Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna

Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna is perfectly named because it’s exactly like it sounds: an ooey gooey cheesy lasagna recipe that’s exactly what you need when you’re feeling too lazy to get out the casserole dish. It’s so simple! Just brown the meat, assemble, and cook!

We love cooking dinner in the Instant Pot. It’s easy and clean-up is a breeze. Here are some other dinner recipes to try:

Mini Meatloaf in the Instant Pot
Instant Pot Fettuccini
Instant Pot Salmon and Rice
Instant Pot Jambalaya

What Makes This Recipe ‘Lazy’ Lasagna?

Why is it called ‘Lazy Lasagna?’ Because with this easy recipe, you don’t have to heat sauce or cook noodles – you just have to quickly brown the meat in your Instant Pot, layer your ingredients, set your pressure cooker, then return 30 minutes later to bite into this cheesy and delicious lasagna.

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 8 ounces ground beef
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups ricotta cheese
• 3 teaspoons Italian seasoning, divided
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 24 ounces marinara sauce
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 8 oven-ready lasagna noodles, gluten-free if needed
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

How to Make

STEP ONE: Brown the meat and saute the onions. Turn the Instant Pot to saute. Add a teaspoon of olive oil and the ground beef. Add 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, garlic, salt, and diced onion. Saute for 3-5 minutes or until meat is no longer pink. Remove the cooked meat from the pressure cooker using a slotted spoon and turn the Instant Pot off.

STEP TWO: Prep the ricotta cheese and marinara sauce. In a medium bowl, mix together the ricotta cheese, egg, 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and parmesan cheese. In a separate bowl, mix together the marinara sauce, the rest of the Italian seasoning, and parsley.

STEP THREE: Layer the lasagna. In a 7” springform pan, start layering the lasagna with a layer of marinara sauce. Break up some of the lasagna noodles and place on top of the sauce. Spread half the ricotta cheese mixture on the noodles. Add half the meat mixture. Cover the meat mixture with marinara sauce and then add a layer of mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers to the top of the pan. Cover the springform pan with tin foil.

STEP FOUR: Prep the Instant Pot. Add 1 cup of water to the Instant Pot. Place the trivet in the Instant Pot. Prep a piece of tin foil to act as a “sling” to help lower and lift the lasagna into and out of the instant pot. Use this to lower the lasagna onto the trivet in the instant pot. Place the lid on the pressure cooker.

STEP FIVE: Cook. Set the Instant Pot to high pressure for 22 minutes. Let the pressure naturally release for 15 minutes and then do a quick release for any remaining pressure. Remove the lasagna from the Instant Pot and let rest for an additional 10 minutes before serving.

Ingredient Substitutions

• Beef – Use chicken, pork, or a mixture of ground meats.
• Cheese – This recipe calls for ricotta, but you can use cottage cheese if you prefer. Also, you can use pre-shredded mozzarella, but if you shred your own, you’ll get more of that stringy melted yumminess!
• Egg – Egg helps the cheese mixture stay together, but if you don’t want to include egg, you can omit it.
• Oven-ready lasagna noodles – If you want, you can use regular lasagna noodles. They will still cook evenly in this recipe. You can also use gluten-free noodles. Look at the package cook time for the noodles and cut it in half for your pressure time.

What Should I Serve With My Lasagna?

Lasagna is just so yummy. With layers of ricotta and mozzarella, seasoned ground beef, pasta sauce, and noodles, what’s not to love? But a little something on the side is never a bad idea. With this lasagna, good serving suggestions include:

• Side garden salad
• Caesar salad
• Garlic bread
• Breadsticks
• Spring Salad with Dill Buttermilk Dressing
• Raw veggie plate
• Mozzarella sticks
• Roasted veggies

What Can I Add to My Lasagna?

This is a very simple recipe and works really well in the Instant Pot, partly due to its simplicity. But you can doctor it up a bit if you want!

You can add vegetables, like bell peppers, mushrooms, or spinach. I recommend sauteing your vegetables before layering them in to remove some of the water.

You can also use ground chicken or pork. I love the taste of a ground beef/ground pork blend!

Recipe Notes and Tips

• Always go in the order: Sauce, Noodles, Cheese, Meat. This is what will help the noodles cook properly.
• Don’t skimp on the sauce! Pasta needs water to soften and some of that water is going to come from the sauce, so make sure you put a good layer on the noodles.
• For a little more flavor, top your lasagna with fresh herbs like basil or oregano.
• Make sure there’s adequate water in your Instant Pot so your lasagna doesn’t dry out.
• Keep the lasagna covered with foil so condensation drips don’t fall onto the top of your lasagna.

FAQs

Storage and Reheating Instructions

This lasagna can be stored covered in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can also freeze the leftovers in an airtight container or Ziploc for 3 months.

To reheat, just place in the oven covered in foil at 350 until heated through, about 20-30 minutes. I also like reheating this in the microwave. Heat in 1-minute bursts until hot through.