Instant Pot Lasagna
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With the perfect mixture of Italian cheeses, savory browned ground beef, and tender pasta all pressure cooked together in a classic marinara, this Instant Pot Lasagna is a game-changer! You can have all the delicious flavors of homemade lasagna in under 45 minutes. It’s the ideal quick and easy weeknight meal that your whole family will love!
Easy Instant Pot Lasagna Recipe
What if you could have all the yumminess of homemade lasagna without all the work!?! Well, my friends, that is what we’ve got here today. Meet Instant Pot Lasagna! It’s got all the same amazing flavors of perfectly cooked beef, tender pasta, and lots of cheese just like my traditional Easy Beef Lasagna, but with less work, no dealing with boiling lasagna noodles, and very little cleanup.
Not to mention, this recipe uses jarred marinara, which makes it even easier. You can of course use homemade if you like, but there is no need. All you literally have to do is brown some meat, then add all the other ingredients and let the IP pressure cook to do its magic. Then top with some cheese and serve. I’m telling you this tasty IP recipe is going to knock your socks off!
And if you love lasagna as much as we do in my house and new ways of making it, check out my Skillet Lasagna and Lasagna Roll-Ups too!
Why You’ll Love This Instant Pot Lasagna
- Meaty And Cheesy! This IP lasagna is absolutely delicious with the perfect ratio of tender pasta to tasty beef and yummy cheese covered in red sauce.
- Easy and Affordable! This simple 45-minute meal is not only easy but budget-friendly too! It will easily feed your family a hearty meal while keeping the costs down.
- Family Favorite! This recipe will be a favorite at your house in no time. Cheesy pasta dishes are always popular no matter who you’re serving.
- Ground Beef – I used extra lean ground beef, but you can use any type of ground beef you like.
- Onion – Brown or yellow onion is best for its flavor, but any type of onion you have is fine.
- Garlic – Fresh minced garlic is what you want. Jarred garlic will work, but it can have a bitter taste if it has been open in your fridge for a long time.
- Italian Seasoning – It’s a blend of dried herbs consisting of basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, and marjoram. If you don’t have any on hand just use a combination of whatever is in your pantry or make your own using my recipe here.
- Salt – No dish would be complete without a touch of salt to bring out the flavors.
- Black Pepper – You can use regular or freshly ground black pepper.
- Marinara Sauce – A jar of your favorite marinara is needed for this recipe. You can also use homemade sauce if you like, but store-bought will work perfectly.
- Pasta – I like to use bowtie, mafalda, or penne and find that those work the best for this recipe.
- Beef Broth – Low sodium is best and adds a savory layer to the dish as the pasta absorbs the flavor as it cooks.
- Ricotta Cheese – The best choice for this recipe is ricotta cheese. You can also use cottage cheese if you prefer.
- Parmesan Cheese – The more aged the better. It adds a yummy salty cheesiness.
- Mozzarella Cheese – I like to buy a ball of mozzarella and shred my own for the freshest flavor. I also find that this type melts the best.
- Fresh Basil – Used to both garnish the pasta and add a layer of fresh herby flavor.
This easy IP recipe takes very little effort and makes almost no mess at all. Lasagna has never been so quick and easy!
Prep The Instant Pot
The first thing you need to do is turn your Instant Pot on to the sauté setting. However, you should check your manufacturer’s guide to get instructions on how to work your particular Instant Pot. They can vary by model type.
Brown The Meat In The Instant Pot
Now, we can begin the recipe. So add the ground beef, onion and garlic to the Instant Pot and cook it for 3 minutes as you break it up with a wooden spoon. After cooking for 3 minutes the meat should no longer be pink. Next, stir in the garlic, Italian seasonings, salt, and black pepper. Then cook the meat mixture for another 2 minutes or until the onions are soft and translucent.
Add The Pasta And Sauce
Once the meat is browned, add the marinara sauce, pasta, and beef broth to the IP. Then stir the mixture well and scrap the pot to remove any bits that may be stuck to the bottom.
Cook And Release The Steam
Now, close the lid, seal the valve, and set the Instant Pot to Manual/High Pressure for 4 minutes. Keep in mind that it will take the IP a few minutes to come to pressure before it begins cooking. So don’t worry if you don’t see the cooking time counting yet.
