Air-Fried Lasagna: A Tasty, Crispy, And Easy Treat!

Lasagna is a classic comfort food, but it can be time-consuming to make and often requires the use of multiple kitchen appliances. However, with an air fryer, you can prepare this dish more efficiently and with less cleanup. Air fryer lasagna is not only quicker to make than traditional oven-baked lasagna, but it also delivers the same delicious layers of pasta, meat sauce, creamy white sauce, and melted cheese.

Lasagna ingredients and prep

Ingredients

The ingredients for lasagna can vary depending on your preferences, but here is a general list:

• Meat: Lean ground beef, Italian sausage, or a combination of both. You can also add Italian seasoning or fennel seeds for extra flavour.
• Vegetables: Onion, garlic, celery, and fresh basil are commonly used.
• Tomato Products: Crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, and tomato paste form the base of the sauce.
• Sugar: A small amount of sugar adds subtle sweetness to the sauce.
• Spices and Seasonings: Parsley, basil, salt, Italian seasoning, fennel seeds, and black pepper are commonly used.
• Lasagna Noodles: You can use store-bought or homemade lasagna noodles. Fresh lasagna noodles are a good option for air fryer lasagna as they cook quickly and don't need to be soaked or pre-cooked.
• Cheeses: Parmesan, mozzarella, and ricotta cheese are essential for a creamy and cheesy lasagna. You can also add other cheeses like Gruyere or Cheddar.
• Egg: An egg helps bind the ricotta cheese and can be mixed into the cheese filling.
• White Sauce: You can make a béchamel sauce with butter, flour, milk, and cheese, or use a store-bought alternative.
• Oil: Olive oil or cooking spray is needed for greasing the pan and cooking the meat.

Preparation

• Prepare the meat sauce by cooking the meat, vegetables, and spices together. Add the tomato products, sugar, and seasonings, and simmer the sauce until it thickens.
• Make the cheese filling by combining ricotta, parmesan, egg, and seasonings in a separate bowl.
• If using a white sauce, prepare it by melting butter, adding flour to form a roux, and gradually adding milk. Season with garlic powder, mustard powder, salt, and nutmeg. Stir in grated Parmesan cheese.
• Grease a baking dish that fits in your air fryer with oil or cooking spray.
• Begin layering the lasagna by spreading a layer of meat sauce on the bottom of the dish.
• Add a layer of lasagna noodles, cutting them to fit if needed.
• Spread a layer of the cheese filling over the noodles, followed by a layer of white sauce (if using).
• Sprinkle with a small amount of mozzarella cheese.
• Repeat the layers until all the ingredients are used, ending with a layer of meat sauce.
• Top the lasagna with the remaining white sauce and sprinkle with grated Parmesan and mozzarella cheese.
• Cover the dish with foil to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking.
• Bake the lasagna in the air fryer at a temperature between 170°C and 180°C for about 15-25 minutes.
• Remove the foil and continue cooking for an additional 5-10 minutes, keeping an eye on the lasagna to ensure it doesn't brown too quickly.
• Allow the lasagna to cool down and rest for at least 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving.

Meat sauce

Making a meat sauce for your lasagna in an air fryer is simple and quick. You can use a variety of meats, including ground beef, Italian sausage, ground pork, ground turkey, or even slices of meatball.

Ingredients:

• Olive oil
• Ground beef
• Garlic powder
• Salt
• Italian seasoning
• Marinara sauce

Instructions:

• Preheat your air fryer to 180°C / 350°F for about 3 minutes.
• Add olive oil to a pan that fits in your air fryer.
• Add the ground beef, garlic powder, salt, and Italian seasoning to the pan.
• Cook the beef mixture for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the beef is browned.
• Stir in the marinara sauce.
• Continue cooking the sauce for about 10 minutes, stirring halfway through, or until the sauce starts to bubble.

Your meat sauce is now ready to be used in your lasagna! Remember to adjust the seasoning and ingredients to your taste preferences.

