This Instant Pot Lasagna Casserole is perfect for a busy cook. It takes 15 minutes of prep work to brown ground beef and sausage and to add some seasoning. Toss some lasagna noodles into the pot, pasta sauce and 5 minutes of pressure cooking. Add some ricotta cheese and Mozzarella, and dinner is ready in 30 minutes or less!
Traditional lasagna is one of my favorite Italian dishes. It’s also a lot of worthwhile work to make, because the layers are beautiful. I developed this recipe as a quick way to make Lasagna in one pot. The meat/sausage mixture and lasagna are cooked at the same time, so you don’t get the layers. The taste, however, is there!
You can have a lasagna dinner on the table in 30 minutes, from start to finish! Truth.
I rarely buy Pasta Sauce, because I much prefer to make my own. However, it’s a good ingredient to keep on hand for quick dinners. While shopping at Costco, I discovered Rao’s Pasta Sauce. I’ve read reviews where people rave about it– so that’s I decided to try it out. I always have an assortment of boxed pasta on hand, including lasagna noodles. NOTE: While I keep the “no cook” lasagna noodles on hand, those are not the ones to choose for this recipe.
Other staples I try to keep in our fridge ricotta and Mozzarella cheese (I really enjoy making homemade pizza.)
I love my Instant Pot pressure cooker, and I use it several times a week. To begin with this fast recipe, I turned the pressure cooker on with the saute button. I added the ground beef and sausage and browned it. Then, I added the onion and garlic and stirred until softened (just a minute or two)…
I decided to season the meat with Italian seasoning, a bit of red pepper flakes, and about a tablespoon of tomato paste, and then the pasta sauce. Give it a stir…
Mafalda noodles are fun to use, but they are tricky to find. Instead, I broke up a box of lasagna noodles. I used all by three sheets of lasagna noodles, because my “eyeball” scale decided it looked like it was enough. Using the empty pasta jar, I added an equal amount of water. The goal, here, is to add enough liquid to just cover up the noodles.
Lock the lid on (make sure the seal is securely in place), check that the pressure release valve is closed, and set a manual pressure cooker time for five minutes. Once the beeper tells you, it’s finished, use a quick release. In the meantime, set the oven broiler to HIGH.
Remove the lid, and everything looks great! Add dollops of the ricotta cheese and about 1/3 of the Mozzarella. Give it a gentle stir. Don’t worry if the lasagna looks curdled. It’s perfectly fine.
Carefully fill an oven-proof casserole dish with the pasta. That looks so good!
Add the Parmesan cheese and the remaining Mozzarella cheese on top and broil for 1-2 minutes until it’s melted.
Just like that! It’s time to eat!
I kid you, not. Dinner was on the table in 30 minutes!
TASTING NOTES: The call this a “casserole” because you don’t have those beautiful layers of a traditional lasagna. The flavor, however, is there! The combination of beef and Italian pork sausage is perfect. I liked the seasoning, as it wasn’t overpowering. This is a comforting and delicious pasta dish. Best of all, it’s super easy and fast to make. I think kids would love it as well.
Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Lasagna Casserole
Equipment
- 1 Pressure Cooker
- 1 Baking Dish
Ingredients
- ½ pound ground beef
- ½ pound ground sausage
- ½ small onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 Tbsp. Italian Seasoning
- 1 Tbsp tomato paste I buy it in a tube to store the rest in the refrigerator
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes optional, adjust amount to your spice preference
- 1 16 oz. box Lasagna noodles broken into 1 ½ – 2 inch pieces (don't use "no cook lasagna noodles). If you can find Mafalda pasta, that works even better!
- 1 jar pasta sauce recommended: 28 ounce Rao's Brand or up to 32 ounce pasta sasce
- 3 ½ cups water
- 8 ounces ricotta cheese or cottage cheese
- 8 ounces mozzarella cheese shredded NOTE: I prefer to grate my own whole Mozzarella cheese, as it has a creamier texture.
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese
- fresh parsley finely minced: optional
Instructions
Prep:
- Using the SAUTE function, add the ground beef and sausage to the pot and cook until just browned. Add the onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes and tomato paste. Cook, stirring, until the onion is softened, about 2 minutes. CANCEL the SAUTE function.
- Add the lasagna noodles. Add the pasta sauce, water and add the water. NOTE: The amount of water is adjustable, depending on the amount of pasta sauce that is added. You want the water to just cover the meat and noodles.
Pressure cook:
- Secure the lid on the pot. Close the Pressure-release valve.Select MANUAL and cook at high pressure for 5 minutes. Once the cooking is complete, use a quick release to release the pressure.
- Remove the lid, and add the ricotta (or cottage) cheese and about 1/3 of the Mozzarella. Give it a gentle stir. Don't be alarmed if the lasagna looks curdled, as that won't affect the outcome.
Broil:
- Carefully pour the lasagna into a baking dish, and add sprinkle the Parmesan cheese on top.Add the remaining mozzarella cheese. Place the pan under the broiler for 2-3 minutes, or until the cheese has melted. Serve.
- Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired.(Reheats well.)
Notes
Yum!! That looks great. I always use a portion of ground sausage to ground beef in my pasta dishes and chili dishes. I think it adds good flavor. Never tried the Rao’s sauce or instapot for a pasta dish. Hope to do that soon!
I just wanted to say I think you are AWESOME!!!! I have been following you forever and will continue to – thank you for all you do – you are so inspiring and JUST WONDERFUL!!!
Thank you so much! I’ve been blogging for 15 years. I do it as a creative hobby. It means a lot to read a lovely comment such as yours. Thank you!
Hi Debby. Either I’m missing something in the recipe or whatever. I can’t seem to see when or where u add the lasagne noodles & do u boil them at all first?
It looks delicious..
Thank you,
Fran
Yikes! I reviewed my step-by-step photo on my blog post. I do, indeed, show when to add the noodles, sauce and water (just enough liquid to cover the noodles). I failed to add that to the printable recipe card. I apologize for that omission, and I have corrected my mistake. Thanks for asking!