Last Updated on January 12, 2023 by Anne-Marie

This cheesy Instant Pot lasagna recipe is better than traditional lasagna. This easy to make pressure cooker lasagna is the ultimate gluten free comfort food.

Why this recipe works

Once you’ve made Instant Pot lasagna, you’ll never make traditional lasagna again.

Super cheesy with spicy sausage and layers of noodles. This homemade lasagna with a creamy ricotta filling is the ultimate comfort food.

It’s also the ultimate family dinner, even if you're gluten free. So good!

Ingredients

Noodles: Oven-ready lasagna noodles – don’t use regular lasagna noodles as they won’t work. If you’re gluten-free, use gluten-free, oven-ready lasagna no-boil noodles. I like:

• Heartland Gluten Free Oven Ready Lasagna
• Barilla Gluten Free Pasta, Oven-Ready Lasagne – my personal favorite
• Le Veneziane Gluten Free Lasagne Sheets – instead of strips, these pasta strips are approximately 3" x 6 1/4". You can easily break them to fit the pan.

Lean ground beef or ground Italian sausage: you can also use ground turkey, ground chicken, or mild or spicy Italian sausage.

I like making my own sausage using this easy Homemade Italian sausage recipe.

Cheeses: Shredded Mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, and Ricotta cheese

Sauce: jar marinara sauce – use homemade pasta sauce, crockpot spaghetti sauce, or any of your favorite pasta sauces from the store.

Seasonings: Italian seasoning, minced garlic, garlic powder, kosher salt, and parsley flakes

Other: diced onion and an egg

How to make the best Instant Pot lasagna

Your family will love this easy lasagna recipe.

1. Turn the pressure cooker to the Sauté setting. Let it heat up for a couple of minutes. Then add a teaspoon of olive oil and the beef or sausage.

While the meat is cooking, break it up with a wooden spoon or oven-safe spoon.

2. Add seasoning, garlic, salt, and diced onion and sauté for 3-5 minutes or until the meat is no longer pink.

3. Remove the browned meat from the pressure cooker using a slotted spoon. Turn the Instant Pot off.

4. Add a cup of water into the inner pot to scrape off any browned bits of meat with a spoon or spatula.

5. Then, place the trivet with handles inside the pot.

6. Next, in a medium bowl, mix together the ricotta cheese, egg, seasoning, garlic powder, and grated cheese.

7. Mix together your favorite pasta sauce, seasoning, and parsley flakes in another bowl.

8. In a 7x3-inch springform pan that’s been coated with cooking spray, start layering your lasagna no-boil noodles with a thin layer of sauce.

9. If needed, break up lasagna no-boil noodles to fit, and cover with the sauce.

10. Spread half the cheese mixture. Then sprinkle with half the meat mixture.

11. Cover the meat layer with some sauce, and then sprinkle with a layer of mozzarella cheese.

12. Repeat layers to the top of the pan. Then cover the top of the springform pan with aluminum foil.

13. Place the lasagna pan on an aluminum foil “sling” or handle to easily lower and lift the lasagna pan out of Instant Pot without burning your hands.

Then place the lasagna on the trivet inside the cooker.

How long do you cook the lasagna?

1. Place the lid on the pressure cooker and set it to High pressure to cook for 22 minutes.

Then do a 15-minute Natural Pressure Release.

Finally, do a Quick Release to let off any remaining steam.

2. Remove the lasagna pan from the Instant Pot. Then remove foil from the top. Place it on a cookie sheet or large plate.

Let it sit for 10 minutes before removing it from the pan and serving.

3. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Get more Instant Pot Tips at When is it Safe to Open my Instant Pot?

Read this if you're wondering why your Instant Pot isn't heating or working.

FAQ

Can I add veggies to the recipe?

Sure! Sauté any vegetables you’d like to add, such as sliced mushrooms or finely diced broccoli or peppers, along with the meat or sausage.

You can also add a layer of baby spinach leaves between the other layers.

Time-saving tip: use frozen vegetables since they’re already cleaned and cut. Defrost in the microwave for a few minutes until they’re soft.

Then sauté the vegetables until they’re a bit caramelized or browned for a nice flavor.

Can I make this vegetarian?

Instead of using sausage, ground beef, turkey, or chicken, use vegetables. Just substitute them in the steps where you’d use meat.

Then cook up the vegetables like you would the meat or sausage.

I recommend diced or sliced mushrooms since they have that fantastic savory umami flavor. You can also use broccoli, zucchini, butternut squash, or sweet potatoes.

Can I use different cheeses?

If you don’t use a springform pan, then it’s called lasagna soup. While still delicious, it’s super messy.

Instead, please dig out that 7x3-inch springform cake pan from out of the back of the closet. It’s great for cheesecakes, too.

Can you make this without a springform pan?

If you don't use a springform pan, then it's called lasagna soup. While still delicious, it’s super messy.

Instead, please dig out that 7x3-inch springform cake pan from out of the back of the closet. It’s great for cheesecakes, too.

How to freeze

The beauty of making this lasagna recipe in a springform pan is that you can freeze it right in the springform cake pan!

Then you have a lovely freezer meal ready to go during a week when you’re too busy to cook.

Here’s how:

Cool: Wait for it to cool or place it in the fridge.

Freeze: Then cover the top with some plastic wrap. Freeze overnight.

Then remove the lasagna from the pan. If it doesn’t budge, leave it out on the counter for 10-15 minutes for the outside to thaw a bit.

Wrap: Wrap the frozen lasagna in plastic wrap and then some foil.

Label and date. It’s good for 3 months in the freezer.

Freezing individual pieces: Cut up the cooled (not frozen) lasagna into individual pieces and place these into freezer-safe containers or Ziploc freezer bags.

How to thaw and reheat

Thaw the frozen lasagna in the refrigerator overnight. Cut into individual servings. Then heat for a couple of minutes in the microwave.

More terrific Instant Pot dishes

Instant Pot Pulled Pork – AMAZING! makes the best BBQ sandwiches

60 Easy Vegetarian Instant Pot Recipes – all kinds of excellent vegetarian dishes

Instant Pot Turkey Breast Recipe – Don’t wait for Thanksgiving. This is terrific any time of the year.

Best Instant Pot Meatballs Recipe – This would go well with the lasagna, so make these first!

Instant Pot Orange Chicken – a tasty Asian inspired dish

Instant Pot Chicken and Rice – with peas and carrots

Updated September 21, 2021.