Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna
Craving lasagna but don’t want to deal with layering noodles and baking it for an hour? This Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna is the answer! It has all the rich, cheesy, saucy goodness of a traditional lasagna, but it’s made in one pot with minimal effort. Perfect for busy weeknights, this recipe comes together in under 30 minutes and is guaranteed to be a hit with the whole family.
Instead of carefully layering everything in a baking dish, we’re tossing all the ingredients straight into the Instant Pot. The result? A hearty, flavorful pasta dish that tastes just like lasagna but with way less work. Plus, since we’re using uncooked pasta, there’s no need to boil noodles separately—just throw them in, and let the pressure cooker do the magic.
This cheesy, comforting meal is easy to customize and great for meal prep. Whether you’re serving it up for a cozy family dinner or saving leftovers for later, this Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna will quickly become a go-to in your recipe rotation!
What You’ll Love About This Recipe
- One-Pot Wonder – No need to use multiple pots and pans. Everything cooks right in the Instant Pot!
- Ready in 30 Minutes – A classic comfort dish made super quick with pressure cooking.
- Kid-Friendly & Crowd-Pleasing – Who doesn’t love a cheesy, meaty pasta dish?
- Customizable – Swap out the beef for Italian sausage, add veggies, or use your favorite pasta shape!
- Less Cleanup – Since everything is cooked in one pot, cleanup is a breeze.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 small onion chopped
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 pounds of lean ground beef
- 1 jar of pasta sauce (24 oz)
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1/4 cup red wine (can substitute with beef broth)
- 1 cup water
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 8 oz uncooked lasagna noodles or other pasta. We used a Campanelle pasta because my kids like the shape
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
Instructions
- Set your Instant Pot to sauté. Add the olive oil and butter and allow it to sizzle. Add the onions and garlic cook for 2 minutes. Stir regularly.
- Add your ground beef and cook until about 4-5 minutes, or until no longer pink. Drain grease and return to Instant Pot.
- Add pasta sauce, beef broth, wine, water and Italian seasonings. Mix well.
- Add pasta. Stir to make sure noodles are covered with the liquid.
- Set Instant Pot to high pressure for 4 minutes. Lock lid and make sure vent is closed. When coking time ends, do a QUICK RELEASE and wait for steam to completely stop before opening lid.
- Stir in cheese, but reserve about 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese if you would like to sprinkle a bit on top of the lasagna when you serve it.
Tips & Tricks for the Best Lazy Lasagna
-
- Break the Pasta – If using lasagna noodles, break them into smaller pieces before adding them to ensure even cooking.
- Don’t Skip the Quick Release! – If you let the pressure naturally release, the pasta can become mushy. A quick release ensures perfect texture.
- Use a Bold Pasta Sauce – Since the pasta absorbs a lot of flavor, pick a rich, well-seasoned pasta sauce for the best taste.
- Layer the Ingredients Gently – Stir before pressure cooking to coat everything evenly, but don’t overmix the pasta, or it might clump together.
- More Cheese, Please! – Want an extra gooey lasagna? Stir in more mozzarella at the end and let it melt before serving.
FAQs – Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna
1. Can I use a different type of meat?
Yes! You can swap the ground beef for ground turkey, Italian sausage, or even a meatless alternative if you prefer.
2. What’s the best pasta to use?
Lasagna noodles (broken into pieces) work great, but campanelle, rotini, or mafaldine also hold up well to pressure cooking.
3. Can I make this ahead of time?
Absolutely! Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat with a splash of broth or water to loosen up the sauce.
4. Can I make this without an Instant Pot?
Yes! Brown the meat in a large pot on the stove, then add all ingredients except the cheese. Simmer until the pasta is tender, then stir in the cheese before serving.
5. Can I freeze it?
Yes! Let it cool completely before freezing in individual portions. When ready to eat, thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat on the stovetop or microwave.
**Keep scrolling to get to the video at the bottom **
Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna
Delicious Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna is so delicious and will satisfy every bit of your pasta and lasagna craving. This is so much easier to make and equally as delicious, if not a little bit more!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 small onion chopped
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 pounds of lean ground beef
- 1 jar of pasta sauce (24 oz)
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1/4 cup red wine (can substitute with beef broth)
- 1 cup water
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 8 oz uncooked lasagna noodles (broken into smaller pieces, try to keep them about the same size) or other pasta. We have also used a Campanelle pasta because my kids like the shape
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
Instructions
- Set your Instant Pot to sauté. Add the olive oil and butter and allow it to sizzle. Add the onions and garlic cook for 2 minutes. Stir regularly.
- Add your ground beef and cook until about 4-5 minutes, or until no longer pink. Drain grease and return to Instant Pot.
- Add pasta sauce, beef broth, wine, water and Italian seasonings. Mix well.
- Add pasta. Stir to make sure noodles are covered with the liquid.
