A delicious, cozy recipe for Rosemary Chicken Lasagna with mushrooms and spinach in a creamy Béchamel Sauce. A hearty meal perfect for special gatherings or Sunday supper. Vegetarian-adaptable. Video!

A delicious, cozy recipe for Chicken Lasagna with mushrooms, spinach and rosemary in a creamy Béchamel Sauce. A hearty meal perfect for special gatherings or Sunday supper. Vegetarian-adaptable.

Walk around feeling like a leaf. Know you could tumble any second. Then decide what to do with your time.

Naomi Shihab Nye

I love Sundays…cozy, relaxing, and practically begging for comfort food. Here is one of my favorite recipes on cold chilly days like these-perfect for curling up on the couch with a good book or movie – Chicken lasagna! A staple in our catering business, this lasagna recipe was one of the most popular recipes during the colder months. 

Instead of a traditional red sauce, this version is made with a creamy béchamel sauce infused with a hint of nutmeg. Layered with tender chicken breast, wilted spinach and savory mushrooms, it can easily be made vegetarian by adding more mushrooms and leaving out the chicken.

Why You’ll Love Chicken Lasagna!

  1. Delicious Flavor: This creamy rosemary Chicken Lasagna is bursting with delicious flavors. The combination of tender chicken breast, earthy mushrooms, wilted spinach, and aromatic rosemary creates a rich and savory taste that will leave your taste buds craving more. The creamy béchamel sauce with a hint of nutmeg elevates the dish.
  2. Versatile: This recipe is versatile and can be easily adapted to suit various dietary preferences. If you’re a vegetarian, you can simply omit the chicken and increase the amount of mushrooms for a flavorful vegetarian adaptation. You can also use plant-based milk, vegan ricotta and vegan cheese to make it dairy-free and vegan-friendly.
  3. Perfect Comfort Food: Chicken Lasagna is the ultimate comfort food, especially on cold, chilly days. The layers of lasagna noodles, chicken, mushrooms, and creamy sauce provide a hearty and satisfying meal perfect for special gatherings. It’s the kind of dish that warms you from the inside out!
Chicken lasagna in a baking dish

Chicken Lasagna Ingredients

  1. Chicken breast: Boneless and skinless chicken breast adds savory protein to the lasagna. This can be left out to create a vegetarian version- just double or triple the mushrooms. A quick hack here is to use leftover rotisserie chicken!
  2. Mushrooms add an earthy, meaty, umami flavor to the lasagna. Play with different varieties ( wild or tame) mushrooms; button, cremini, portobello mushrooms, shitake, oyster, morels, or chanterelles!
  3. Onion and Garlic: add a sweet, pungent, savory flavor to the lasagna, giving depth
  4. Rosemary: the signature herb here, imparting a delightful aroma. Feel free to sub-fresh sage or thyme.
  5. Spinach: We love adding nutrient-rich leafy greens to the lasagna. Feel free to use other wilting greens.
  6. Milk: To create the bechamel sauce, we use milk (not cream) to keep it on the lighter side- but keep in mind, plant-based milks like soy milk or almond milk work great too!
  7. Cheeses: Mozzarella adds the melty element we all love in lasagna while parmesan cheese or pecorino romano adds the flavor! Ricotta cheese is used between the layers for a luscious creaminess. Feel free to use vegan cheeses- like our vegan ricotta.
  8. Spices: nutmeg adds a subtle hint of exotic sweetness and complexity to the lasagna and white peppera milder alternative to black pepper, provides a unique flavor. Feel free to use black pepper!
  9. Lasagna noodles: If you can track down fresh lasagna noodles, use these for the best texture. Par-boil dry lasagna noodles if using. For a fun, light twist, we’ve even made this with eggroll wrappers! (see notes)
  10. Lemon zest: adds an unexpected brightness to the dish, enhancing the overall taste experience.

Chicken Lasagna Instructions

There are three components to Chicken lasagna- the savory chicken filling, the ricotta mixture and the creamy white sauce, called Bechamel Sauce. All or any of these can be made ahead! You can make the chicken lasagna in stages, cutting down the workload on the day of your gathering.

