The Best Instant Pot Lasagna Recipe - Simply Happy Foodie (2024)

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Instant Pot Lasagna is the easiest lasagna recipe! It tastes delicious, and you can customize it to your taste, adding any of your favorite ingredients!. Did you know it is very easy to make lasagna in the Instant Pot? You don't have to boil the noodles first, so that's a win in my book! If you are in the mood for some tasty Italian pasta, make this pressure cooker lasagna recipe.

The Best Instant Pot Lasagna Recipe - Simply Happy Foodie (1)
Originally published Jan 19, 2018

Instant Pot Lasagna

This pressure cooker lasagna recipe is one of my most popular recipes! Often copied by others, but this is the original version of this recipe. The favorite Instant Pot lasagna recipe of thousands who have made it! Thank you all for your wonderful feedback and comments!

My husband, Paul makes a fantastic lasagna! He adds spinach, mushrooms, and other good stuff to it. His recipe makes a huge pan of it, and it lasts us for days! I wanted to make some in my Instant Pot electric Pressure Cooker, and see if it would turn out as good as his. And would it be any faster?

Well, he doesn't cook his noodles, so I didn't want to cook mine, either. I found some no-boil noodles that work perfectly (regular lasagna noodles worked as well, but the results were best when I soaked them first in very hot water for 15 minutes.).

He does a lot of chopping, and I wanted an Instant Pot Lasagna recipe where I could get good flavor without so much chopping. I turned to my pantry for some seasonings. Garlic powder, onion powder, and a few others did the trick! Saved some time there.

I decided to use my favorite jarred marinara sauce in this pressure cooker lasagna. When I have it, I use my homemade Instant Pot Marinara Sauce. Perfect! The Instant Pot Lasagna was coming together nicely! Here's a summary of how I made it:

How To Make Lasagna in an Instant Pot Pressure Cooker

  1. Spray a 7"x3" springform pan with cooking spray.
  2. Layer uncooked noodles in the bottom.
  3. Layer sauce, meat, and cheese mixture.
  4. Repeat layers two more times.
  5. Cover with a piece of sprayed foil, set on a trivet with handles (or use a sling) and put it in the pot.
  6. Pressure cook and let it naturally release for 10-15 minutes.
  7. Broil the top of your Instant Pot Lasagna to brown the cheese.

• Gather all of the ingredients and kitchen tools you will need.
•Cook the Meat with some seasonings so it isn't bland.
•Prepare the cheese mixture.
The Best Instant Pot Lasagna Recipe - Simply Happy Foodie (2)

•In a 7"x3" springform or push pan, start the layering with the no-boil noodles, which you will need to break apart to fit the shape of the pan.
•Next, layer ⅓ of the sauce, ½ of the meat, then ½ of the cheese mixture, and the spinach (optional).
•Start again with another layer of noodles, ⅓ sauce, ½ of the meat, ½ cheese mixture.
•Then noodles, sauce, and top cheese layer.
The Best Instant Pot Lasagna Recipe - Simply Happy Foodie (3)

The Best Instant Pot Lasagna Recipe - Simply Happy Foodie (4)

•Cover with a piece of sprayed foil, set on a trivet with handles (or use a sling) and put it in the pot.Set the cook time and let it naturally release for 10-15 minutes after pressure cooking.
•Broil the top of your Instant Pot Lasagna to brown the cheese*.
The Best Instant Pot Lasagna Recipe - Simply Happy Foodie (5)
*Broiling is an optional step, and you can brown the cheese as much as you like.

The Best Instant Pot Lasagna Recipe - Simply Happy Foodie (6)
This is what a foil sling looks like, if you need to use one. Take a 24 inch length of foil and fold it over 3 times the long way. You will have a sling that is 3"x24".

The Best Instant Pot Lasagna Recipe - Simply Happy Foodie (7)

The Best Instant Pot Lasagna Recipe - Simply Happy Foodie (8)
Instant Pot Easy Lasagna Soup
Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs
Instant Pot Marinara Fresh Tomato Sauce
Instant Pot Cheesy Meaty Shells
Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana (Sausage Potato Soup)

If you make this delicious Lasagna in the Instant Pot, please let me know. Just leave a comment with a star rating below. I'd like to know how it worked for you.

The Best Instant Pot Lasagna Recipe - Simply Happy Foodie (9)

Instant Pot Lasagna

Prep Time

25 mins

Cook Time

24 mins

Total Time

1 hr 4 mins

Instant Pot Lasagna is delicious and hearty. No need to pre-cook the pasta if you use no-boil noodles. Pressure cooker lasagna is easy to make.

