Chicken lasagna is a delicious, creamy pasta bake that makes a hearty and comforting meal It’s a great way to use up leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken Making chicken lasagna at home is easy and fun. In this article, I’ll walk you through the entire process of making chicken lasagna step-by-step, from prepping the ingredients to baking and serving this flavorful dish.
Ingredients Needed for Chicken Lasagna
To make a 9×13 inch pan of chicken lasagna, you’ll need the following ingredients
- 9 lasagna noodles
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 cups ricotta cheese
- 2 cups cooked, cubed chicken
- 2 (10 ounce) packages frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
You can use homemade or store-bought broth, and swap in cooked chicken leftovers or rotisserie chicken for the cubed chicken.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these simple steps for foolproof chicken lasagna
Cook the Noodles
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the lasagna noodles and cook for 8-10 minutes until al dente. Drain and rinse noodles under cold water to stop the cooking. Set aside.
Make the Cheese Sauce
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In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic. Cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
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Whisk in the flour and cook for 2 minutes until lightly browned. The flour will help thicken the sauce.
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Slowly whisk in the chicken broth and milk. Bring to a gentle simmer.
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Add 1 teaspoon salt, 2 cups mozzarella, and 1/4 cup Parmesan. Whisk until smooth and creamy.
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Season the cheese sauce with dried basil, oregano, and pepper. Remove from heat.
Assemble the Lasagna
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Spread 1/3 of the cheese sauce in a 9×13 inch baking dish. Top with a layer of 3 lasagna noodles.
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Spread the ricotta in an even layer over the noodles. Top with the cooked chicken.
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Layer 3 more noodles, 1/3 of the sauce, spinach, 2 cups mozzarella, and 1/2 cup Parmesan.
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Top with the remaining 3 noodles and sauce. Sprinkle with parsley and the last 1/4 cup Parmesan.
Bake the Lasagna
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Cover with foil and bake at 350°F for 35-40 minutes until bubbly. Remove foil and bake 5 minutes more to brown the cheese.
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Let the lasagna rest 10 minutes before cutting and serving. Enjoy!
Tips for Making the Best Chicken Lasagna
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Cook the lasagna noodles until just al dente so they don’t get mushy when baked.
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Use whole milk for a rich, creamy cheese sauce.
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Mix ricotta with an egg, spinach, and seasonings for extra flavor.
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Layer ingredients neatly for the prettiest slices of lasagna.
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Cover with foil while baking to prevent over-browning.
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Let the lasagna rest before cutting for cleaner slices.
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Swap in cooked chicken leftovers or rotisserie chicken for the cubed chicken.
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Use fresh baby spinach instead of frozen for texture.
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Garnish with chopped parsley, more Parmesan, or red pepper flakes.
How to Store and Reheat Chicken Lasagna
Leftover chicken lasagna will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave until hot and bubbly.
For freezable lasagna, use a foil pan and allow it to cool completely before freezing up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating in a 350°F oven. Cover with foil if the top browns too quickly.
More Delicious Lasagna Recipes to Try
If you love chicken lasagna, try these tasty variations:
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Buffalo Chicken Lasagna – Made with buffalo chicken wings, hot sauce, blue cheese, and ranch dressing.
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Chicken Alfredo Lasagna – Alfredo sauce instead of tomato sauce for a creamy bake.
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Chicken Florentine Lasagna – Layered with spinach and a ricotta-Parmesan filling.
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Chicken Enchilada Lasagna – With enchilada sauce, beans, corn, cilantro, and Mexican blend cheese.
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Chicken Pesto Lasagna – Pesto sauce adds bright herby flavor.
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Chicken Bacon Ranch Lasagna – This easy recipe is loaded with bacon and oozing with ranch flavor.
So go ahead and get cooking! Making chicken lasagna at home is easy, affordable, and so satisfying. Just assemble the simple ingredients and pop it in the oven for a hearty, crowd-pleasing meal the whole family will love.
For the chicken mixture
- 2 tbsp olive or sunflower oil
- 500g/1lb 2oz boneless and skinless chicken thighs, chopped
- ½ red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped
- 2 large garlic cloves, crushed
- 200g/7oz button mushrooms, sliced
- 200g/7oz baby spinach
- 2 tsp cornflour
- 200g/7oz crème fraîche
- 1 tbsp freshly chopped flatleaf parsley
- 1 x 400g tin chopped tomatoes
- 2 tbsp sun-dried tomato paste
- 1 tbsp chopped thyme leaves
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 6 sheets fresh lasagne
- 150g/5½oz cheddar, grated
- Preheat the oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6.
- To make the chicken mixture, put the oil in frying pan over a high heat. Add the chicken pieces and fry quickly until golden but not cooked. Add the chilli, garlic and mushrooms and fry for a few moments. Add the spinach and stir until wilted.
- Measure the cornflour into a small bowl and stir in 2 tablespoons of water until smooth.
- Add the crème fraîche and parsley to the pan with the chicken and stir. Pour in the cornflour mixture and stir until thickened. Set aside.
- To make the sauce, combine the tomatoes, sun-dried tomato paste and thyme in a bowl. Season generously with salt and pepper and mix well.
- Soak the lasagne sheets in a shallow dish filled with boiling water for a few minutes until soft.
- Spoon a third of the chicken mixture into the oven dish. Spoon a third of the tomato sauce over the chicken. Arrange 3 lasagne sheets on top. Repeat the layers again. Finish with a final layer of chicken mixture and sauce (making three layers of chicken mixture and sauce, and two layers of lasagne sheets). Sprinkle the top with grated cheddar and bake for 35-40 minutes, until golden-brown and cooked through. Serve with salad or green vegetables.
Freezes well uncooked. The dish can also be prepared up to 6 hours ahead.
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FAQ
What is chicken lasagna made of?
… of its origin, today, lasagna is made from pasta sheets with fillings such as seafood, ragout, vegetables or chicken, bechamel sauce, tomatoes, and parmesanNov 17, 2022
What ingredients do you need for lasagna?
To make lasagna, you’ll need lasagna noodles, a meat sauce (often with ground beef or Italian sausage), a ricotta or cottage cheese mixture, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, and marinara or tomato sauce. You’ll also need onions, garlic, and various seasonings like Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and parsley.
What spices are good in chicken lasagna?
Seasonings and herbs: This chicken lasagna is seasoned with salt, dried basil, dried oregano, black pepper, and fresh parsley. Cheeses: You’ll need mozzarella, Parmesan, and ricotta cheeses. Chicken: This white chicken lasagna is a great use for leftover chicken!
What is the secret ingredient for the best lasagna?
Ricotta Béchamel Is the Secret to the Best Lasagna
The creamy béchamel melts in your mouth and together with the fresh herbs, it really balances out the hearty flavor of the meat sauce.” Of course we’re used to seeing ricotta cheese in lasagna, but it usually gets awkwardly spread across each layer in uneven piles.