Air-Fryer Lasagna: A Quick, Easy, And Delicious Treat

Lasagna is a beloved comfort food for many, but it can be time-consuming to make. Fortunately, it is possible to make this dish in an air fryer, which is often quicker and more convenient than using a traditional oven. Air fryer lasagna is also said to be just as tasty as its traditionally baked counterpart, with its layers of pasta, meat sauce, and cheese.

Lasagna in an air fryer: recipe and ingredients

Lasagna is a classic comfort food and can be made in an air fryer with great results. It's a quick and easy way to cook this family favourite, with a shorter cooking time than a traditional oven. You can use a variety of sauces, meats, and cheeses to create your perfect lasagna. Here is a recipe and some tips to get you started.

Ingredients

For the sauce, you can use a jarred marinara or meat sauce, or make your own. To make a simple meat sauce, you will need:

• Olive oil
• Beef mince or Italian sausage
• Garlic, onion, and celery
• Passata
• Red wine vinegar
• Oregano and basil

For the white sauce, you will need:

• Butter
• Flour
• Milk
• Cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, parmesan, or a mix)
• Seasoning (salt, nutmeg, garlic powder, mustard powder)

You will also need:

• Fresh or no-boil lasagna noodles
• Fresh basil leaves
• Cooking spray
• Foil

Method

First, make your meat sauce by heating some olive oil in a pan and browning your chosen meat. Add the garlic, onion, and celery, and cook for a few minutes. Then, add the passata, red wine vinegar, oregano, and basil, and simmer for 10 minutes.

Next, make the white sauce by melting the butter in a saucepan. Add the flour and stir to make a roux, then gradually add the milk, stirring constantly. Finally, add your chosen cheese and seasoning.

Now it's time to assemble the lasagna. Grease an 8-inch square baking dish that fits in your air fryer with cooking spray. Add a layer of meat sauce, then lasagna noodles, cutting them to fit. Spread another layer of meat sauce, then the white sauce, and sprinkle with mozzarella. Repeat these layers until all the meat sauce is used, then top with the remaining white sauce and grated cheese.

Cover the dish tightly with foil, ensuring it is wrapped under the dish to prevent it from blowing off in the air fryer. Cook at 180°C (350°F) for 25 minutes, then carefully remove the foil and cook for a further 5-10 minutes at 160°C (325°F) to brown the cheese. Ensure the lasagna is cooked through and the meat is piping hot before serving.

Tips

• Avoid overfilling the dish to prevent spills.
• Different air fryer models vary in temperature, so check your lasagna regularly to ensure it is not browning too much.
• You can assemble the lasagna ahead of time and store it in the fridge until you are ready to cook it.

How to assemble lasagna in an air fryer

Yes, you can cook lasagna in an air fryer! Here is a step-by-step guide on how to assemble and cook this delicious dish:

First, prepare your ingredients. You will need a heatproof baking tin or dish that fits into your air fryer basket with a little space for air to circulate. Fresh lasagna noodles are the best option as they cook quickly and don't need to be soaked or boiled beforehand. For the sauce, you can use a classic Bechamel sauce, which can be made with butter, flour, milk, and cheese, or you can buy a ready-made white sauce. For the meat sauce, you can use ground beef, pork, or turkey, or Italian sausage. You will also need garlic, onion, celery, passata, red wine vinegar, oregano, basil, and other seasonings. Finally, for the cheese, a combination of freshly grated Parmesan, shredded Mozzarella, and Gruyere cheese is a good option.

Once you have your ingredients ready, it's time to assemble the lasagna. Grease your baking dish with olive oil or cooking spray. Start by adding a layer of meat sauce to the bottom of the dish. Top it with a layer of lasagna noodles, cutting them to fit as needed. Make sure the noodles are covered with sauce to ensure they cook and soften.

Next, add another layer of meat sauce, followed by a layer of white sauce. Sprinkle with a little mozzarella, and repeat these layers until you have used all of your meat sauce. Now, use the remaining white sauce to top the lasagna, and sprinkle with grated Parmesan and mozzarella cheese.

Cover the lasagna tightly with foil, making sure it is clipped or wrapped around the dish to prevent it from blowing off due to circulating air. Preheat your air fryer to 180°C (350°F) for about 3 minutes. Then, place the lasagna in the air fryer and cook for 25 minutes at the same temperature.

After 25 minutes, carefully remove the foil and continue cooking for another 5-10 minutes at 160°C (325°F), keeping an eye on it to ensure the top doesn't brown too quickly. The lasagna is ready when it is golden brown and cheesy on top.

Let the lasagna rest for about 10 minutes before slicing and serving. Enjoy your delicious air-fried lasagna!

Cooking time and temperature for lasagna in an air fryer

Lasagna in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to make this classic comfort food. The cooking time and temperature for lasagna in an air fryer depend on the type of lasagna you are making and the size of your air fryer.