Course:Dinner

Cuisine:Italian

Keyword:pressure cooker lasagna

Servings: 4 - 5

Calories: 427 kcal

Author: Sandy Clifton

Ingredients

Meat Mixture

  • ½lbLean Ground Beef(85% to 90% lean) You can use all ground beef
  • ½lbGround Italian Sausage(you can use all sausage)
  • ½teaspoonCoarse Salt(¼ tsp table salt)
  • ¼teaspoonPepper
  • ½teaspoonOnion Powder
  • ½teaspoonGarlic Powder
  • ½teaspoonItalian Seasoning

Cheese Mixture

  • 1cupRicotta Cheese(or Cottage Cheese)
  • 1Egg
  • ½cupMozzarella Cheese,shredded
  • ½cupParmesan Cheese,grated
  • 1 ½teaspoonGarlic Powder
  • 1 ¼teaspoonOnion Powder
  • 1 ¼teaspoonItalian Seasoning
  • ½teaspoonOregano
  • ½teaspoonSalt(if your pasta sauce is salty, decrease to ¼ tsp)
  • ½teaspoonPepper
  • ¼cupChopped Fresh Parsley

Remaining Layers

  • 1(24 oz) jarPasta Sauce (about 3 cups)(I prefer marinara, or use your favorite brand)
  • ½cupChopped Spinach Leaves, optional(fresh, or frozen, thawed)
  • 5-6No Boil Lasagna Noodles(or regular uncooked lasagna noodles that have been soaked in very hot water for 15 minutes)
  • ½cupMozzarella Cheese,shredded
  • ½cupParmesan Cheese,grated

Instructions

Cook Meat

  1. Set pot to Sauté and add the beef, sausage, salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Cook, stirring, until the meat is cooked.

  2. Remove meat, drain, and set aside. Clean out pot and add 1 ½ cups water to it.

Mix the Cheese Mixture

  1. In a mixing bowl combine the ricotta, egg, mozzarella, parmesan, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, oregano, salt, pepper, and parsley. Use a fork to mix thoroughly. Set aside.

Make the Lasagna

  1. In a 7"x3" or 6"x3" springform or push pan, make a layer of the no-boil noodles by breaking them and fitting them like a mosaic to cover the bottom of the pan.

  2. Spread ⅓ of the pasta sauce over the noodles, covering them all.

  3. Spread ½ of the meat mixture over the sauce evenly.

  4. Spread ½ of the cheese mixture evenly over the meat.

  5. Sprinkle the spinach (if using) over the cheese mixture evenly.

  6. Add another layer of noodles, press down on them a little.

  7. Add another layer of ⅓ of the sauce.

  8. Add the second half of the meat.

  9. Add the second half of the cheese mixture.

  10. Add another layer of noodles, the last ⅓ of sauce, ½ cup of mozzarella, and ½ cup of parmesan.

  11. Spray a piece of foil with nonstick spray and lightly cover the pan with the foil, enough that water can't get in.

  12. Set the pan on a trivet with handles and lift them into the inner pot that has 1 ½ cups of water in it. You can also use a sling to set the pan on the trivet in the pot.

  13. Close the lid and lock in place. Turn the steam release knob to the Sealing position.

  14. Press the Pressure Cook or Manual button (or dial) and choose 24 minutes. High Pressure. It will take about 5 minutes or so for the pot to come to pressure.

  15. When the cook cycle has ended, let the pot sit undisturbed for 10-15 minutes (10-15 minute Natural Release). Then, turn the knob to the Venting position to release any remaining steam.

  16. When the pin in the lid drops down, open the lid. Use silicone mitts, sling, or good pot holders that can get wet to lift the rack with the hot pan out of the pot to a cooling rack. Be VERY careful as it could slip off the rack.

  17. Carefully remove the foil. Turn on your broiler to 450° with the oven rack in the middle to top ⅓ position in the oven.

  18. Set the pan on the oven rack and let the cheese on top brown to your desired amount. Watch it closely as it doesn't take very long. Every oven is different!

  19. Let the lasagna rest for a few minutes before releasing from the pan. This will help it maintain its shape and cool down just a bit.

  20. Carefully (pan and lasagna very hot) release the lasagna from the springform pan while it is on a plate.

  21. If you used a push pan, set a large can of soup or veggies on a plate and set the push pan on top of the can. gently, and carefully push the sides of the pan straight down. Wear oven mitts or some kind of hand protection. The pan and the lasagna will be very hot.

    Then slide another plate under the lasagna. You might need to use a spatula to help slide it over.

  22. Serve with salad and some crusty bread!

Recipe Notes

This recipe works best in a 7"x3" springform or push pan. It will not fit in a 2" deep pan.

