When life feels too full for fancy cooking, this Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna steps up as the hero we didn’t know we needed. I love lasagna, but let’s be real—layering pasta, sauce, and cheese like a brick mason on a deadline? Not happening on a Tuesday night. That’s where the Instant Pot does its magic, and suddenly we’re eating rich, cheesy, saucy goodness with way less work. Think of it as lasagna’s casual cousin—the one who shows up to dinner in sweatpants but still somehow looks great. The noodles cook right in the sauce, so they soak up all that tomatoey flavor. Then you stir in ricotta and mozzarella until it’s creamy and stretchy, and you wonder why you ever made it the hard way. This dish hits that perfect middle ground between comfort food and weeknight dinner sanity. It checks all the boxes: quick, cozy, and satisfying. Whether you’re feeding kids who just want cheesy pasta or friends who don’t mind eating out of big bowls on the couch, it’s the kind of recipe that makes everyone happy without leaving you buried under a mountain of dishes. And yes, it belongs at the top of your list of Instant Pot Recipes, Instant Pot Dinner Ideas, Instant Pot Recipes Healthy, Instant Pot Recipes Easy, Instant Pot, and Instant Pot Dinner Recipes.

Table of Contents
- 1) Key Takeaways
- 2) Easy Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna Recipe
- 3) Ingredients for Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna
- 4) How to Make Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna
- 5) Tips for Making Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna
- 6) Making Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna Ahead of Time
- 7) Storing Leftover Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna
- 8) Try these Main Course next!
- 9) Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna
- 10) Nutrition
1) Key Takeaways
- This Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna gives you all the cheesy comfort without the fuss of layering.
- The noodles cook right in the sauce so the flavor is deep and rich.
- Ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan melt in for a creamy, stretchy bite.
- Ready in about 30 minutes with one pot to wash at the end.
2) Easy Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna Recipe
I don’t always have the patience to build lasagna like a brick wall and wait an hour while it bakes. That’s where this recipe makes sense. The Instant Pot takes away the slow steps and leaves me with the heart of lasagna. The sauce, the noodles, the cheese. All mixed together into something warm and deeply comforting.
Think of it as lasagna’s low key cousin. The one who wears sweatpants to dinner but still manages to make you laugh and feel at home. No layers needed, no juggling five pans at once. Just one pot, a handful of ingredients, and the kind of cozy flavor that makes you lean back and sigh when you take the first bite.
I call it lazy lasagna but honestly it feels more like smart lasagna. If I can get dinner that tastes like the real deal in thirty minutes flat, I’ll gladly take the shortcut. This one belongs right up there with my favorite instant pot recipes.

3) Ingredients for Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna
Ground Beef or Italian Sausage: This is the base that gives depth to every bite. Brown it up and you’ll smell the start of comfort cooking.
Onion: A small diced onion cooks down into sweetness and blends into the sauce like it belongs there all along.
Garlic: Three cloves add that sharp aroma that clings to your hands but also tells you dinner is going to be good.
Marinara Sauce: Four cups of tomato sauce build the body of the dish. Choose your favorite jar or homemade batch.
Water or Broth: Two cups of liquid make sure the pasta cooks right in the pot without burning.
Lasagna Noodles: Ten noodles broken into pieces, no layering, just toss them in.
Ricotta Cheese: A cup for creaminess. It softens the sauce and makes it cling to the noodles.
Mozzarella Cheese: Two cups for stretch and pull. The kind of cheese that strings between fork and bowl.
Parmesan Cheese: A half cup sharpens the flavor with a salty kick.
Italian Seasoning: A teaspoon ties it all together with herbs like oregano and basil.
Salt and Pepper: Add until it tastes like home to you.
Fresh Basil: Toss it on top if you want to make the bowl look as good as it tastes.

4) How to Make Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna
Step 1. Set the Instant Pot to sauté. Brown the beef with the onion until the meat loses its pink color. Stir in garlic for one minute.
Step 2. Pour in the marinara, water, and seasonings. Mix well so nothing sticks to the bottom.
Step 3. Break the noodles into small pieces. Stir them into the pot so they sit under the sauce.
Step 4. Lock the lid. Cook on high pressure for six minutes. When the timer beeps, quick release the steam.
Step 5. Open the pot and stir in ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan. Keep mixing until the cheese melts and blends in.
Step 6. Spoon the lasagna into bowls. Add basil if you like and serve it hot.

5) Tips for Making Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna
Cook the meat well. If the onion and beef don’t brown enough at the start, the sauce will taste flat. Let it sizzle for a while before adding liquid. That’s where the flavor starts to build.
Don’t skimp on the cheese. This dish lives on its gooey layers. If you have an extra handful of mozzarella, go ahead and toss it in. Nobody has ever complained about too much cheese.
Watch the noodles. Break them into uneven shapes so the sauce covers every edge. It makes each spoonful a little different and more fun to eat.
6) Making Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna Ahead of Time
This recipe works fine as a make ahead meal. I’ve cooked it in the morning, let it cool, then reheated it at night when everyone was too tired to think. The flavors settle together and taste even richer a few hours later.
If you plan to store it, hold back half the cheese until you warm it again. Stir in the fresh cheese right before serving. It keeps that creamy stretch alive and stops it from clumping in the fridge.
One pot meals like this belong on the list of instant pot dinner ideas for busy nights. They keep life simple and tasty at the same time.
7) Storing Leftover Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna
Leftovers keep for about three days in the fridge. Use an airtight container so the pasta doesn’t dry out. When you reheat it, add a splash of water or broth to loosen the sauce again.
It also freezes well. Portion it into small containers so you can grab one when you need a quick lunch. Heat it slowly on the stove or in the microwave, stirring often so the cheese doesn’t separate.
This recipe fits right in with instant pot recipes healthy enough for family dinners but still bold in flavor.
8) Try these Main Course next!
9) Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna

Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna | Instant Pot Recipes
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 4 cups marinara sauce
- 2 cups water or broth
- 10 uncooked lasagna noodles, broken into pieces
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh basil for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Turn the Instant Pot to sauté mode. Cook the ground beef and onion until browned. Stir in garlic and cook briefly.
- Add marinara sauce, water or broth, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir well.
- Break the lasagna noodles into smaller pieces and stir them into the sauce mixture.
- Lock the Instant Pot lid and set to high pressure for 6 minutes. Once done, quick release the steam.
- Open the lid and stir in ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan until creamy and melted.
- Scoop into bowls, top with fresh basil, and serve hot.
10) Nutrition
Serving Size: 1/6 | Calories: 420 | Protein: 26 g | Fat: 18 g | Saturated Fat: 9 g | Carbohydrates: 38 g | Fiber: 3 g | Sugar: 7 g | Sodium: 950 mg

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