1poundhot sausage(Italian sausage may be used as well)
1poundground beef
2smallonions, chopped into ½" pieces, about 2 cups worth
4cloves garlic, minced
2tablespoonItalian seasoning
½ - 1 teaspooncrushed red pepper flakes
6ouncestomato paste
(2) 14.5ouncescans diced tomatoes, with garlic(fire-roasted tomatoes are great, if you can find them)
8cupschicken broth
1teaspoonkosher salt
½teaspoonfreshly ground black pepper
6-8ouncesmafalda pasta, or an alternate curly pasta
Cheese Topping Ingredients
8ouncesricotta cheese, about 1 cup
2ouncesParmesan cheese, about ½ cup
2ouncesfreshly shredded Mozzarella, about ½ cup
Instructions
In a large soup pot or Dutch oven, cook and crumble the sausage and ground beef over medium-high heat. Add the onions and the garlic to cook along with the meat. Sprinkle with Italian seasonings and red pepper flakes as everything cooks.
Add the tomato paste, diced tomatoes, chicken broth, salt, and pepper. Stir and increase heat to high. When soup begins to simmer, reduce to medium-high once again and add the pasta. Stir and simmer until noodles are soft, 8-10 minutes. Taste the broth and adjust spices as needed.
Remove from the heat when the noodles are tender, but still chewy. While the pasta is cooking, stir together the ricotta, Parmesan, and Mozzarella in a small bowl.
Scoop the soup into bowls and top with a generous scoop of the cheese mixture.