Instant Pot Lasagna Recipe – Cheesy and Easy

Making lasagna used to be a long and arduous process. But not anymore! With the help of an instant pot, you can have this cheesy and easy dish on the dinner table in no time. With simple and family-friendly ingredients that are easy to adapt, this will surely be a family favorite in no time.

Lasagna is one of those dishes that everyone loves, but it’s often seen as too complicated or time-consuming to make. 

Who has time to spend hours in the kitchen making a dish that’s going to take up a whole plate? Not us! That’s why we love our instant pot lasagna recipe.

Our easy and delicious lasagna recipe can be made in just 30 minutes using an instant pot. Plus, there are so many variations you can try, you’ll never get bored of it.

Instant Pot Lasagna Ingredients

• 8 no boil lasagna noodles
• 1/2 pound ground beef or ground sausage
• 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 16 ounces cottage cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 3 cups spaghetti sauce or Marinara sauce
• 3 cups shredded mozzarella, divided

Can I use a different type of cheese?

Of course! This lasagna recipe is very versatile and you can use any type of cheese you like. We recommend trying a mix of mozzarella and cheddar, but you can experiment with other types of cheese as well.

What is the best meat to use in this recipe?

This lasagna recipe can be made with either ground beef, ground turkey, or sausage. We recommend using a leaner meat like turkey to reduce the fat content, but you can use beef if you prefer.

We often like to do a combination of ground beef and ground sausage for some added flavor.

Can I use regular lasagna noodles?

We do recommend using the no-boil lasagna noodles, just because they make this dish SO easy. However, if you prefer to use regular lasagna noodles, just make sure you cook them beforehand.

Can I use ricotta?

Yes! Ricotta can be a great alternative to cottage cheese in this recipe. Just make sure to use a full cup of ricotta instead of the cottage cheese.

Can I leave out the cottage cheese?

Absolutely! We actually tend to prefer this – it’s great either way!

How to Make Instant Pot Lasagna

1. Set the Instant Pot to Saute and let heat until hot. Add in ground beef or ground sausage. Add salt to meat and brown meat. Add in kosher salt, 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning and minced garlic.
2. Saute for 3-5 minutes or until meat is no longer pink. Once meat is browned, remove from pressure cooker using a slotted spoon.
3. Turn Instant Pot off and pour 1 1/2 cups of water into the Instant Pot Inner Pan. Scrape any browned bits of meat with a spoon or spatula.
4. Add in trivet to the Instant Pot right over the water.
5. Layer the Lasagna In a 7 inch by 3 inch Spring Form Pan or 7 by 3 inch oven safe43 cake pan.  
6. To being layering, add thin layer of marinara or spaghetti sauce to the bottom of the pan. Break up oven ready lasagna noodles to fit to cover the bottom of the baking pan.
7. Top with half the cottage cheese. Add a few dashes of garlic powder and Istalian seasoning to the cottage cheese layer for added flavor.
8. Next, sprinkle with half the meat mixture. .Cover the meat mixture with marinara or spaghetti sauce and then sprinkle with a light layer Parmesan cheese, followed by a light layer of mozzarella cheese.
9. Add another layer of lasagna noodles.
10. Top with remaining cottage cheese mixture.
11. Sprinkle with remaining meat mixture.
12. Top with another layer of marinara or spaghetti sauce and sprinkle with a light layer of mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
13. Add the final layer of lasagna noodles, breaking to fit again.
14. Top with a generous layer of marinara or spaghetti sauce.
15. Generously sprinkle shredded Mozzarella Cheese and Parmesan cheese on top.
16. Cook Lasagna by placing the lasagna pan on a tin foil “sling” to help lower and lift lasagna out of Instant Pot.
17. Place lasagna on trivet inside the Instant Pot. Place lid on lasagna and turn vent knob to “seal.”
18. Set to high pressure for 22 minutes.
19. Let pressure release for 10 minutes and then do a quick release for any remaining pressure.
20. Serve after letting lasagna set for 10-15 minutes.

Can I make this lasagna recipe in the oven?

Yes! If you don’t have an instant pot, you can easily make this lasagna recipe in the oven. Just follow the same instructions but bake it in a 9×13 inch baking dish at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Can I make this lasagna recipe vegetarian?

Yes! Just leave out the meat and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth to make it vegetarian. You can also use a variety of different vegetables to make it more flavorful.

Can I make this lasagna recipe ahead of time?

Yes! This lasagna recipe can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days before cooking.

I would recommend letting the ingredients cool before putting the lasagna together. If you put the cheese on top of hot meat and noodles, it will melt.

How can I make this recipe healthier?

There are lots of ways to make this lasagna recipe healthier. You can use leaner meat like turkey, use less cheese, or use whole wheat pasta. You can also reduce the amount of sauce used in the recipe.

Can I freeze this lasagna recipe?

Yes! This lasagna recipe can be frozen for up to 2 months.

How long will the leftovers last?

They should last in an air-tight container for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.

Where can I find a springform pan?

A springform pan can be found at most kitchen stores or online.

Tips for Success

Always Brown The Meat First

When browning the meat, the Instant Pot should be set to the to Saute setting.

1. Let it heat up until hot.
2. Then, crumble in ground beef or ground sausage. (Or a mixture of both!)
3. Add in seasonings and diced onion.
4. Once the meat is cooked, remove meat mixture from Instant Pot using a slotted spoon.

You Need to Get the Water/Food Ratio Right!

• Add 1 1/2 cups of water to the Instant Pot Inner Pan.
• Scrape up any browned bits of meat gently.
• Turn Instant Pot off. (yes, really!)
• Add a trivet to the Instant Pot right over the water. This keeps the noodles from getting too mushy!

When Layering, Keep Ingredients Uniform

If you added 1 cup of cottage cheese to the first layer, make sure you add one cup to the second.

Keeping layers uniform gives a better cooking and eating experience!

Use An Aluminimum Foil Sling

Having an aluminum foil sling helps you remove the lasagna without dropping it and creating a big, nasty mess!

Don’t Forget to Broil Your Lasagna After!
If you love that toasted look and flavor many restaurant lasagnas have, simply broil your finished lasagna for a few minutes.

Place lasagna on a cookie sheet and place it under the broiler for three minutes.

That’s it! Super simple!

More Recipes You Might Enjoy:

• Easy Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo Recipe
• Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese with Bacon
• Easy Homemade Instant Pot Hamburger Helper
• Easy Instant Pot Chicken, Potatoes, and Carrots

Our easy and delicious lasagna recipe can be made in just 30 minutes using an instant pot. Plus, there are so many variations you can try, you’ll never get bored of it. So what are you waiting for? Get cooking!