Some nights dinner just needs to be easy.
Not “easy” like a recipe that still uses twelve ingredients and three pans. I mean truly easy.
This Lazy Instant Pot Lasagna costs about $15 to make, feeds my family with leftovers, and takes about 20 minutes from start to finish. It has become one of those recipes I keep coming back to because it feels homemade without requiring a lot of effort.
If you’re looking for a simple family dinner, a budget-friendly meal, or an easy Instant Pot recipe, this one checks all the boxes.
Why I Love This Recipe
As a homeschooling mom of four, there are days when dinner needs to work around everything else happening in our home.
This recipe is:
- Budget friendly
- Family approved
- Filling and comforting
- Great for leftovers
- Easy enough for busy weeks
- Made in the Instant Pot
The best part is that the hardest step is simply browning the ground beef. After that, everything comes together quickly.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- chopped onion (optional)
- minced garlic (optional)
- jar of pasta sauce
- 1 box thick pasta (like radiatori or mafalda)
- 2-3 cups water
- 1 cup of cottage or ricotta cheese
- 1 cup mozzarella
Instructions:
Step 1: Cook the Beef
Brown one pound of ground beef in a skillet over medium heat.
If desired, add chopped onion and garlic while cooking or use dried herbs and salt and pepper.
Once the meat is fully cooked and the onions are soft, drain any excess grease.
Step 2: Build the Lasagna
Add the cooked beef and pasta sauce to the Instant Pot and stir together.
Pour the dry pasta on top.
Do not stir the pasta into the sauce.
The pasta should sit on top of the meat sauce.
Step 3: Add Water
Slowly pour 2–3 cups of water over the pasta.
The exact amount will depend on the pasta shape you use.
You want the pasta covered, but not swimming in water.
I usually gently press the pasta down into the sauce and then add enough water to just cover it.
For my batch, I used about 2½ cups.
Step 4: Pressure Cook
Place the lid on the Instant Pot.
Cook on Manual High Pressure for 4 minutes.
Once finished, perform a quick release.
Step 5: Add the Cheese
Stir in 1 cup of cottage cheese or ricotta cheese.
Sprinkle 1 cup of mozzarella cheese over the top.
Place the lid back on for a few minutes to allow the cheese to melt.
Step 6: Serve
Serve immediately with a simple side salad or your favorite vegetable.
We usually pair ours with a quick bagged salad when we need dinner on the table fast.
Budget Breakdown
Approximate cost:
- Ground beef: $5.99
- Pasta sauce: $1.84
- Pasta: $2.14
- Salad: $4.97
Total: About $15
This recipe makes approximately 6 servings, bringing the cost to around $2.50 per serving before leftovers.
Download the recipe to print here
Tips for Success
- Use a thicker pasta shape for best results.
- Do not stir the pasta into the sauce before cooking.
- Add water gradually to avoid a soupy texture.
- Cottage cheese and ricotta both work well.
- Leftovers reheat beautifully the next day.
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Watch the step by step video
If you want to see how this looks in real life, you can watch the full video here:
Shop the Kitchen Tools I Use for Food Prep
- instant pot (mine is now outdated 😧)
- deli containers (multiple sizes available, I prefer the assorted pack)
- glass pyrex bowls with lids
- pyrex glass measuring cups
Find my household essentials here.
House of Cruz 
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