Easy air fryer lasagna

Who says you need a big oven to make great lasagna? With the Instant Air Fryer, you can enjoy layers of rich sauce, creamy ricotta, and bubbling cheese, all made right inside your air fryer.

Whether you’re going for a hearty meat version or keeping it vegetarian, this lasagna comes out golden on top and perfectly cooked inside, with no hassle and minimal cleanup.

Servings: 4 portions
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes
Total time: 45 minutes
Appliance: Instant Air Fryer

Ingredients

For the sauce

• Olive oil (for cooking)
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 pack vegan minced meat or 500g ground beef
• 1 tbsp Italian herbs
• 500g tomato passata
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 tbsp cane sugar

For the ricotta mixture

• 250g ricotta
• 1 egg
• 100g Grana Padano cheese, grated
• A splash of milk

Vegetables & layering

• 1 zucchini, thinly sliced
• 1 bag fresh spinach
• 1 basil plant (use leaves only)
• 1 pack lasagna sheets (approx. 500g)
• 1 bag shredded mozzarella

Preparation method

1. Make the sauce

Heat a little olive oil in a frying pan. Add chopped onion and sauté until soft. Stir in the garlic, then add the vegan minced meat or ground beef. Cook until browned, then season with salt, pepper, and Italian herbs.

Pour in the passata, diced tomatoes, and cane sugar. Stir well and let the sauce simmer on low for about 10 minutes until slightly thickened.

2. Prepare the ricotta filling

In a mixing bowl, combine the ricotta, egg, and grated Grana Padano. Whisk until smooth, then add a small splash of milk to loosen the mixture slightly.

3. Prep your air fryer and veggies

Slice the zucchini thinly and set aside. Wash and drain the spinach. Lightly grease the basket of your air fryer (or use an oven-safe dish that fits inside). Remove the metal rack if using the Instant Vortex Plus.

4. Layer the lasagna

Start layering:

• A spoonful of sauce at the bottom
• Lasagna sheets
• More sauce
• A few handfuls of spinach
• A layer of lasagna sheets
• Ricotta mixture
• Mozzarella
• Zucchini slices, lightly salted
• More basil leaves
• Repeat layers until the ingredients are used up, finishing with sauce, ricotta, and mozzarella on top

Make sure the top layer is fully covered with sauce and cheese to prevent the pasta sheets from drying out during cooking.

5. Air fry to perfection

Insert the lasagna into your air fryer. Set it to 180°C and cook for 25 minutes. The top should turn beautifully golden, and the inside will be hot, cheesy, and full of flavour.

6. Rest, slice & serve

Let the lasagna cool slightly before slicing into 4 generous portions. Serve with a few extra basil leaves for freshness, and enjoy your oven-free lasagna!

Want more air fryer inspiration? Explore our Instant Pot recipe collection Or browse all Instant airfryer models to find your match.