When the Instant Pot has finished its cycle, let it natural pressure release for 10 minutes. Not the quick release in this case. The IP will do this process all on its own. Then very carefully move the valve to “venting” position, remove the lid, and stir.
Add The Cheese To Finish
It’s finally time to make it cheesy! First, stir in the ricotta cheese and Parmesan cheese. Next, top the mixture with the shredded mozzarella cheese. Now, close the lid for a few minutes or until the cheese is completely melted. No need to turn on the Instant pot, there should be enough residual heat to melt the cheese.
Garnish And Serve
And that’s it! Just garnish with some fresh chopped basil and your Instant Pot Lasagna is ready! To serve, dish it out into your favorite bowls and serve it with some yummy Garlic Knots if you like.
Can I Use Other Types Of Ground Meat?
Of course! You can use any type of ground meat to make this recipe. Aside from beef, good options include ground turkey, pork, veal, and chicken. You can even remove Italian sausage from the casings and use the meat.
Can I Make Gluten-Free Instant Pot Lasagna?
Yes! Just use your favorite gluten-free pasta.
Can I Make This Recipe Without An Instant Pot?
Yes! And it’s super easy to do. Basically, brown your meat in a big pot or Dutch oven instead of an IP. Then continue following the recipe. But once everything has been added to the pot, bring the mixture to a boil, then turn the heat down to a simmer, cover the pot with a lid, and cook it for 10 minutes. Then once the pasta is cooked, remove the lid and finish the dish by adding the cheese.
Expert Tips
- Use quality ingredients. Italian dishes are all about very simple, but high-quality ingredients. So choosing a nice marinara and cheeses will make a difference.
- Brown the meat well. You want to cook the ground beef before adding the other ingredients. The brown bits it creates on the bottom of the pot are full of flavor.
- Check your manual. For the best results, check your manufacturer’s guide for recommendations on how to use your Instant Pot before starting any IP recipe.
Storage
Instant Pot Lasagna leftovers will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days in an airtight container. To reheat, just add a few tablespoons of water or leftover marinara sauce to add some moisture, then cover, and pop it in the microwave for a few minutes on medium power. Or, you can add a little water or sauce and reheat it in a pan over medium heat on the stove.
Other Delicious Recipes To Try
- Zucchini Lasagna
- Lasagna Soup
- Taco Lasagna
- Pastitsio (Greek Lasagna)
- Lasagna Dip
- Carbonara Mac And Cheese Soufflé
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Instant Pot Lasagna
Video
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds ground beef (extra lean)
- 1 small onion (chopped)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- salt and pepper (to taste)
- 24 ounces marinara sauce (1 jar)
- 1 pound pasta (such as bow time, mafalda or penne, uncooked)
- 2 cups beef broth (low sodium or no sodium added, up to 2.5 cups if needed)
- ½ cup ricotta cheese
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese (shredded)
- 1 cup Mozzarella cheese (shredded)
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil (chopped)
Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.
Instructions
- Prep Instant Pot: Turn your Instant Pot to the sauté setting. (See your manufacturer’s guide for detailed instructions on how to use your instant pot.)
- Cook The Beef: Add the ground beef, onion and garlic to the Instant Pot and break up the beef with a wooden spoon. Cook for about 3 minutes or until the meat is no longer pink. Add the garlic, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper and stir. Cook for 2 more minutes until the onion begins to soften.
- Add Ingredients: Add the marinara sauce, pasta and beef broth to the IP. Stir well, scraping the bottom to remove any stuck bits. Close the lid. Seal the valve and set the Instant Pot to Manual/High Pressure for 4 minutes.
- Finish and Serve: Once the Instant Pot cycle is complete, allow for natural pressure release for 10 minutes, after which you can carefully release the pressure. Open the lid and stir well.
- Top with Cheese: Stir in the ricotta cheese and Parmesan cheese then top with mozzarella cheese. Close the lid for a few minutes to melt the cheese.
- Garnish and Serve. Garnish with basil and serve.
Equipment
Notes
- Use quality ingredients. Italian dishes are all about very simple, but high-quality ingredients. So choosing a nice marinara and cheeses will make a difference.
- Brown the meat well. You want to cook the ground beef before adding the other ingredients. The brown bits it creates on the bottom of the pot are full of flavor.
- Check your manual. For the best results, check your manufacturer’s guide for recommendations on how to use your Instant Pot before starting any IP recipe.
Nutrition Information
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
