Bring the flavors of Italy to your dinner table with this flavorful and easy-to-make chicken lasagna! Quick and delicious, it can be on the table in just 30 minutes and is sure to become a family favorite.
Gather Ingredients and Preheat Oven.
To get started, you’ll need to gather ingredients such as ground chicken or turkey, ricotta cheese, egg, chopped onion, marinara sauce, shredded mozzarella and parmesan cheeses, basil leaves and lasagna noodles. Preheat the oven to 375° F. With all your ingredients on hand and the oven heated, it’s time to start making the lasagna!
Begin by browning the ground chicken or turkey in a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion for flavor and drain any excess fat from the meat. In a bowl, mix together ricotta cheese, egg, 1/4 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese and 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese. Once these ingredients are combined, set aside until you’re ready to assemble the lasagna.
Ingredients
Chicken Lasagna Ingredients:
- 9 lasagna noodles, cooked al dente
- 4 cups shredded rotisserie chicken, or cooked from 2 lbs chicken breast
Spinach Cream Sauce:
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- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 4 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 1 1/2 cups half and half, (or equal parts of heavy cream and milk)
- 5 oz fresh spinach, coarsely chopped
- 2 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
Ricotta Cheese Sauce:
- 15 oz ricotta
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup parsley
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
- 3 cups mozzarella cheese, 12 oz by weight, divided (reserve 1 cup for topping)
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Place a pot or large saucepan over medium heat, add 1 Tbsp olive oil and saute onions for 3-4 minutes or until softened. Add 4 Tbsp butter and whisk in 1/3 cup flour. Continue whisking 3 minutes or until flour mixture is golden.
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Add 2 1/2 cups chicken broth, 1 1/2 cups half and half, 2 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Whisk until smooth and simmer 5 minutes until thickened to a light gravy consistency.
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Add minced garlic and chopped spinach, and stir to combine then remove from heat.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground chicken, chopped onion and some salt and pepper to the pan. Cook and stir until chicken is thoroughly cooked, about 8 minutes. Set aside and let cool slightly while you prepare the cheeses.
To assemble the lasagna, you’ll need a 9-by-13-inch baking pan. Remove as much air as possible from the lasagna noodles before layering them into the baking dish. Pour a thin layer of tomato sauce on the bottom of the dish and top with a single layer of noodle. Add chicken mixture and then follow with layers of cheese, ricotta, and Parmesan. Repeat these layers until pan is full, ending with sauce and cheese topping. Cover well with foil to keep moisture in during cooking. Bake for about 35 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until evenly browned. Let cool for at least 15 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Assemble Lasagna Ingredients.
With all the ingredients prepared, now it’s time to assemble the lasagna. Grease an 8×8 inch baking pan with cooking spray and spread 1/3 of the marinara sauce on the bottom of the dish. Place a layer of cooked pasta over the sauce and top with half of the cooked chicken mixture. Sprinkle half of each cheese over chicken. Top with another layer of uncooked pasta, then spread 1/2 cup more marinara sauce followed by remaining chicken and cheeses. Finally, top with a final layer of pasta and remaining two cups marinara sauce.
Bake & Serve with Parmesan and Chopped Parsley or Basil.
After baking for 25 minutes, remove the aluminum foil and bake for another 5 minutes, until the cheese is golden and bubbly. To complete this dish, sprinkle Parmesan cheese and chopped herbs (parsley or basil) over the top. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
This deliciously creamy Lasagna recipe is sure to be a crowd pleaser. It starts with layers of oven-ready lasagna noodles, cheese, and chicken pieces, all coated in a creamy sauce. To kick things up a notch, add a spoonful of your favorite pesto and mix it in with the ricotta cheese before layering the ingredients into a baking dish. Don’t forget to top it off with mozzarella cheese! Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure to let stand for 10 minutes after baking for the best consistency.
