A creamy white chicken lasagna with tender rotisserie chicken and a spinach parmesan cream sauce tucked between every noodle. It cuts into clean, cozy squares.
9lasagna noodlescooked al dente, salt for water and 1 tablespoon olive oil to prevent sticking if needed
3½cupsshredded chickenfrom a 3-pound store bought rotisserie chicken
Spinach cream sauce
6tablespoonssalted butter room temperature
¾cupyellow onion finely diced
1tablespoonfresh garlic, finely minced
1teaspoongarlic powder
½teaspoonsalt
¼cupall-purpose flour
1¼cupschicken broth
1¼cupsheavy cream
1cupshredded parmesan cheese
3cupslightly packed baby spinachroughly chopped
Ricotta cheese mixture
15ouncecontainer whole milk ricotta cheese
1large eggroom temperature
4cupsshredded whole milk mozzarella cheesedivided 2 ½ cups in the mixture and 1 ½ cups on the top from a 16-ounce block
½teaspoonsalt
¼teaspoonblack pepper
Optional garnish
Chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the lasagna noodles until al dente according to package directions. Drain then return to the pot and set aside. Add olive oil to the boiling water along with the salt if desired, or drizzle over the noodles to prevent sticking after draining.
9 lasagna noodles
Using your hands, or two forks, shred the white and dark meat from a rotisserie chicken and set aside.
3½ cups shredded chicken
Spinach cream sauce
In a 3-quart sauce pan over medium heat, add the salted butter, onion, garlic, garlic powder, and salt. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the onions are translucent and the garlic is fragrant.
6 tablespoons salted butter, ¾ cup yellow onion, 1 tablespoon fresh garlic, finely minced, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon salt
Whisk in the all-purpose flour until fully absorbed by the butter. While whisking constantly, slowly add the chicken broth and heavy cream until fully incorporated and no lumps of flour remain. Bring the sauce to a boil, reduce the heat to low and allow it to simmer for 2-3 minutes or until thickened. Be sure to whisk the sauce often to ensure it does not clump or burn.
¼ cup all-purpose flour, 1¼ cups chicken broth, 1¼ cups heavy cream
Remove the sauce from the heat, stir in the parmesan cheese until fully incorporated. Add the baby spinach stirring until fully incorporated and the spinach has wilted completely into the sauce. Set aside to cool slightly while preparing the ricotta cheese mixture.
Stir together in a large bowl the ricotta cheese, egg, 2 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese, salt, and black pepper until well combined. Set aside.
15 ounce container whole milk ricotta cheese, 1 large egg, 2.5 cups shredded whole milk mozzarella cheese, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Assembling the white chicken lasagna
To the bottom of a deep sided 9x13 baking dish, evenly spread ½-¾ cup of the spinach cream sauce then place three of the cooked lasagna noodles evenly into the bottom of the dish.
Top the noodles with half the reserved ricotta cheese mixture being sure to carefully spread out into an even layer.
Sprinkle half the shredded chicken evenly over the ricotta cheese layer then spoon a third of the remaining spinach cream sauce over the chicken.
Place down three more lasagna noodles, the remaining ricotta cheese mixture and the remaining shredded chicken. Top with another third of the sauce, followed by the remaining three noodles and the final third of the sauce.
Sprinkle the remaining 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top then bake for 25-30 minutes or until the sauce is bubbly and the cheese is melted and lightly golden on the top.
1.5 cups shredded whole milk mozzarella cheese
Remove the white chicken lasagna from the oven and let it cool at room temperature for 15-20 minutes to allow the sauce to cool slightly and set before slicing and serving. Garnish with a light sprinkle of chopped fresh parsley if desired before serving.
Chopped fresh parsley
Notes
Tips:
Whisk the sauce constantly as it thickens so the flour does not clump or scorch.
Shred your own whole milk mozzarella. Pre-shredded cheese has a coating that keeps it from melting as smoothly.
Let it rest 15 to 20 minutes before slicing so the layers set and cut clean.
Storage:
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat in the microwave or a warm oven. You can assemble it up to 24 hours ahead, wrap it tightly, and refrigerate, then take it out 30 to 45 minutes before baking and remove the wrap. I do not recommend freezing this lasagna because the cream sauce does not freeze and thaw well.