Step one:  Make the filling. In an extra large skillet saute chicken breast, mushrooms, onion and garlic with rosemary and chopped spinach. You could easily use leftover rotisserie chicken.

cooking the filling.

The filling is very adaptable as you will see from the recipe. I personally like adding mushrooms and spinach to the chicken.  You could leave these out. Or, you could just as easily leave out the chicken and make this completely vegetarian by adding more mushrooms ( or other veggies) and spinach.

Step two: Make the Béchamel Sauce. In a medium pot, melt unsalted butter (or use olive oil) over med-low heat. Add all-purpose flour and stir for 2-3 minutes on med heat until flour is golden. Whisk in milk one cup at a time. Add rosemary and bring to a gentle simmer, do not leave it unattended, stirring constantly until thickened. Add salt, nutmeg and white pepper. Stir until incorporated, set aside.

bechamel sauce in a pot

Step 3: Make the ricotta mixture. Whisk ricotta cheese with an egg, lemon zest, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Set aside.

ricotta mixture.

Step four: Assemble the Lasagna! Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Spread enough bechamel sauce to coat the bottom. Add the first layer of lasagna noodles, then top with half of the ricotta cheese mixture.

assembling the lasagna.

Add half of the chicken/mushroom/spinach filling. Top with mozzarella cheese, pecorino cheese and drizzle with bechamel sauce.

assembling the chicken lasagna- second layer.

Repeat this one more time. Add noodles, remaining ricotta, remaining filling, mozzarella cheese, pecorino cheese, and a little bechamel sauce.

Top with the third and final layer of lasagna noodles. Pour the remaining bechamel sauce over the top. Add the remaining mozzarella and pecorino cheese. Sprinkle with a little more rosemary and place a layer of parchment paper over the lasagna, then cover tightly with foil, keeping the foil from touching the lasagna.

final layer of chicken lasagna.

You can assemble it up to this point and refrigerate for 3 days, then bake (letting it come to room temp before baking) on the day of serving.

Step 4: Bake the Lasagna. Place in a 400 F oven, covered with parchment and foil, until heated through and bubbling, 30-40 minutes. Remove the foil and let bake uncovered until beautiful and golden, about 10 more minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

baked chicken lasagna out of the oven.

Serving Suggestions

We love serving hearty main dishes like this creamy Chicken Lasagna with lighter, leafy green salads. Here are some that would pair well!

Storing Chicken Lasagna

Leftovers will keep up to 4 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container or can be put in the freezer for up to 6 months.

A delicious, cozy recipe for Chicken Lasagna with mushrooms, spinach and rosemary in a creamy Béchamel Sauce. A hearty meal perfect for special gatherings or Sunday supper. Vegetarian-adaptable.

Chicken Lasagna FAQS

  1. Can I make chicken lasagna ahead of time? Yes, you can make chicken lasagna ahead of time. You can prepare the filling, béchamel sauce, and ricotta mixture in advance and assemble the lasagna when you’re ready to bake it. You can also assemble the entire lasagna and refrigerate it for up to 3 days before baking.
  2. Can I freeze chicken lasagna? Yes, you can freeze chicken lasagna, either baked or unbaked. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, or transfer it to an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before baking it according to the recipe instructions.
  3. Can I use a different type of cheese in chicken lasagna? Absolutely! While mozzarella, parmesan, and ricotta are commonly used in chicken lasagna, you can experiment with other types of cheese as well. Some options include cheddar, provolone, fontina, or even a blend of cheeses. Feel free to get creative and use your favorite cheeses.
  4. Can I make chicken lasagna vegetarian? Yes, you can easily adapt the chicken lasagna recipe to make it vegetarian. Simply omit the chicken and double or triple mushrooms or add other vegetables! To make this vegan, use vegan cheese and plant-based milk! Our vegan ricotta is good too!
  5. Can I substitute the lasagna noodles with something else? Yes, you can get creative with the noodles in chicken lasagna. If you’re looking for a lighter twist, you can use egg roll wrappers instead of traditional lasagna noodles. Or get gluten-free lasagna noodles.

More Lasagna recipes you may like!

Rosemary Chicken Lasagna Video

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A delicious recipe for creamy Chicken Lasagna with mushrooms, spinach and rosemary layered with a creamy bechamel sauce. Vegetarian-adaptable. See notes for making ahead. 

