This is a really easy Pressure Cooker lasagna casserole recipe our whole family loves. Cheesy Instant Pot lasagna but in a casserole which makes it much easier to eat! If you love quick dinner ideas that are cheap and family friendly, this lazy lasagna is it!! Ninja Foodi recipe instructions too.
If you love using your Instant Pot and the taste of lasagna, this pressure cooker lasagna casserole is something you will love. We have a lot of easy Instant Pot recipes here on The Typical Mom. Sponsored by Barilla and Galbani. (originally published 11/17, affiliate links present)
Instant Pot Lasagna Casserole
This is super cheesy, easier to eat than traditional lasagna, but only takes 10 minutes! It has the same great taste you love with most of the same ingredients but in a deconstructed way! We loved it so much I created a LONG list of Instant Pot casseroles for you to enjoy too!
In the past we just used our slow cooker for all the things. With that said this whole idea started there. Same ingredients but the noodles had to be added closer to the end so they didn’t get too soft. It took all day too though so I had to have it together in the morning to make our Crockpot lasagna casserole recipe.
FIRST – You should sign up for my free newsletter so you get new posts emailed to you twice a week and never miss out on anything! Now let’s start with a few basic tips:
- Make sure to Bookmark our InstaPot recipes page. We add new ones each week!
- Then PRINT this —–> Instant Pot cooking times cheat sheet that will help you understand how long meat, vegetables and beans take to cook in your pressure cooker.
- This is a great InstaPot cookbook and a set of wooden utensils are great to grab too.
- I HIGHLY recommend you buy this non stick pot.
- You should still deglaze pressure cooker after sautéing but it won’t have as many issues with this better liner.
For reference, this is the pressure cooker I have (a 6 quart) and use for all recipe creations.
Instant Pot Cheater Lasagna
You could call it that because it’s so much easier than the “traditional method”. It really does taste just like the traditional dish, we love but made in a much shorter time. And there were no big and slippery noodles that make it difficult for my kiddos to eat. 😉 If you’re looking for a fabulous comfort food your entire family will love, you’ve got to try this!
You do not have to have an IP to make this though. We have a few different brands at home so we can test them out. I will say all of them, the Mealthy, Crockpot Express and this makes a great Ninja Foodi recipe too. You just need the saute and high pressure functions to make this one.
There are several great things about this one pot meal. One is that it’s just that, you need just this one pot to brown the ground beef and don’t need another to boil the penne pasta either. And you literally can use any type of noodles you like too. I buy what is on sale, period. I do think the medium size pasta is best vs. bigger or smaller.
With that said there are a lot of shapes in medium sizes. I also like elbow macaroni shapes, the squiggly looks to them, shells, whatever. You literally use the same ingredients you would if you were making lasagna in a pan except for the long flat noodles. That is what makes it so much easier to eat.
Pressure Cooker Lasagna Casserole
Of course you can season it as you wish but I included the measurements of what we used, including traditional marinara sauce, penne pasta (great fork size for the perfect bite), and lots of cheeses (you just can’t have enough cheese in our eyes).
- Pressure cooker – we use our Instant Pot or Ninja Foodi
- If you have an IP I highly suggest getting a non stick pot
- Spaghetti sauce – we chose whatever is on sale really
- Ground beef or Italian sausage – spicy ground sausage is best
For a low fat version you could certainly use turkey or chicken ground and sauteed with the same Italian seasonings. You could even add a packet of taco seasoning if you wanted bolder flavors and a fusion of Mexican in there. 😉 To make it spicy use a bit of red pepper flakes or chili powder.
Galbani Ricotta cheese – You can find this in the refrigerated section at Walmart with the cheeses. Cottage cheese could be substituted, or dairy free varieties of either works too.
- Mozzarella cheese – we used variety with whole milk but they carry
- Barilla Pasta – we used Penne pasta but they have a variety of shapes to choose from at Walmart
- Onion
- 2 cups water
Italian seasoning and garlic powder are optional. Add any other spices that are a MUST in your book. I have found lactose free mozzarella at the store for my husband that surprisingly tastes very similar to the real thing.
Instant Pot Lasagna
Once where once we added a can of diced tomatoes to make it chunker, and another time without. Either way was great.
- Another time we added about 1/2 of a cup of ricotta cheese into the mix when it was done as well as a dollop on top, that was fabulous too.
It depends. Most Instant Pot pasta recipes take under 20 minutes total. If cooking just noodles and water they only take 2-3 minutes on high pressure.
The traditional way layered in a casserole dish in the oven does require boiling. Lazy lasagna like this does not! Just gently submerge into the liquid and cook for 5 minutes and done!
Instant Pot Lasagna with Ground beef
Putting a dollop on top is great too because you can really taste it at it’s finest all alone with some of your lasagna on your spoon as well as the cheese! It is totally up to you, either way is so yummy. Want to make this lasagna casserole another way?
