Love Lasagna AND Fettuccine Alfredo? We sure do at our house! So we did a little bit of a mash up of our two favorite recipes and boy is it AMAZING!! This Creamy Chicken Alfredo Lasagna is quite literally the best thing to hit our house in a while.
HOW TO MAKE CREAMY LASAGNA!
HOW LONG DO I COOK LASAGNA NOODLES
ANY pasta you are boiling follow the directions on the box for al dente time. It's as easy as that! No guessing needed. If a box says boil for 8-10 minutes- boil for 8. Keep it on the shorter end because the noodles will be cooking more as they bake.
NOODLE PRO TIPS:
- Salt the water before adding pasta! This will enhance you pasta's flavor.
- Rinse with cold water, or add a little oil to the water to keep from sticking. Normally I dont do this with my pasta- becuase the starches on pasta after cooking help the sauce to adhere to the noodles, HOWEVER Because I will be letting the noodles cool and handling them I like to rinse them with cold water or toss in a little bit of oil to prevent them from sticking and tearing.
HOW TO MAKE THE RICOTTA LAYER:
I love to add loads of flavor right here in this layer. Because the pasta overall is a creamy calm flavor in this ricotta later I'm going to add a punch of flavor with pesto!
I'm also not adding any parmesan cheese as a typical red sauce lasagna might add because all that parmesan cheese is going to go in the alfredo sauce instead.
WHY DO I ADD AN EGG TO RICOTTA?
Adding an egg to your Ricotta will not change the flavor or make anything more fluffy. The reason we add an egg is because it helps to bind the cheese in the layers so when you cut into the lasagna it doesn't all slide out.
Lastly- HOW TO MAKE KILLER GOOD ALFREDO SAUCE
I'm telling you, this sauce is incredible! I've altered it just slightly from my fettuccinie alfredo pasta recipe because I want the sauce to go a little bit further without an million extra calories from more cream or cheese.
Step 1: Garlic butter
In a small sauce slowly melt your butter and add in your minced fresh garlic (always fresh people, not from a jar!) let them melt and heat together for a minute or two to allow the garlic flavors to infuse into the butter. Keep the heat on low, med-low. You dont want to brown you butter.
Step two:
Add your cream, cheese and your two secret ingredients. DO NOT SKIMP!
On medium heat stir these together until the cheese is completely melted. Then you are ready to layer your lasagna.
SECRET INGREDIENTS
- FRESH ground nutmeg. I was taught to buy them in whole form and grate them. Sooo good!
- FRESH squeeze of lemon. THIS! is the difference between good and GREAT alfredo sauce. The lemon changes everything.
WHAT INGREDIENTS DO YOU NEED TO MAKE CREAMY ALFREDO LASAGNA
- mozzarella
- chopped spinach
- shredded chicken ( I love to use rotisserie chicken or any leftover shredded chicken)
HOW TO LAYER CREAMY CHICKEN ALFREDO LASAGNA
- ALWAYS add a little sauce to the bottom of your pan to prevent from sticking.
- Noodles
- Ricotta
- Shredded chicken (I love to use rotisserie chicken!)
- Chopped Spinach
- Mozzarella
- about ¼ cup alfredo sauce
- Top final layer with noodles.
LAYERING PRO TIP: Count your noodles and decide how many layers you will be doing. I did 5 layers of noodles so I divided my ingredients into fourths so it would all be even. (top layer noodles don't count.)
Now that you've finished your layering pour the remaining alfredo sauce (it should be a lot!) on top of the noodles. Covering the entire surface.
Add one final layer of mozzarella cheese and a sprinkle of parsley!
HOW LONG DO I COOK LASAGNA
Cook lasagna until the internal temp is 165 degrees. I love to cover my lasagna with foil for about 20-30 minutes to keep the cheese from browning and drying out too much. I remove the foil for the last 15 minutes and let it bubble just slightly.
HOW CAN I ADAPT THIS RECIPE?
- Try roasting your favorite veggies and adding them into the layers (included instructions below)
- Remove chicken for a meat-less option
- Use gluten free noodles and the entire dish will be GLUTEN FREE! (the sauce does not use any wheat flour!)
- Or use flat zucchini noodles for a lower car option.
HEY, FRIENDS!
Creamy Chicken Alfredo Lasagna
Ingredients
Alfredo sauce
- 3 cloves garlic fresh, minced
- ½ cup butter
- ¼ Tablespoon nutmeg
- 1 cup chicken broth or vegetable
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ lemon juiced
- 1 ½ c parmesan cheese
Ricotta layer
- 14 oz ricotta cheese
- ½ cup pesto
- 1 egg lightly beaten
Lasagna Layers
- 1 cup baby spinach
- 1 box lasagna noodles
- 2-3 cups mozzarella cheese
- 2-3 cups shredded chicken
- 3 tbsp parsley
Instructions
Lasagna Layers
- Prepare noodles by boiling. Chop Spinach and parsley. set aside.
Alfredo Sauce
- In small pan add butter and garlic. Melt on low until butter is melted. Let Garlic and butter sit on low for about 2 minutes so butter is infused with garlic flavors.
