Name: Instant Pot Lasagna
Total time: 1 h 10 min
Yield: 10 servings
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: ½ lb lasagna noodles OR 1 whole box oven ready noodles, with or without ribbons; ½ lb Italian sausage; ½ lb ground beef; 1 cup onion chopped; 2 cloves garlic minced; 28 oz petite diced tomatoes 1 can, drained; 12 oz tomato paste; 2 tsp sugar; 2 tsp salt; 1 ½ tsp dried basil leaves; ½ tsp fennel seed; ¼ tsp ground black pepper; 15 oz ricotta cheese; 1 egg large, beaten; 2 tsp parsley minced, or 1 Tbsp parsley flakes; ½ tsp salt; 3 cups mozzarella cheese shredded; ½ cup Parmesan cheese grated

Instant pot lasagna is layered with a hearty meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and Parmesan cheese all packed between noodles and topped with melty mozzarella cheese. This is definitely one of our favorite budget-friendly ground beef meals.

spatula lifting slice of Instant Pot Lasagna

Why this recipe works

This instant pot lasagna comes from our Italian lasagna recipe, which we’ve also turned into crockpot lasagna. Here we’re showing you how easy it is to make in the pressure cooker as well! This cheesy, hearty, creamy lasagna is baked in the pressure cooker in 30 minutes, but allow for around an hour of prep and cook time combined to get this meal on the table.

Ingredients you will need

Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.

MEAT – Our lasagna recipe calls for ground beef and Italian sausage. You can certainly substitute any ground meat you like or try a spicy Italian sausage instead of sweet or mild.

SAUCE – In this recipe, we’ll show you how to make our sauce from scratch. If you need an easy crockpot lasagna with spaghetti sauce, you can use your favorite jarred marinara. I am partial to Rao’s Marinara when I don’t have time to make sauce from scratch.

NOODLES – You can use regular uncooked lasagna noodles or “oven-ready”, also called “no boil”, noodles for this recipe. If using oven-ready noodles, the finished noodles will be a bit softer than regular noodles as they are precooked. Our personal preference is to use regular lasagne noodles for this recipe.

How to Make Instant Pot Lasagna

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.

Turn an 8 qt Instant Pot to sauté mode, high for 15 minutes. Add the pork, beef, and onions to the pot to sauté until pink is gone. Drain excess fat.
While sautéing, fill a 9×13 casserole dish with boiling hot water. One at a time, add the lasagna noodles to the dish. Set aside.

EXPERT TIP – If you add water to a dish with the noodles already in it, you will end up with noodles stuck to one another.
In the Instant Pot, stir in the next 7 ingredients. Pressure cook for 5 minutes on high and allow to naturally release for 5 minutes before releasing the pressure the rest of the way. Remove the meat sauce from the instant pot and give a good rinse. Fill the bottom of the instant pot with 1-1/2 cups water and the trivet.
In a medium bowl, blend ricotta, egg, parsley, and salt.
Spoon 1/2 cup of meat sauce into the bottom of an 8 inch springform pan.
Start the layering process with one-third each lasagna, meat sauce, ricotta mixture, Mozzarella cheese, and Parmesan cheese.
Repeat layers two more times. Cut the lasagna noodles with scissors to fit the pan as desired.
Wrap the bottom of the springform pan with aluminum foil to prevent liquid from going in or out of the dish. Set on the trivet in the Instant Pot. Bake on manual High pressure for 25 minutes.
Remove from the Instant Pot and broil in the oven until the top becomes golden brown. Allow to sit for 15 minutes. This helps everything hold together. Use a knife to run along the edge of the springform pan, open and slice with a sharp knife like a pie, after the 15 minutes. Top with fresh parsley and serve.

Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips

Can I substitute ricotta cheese for cottage cheese?

Yes, you can certainly substitute cottage cheese for ricotta cheese! Simply replace equal amounts of cottage cheese for the ricotta listed in the recipe.

How do I store leftover instant pot lasagna?

It is best to remove the finished dish and store the leftovers in a separate container with a lid in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can also freeze leftover instant pot lasagna by wrapping the cooled dish in plastic wrap and then placing inside a plastic zipper freezer bag or freezer container. You can freeze this lasagna for up to 3 months.

Can I use oven ready noodles?

Yes, simply skip the step of placing the noodles in the hot water, you can directly add them to the instant pot in this case. If using oven-ready noodles, the finished noodles will be a bit softer than regular noodles as they are precooked.

Serving Suggestions

We love pairing this instant pot lasagna with rolls or bread. Our homemade Italian bread is definitely a go-to, as well as parmesan garlic rolls and pull apart dinner rolls. Some may also enjoy a lighter side like a tossed salad. Top with freshly chopped parsley and more Parmesan cheese if desired.

Here are several more ground beef casseroles to try!

More Instant Pot Recipes

Looking for more ground beef ideas? See our collection of 90 best ground beef recipes here.

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