Here’s Why You’ll Love Air Fryer Lasagna
Quicker and simpler than the traditional oven-baked lasagna
Exceptionally delicious, comforting, and a fantastic meal to make on a busy weekday
No need to turn on the oven—always a plus!
Lasagna Ingredients
This lasagna recipe consists of three key components: a beef meat sauce, a white sauce, and lasagna noodles. Don’t forget the cheese, too—nothing beats melted mozzarella! 🙂
- Meat sauce: Typically, I make a ragu from scratch, but once I realized how easy and quick it is to prepare the sauce in the air fryer, I’ve been hooked! All you need are olive oil, ground beef, marinara sauce, and seasonings. If you prefer, you can swap the ground beef for a mixture of ground beef and pork or Italian sausage for a different flavor.
- White sauce: A classic bechamel sauce is essential for a creamy, cheesy lasagna. It’s simple to make with butter, flour, milk, and cheese. If you’re short on time, you can also find pre-made lasagna white sauce at some stores.
- Lasagna noodles: Fresh lasagna noodles are the best option for air fryer lasagna since they cook quickly and don’t need to be pre-cooked or soaked.
- Cheese: I use freshly grated Parmesan and shredded mozzarella, but Gruyère is also a fantastic choice.
How to Make Air Fryer Lasagna
Full measurements and instructions are available on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page. Be sure to check the steps and video before diving in!
- Make the White Sauce
Start by melting butter in a saucepan, then stir in the flour to form a roux. Cook for 1–2 minutes, then slowly add the milk, stirring constantly to incorporate it. Stir in garlic powder, mustard powder, and salt. Once the milk has been added, mix in the grated Parmesan and season with freshly grated nutmeg. Set aside to cool and thicken. - Prepare the Meat Sauce
Preheat the air fryer to 180°C / 350°F for 3 minutes. Add olive oil to a pan that fits your air fryer (I use my Tefal Ingenio pots with removable handles). Stir in the ground beef, garlic powder, salt, and Italian seasoning. Cook for 3–5 minutes, or until the beef is browned. Stir in the marinara sauce and cook for 10 minutes, stirring halfway, until it’s bubbling and hot. - Assemble the Lasagna
Grease an 8-inch square baking dish (or a similarly sized dish that fits in your air fryer) with olive oil. Begin by adding a layer of meat sauce to the bottom of the dish.Place lasagna noodles on top, cutting them to fit as needed. Spread another layer of meat sauce over the noodles, then spoon some white sauce on top. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese, and repeat until all the meat sauce is used.Finish with a generous layer of white sauce, then sprinkle with Parmesan and mozzarella. - Cook the Lasagna
Cover the lasagna with foil, making sure it’s either clipped or tightly wrapped around the bottom to prevent it from flying off.Cook at 180°C (350°F) for 25 minutes. After that, carefully remove the foil and continue cooking for another 5–10 minutes at 160°C (325°F), ensuring the top doesn’t brown too quickly.
Serving Suggestions
Let the lasagna cool in the air fryer basket until you can easily lift it out. Allow it to sit for about 10 minutes before slicing. Serve it with a side salad and some garlicky dough balls.
Storing and Freezing
The glass baking dish I use for this recipe has a lid, making it perfect for storing leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave for 2–3 minutes before serving.
For long-term storage, you can freeze the lasagna for up to three months. I always keep a couple of portions in the freezer for busy days when I need a quick meal.
Lasagna Variations
This classic lasagna recipe offers many possibilities for customization:
- Replace the ground beef with a vegetarian or vegan mince.
- Add a dollop of pesto between the layers for a burst of extra flavor.
- Substitute some of the noodles with vegetable ribbons, such as zucchini or squash, for a lighter version.
Recipe Tips
- Avoid overfilling your dish while assembling the lasagna to prevent spills. If you fill it to the top, the cheese is likely to stick to the foil, which is something you want to avoid.
- Ensure the foil is tightly wrapped or clipped to the dish. Otherwise, the circulating air in the air fryer may cause it to come off. I recommend using small clips to secure it in place.
- Air fryer models can vary in cooking temperatures. My Cosori tends to run 5 degrees hotter than my Instant Vortex, for instance. Always check on your lasagna as it bakes to prevent the top from browning too much.
Easy Air Fryer Lasagna
Who knew you could create a mouthwatering classic lasagna in your air fryer? Yes, it’s true! Air fryer lasagna is not only simple to prepare but also incredibly delicious. Think about layers of perfectly cooked noodles, savory meat sauce, rich Parmesan white sauce, and gooey Mozzarella cheese— all coming together in a delightful, quick meal that beats traditional oven lasagna.
Prep Time:
15 minutes
Cook Time:
30 minutes
Total Time:
45 minutes
Servings:
6
Equipment
- Cosori Air Fryer
- Glass Baking Dish
- Tefal Ingenio Pots
Ingredients
For the White Sauce
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp flour
- 2 cups (500 ml) whole milk
- 1 tsp mustard powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
- Pinch freshly grated nutmeg
- 3 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
For the Meat Sauce
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 pound (450g) lean ground beef
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp mixed Italian herbs
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 lb 10 oz (737g) marinara sauce (Gefen preferred)
To Assemble
- 10 fresh lasagna sheets (or as needed, 1 pack)
- 1 cup (225g) shredded mozzarella
- 3 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
- Oil to grease baking dish
Instructions
Make the White Sauce
- In a saucepan, melt the butter and add the flour to create a roux. Stir it for about a minute.
- Gradually add the milk while stirring constantly to form a smooth sauce.
- Mix in the garlic powder, mustard powder, and salt.
- Once all the milk is incorporated, stir in the grated Parmesan and freshly grated nutmeg.
- Set aside the sauce to cool and thicken.
Prepare the Meat Sauce
- Preheat the air fryer to 180°C (350°F) for 3 minutes.
- Heat the olive oil in a pan that fits your air fryer (I use Tefal Ingenio pots with removable handles).
- Stir in the ground beef, garlic powder, salt, and Italian seasoning. Cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring until the beef is browned.
- Add the marinara sauce and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring halfway, until the sauce bubbles.
Assemble the Lasagna
- Grease an 8-inch square baking dish (or any similar size that fits in your air fryer).
- Add a layer of meat sauce and spread it across the bottom of the dish.
- Top with lasagna noodles, cutting them to fit. Add another layer of meat sauce followed by a spoonful of white sauce. Sprinkle with a little mozzarella. Repeat until all of the red sauce is used.
- Finish with the remaining white sauce, then top with grated Parmesan and mozzarella cheese.
Air Fry the Lasagna
- Cover the lasagna with foil, ensuring it’s tightly secured to avoid flying off.
- Cook for 25 minutes at 180°C (350°F). After 25 minutes, carefully remove the foil and cook for an additional 5-10 minutes at 160°C (325°F), checking to ensure the top doesn’t brown too quickly.
Serving Suggestions
- Let the lasagna cool for a few minutes in the air fryer basket for easy removal.
- Let it stand for about 10 minutes before slicing and serving with a refreshing side salad and some garlicky dough balls.
Enjoy your quick and delicious air fryer lasagna!