Air-Fried Lasagne: A Tasty, Quick-Fix Wonder?

Lasagne is a classic, comforting dish, but it can be time-consuming to make and often requires a lot of clean-up. However, an air fryer can be a game-changer when it comes to preparing this dish. Not only does it reduce the cooking time, but it also delivers a delicious, golden-brown, cheesy lasagne that tastes just as good as the oven-baked version. So, if you're short on time and want to enjoy a hassle-free, mouth-watering lasagne, read on to discover how an air fryer can transform your cooking experience.

Air fryer lasagne recipes

Lasagne is a classic comfort food, and it turns out you can make it in an air fryer! It's quicker than baking it in the oven and tastes just as good. Here are some recipes and tips to help you make the perfect air fryer lasagne.

Ingredients

For the pasta, it is best to use fresh lasagne noodles as they cook quickly and don't need to be soaked or boiled beforehand. You can use either traditional lasagne noodles or no-boil lasagne noodles, depending on your preference.

For the sauce, you can make a simple roux by melting butter in a saucepan, adding flour, and then gradually adding milk while stirring continuously. Season with garlic powder, mustard powder, salt, and nutmeg to taste. You can also add cheese to the sauce; freshly grated Parmesan and shredded mozzarella work well, but you could also try Gruyere cheese.

For the protein, you can use Italian sausage, ground beef, ground pork, ground turkey, or even slices of meatballs. If you want to make a vegetarian or vegan option, you can replace the meat with vegetarian or vegan mince.

For the assembly, you'll need marinara sauce or your favourite pasta sauce, ricotta cheese, eggs, basil, and, of course, more mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.

Method

First, make the white sauce by following the steps outlined above. Set the sauce aside to cool and thicken.

Next, brown your chosen protein in a skillet over medium-high heat. If using sausage, break it up into small crumbles. Drain off any excess fat and set it aside.

In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta, eggs, Parmesan, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

Spray a baking dish that fits into your air fryer with cooking spray. Add a few spoonfuls of marinara sauce to the bottom of the dish, followed by a layer of lasagne noodles. Break the noodles as needed to fit and ensure they are completely covered with sauce.

Add a layer of the ricotta mixture, followed by the sausage crumbles, torn basil leaves, and mozzarella. Repeat these layers, ending with a layer of mozzarella and basil on top.

Cover the dish tightly with foil, ensuring it is wrapped securely so it doesn't blow off in the air fryer. Place the dish in the air fryer basket and cook at 340-350°F for 25 minutes.

After 25 minutes, lower the temperature to 280-325°F, remove the foil, and air fry for an additional 4-10 minutes, keeping an eye on it to ensure the top doesn't burn.

Let the lasagne cool down in the air fryer basket until it's easy to handle, then transfer it to a serving dish. It's best to let it stand for about 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Tips

• Avoid overfilling your dish to prevent spills.
• Different air fryer models vary in temperature, so keep an eye on your lasagne while it cooks to ensure it doesn't brown too much.
• You can add your own spin to the recipe by including pesto between the layers or replacing some of the noodles with vegetable ribbons such as zucchini or squash.
• To store leftovers, let the lasagne cool completely, then cover and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days.

Enjoy your homemade air fryer lasagne!

Cooking times and temperatures

The cooking time and temperature for lasagne in an air fryer depend on the type of lasagne you are cooking. For instance, the cooking time and temperature for frozen lasagne, vegetarian lasagne, and ramekin-sized lasagne differ.

For a frozen lasagne, you can cook a single serving in an air fryer. Place the frozen lasagne in the air fryer basket and cook for 10 minutes. Then, increase the temperature to 340 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for another 30 minutes. The total cooking time is about 40 minutes, which is much less than the typical 60-90 minutes it takes to cook a frozen lasagne in an oven.

For a vegetarian lasagne, preheat your air fryer to 350°F / 180°C for 5 minutes. Then, lower the heat to 275°F /135°C and cook the lasagne for 30 minutes. Increase the heat setting to 320°F / 160°C and cook for a further 15-20 minutes or until the lasagne is golden on top, easily pierced with a knife, and registers 165°F / 75°C on an instant-read thermometer.

For a ramekin-sized lasagne, preheat the air fryer to 350ºF. Cook the lasagne covered in foil for 10 minutes. Then, remove the foil, turn down the temperature to 280ºF, and air fry for another 4 minutes. The total cooking time is about 30 minutes.

It is important to note that cooking times and temperatures may vary depending on the model, size, and wattage of your air fryer. Therefore, it is recommended to check the lasagne occasionally to ensure it is cooking properly and not burning. Additionally, covering the lasagne with foil while cooking can help prevent the cheese from burning.

Preparing the lasagne

Firstly, you will need to decide on the ingredients for your lasagne. You can choose from a variety of options for the sauce, protein, and cheese. For the sauce, you can use marinara sauce, meat sauce, alfredo sauce, or a béchamel sauce. For the protein, you can opt for Italian sausage, ground beef, ground pork, ground turkey, or even slices of meatballs. And for the cheese, you can select from mozzarella, Parmesan, ricotta, or a combination of these. Fresh lasagna noodles are recommended as they cook quickly and don't require pre-soaking or cooking.

