Instant Pot Lasagna

Lasagna is the perfect meal comfort food! Our family loves to make this when friends come to visit, for families with new babies after a hospital stay, or when we just need something delicious and easy!
We enjoyed lasagna often as I was growing up and to me, it’s a comfort food. When my mom comes to visit, I know lasagna will be on the menu.  In fact, when my little ones were born, Mom had prepared a pan of lasagna when we came home from the hospital!

Lasagna can be prepared the day before. After putting all the ingredients together (except for the Parmesan cheese), cover and refrigerate.

Bake the next day (increasing bake time to one hour) while you enjoy leisure time with family or friends.  Complete the meal with your favorite green vegetable or salad, and breadsticks or garlic bread.

• Ground Beef – Ground Beef is best used in a lasagna dish as it elevates the taste because of it’s higher fat content. But for a leaner dish, you can substitute it for leaner options such as ground turkey, or even ground chicken!
• Nature’s Seasoning – Or any all-purpose seasoning
• Oven-Ready Lasagna Noodles – these save time as they do not need to be cooked ahead of time – they are perfect for the instant pot!
• 1 cup Pasta Sauce – Your favorite store bought or homemade sauce will do!
• 1 1/4 cup Grated Cheddar Cheese – We prefer cheddar cheese, but you can use sharp or a blend!
• 3/4 cup Mozzarella Cheese
• 12 oz Cottage Cheese – 12 oz ricotta cheese can be substituted if you prefer!
• 1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese

• Set the instant pot to sauté and toss in ground beef to brown. Season with nature seasoning. 
• Remove meat sauce and drain grease. 

• Spray the inside of a spring mold pan with oil and cover the bottom of the pan with lasagna noodles. You will need to cut the noodles to fit.

Layer on the meat sauce, cheddar, mozzarella and cottage cheese. Repeat two more times

The top layer will be noodles and the remaining meat sauce. Cover with foil and place on a trivet in the instant pot. Add 1 cup of water to the instant pot and pressure cook on high for 40 minutes.

Allow for pressure to naturally release for 10 minutes and then manually release the pressure.

 

What if I don’t have an Instant Pot, or prefer to make this in the oven?

No problem! Use the same ingredients, but follow these step-by-step instructions:

Instructions:

1. In skillet, brown meat, then drain off the fat.  Add spaghetti sauce to the meat, mix together, and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Cook noodles as directed on the package. (I add one tablespoon oil to keep noodles from sticking together.). Drain.
3. Heat oven to 350*
4. Spray a 9×13 baking dish, then layer the ingredients as follows: 3 noodles laid side to side, 1 cup meat sauce, 4 oz each cheddar and mozzarella cheese (spread evenly), 6 oz cottage cheese (spread evenly).
5. Use the rest of the meat sauce to cover the top layer of the noodles.
6. Bake uncovered 40-45 minutes. 
7. Remove from the oven and let lasagna set for 10-15 minutes. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
8. Enjoy!

Any pressure cooker will do, but I am biased toward the Instant Pot. I’ve had mine for a few years, and love it! This is the one I have!

For this recipe, you will need a springform pan. Here is the one I used:

If you like this 5 Layer Lasagna, then you will love this Instant Pot Tortellini Carbonara!

Instant Pot Tortellini Carbonara