This cheesy lasagna recipe is loaded with tender chicken, broccoli, pesto, and creamy alfredo sauce. Chicken Broccoli Lasagna an easy weeknight dinner that'll have the whole family asking for seconds.
I don't know about everyone, but for me, comfort food translates to a warm serving of melt-in-the-mouth chicken lasagna with a side of homemade artisan garlic bread. Ah, so good!
I've tried a lot of different lasagna recipes (duh!), and I've loved them all. This time around, I added some broccoli and pesto to the mix, and it turned out to be a game-changer!
This chicken broccoli lasagna is a great way to sneak some greens into your diet. Trust me, even the kids will love it!
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Why You'll Love This Broccoli Lasagna Recipe
Simple Ingredient List. You'll need only a few basic ingredients that are already lying in your pantry, waiting to work the cheesy magic!
There's Cheese, Cheese, and Some More Cheese! This lasagna is outrageously cheesy! There's some in every layer, and I'm not complaining.
An Easy-to-Follow Recipe! If you've made a classic lasagna before, you can make this one too! And guess what? The recipe lets you use oven-ready lasagna noodles, rotisserie chicken, and store-bought pesto! Convenient? Yes!
Perfect Meal Prep. Assemble your cheesy and comforting meal, pop it in the fridge, and bake the next day! There, I just freed you of your cooking duties after a long day at work!
Ingredients You'll Need
No-Boil Lasagna Noodles: Because we want to keep this recipe quick and easy, we'll use no-boil lasagna sheets. If you already have the regular ones and don't mind the extra step of boiling them, go for it. You know it should be al dente.
Pre-cooked Rotisserie Chicken: Got some leftover rotisserie chicken? Great! Shred the bird and add it to your delicious and creamy lasagna. Store-bought rotisserie chicken, even leftover chicken breasts, will work.
Broccoli Florets: I prefer using fresh broccoli for the ultimate crunch! Plus, I've found frozen broccoli to create a watery mess. But if frozen broccoli is all you have, go with it. Just make sure you defrost it fully, drain it, and pat it dry.
Creamy White Sauce: The creamy alfredo sauce is what gives this lasagna its crazy-good flavor. And so, I don't leave it to luck! We'll make a homemade alfredo sauce by using flour (can be all-purpose or whole wheat), butter (olive oil works, too), garlic (freshly minced or garlic powder), milk (2%, skim, or whole), chicken stock (or chicken broth for more flavor), salt, and pepper.
& If you want a dairy free Alfredo sauce, try my Cauliflower Alfredo!
Parmesan Cheese: Because there's no such thing as too much cheese!
Ricotta Cheese: The creamy ricotta cheese is lighter than bechamel sauce and adds a nice texture and richness to the lasagna. You can replace it with cottage cheese.
Store-Bought Pesto: You can also make your own with my Broccoli Pesto or Dairy-Free Pesto recipes.
Mozzarella Cheese: Melty, stretchy, and gooey cheese! Topping your dish with shredded mozzarella cheese will give you that perfect lasagna bite.
I've attached a recipe card with all the details on measurements and process. Don't forget to check it out!
Step By Step Instructions
Step 1: In a large skillet melt the butter and add flour over medium high heat. Whisk to combine.
Step 2: Add in chicken broth in ½ cup increments, whisking in between additions until the sauce begins to thicken.
Step 3: Add in milk in ½ cup increments, whisking in between and allowing the sauce to thicken.
Step 4: Stir in pesto.
Step 5: Stir in grated parmesan
Step 6: Stir in broccoli and cook for 5 minutes.
Step 7: Preheat the oven to 350 and in a 9x13 baking dish layer the sauce and top with lasagna noodles.
Step 8: Spread ½ the ricotta over the lasagna.
Step 9: Top with ½ the shredded chicken and repeat the layering process one more time.
Step 10: Finish the lasagna with mozzarella.
Step 11: Cover with tinfoil and bake for 20-25 minutes then uncover and cook for an additional 15 minutes. Enjoy!
Tips and Tricks
- Chop the broccoli florets into small pieces so they cook evenly and fit nicely in the lasagna layers.
- Spread a hearty layer of sauce between each sheet layer so your lasagna can cook well.
- Want a crisp, cheesy top? Remove the aluminum foil and let your creamy chicken lasagna broil for a few minutes. Don't leave it unattended!
- Give your lasagna some time to set before slicing and digging right in. Show that willpower!
Tempting Variations
This chicken and broccoli lasagna recipe is super versatile. There's so much potential here; you'll never get bored! Here are a few things you can do to have a tempting variant each time:
- Swap the chicken for ground beef or turkey.
- Replace the broccoli with spinach, mushrooms, or zucchini.
- Add some spicy kick by mixing red pepper flakes into the sauce.
- Make your alfredo sauce with heavy cream for a richer and creamier lasagna.
- Use gluten-free lasagna noodles to make this recipe non-gluten!
- Skip the pesto and instead add in a few chopped sun-dried tomatoes or roasted red peppers for added flavor. Or try using a Pesto Rosso!
- Up your serving game by making lasagna roll-ups.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course you can! Leave the chicken out and load it with veggie goodness. Bell peppers, mushrooms, spinach, and zucchini all make great substitutes.
Cover your baking dish tightly with foil and keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days. When ready to eat, reheat in the microwave or oven until warm. You can also use an airtight container.
More Recipes using Rotisserie Chicken
If you tried this Chicken Broccoli Lasagna , or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
📖 Recipe
Creamy Chicken Broccoli Lasagna Recipe
Equipment
- 1 large skillet
- 1 9x13 baking dish
Ingredients
- 6 no-boil lasagna noodles
- 3 cups shredded rotisserie chicken or leftover chicken breast
- 1 head of broccoli chopped
- 2 tablespoon flour
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 2 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 cups milk 2%, skim, or whole
- 2 cups chicken stock
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 2 cups ricotta cheese
- 1 cup grated parmesan
- 6.5 oz jar of pesto about ¾ cup if using homemade
- 3 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
Instructions
- Prepare the white sauce by melting the butter in a saucepan over medium high heat then add in the garlic and flour.
- Whisk to combine and continue stirring for 3-5 minutes.
- Slowly add in the milk and chicken stock in ½ cup increments. Stirring in between and allow the mixture to thicken up between each addition.
- Once all of the liquid has been added stir in the salt, pepper, parmesan cheese, broccoli, and pesto. Cook for 5-7 minutes then remove from heat.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- In a 9x13 baking dish add ½ cup of the sauce and spread it to cover the bottom of the dish.
- Add one layer of lasagna noodles and top with another cup of the white sauce.
- Top with ½ of the ricotta cheese, ⅓ of the chicken, ⅓ of the shredded mozzarella, and then another layer of lasagna noodles.
- Top the lasagna noodles with more sauce and continue layering until all ingredients are gone.
- Finish the lasagna on top with an extra sprinkle of mozzarella cheese and bake for 15 minutes uncovered.
- Cover the lasagna with foil and bake another 20-25 minutes.
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