Once you have gathered your ingredients, it's time to start assembling the lasagne. Grease an 8-inch square baking dish with olive oil or cooking spray. If you are using frozen lasagna, remove any outer packaging and plastic film, and place the lasagna in the dish. If you are making it from scratch, start by adding a layer of sauce to the bottom of the dish. Top it with a layer of lasagna noodles, cutting them to fit as needed.

The next step is to add your chosen fillings. For a meat lasagne, you can add a layer of cooked ground beef, sausage crumbles, or your preferred protein. You can also add a layer of ricotta mixture, torn basil leaves, and a generous handful of mozzarella. If you're making a vegetarian lasagne, you can spread a layer of spinach and ricotta filling, or any other vegetables of your choice. Continue layering the sauce, noodles, and fillings, pressing down on the noodles as you add each layer. Ensure that all the lasagna noodles are covered with sauce to help them cook and soften.

Finally, finish the top layer with a generous sprinkling of mozzarella cheese and basil leaves. Cover the dish tightly with foil, ensuring it is wrapped securely around the dish to prevent it from coming loose during cooking. Now your lasagne is ready to be placed in the air fryer!

Cooking frozen lasagne

Yes, you can cook frozen lasagne in an air fryer. It's easy to do and tastes amazing. You can use either a silicone baking pan or an air fryer basket. First, remove the lasagne from its outer packaging and place it in the basket or on the top shelf of an air fryer oven.

If you are making the lasagne from scratch, you will need to prepare the ingredients and make a perfect mixture of ground beef with tomato, garlic, and basil sauce. You can also add salt and pepper to taste. Then, make a cheese mixture with mozzarella, minced garlic, and beaten egg. Next, layer the meat with lasagne sheets and cheese to form several layers.

When assembling the lasagne, avoid overfilling the dish to prevent spills. Cover the pan tightly with foil, making sure it is wrapped underneath the dish so it doesn't blow off. Preheat the air fryer to 180°C / 350°F for 3 minutes. Then, cook the lasagne at 340º for 25 minutes. Lower the temperature to 280º, remove the foil, and air fry for another 5 minutes.

You can also use the air fryer to melt the cheese on your lasagne and to reheat it. Just make sure the lasagne fits in the air fryer basket or oven.

Vegetarian options

Yes, you can cook a lasagne in an air fryer. And there are vegetarian options, too! Here are some mouth-watering vegetarian lasagne recipes that can be made in an air fryer:

Spinach and Ricotta Lasagne

This recipe is from Supergolden Bakes and includes a béchamel sauce, lasagne sheets, spinach, ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, garlic powder, and nutmeg. To prepare the spinach, finely chop it, sprinkle with salt, and leave it to stand so that the salt draws out the moisture. Then, place the spinach in a clean linen towel and wring out the excess liquid. Next, mix the spinach with ricotta, garlic, and herb cream cheese, Parmesan, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

To assemble the lasagne, spread a ladleful of white sauce in a prepared pan and cover with lasagne sheets, cutting them to fit as needed. Add some white sauce where the sheets overlap. Spread a layer of the spinach-ricotta filling over the pasta and sprinkle with mozzarella. Add more white sauce and top with more lasagne sheets. Repeat until all the filling is used up. Finish with a final layer of lasagne sheets and spoon over the remaining white sauce. Sprinkle with mozzarella, Parmesan, pepper, and nutmeg. Pierce the lasagne a few times with a skewer or knife to allow steam to escape. Preheat the air fryer to 350°F/180°C for 5 minutes, then lower the heat to 275°F/135°C and cook for 30 minutes. Increase the heat to 320°F/160°C and cook for another 15-20 minutes, or until the lasagne is golden and easily pierced with a knife.

Vegan Zucchini Lasagne

This recipe is from Cadry's Kitchen and includes tofu ricotta, zucchini, spinach, basil, pasta sauce, and lasagne sheets. Layer the ingredients in a mini loaf pan, starting with the tofu ricotta, then zucchini, spinach, basil, and pasta sauce. Repeat the layers, ending with pasta sauce on top. Cook the lasagne in the air fryer for 30 minutes.

Tips for Making Vegetarian Lasagne in an Air Fryer

• Fresh lasagne noodles are best as they cook quickly and don't need to be soaked or boiled beforehand.
• Avoid overfilling the dish to prevent spills.
• Cover the dish with foil to prevent the cheese from sticking and to regulate browning.
• Different air fryer models vary in temperature, so keep an eye on your lasagne while it cooks to ensure it doesn't brown too much.
• You can make individual-sized lasagnes in ramekins or mini loaf pans.
• You can replace ground beef with vegetarian or vegan mince, add pesto between the layers, or replace some noodles with vegetable ribbons such as zucchini or squash.

Frequently asked questions