- Easy lasagna casserole made in the oven is shared here for you
- Our easy Crockpot lasagna made in your slow cooker we love as well, no boiling required for that one either
- If you want something a bit different but with the same flavors, give our lasagna soup a whirl, seen below.
Thinking outside of the box really changes up dinnertime and makes it more fun.
Ninja Foodi Lasagna Casserole
- Directions and cook times below will apply for any style pressure cooker
- You be using the saute function to brown ground beef
- Pressure button will then be pushed once everything is added, on high pressure
- Follow directions below and enjoy this easy Ninja Foodi recipe!
Let us know what you think of this easy recipe. If you add any other spices to this easy pressure cooker lasagna casserole to make it even better. You should try our Instant Pot lasagna soup after this that uses many of the same ingredients!
We are huge cheese lovers at our house so of course you need a large helping of shredded Galbani mozzarella inside this lasagna casserole but more on top too!
It is easy to shred and great at melting soon after sprinkling a bit on the top.
Time needed: 10 minutes.
Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna
- Saute
Set your pressure cooker to saute. Add your olive oil, ground sausage or ground beef, and diced onions. Cook until outsides are no longer pink. Drain grease and return the pot to your pressure cooker.
Turn machine off (important step so burn notification isn’t triggered because it is too hot). - Prepare
Add spices and stir with meat/onions. Spread ground beef/sausage mixture out evenly across the bottom of your pot. (it creates a barrier for the noodles so they don’t stick to the bottom)
Add spaghetti sauce on top of meat, pour your 2 c. water into your spaghetti sauce jar and shake to get remaining sauce out, pour that into your pot on top of your sauce.
Then pour your uncooked noodles in as the next layer. Do NOT stir! Just gently push down noodles so they are submerged into the liquid. - Cook
Put lid on and set to pressure, high, for 5 minutes.
Do a quick release.
Stir in 1.5 c. mozzarella cheese and allow to melt. Can either stir in ricotta now or just put a dollop on top of each serving.
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Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna
Pressure Cooker Lasagna Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 c water
- 2 c pasta uncooked, we use Barilla penne pasta
- 1 c ricotta cheese
- 2 c mozzarella cheese we use Galbani with whole milk
- 1 jar spaghetti sauce 24 oz., we use Barilla Traditional
- 1 tsp garlic salt
- 1/2 tsp basil
- 1/4 tsp white pepper
- 1 lb ground sausage spicy is tastiest, can use ground beef alternatively
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion diced
- 1 can diced tomatoes optional, makes the casserole chunkier
Instructions
- Set your pressure cooker to saute.
- Add your olive oil, ground sausage or ground beef, and diced onions. Cook until outsides are no longer pink. Drain grease and return the pot to your pressure cooker.
- Turn machine off (important step so burn notification isn’t triggered because it is too hot). Add spices and stir with meat/onions.
- Spread ground beef/sausage mixture out evenly across the bottom of your pot. (it creates a barrier for the noodles so they don’t stick to the bottom)
- Add spaghetti sauce on top of meat, pour your 2 c. water into your spaghetti sauce jar and shake to get remaining sauce out, pour that into your pot on top of your sauce.
- Then pour your uncooked noodles in as the next layer. Do NOT stir! Just gently push down noodles so they are submerged into the liquid.
- Put lid on and set to pressure, high, for 5 minutes.
- Do a quick release.
- Stir in 1.5 c. mozzarella cheese and allow to melt. Can either stir in ricotta now or just put a dollop on top of each serving.
michelle stuckey
Wednesday 22nd of February 2023
easy to make, i used ground turkey I have a picky older teen it was good
The Typical Mom
Thursday 23rd of February 2023
Oh good
Sara
Monday 21st of February 2022
Why does this call for 2 cups of mozzarella but instructions only show 1.5?
The Typical Mom
Tuesday 22nd of February 2022
I typically keep 1/2 cup aside to sprinkle on the top when done
Nicki
Monday 11th of October 2021
Sounds great. Question though - when you use hamburger, do you drain the grease after browning? What's the easiest way to do that, without burning myself on the pot?
Carla
Sunday 16th of October 2022
@Nicki, I just kind of wrap a paper owel around a wooden spoon and stir around the pot. Change out paper towel as often as you need to to get all the grease.
barbara
Monday 29th of June 2020
Can you add the ricotta and or cheese in before you cook it??
Heather
Wednesday 13th of May 2020
So I had the same issue as someone else did with 5 mins and the noodles were still hard. I did make sure they were totally submerged. Wondering if it’s the type of noodle used. I put the lid back on and am trying to PC it for 5 more mins to see if that helps. It does smell great though. Will update after dinner :)
Heather
Wednesday 13th of May 2020
Update, so what ended up being perfect was 10 mins PC with a 5 min natural release. Then add in the mozzarella and let sit for 5 more mins. Pasta came out perfect and tastes amazing!!