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FAQs

How many layers should a lasagna have? ›

Then repeat the layers. Top the last layer of your lasagna with sauce and cheese. You can also alternate layers of sauce and ricotta cheese. Most lasagna recipes have two to three layers.

What is the lasagna noodle trick? ›

Place your dry noodles in the water, making sure they're all equally submerged, and let them soak for about 20 minutes. Let this go while making your sauce or preheating the oven, and it shaves off all the extra time you'd spend boiling them.

What is the white sauce in lasagna made of? ›

A classic French sauce, a béchamel is made with flour, butter, and milk. It is used in many dishes from lasagna to macaroni and cheese to gratins and casseroles to croque monsieur. The butter and flour are cooked together in a heavy-bottomed saucepan to form a thick paste (the roux) before milk is added.

Why is my lasagna so juicy? ›

The sauce could be too watery. The noodles can be holding on to water. The vegetables are releasing excess moisture. If you are using ricotta be careful of the moisture it can add.

What is the correct order to layer lasagna? ›

The correct way to compose lasagna is: ragù sauce on the base, then: lasagna pasta, besciamella sauce, ragù sauce, grated parmesan cheese for each layer, tipically 4 or 5 layers, no more because it will get difficult to bake and the pasta will not be completely cooked in the middle layers.

Do you put meat as bottom layer lasagna? ›

However there should be a thin layer of sauce in the bottom of the pan to prevent sticking but not meat. You put a thin layer of sauce then noodles. There are many different types of lasagna and not all have meat but some do. The bottom layer is always sauce.

Should you use no-boil lasagna noodles? ›

No-boil lasagna noodles aren't just a convenient shortcut to piping-hot lasagna—they're actually way more delicious than the regular, frilly-edged kind you have to cook before using.

Do no-boil lasagna noodles really work? ›

No-boil noodles hold a nice texture ― just make sure you don't overcook the dish,” said executive chef Walter Pisano of Tulio in Seattle. “While we always make our pasta from scratch at Tulio, the everyday home cook may not have the time or energy to do that, so I'd recommend they give these no-boil noodles a try.

Why add tomato paste to lasagna? ›

A good tomato paste helps to thicken but also adds a sweet and savory umami flavor. Lean Ground Beef: Lean beef adds a robust and hearty meatiness that's essential in a classic lasagna recipe.

What is the name of the mother sauce typically used in lasagna? ›

Béchamel is made by thickening hot milk with a simple white roux. The sauce is then flavored with onion, cloves, and nutmeg and simmered until it is creamy and velvety smooth. Béchamel can be used as an ingredient in baked pasta recipes like lasagna, and also in casseroles.

What is the difference between lasagna and lasagne? ›

In Italian, lasagna is the singular form of the noun, referring to a single flat sheet of the pasta, while lasagne is the plural form and thus the go-to word for the whole dish, which is made up of many sheets of pasta.

Why is my ricotta runny in my lasagna? ›

However, it can also introduce excess moisture if not handled properly. To avoid a runny mess, it's crucial to pat dry the ricotta before incorporating it into your lasagna. Once your ricotta is sufficiently dry, you can confidently incorporate it into your lasagna without worrying about it turning too watery.

What thickens lasagna sauce? ›

Cornstarch: Make a slurry of half water, half cornstarch and whisk until smooth. Cornstarch is a powerful thickener, so start by whisking in no more than 1 tablespoon of the mixture per 2 cups of simmering sauce; stir and simmer for 2 minutes, check the thickness, and repeat with more slurry as needed.

Is there a wrong way to layer lasagna? ›

The best way to layer your lasagna is to start with a layer of red sauce, follow it up with a layer of white sauce, then pasta, then cheese. Follow this pattern until you've filled your tray.

Should lasagna be 2 or 3 layers? ›

You will need four layers of noodles total. It is best to start and finish with wider layers, so if you have less than 16 noodles, put your extra noodles in the bottom or top layers.

Is 2 layers of lasagna enough? ›

The typical number of pasta layers in a baked lasagna can vary depending on personal preference, recipe variations, and the size of the baking dish. However, a traditional lasagna recipe often includes around three to four layers of pasta sheets, alternating with layers of sauce, cheese, and other fillings.

Can lasagna have too many layers? ›

Home Cook World claims that the typical lasagna should have between three and five layers, but the proper number depends more on pan size. You don't want your lasagna to look flat or shallow in a large pan, and in this case, its best to prepare to come closer to five layers rather than three.

How long should lasagna sit before slicing? ›

When the lasagna is ready it is difficult to resist the temptation to immediately eat it, but be careful because even in this case you have to be a little patient. Wait for your lasagna to rest for about 20 minutes once it is baked, in this way it will not fall apart when cut.

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