White sauce

Making a white sauce, or béchamel, for lasagna in an air fryer is easy. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Ingredients

You will need:

• Butter
• Flour
• Milk
• Grated Parmesan cheese
• Freshly grated nutmeg
• Salt
• Garlic powder
• Mustard powder

Method

• Melt the butter in a saucepan.
• Add the flour and stir to make a roux. Cook this for a minute or two.
• Gradually add the milk, stirring constantly to incorporate it into the sauce.
• Stir in the garlic powder, mustard powder, and salt.
• Once all the milk has been added, stir in the grated Parmesan and season with nutmeg.
• Set the sauce aside to cool and thicken.

Tips

• If you're short on time, you can buy a pretty good Lasagna white sauce in certain stores.
• You can also make a vegetarian or vegan lasagna by replacing the ground beef with vegetarian or vegan mince.
• For extra flavour, add a little pesto between the layers.
• You can replace some of the noodles with layers of vegetable ribbons, such as zucchini or squash.

Assembly

To assemble your lasagna in an air fryer, you will need a heatproof baking tin or dish that fits into your air fryer basket. It is recommended to use a square or rectangular dish to more easily fit the lasagna sheets.

First, chop your pasta sheets to fit your baking tin. You may need to cut them in half to get smaller squares. Next, place the pasta sheets in a wide bowl and cover them with boiled water and a teaspoon of salt. Do this in 2 or 3 batches to avoid overcrowding the pasta. Leave the pasta sheets to soak for 10 minutes, then remove them with tongs and place them on greaseproof paper in a single layer.

Now, add a few spoonfuls of your meat sauce to the bottom of the baking dish. Top with lasagna noodles, cutting them to fit as needed. Be sure all lasagna noodles are covered with sauce/cheese, which will ensure they cook and soften.

Next, layer with 2-3 spoonfuls of your ricotta mixture (or white sauce), smoothing it over the noodles. Then, add a layer of sausage crumbles, 2-3 torn basil leaves, and a handful of mozzarella to cover. Add a few spoonfuls of sauce and repeat the layers. As you add each layer of lasagna noodles, press down a bit. Finish the top with mozzarella cheese and basil.

Cover the pan tightly with foil, wrapping it underneath the dish so it doesn’t blow off, and place it in the air fryer basket.

Cooking and serving

Ingredients

You can make your lasagna sauce from scratch, or you can use store-bought sauce. Here is a list of ingredients you will need:

• Minced beef
• Onion
• Tomatoes
• Tomato puree/paste
• Garlic
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• Parsley
• Oregano
• White sauce / Bechamel sauce
• Lasagna sheets
• Cheese (mozzarella, parmesan, cheddar, Gruyere, or a mix)

Method

First, peel and slice your onion and load it into the air fryer basket. Spray with extra virgin olive oil and cook for 3 minutes at 180C/360F. While the onion is cooking, place your dried lasagna sheets into a large casserole dish with water and soak until soft. Then, remove the lasagna sheets and allow them to sit on the worktop to remove excess liquid.

Next, load your cooked onions into a silicone dish. Then, add to the dish your mince, salt, pepper, half the parsley, and half the garlic. Air fry for 5 minutes at 180C/360F, stir, and then air fry for a further 4 minutes at the same temperature.

Now, load the mince into a mixing bowl and mix with the rest of the garlic and parsley, the oregano, tomato puree, and tinned tomatoes. Add a layer of the Bolognese into your silicone dish, then a layer of the lasagna sheets, making sure they are well covered. Then, add another layer of Bolognese, then the lasagna sheets.

Finally, top with cheese sauce and load into the air fryer. Air fry for 15 minutes at 180C/360F or until the lasagna is bubbling and golden on top.

Serving

Let the lasagna stand for about 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving. You can serve it with a side salad, garlic bread, or garlic dough balls.

Storage

Lasagna can last up to 4 days in the fridge once it has been cooked. Simply leave the lasagna in the silicone and place it in the fridge once it is cold. You can also freeze lasagna for up to three months.

Frequently asked questions