Rich, saucy, and bubbling with cheese, this air fryer lasagne is everything you love about the classic Italian dish, just faster and scaled down for everyday cooking.
If you love a comforting, cheesy lasagne but can’t face turning on the oven (or waiting an hour for it to be ready), then this one’s for you. This air fryer version delivers all the traditional flavours of rich tomato sauce, silky béchamel, layers of pasta, and golden, bubbling cheese. But in a fraction of the time.
It is so perfect when you are cooking for one or two, or just want a hearty midweek dinner without the faff of preheating and juggling trays. The air fryer gives the top a beautifully crisp, cheesy finish while keeping the middle saucy and tender, just how it should be.
You can prep it ahead in a small dish or ramekin, pop it in the fridge, then air fry when you’re ready to eat. It also reheats like a dream, so leftovers won’t go to waste (though there’s rarely any left!).
Use beef, turkey, or a veggie mince, whatever suits your mood or what is in the fridge. So it is a great recipe to make your own and a brilliant way to get that big lasagne payoff without the big effort. Here are my step-by-step tips and timings that work with any brand of air fryer.
PREP 5 minutes
COOK 40 minutes
SERVES 2-3 people
KIT you will need an air fryer and oven proof dish (a small ceramic or metal baking dish works well)
Ingredients for Air Fryer Lasagne
250g minced beef (or veggie mince)
1 small onion, peeled and finely chopped
1 garlic clove, peeled and grated (or garlic paste)
200g passata or chopped tomatoes
1 tsp of dried Italian herbs
Salt & pepper to taste
150 – 200g ready-made white (béchamel) sauce
4 – 6 fresh lasagne sheets (cut to fit your dish)
50g grated mozzarella or cheddar (for topping)
Olive oil
Method
Start by adding chopped onion and garlic to a greased, oven-safe dish. These aromatics form the base of your sauce and help build flavour right from the start.
Lightly spray with oil to help them soften and caramelise. Cook in the air fryer at 180°C (350°F) for 4–5 minutes, shaking the dish halfway through to ensure even cooking. You’re looking for the onions to turn soft and translucent, and for the garlic to become fragrant. This only takes a few minutes in the air fryer.
Next, add the minced beef directly into the same dish. Use a spoon or spatula to break it up into small pieces. Return it to the air fryer and cook at 180°C for 7–8 minutes, stirring once or twice. The beef should be fully browned with no pink remaining, and starting to develop that rich, savoury flavour.
Once the beef is cooked, stir in the passata, tomato purée, dried herbs (such as oregano and basil), and a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Mix everything well, then reduce the heat slightly and cook at 160°C (320°F) for 8–10 minutes, stirring once halfway through. The sauce should reduce a little and become slightly thicker.
To assemble, layer the lasagne in a heatproof dish that fits your air fryer. Start with a thin layer of the meat sauce, followed by lasagne sheets, then a layer of white sauce. Repeat until you’ve used everything up, finishing with a final layer of white sauce and a generous handful of grated cheese.
Cook at 170°C (340°F) for 20–25 minutes. Cover loosely with foil for the first 15 minutes, then remove for the last 5–10 minutes to let the cheese bubble and brown. Let the lasagne rest for 5 minutes before slicing. It’ll hold together better and taste amazing.
Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Lasagne
Want to get the very best results from your air fryer lasagne? These simple tips will help you make it even tastier, easier, and perfectly cooked every time.
1. Use an oven-safe dish
Make sure your baking dish fits comfortably inside your air-fryer basket or drawer, with a little space around the edges for air to circulate. Ceramic, metal, or silicone dishes all work well. As long as they’re heatproof and not too deep.
2. Pre-cook your sauce right in the air fryer
This recipe saves time by browning the mince and softening the onions directly in the air fryer. Just give everything a stir or shake halfway through cooking to prevent sticking and ensure even browning.
3. Break up the mince well
Use a spoon or spatula to break the beef into small, even chunks. This helps it cook more quickly and gives your sauce that classic lasagne texture.
4. Don’t skip resting time
Once the lasagne is golden and bubbling, it’s tempting to dive right in, but letting it rest for 5 minutes makes it easier to slice and gives the layers time to settle.
5. Use fresh or no-boil lasagne sheets
Dried lasagne sheets can work in the air-fryer, but for best results, use fresh pasta or sheets labelled “oven-ready” or “no pre-cooking needed.” They soften beautifully in the sauce as it cooks.
6. Make it your own
Swap beef for turkey, lentils, or plant-based mince. Add a pinch of chilli flakes for heat, or stir in chopped spinach or grated courgette for extra veg.
7. Double the batch
Making a second lasagne while you’re at it? Store it unbaked in the fridge for up to 2 days, or freeze for a future no-fuss dinner..
With these simple tips, you will have perfect lasagne every single time!
Related Recipes
If you are into cosy, satisfying air fryer meals that come together easily and feel a little bit indulgent, then here are five more recipes you will love. All of them work brilliantly in the air fryer, serve up big flavour with minimal effort, and are perfect for midweek cooking or casual hosting.
Air Fryer Garlic Bread
Golden, crisp, and buttery with just the right amount of garlic. This garlic bread is the perfect sidekick to lasagne, or any other pasta dish, really.
Air Fryer Marry Me Chicken
Creamy, dreamy, and packed with sun-dried tomatoes, this one pan wonder is rich without being heavy. Ready in under 30 minutes and full of flavour this is a guaranteed crowd pleaser.
Air Fryer Spinach & Ricotta Cannelloni
This spinach cannelloni is a classic veggie favourite made easier in the air fryer. Silky ricotta, garlicky spinach, and tomato sauce all baked into bubbly, cheesy goodness.
Air Fryer Garlic Mushrooms
Quick, juicy, and full of umami, these garlicky air fried mushrooms are a brilliant side dish or a topping for toast, rice, or pasta.
Air Fryer Pork Meatballs
Juicy, flavour-packed meatballs simmered in rich tomato sauce and finished to perfection in the air fryer. Serve them with spaghetti, in subs, or on their own.
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