- Turn heat to med. Add in cream and broth. Slowly stir in parmesan cheese so it melts. Add nutmeg and lemon juice. Stir until cheese is melted and all in combined smoothly. Do not bring to a boil!
Ricotta Layer
- Lightly beat one egg, add ricotta and pesto. Stir till combined.
- Spread some sauce on bottom of 9X13 pan. Layer noodles, ricotta, chicken, veggies, cheese, sauce. Continue to layer in this order times 3-4 layers. When at top layer add rest of alfredo sauce, mozzarella cheese and parsley
- Cover with foil, Bake at 350, bake 30 minutes. Remove foil and cook for 15-20 more minutes. Serve. Internal temp should be 165 degrees.
Vicky says
It was good but adding roasted veggies like I think you suggested, along with some additional seasoning would have really added a lot to the dish! A bit on the bland side and texture a bit chewy with the chicken. Recommend 3/4 cups each broth and cream rather than 1 cup each. Also suggest 1 tsp sugar to the ricotta cheese mix to off set the lemon.
Sandra Marie Detwiler says
I just made this for my brother's wedding. Seven pans of it to be exact!! It was incredible!! The lemon really does make it completely amazing. Everyone LOVED it! Thanks for a great new recipe and a smash hit at the wedding today!
Kadee says
My favorite comment of the month! So glad you loved it!
Margi Warecki says
Can I use no-boil noodles
LOlo says
What a delicious recipe! Thanks so much for sharing. I added salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes to the ricotta and the Alfredo sauce, just because I’m a spicy girl and it turned out perfectly!
Sam says
Does the sauce thicken up after you cook it in the oven?
Desarae says
YES!! and it thickens as it stands
Sonya J Broughten says
Can this be made ahead and frozen
Desarae says
I dont think fresh alfredo sauce will do as well frozen and reheated, in fresh alfredo sauce the cream and cheese after heated will separate some. You will see the oil separate.You can still eat it! it is just better immediately after its heated. You could possible substitute with store bought alfredo sauce. I dont like store bought but if you need freezer meals that might help. If you do it please let me know how it turns out
Lisa says
This might be a stupid question, but the Parmesan cheese is the grated kind, like you put on cooked pizza, right? Not the shredded kind? I’m excited to make this tonight!
Desarae says
I prefer fresh shredded but you can use the parmesan if you like!
Pam says
Did you use Basil Pesto or Tomato Pesto?
Desarae says
yes! Basil pesto is what I mean when the ingredients say "pesto" Thanks for clarifying. I have not used tomato pesto- if you give it a go tell me how it is!
Molly says
If I didnt want to make homemade sauce. What would be the best to buy ? Just curious !
Desarae says
yes. store bought alfredo sauce is on the thicker side so I would recommend heating it up first so it will distribute further. However, you won't regret making the real stuff!
Tim Noblett says
Towards the top, you say cook for 30 minutes, remove foil, then cook another 15 minutes. Then at the bottom, you say cook for 30 minutes with foil, then remove foil and "broil" for 5 minutes. Neither of these match the cook time of 50 minutes. Which do I do????
Desarae says
Hi Tim, The 50 minutes cook time is the 30 min with foil + the 15-20 minutes without foil. The recipe card does not allow me to add two different cook times, so I added those together.
Elizabeth says
This was great! You guys are the best! It was my first time ever making alfredo from scratch and your instructions were so helpful! We all loved it, and it turned out so well! I added roasted veggies like you suggested and we were really happy with the recipe. Your instructions and photos really helped, I love this site...it is so beautiful and SO GOOD...or should I say SO DELICIOUSO!
Thank you!
Desarae says
seriously this made my day! thank you for such a great review!
Mel says
What is a mozzarella sauce? I only saw alfredo sauce. Regarding Step #2 of the Ricotta layer.
Desarae says
typo! mozzarella *cheese*
Jenn says
Just throwing into oven. Concerned about the lack of flour. Will my sauce thicken a bit? We shall see ????
Desarae says
Hi Jenn! YES! Alfredo sauce thickens as it rests!
Michelle Clauss says
Made this tonight and would not change anything, it was awesome!
Emily says
Is 2 sticks of butter (1 cup) correct for the Alfredo sauce? Thanks!
Desarae says
ah! thank you for catching that. I just put the ingredient in there twice. only half cup of butter.
CLarence says
Love the twist. This recipe did not disappoint!
Sandra J. says
Tried this last night and it turned out amazing! One of family’s new favorites. Thank you!
Lisa says
Can this be made the day before I need it?
Desarae says
yes, you can assemble this ahead of time, refrigerate it and then cook the day of. Make sure it is air tight, and I would maybe double the alfredo sauce to make sure there is enough liquid.
jessica says
love all the veggies
Kat says
Could you freeze this?
Stephanie says
Yes! Lasagnas freeze really well. You could assemble and freeze before you bake it, you'd just have to add 15-20 minutes on to the baking time. Enjoy!
Tanvi says
can you alternate chicken with mushrooms or anything else?
Desarae says
sure! or you can omit it :)