Chicken Lasagna Recipe

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Description

A delicious recipe for creamy Chicken Lasagna with mushrooms, spinach and rosemary layered with a creamy bechamel sauce. Vegetarian-adaptable. See notes for making ahead.


Ingredients

Units Scale

Lasagna Filling:

  • 1 1/4 lb chicken breast, cut into small bite-sized, 1/2-inch pieces ( see recipe notes for vegetarian) or use leftover rotisserie chicken.
  • 12 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt, pepper to taste
  • 12 oz sliced mushrooms (optional- or replace with more chicken)
  • 1 onion- diced
  • 6 cloves garlic -chopped
  • 1 tablespoons fresh rosemary- chopped ( or 2 teaspoons dried, or sub thyme or sage)
  • 23 cups packed, chopped fresh spinach

Bechamel Sauce Ingredients:

  • 4 tablespoons butter (or olive oil)
  • 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped
  • 3 cups whole milk (or use a plant-based milk)
  • 1 1/4 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp white pepper or sub black pepper

Lasagna ingredients:

  • Fresh lasagna noodles, 9 x par-boiled lasagna noodles (or try egg roll wrappers for an extra light version!)
  • 12 oz fresh or grated mozzarella cheese
  • 15 oz whole milk ricotta
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
  • Black pepper to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 3/4 cup Parmesan, or Pecorino cheese grated
  • Truffle oil– optional but amazing!

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400F
  2. If using dry pasta start your salted water to a boil, and par-cook the lasagna noodles to aldente.
  3. Make the Filling: (see notes for vegetarian) Cut chicken into 1/2 inch, bite-size pieces and season with 1 teaspoon salt and cracked pepper to taste. Saute in a skillet, on medium heat, with 1-2 tablespoons olive oil until golden brown, and cooked through. Place chicken in a bowl and set aside. Wipe out the pan and add a little more oil. Add mushrooms and onion and saute until tender, on med heat, about 7 min. Add garlic and rosemary, and saute 2 more minutes. Season with salt and pepper and lower heat to med-low, and saute until mushrooms release their liquid. Add chopped spinach, stir until wilted and add this to the chicken. Set aside.
  4. Make Bechamel Sauce: In a medium saucepan melt butter on medium-low heat. Add flour and stir for 2-3 minutes on med heat until flour is golden. Whisk in milk one cup at a time. Add rosemary and stir constantly ( do not walk away) until it just comes to a simmer- this will thicken it. Add salt, nutmeg and white pepper. Stir until incorporated, set aside.
  5.  Make the ricotta mixture. Whisk ricotta cheese with an egg, lemon zest, pepper and nutmeg. Set aside.
  6. Assemble the Lasagna. Butter or grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Pour ¾ cup bechamel sauce in the bottom and spread out. Place one layer of lasagna noodles.  Cover with half of the ricotta mixture, spreading it evenly. Top with half of the chicken/mushroom filling, sprinkle with one-third of the parmesan cheese, and one-third of the fresh mozzarella cheese. Drizzle with 1 cup of bechamel sauce, Repeat, adding another single layer of lasagna noodles, lightly pressing down. Spread out the remainder of the ricotta cheese mixture, top with the remainder of the chicken mushroom filling, another third of the mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese and drizzle with another cup of bechamel. (Optional: at this point, you could drizzle with a little truffle oil -it’s delicious). Top with the last layer of lasagna noodles and pour the remainder of the bechamel sauce, spreading evenly. Add the last of the cheeses, and sprinkle with a little rosemary.
  7. Bake covered tightly with parchment and foil in a 400F oven for 40 minutes or until hot and bubbly. (Parchment prevents the foil from touching the lasagna which can leach aluminum. )Remove parchment and foil and bake uncovered until the top is golden, about 10-15 more minutes. Let rest from the oven 10-15 minutes before cutting, so it sets up.
  8. Leftovers will keep up to 4 days in the fridge, or freeze for up to 3 months.