- Set Instant Pot to high pressure for 4 minutes. Lock lid and make sure vent is closed. When coking time ends, do a QUICK RELEASE and wait for steam to completely stop before opening lid.
- Stir in cheese, but reserve about 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese if you would like to sprinkle a bit on top of the lasagna when you serve it.
Nutrition Information:
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 786Saturated Fat: 22gCholesterol: 165mgSodium: 757mgCarbohydrates: 33gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 46g
I’m Melissa, the imaginative force behind Sparkles to Sprinkles, where creativity comes to life, and sprinkles of joy are scattered generously. Melissa is a proud Jersey girl who found love with a New York boy. As a mom to four wonderful boys and a few fur babies, her journey into the world of blogging began after making the life-changing decision to stay home and raise her children. Previously a dedicated workaholic, Melissa’s blog became her creative outlet and passion project. Inspired by her mother-in-law, a masterful cook renowned for her delicious home-cooked meals and legendary holiday feasts (think mouthwatering sausage stuffing), Melissa honed her culinary skills through a combination of family recipes and countless cooking classes. She often attended these classes with her son Michael, who shared her enthusiasm for cooking from a young age. Melissa’s love for learning extends beyond familiar cuisines, as she enjoys exploring international recipes in hands-on cooking classes. Her blog features a diverse array of recipes, showcasing her expertise with various kitchen appliances such as the Instant Pot, air fryer, Slow Cooker, Ninja Foodi, Instant Vortex Plus, and more. Join Melissa on her culinary adventures as she shares tried-and-true family favorites alongside exciting new discoveries!
Where is the ingredients list? Looks good, but hard to make without that.
sorry, it is fixed. 🙂
I made this for dinner. Somehow missed that I was out of mozzarella so used a Mexican blend some provolone. I also used up some cooked ground 5
This was a total hit. Since it used a lot of staples, this will definitely be a ‘go to ‘ for us. Thank you for sharing with us!
I don’t drink wine (I know weird) and always stay away from recipes with wine since I don’t know what to buy. What is a good wine to buy when used in a recipe?
You can use extra beef broth instead. 🙂
What size jar of pasta sauce?
24 Oz
This was so delicious but I would like to add more pasta to the recipe. If I added 4 more oz of pasta how much more liquid do you think I have to add?
Can you double recipe? I have a large family and the 8 quart IPot.
yes you sure can. I do the same 🙂
Really good! And I love the fact that you only use the Instant Pot. No browning meat in a skillet. No boiling the noodles in another pot.
Hello! This looks great and I am planning on making it within the next few days. I don’t have an “Italian Seasoning” blend, but I have separate spices. What spices would you recommend instead of the blend?
thanks!
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried marjoram
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
1/2 teaspoon dried sage
Here you go 🙂 I hope you loved this one as much as we do 🙂
Yay! Thank you! I have no doubt we’ll love it (even my extremely picky husband said it looked great).
Hi! Thanks for all your help and the recipe. I finally got to make this and it was delicious! I used fusilli pasta which was great. It was an easy recipe and even my husband absolutely loved it. This is a keeper. Thank you!
OMG delicious ! A little too much Italian seasoning for my taste, Will half that next time. Also, I added a container of fresh spinach. So so good. Will definitely make again. THANK YOU.
Can you use the No Boil Lasagna noodles?
Yes you should be able to .. as long as you adjust the cook time. I would try pressure cooking for 2 minutes vs 4 minutes.
Can you make without the ricotta cheese? I know it is odd, but I don’t like it (too much like cottage cheese which I hate!). Other than that ingredient I would love to try this!
yes of course you can make without ricotta cheese. It will still be delicious. 🙂
You left out when to incorporate the Parmesan and the ricotta cheese. I added at the very end with the mozzarella. Used a mozzarella/provolone blend. Delicious.
I used Italian chicken sausage meat and red peppers and a bit of zucchini. Also gluten free noodles Came out good!
I made this today with a few tweaks: I used meatless crumbles instead of ground beef as I’m vegetarian. I added a shredded carrot and some chopped mushrooms. Instead of mixing the pasta sauce in, I put it as the last layer and did not stir as I didn’t want to run into a Burn notice. It turned out so delicious, both my husband and I loved it. I’ll be making this again soon. Thank you for this awesome recipe!
I got a burn notification before it came to pressure…. now I have to try and salvage this by sautéing it? Not happy
I am so sorry. I have not encountered
A burn message with this before.
I wish I could edit my comment. I was super cranky because I was very pregnant and my toddler was screaming while I was trying to get this on the table.
Finishing it on sauté actually work out fine. I just set it to sauté on low and kept checking the noodles until it was cooked.
I have the ultra instant pot, and apparently the burn notification is a common issue with this type of dish.
Now I know. Thanks for the recipe, and sorry for my cranky pants.
Just realized I don’t have any beef broth. Do you think this would be ok if I use chicken broth instead?