For a full-sized lasagna, it is recommended to cook it at 340º Fahrenheit for 25 minutes. Then, lower the temperature to 280º Fahrenheit and cook for an additional 5 minutes without the foil. This cooking time and temperature apply to a full-sized lasagna in an 8x8-inch baking dish.

If you are making a smaller, ramekin-sized lasagna, the cooking time and temperature will be different. It is recommended to cook the lasagna at 350º Fahrenheit for 10 minutes covered in foil. Then, remove the foil and turn down the temperature to 280º Fahrenheit and air fry for an additional 4 minutes.

It is important to note that different air fryer models vary in the way they cook. Some air fryers may run hotter than others, so it is always a good idea to check on your lasagna while it is cooking to ensure that the top is not browning too much.

Additionally, if you are making a vegetable lasagna or a lasagna with a meat sauce, you may need to adjust the cooking time and temperature accordingly. For example, one source recommends cooking a vegetable lasagna at 350º Fahrenheit for 40 minutes and then at 375º Fahrenheit for an additional 10 minutes.

When assembling your lasagna, avoid overfilling your dish to prevent spills. Make sure the foil is tightly wrapped or clipped to the dish to prevent it from coming off due to the circulating air. Fresh lasagna noodles are the best option for air fryer lasagna as they cook quickly and do not require soaking or cooking beforehand.

Reheating lasagna in an air fryer

If you are reheating lasagna that has been cooked in an air fryer, it is best to follow the same process as cooking, ensuring that the foil is secure and the top does not burn. Start with a lower temperature of around 325-350ºF and heat for 10 minutes. Then, remove the foil and heat for a further 4-5 minutes at 280ºF.

If your lasagna has been cooked in the oven, it is still possible to reheat it in the air fryer. Place the lasagna in the air fryer basket, covering it with foil to prevent burning. Heat at 325-350ºF for 10 minutes, checking regularly to avoid overheating.

For both methods, it is important to ensure the lasagna is piping hot throughout before serving, especially if it contains meat. This may require additional heating time, depending on the quantity of lasagna.

Vegetarian and non-vegetarian options for lasagna in an air fryer

Yes, you can cook lasagna in an air fryer! Here are some vegetarian and non-vegetarian options to try:

Vegetarian Options

Spinach and Ricotta Lasagna

This recipe involves making a ricotta and spinach filling, with garlic and herb cream cheese, Parmesan, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. You can also add mozzarella to the filling. Start by misting a 7-inch square loose-bottomed baking pan with cooking spray and covering it with foil to avoid leaks. Spread a ladleful of white sauce (a classic Bechamel sauce with butter, flour, and milk) in the pan. Cover with lasagna sheets, adding more white sauce where the sheets overlap. Spread a layer of the filling over the pasta and sprinkle with mozzarella. Repeat these layers until you've used up all the filling. Top with a final layer of lasagna noodles, the remaining white sauce, and sprinkle with mozzarella, Parmesan, pepper, and nutmeg. Preheat your air fryer to 350°F/180°C for 5 minutes. Cook at 275°F/135°C for 30 minutes, then increase to 320°F/160°C for 15-20 minutes or until golden. Let it stand for at least 10 minutes before serving.

Vegan Zucchini Lasagna

This vegan lasagna is layered with pasta sauce, tofu ricotta, zucchini, basil, and spinach. You can also add store-bought non-dairy cheese, browned seitan sausage, onions, mushrooms, bell peppers, garlic, and jarred artichoke hearts. For extra flavor, substitute some layers of pasta sauce with cilantro basil pesto. Finish with a sprinkling of vegan Parmesan. Remember to not make the layers too thick. This lasagna is ready in about 30 minutes in the air fryer.

Non-Vegetarian Options

Classic Meat Lasagna

Start by greasing an 8-inch square baking dish that fits in your air fryer with olive oil. Spread a layer of meat sauce (a rich beef ragu or a mixture of browned beef, garlic, onion, celery, passata, red wine vinegar, oregano, and basil) at the bottom. Top with lasagna noodles, cutting them to fit as needed. Add another layer of meat sauce and spoon some white sauce (made with butter, flour, milk, and cheese) over it. Sprinkle with mozzarella and repeat the layers until you've used up all the meat sauce. Top with the remaining white sauce, grated Parmesan, and mozzarella. Cover with foil and cook at 180°C/350°F for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and cook for another 5-10 minutes at 160°C/325°F until the cheese is melted and the top is golden.

Chicken Lasagna

While most recipes use beef for the meat sauce, you can also make a chicken lasagna by substituting beef with chicken. Follow the same recipe as the classic meat lasagna, but use cooked, shredded chicken for the meat sauce instead.

Some general tips for making lasagna in an air fryer include using fresh lasagna noodles, avoiding overfilling your dish to prevent spills, and checking on the lasagna regularly to ensure even cooking and browning.

Frequently asked questions