Notes

Make it ahead: An easy way to tackle this is to make it in stages. Make the filling ahead (and refrigerate for up to 3 days), and make the bechamel sauce ahead- that way, on the day of, you could simply mix the ricotta, boil the noodles, assemble and bake. You can also assemble the whole lasagna up to 3 days ahead. Let it come to room temp before baking.

Vegetarian: You can make this vegetarian by subbing mushrooms for the chicken. You will need 1 ½ -2 pounds total. You could also sub other sautéed veggies into the mix, or more spinach. Saute the mushrooms and onion, and when tender, add the garlic and rosemary and season with salt and pepper. Add chopped spinach and wilt.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/9th of a baking dish
  • Calories: 461
  • Sugar: 6.3 g
  • Sodium: 936.9 mg
  • Fat: 18.2 g
  • Saturated Fat: 10 g
  • Carbohydrates: 31.8 g
  • Fiber: 4 g
  • Protein: 40.9 g
  • Cholesterol: 101.8 mg

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Comments

  1. Wow beautiful and I am guessing delicious. Only thing is I am not a big fan of chicken but do love my animal protein. If I were to substitute fish here what would you recommend? Thanks for a great blog!

  2. I have used barilla brand dry pasta sheets in a white lasagne and it worked out well. Do you think I could do that with this recipe ? Look forward to making this.

    1. I’ve never tried with the dry pasta sheets. It seems like it would work…please let me know if you try…I’m curious!!

      1. This is a fantastic recipe and I used the dry Barilla lasagne sheets. But am going to use the egg roll wrappers next. I made this several years ago and not since! But am going to make it again for my company dinner!

  3. I’ve used barilla pasta sheets (dry) in a white lasagna. It worked out well. Do you think that would work with this recipe? Thanks!

  4. This lasagna looks utterly amazing! I love the flavor combination here, and how unique it is! I also love your photography! Very nice! 🙂

  5. This is looks delicious. I have 2 sick kids home today so lots of time to cook! Thanks for dinner tonight!

  6. Made this last night – and WOW – the entire family LOVED it and even asked for leftovers for lunch (a very high complement around this place) … I’m going to double the spinach next time just because we all love spinach – but just as it was, it’s still the best white lasagna I have ever made! Thank you!

  7. This was amazing! Everyone loved it and even asked for the leftovers for lunch … (that is a big deal around this house) … next time more spinach I think and maybe more mushrooms since the family LOVES both of them, … honestly though, overall this was one of the best white lasagnas I have ever had – WOW!

  8. Hello. My sister emailed me the link to this page last night. I read through it and my mouth was watering. I had to make it today! My husband and I invited our friends over and it was so delish! Everyone enjoyed it. I used the eggroll wrappers and spinach. So smart using the eggroll wrappers for lasagna! It took 1:40 from prep to oven before cooking. Well worth the effort. Thank you for the recipe!

  9. Hello. My sister emailed me this link and I read the recipe and my mouth was watering! I had to make it today so my husband and I invited our friends over and I made it for everybody. It took me 1:40 from prep to oven but it was so worth it! So delish! I used the eggroll wrappers. Ingenious! Thank you for the recipe.

  10. This looks amazing Sylvia – pinning definitely want to try this one! The flavors I’m sure are so delicious. Thanks!

    1. well thanks. what is the saying…necessity is the mother of invention? Or maybe it should be…being short on time, is the mother of invention. 🙂

  11. Lasagna is one of my favorite dish. So happy I found your recipe. Can’t wait to make it and share with my family :). Thank you!

  12. Lasagna is one of my favorite dishes. So happy I found your recipe. Can’t wait to make this and share with my family :). Thank you.

  13. What a lovely recipe! I am certainly going to bookmark this one – I Love Rosemary!! Many thanks to Stan Frazier for posting your blog page for all to see =0)

  14. This looks really good! I plan on trying it but substituting seafood for the chicken, or the vegetarian version. Thank you for the great pictures of the process!

  15. I love this recipe and your photos are beautiful. Thanks for sharing, I’ll definitely try this for my next Sunday dinner!

  16. What a gorgeous, elegant take on lasagna! Seems so much cleaner and lighter than the typical heavy kind. I can’t wait to try it!

    1. Definitely a keeper and I don’t think I’ll ever use regular lasagna noodles again.
      Thanks Jill

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