Get ready for the ultimate comfort meal: Instant Pot Beef Lasagna! With layers of noodles, rich tomato sauce, savory meat, and creamy cheese, this classic Italian dish is made easy in your Instant Pot. Say goodbye to lengthy oven cooking and hello to tender, flavorful lasagna in no time!
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Best Homemade Lasagna Hands Down!
If you’re in the mood for a cheesy, hearty lasagna but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen, this recipe is for you. The Instant Pot does all the hard work for you and delivers an amazing dish that will please even the pickiest of eaters.
So what are you waiting for? Get out your Instant Pot and give this four-cheese lasagna recipe a try – we promise you won’t be disappointed! Don't forget to check out our Lasagna Soup recipe too!
Why This Recipe Works
- Classic Dish, New Method: Experience traditional lasagna made easy with the Instant Pot.
- Time-Saving Recipe: This Instant Pot version significantly cuts down on prep and cook time.
- Flavorful Layers: Enjoy the rich, hearty flavors of this delicious layered pasta dish.
📋 Ingredients
Make sure you have everything you need before you get started!
- Lean Ground Beef: Provides a savory, meaty base for the lasagna, adding depth and richness to the dish.
- Nature’s Season : A blend of spices that enhances the flavors of the other ingredients, creating a more complex taste profile.
- Oven-Ready Lasagna Noodles: These are the structural base of the lasagna. They absorb the sauce and cheese, becoming tender and flavorful.
- Pasta Sauce: Adds a tangy tomato flavor that contrasts nicely with the rich cheeses and hearty beef.
- Cheddar Cheese: Melts into the lasagna, giving it a classic, tangy, cheesy flavor.
- Shredded Mozzarella Cheese: This cheese contributes a creamy, mild flavor and creates the coveted gooey texture in lasagna.
- Cottage Cheese: Gives the lasagna a unique, slightly tangy flavor and a creamy texture.
- Parmesan Cheese: Adds a sharp, salty note that perfectly rounds out the flavors in the lasagna.
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
- Italian Seasoning: For a classic Italian flavor profile, enhance your beef lasagna with a generous sprinkling of Italian seasoning. This aromatic blend typically includes herbs like oregano, basil, thyme, and rosemary, adding depth and richness to your dish.
- Ricotta Cheese: For added creaminess, layer ricotta cheese into your beef lasagna. Ricotta adds a luscious texture and subtle tanginess that perfectly complements the savory beef and tomato sauce layers, elevating your dish to a new level of indulgence.
🔪 How to Make Instant Pot Beef Lasagna
- Step 1: Set the Instant Pot to sauté and toss in ground beef to brown in your inner pot. Season with Nature's Season
- Step 2: Once the meat mixture is browned, add pasta sauce. Continue to sauté for 1 minute.
- Step 3: Next, remove the meat sauce from the inner pot, and wash out your inner pot.
- Step 4: After your marinara sauce is ready, you will begin layering your lasagna in a Springform Pan. First, spray the inside of the spring with oil so it doesn't stick.
- Step 5: On the bottom of the spring foam pan, add a thin layer of meat sauce and top it with a layer of cut lasagna noodles. Layer on the meat sauce, cheddar, mozzarella, and cottage cheese. Repeat two more times. Place the inner pot into your Instant Pot. Add 1 cup of water to the bottom of the inner pot.
- Step 6: Next, place the trivet into the inner pot. Next, cover your lasagna with foil and place it on top of the trivet. Pressure cook for 40 minutes, then naturally release for 10 minutes. Top with parmesan cheese and let rest for 20 minutes before serving.
👩🍳 Expert Tips
This recipe is a pot-in-pot Instant Pot recipe! So, there are a few tips and tricks that you will want to keep in mind before you begin.
- Do Not Put The Ingredients In Your Inner Pot. A pot-in-pot method means you have to place another pan or pot inside your inner pot. Otherwise, you will get the dreaded Burn Notice.
- Create Handles. I use a spring foam pan with side handles, but if you don't have an Instant Pot pan with handles, you will want to create some with tin foil. That way you can easily pull your pan out of the inner pot without spilling your lasagna.
- Sauce It. I use a little sauce on the bottom of the pan before laying the noodles down. Then, I always place the sauce on top of the lasagna noodles followed by the cheeses. The sauce on top of the noodles helps them to absorb the liquid and cook better.
