey, or plant-based sausage, or use ground beef. Lose the meat completely and replace it with sautéed mushrooms and wilted greens like baby spinach or kale. 

You can even replace the lasagna noodles with another ruffle-shaped pasta like farfalle, campanelle, or mafalda. And you can replace the cheeses with non-dairy varieties if you need to make the recipe dairy-free. Everyone can enjoy this twist on classic comfort food.