- Break The Noodles In Half. Full size lasagna noodles won't fit in your round pan. Before you start layering, break the noodles in half or in thirds.
💭 FAQs
Yes! You can easily customize your lasagna by using a different ground meat of your choice.
Whether it’s ground turkey, ground chicken, pork, or even a plant-based alternative like Beyond Meat or lentils, feel free to experiment with different meats to suit your taste preferences.
To store beef lasagna, let it cool to room temperature. Once cooled, cover it tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and place it in an airtight container. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. For longer storage, you can freeze it by wrapping it well in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil. It will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Yes, you can use regular lasagna noodles; however, it's recommended to break them into smaller pieces and layer them uncooked in the Instant Pot. Ensure there's enough liquid in the pot to cook the noodles properly.
To prevent the "Burn" notice, it's crucial to deglaze the pot after sautéing the meat by scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Additionally, ensure there's sufficient liquid (such as water or broth) in the pot before pressure cooking. Using the pot-in-pot method, where the lasagna is cooked in a separate pan placed on a trivet, can also help prevent this issue.
While using a springform pan can facilitate easy removal, it's not strictly necessary. You can assemble the lasagna directly in the Instant Pot's inner pot, but using a pan can help in lifting the lasagna out more easily.
After pressure cooking, you can use the sauté function to simmer the sauce and melt the cheese. Alternatively, transfer the lasagna to a conventional oven and broil for a few minutes to achieve a bubbly, golden top.
Serving Suggestions
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Beef Lasagna:
- Garlic Breadsticks: Golden and buttery, these breadsticks are the perfect crunchy companion to your Instant Pot lasagna.
- Caesar Salad: A crisp Caesar salad with fresh romaine, Parmesan, and homemade dressing adds a refreshing contrast to the rich flavors of lasagna.
- Asparagus: Lightly charred asparagus spears seasoned with olive oil and garlic make for an elegant side dish.
- Lemon Garlic Broccoli: Steamed broccoli tossed in a zesty lemon garlic sauce adds a zingy and nutritious element to your meal.
🍜 Related Recipes
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Instant Pot Cheese Lasagna
Ingredients
- ⅓ lb. Ground Beef
- ½ tablespoon Nature’s Seasoning
- 5 Lasagna Noodles
- 1 cup Pasta Sauce
- 1 ¼ cups Cheddar Cheese Shredded
- ¾ cup Mozzarella Cheese Shredded
- 12 oz Cottage Cheese
- ¼ cup Parmesan Cheese grated
Instructions
- Set the instant pot to sauté and toss in ground beef to brown. Season with nature seasoning
- Once the meat is browned, add pasta sauce. Cook for 1 minute
- Remove meat sauce and drain grease.
- Spray the inside of a spring mold pan with oil and cover the bottom of the pan with lasagna noodles. You will need to cut the noodles to fit.
- Layer on the meat sauce, cheddar, mozzarella and cottage cheese. Repeat two more times
- The top layer will be noodles and the remaining meat sauce. Cover with foil and place on a trivet in the instant pot. Add 1 cup of water to the instant pot and pressure cook on high for 40 minutes
- Allow for pressure to naturally release for 10 minutes and then manually release the pressure.
- Remove from instant pot, and place under broiler for 5 minutes.
- Top with parmesan cheese and let rest for 20 minutes
Notes
- Do NOT Put The Ingredients In Your Inner pPot. A pot in pot method means you have to place another pan or pot inside your inner pot. Otherwise, you will get the dreaded Burn Notice.
- Create Handles. I use a spring foam pan with side handles, but if you don't have an Instant Pot pan with handles, you will want to create some with tin foil. That way you an easily pull your pan out of the inner pot without spilling your lasagna.
- Sauce It. I use a little sauce on the bottom of the pan before laying the noodles down. Then, I always place the sauce on top of the lasagna noodles followed by the cheeses. The sauce on top of the noodles helps them to absorb the liquid and cook better.
- Break The Noodles In Half. Full size lasagna noodles won't fit in your round pan. Before you start layering, break the noodles in half or in thirds.
Nutrition
More Pressure Cooker Recipes
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- Instant Pot Meatloaf
- Instant Pot Teriyaki Chicken
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