Layers of lean ground chicken and mushrooms, spinach, a creamy white sauce, lasagna noodles, and cheese make this White Chicken Lasagna a bit lighter than the traditional version while still being loaded with delicious, comforting flavor!
If you love this creamy white chicken lasagna, be sure to also check out our Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Shells, Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs, and One Pot Lasagna Soup!
Table of Contents
Lasagna is quite possibly the ultimate comfort food! With layer upon layer of savory meat, delicious cheese, and yummy pasta with those divine ruffled edges (my favorite part), it's also filled with healthy veggies and flavorful seasoning!
We love our Classic Beef Lasagna with traditional red sauce, but this time I wanted to try something a little bit different. I have gone with a cheesy, creamy chicken lasagna recipe with a white sauce instead of the traditional red, and it is sooooooo good!
This is the best chicken lasagna recipe I've ever tried, and I've tried a few!
Instead of using shredded chicken and sliced mushrooms, like I've seen in some recipes and tried before, I decided to combine ground chicken and finely chopped mushrooms for a more traditional lasagna texture that you'd get with browned beef and pork. This chicken and mushroom combination is lighter and healthier, and it's a great way to get in those extra veggies!
I have been blending finely chopped mushrooms into some of my favorite ground meat dishes lately for a few reasons - better flavor, better health, and overall better sustainability.
If you haven't taken the monthly Blenditarian challenge yet, you should (you might even win $250)! When chopped to match the consistency of the meat they're paired with, mushrooms can easily mimic meat. It's awesome!
I also love this white chicken lasagna recipe because it can be made ahead and frozen. It's an easy freezer meal you can take to a friend or just have on hand for those busy days. Simply pop this in the oven, throw together a quick salad and you're good to go!
If you like this easy one-dish recipe, then you'll love my Skillet Lemon Chicken & Rice, this Cheeseburger Pasta Skillet, and this comforting Cheesy Lasagna Soup!
Why We Love This Recipe
- Customize this dish with other herbs, or different amounts of them to suit your preferences.
- Made with simple ingredients you can easily find at your local grocery store.
- Ready in just 1 hour it's perfect for a filling weeknight meal for the whole family!
What You'll Need
Scroll down to the recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
- Butter and Oil - Salted butter and olive oil are best to bring out the flavors of this dish.
- Vegetables - Onion, Crimini Mushrooms, and Garlic bring warm, earthy, and pungent flavors to make this lasagna mouthwateringly delicious!
- Leaves - Baby spinach leaves and fresh parsley add color, as well as a flavorful freshness and added nutrients.
- Flour - All Purpose Flour will work well to thicken the bechamel sauce.
- Broth - Low-sodium chicken broth is best so that you can control the salt levels of your dish better.
- Milk - Whole milk will give you the creamiest sauce, but any kind of milk will work well.
- Seasonings - We will use a combination of basil, oregano, crushed red pepper flakes, fennel seeds, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper for this flavorful dish.
- Cheese - Three kinds of cheese make this lasagna irresistible! Use ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan for the best flavor.
- Lasagna - Use whole lasagna noodles that you have to cook first for best results.
- Chicken - I use lean ground chicken for this recipe. You can make your own from fresh chicken breasts or use store-bought.
How to Make White Chicken Lasagna
Make the Sauce. In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Then add the chopped onion and garlic and cook together until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Sprinkle the flour over the softened onions, then stir to combine, cooking for another 1-2 minutes.
Add broth and thicken. Whisk the chicken broth and milk into the onion and flour mixture, then stir constantly until the sauce simmers and thickens, about 4-5 minutes. Stir in the basil, oregano, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and fennel seed, then remove the pan from the heat and set aside.
Boil noodles. Prep the lasagna noodles by cooking them according to the package directions, then draining and laying them in a single layer on a baking sheet sprayed with a little cooking spray. I prefer the old-fashioned lasagna noodles that you boil in a large pot of water first rather than the no-boil ones.
Cook spinach. When you are done cooking the lasagna noodles, use the same large pot to wilt the spinach once the water has been drained. Add just a little bit of oil to the pot and cook the spinach until wilted. It'll take about 3-4 minutes. Then, drain the spinach using a colander, squeezing out the excess water.
Brown chicken. In a large pan, brown the ground chicken and chopped mushrooms together. Drain and transfer to a bowl. Set aside the pan and wipe it out.
Assemble. Assemble the lasagna by spreading ¼ of the sauce on the bottom of the dish. Next, lay 3 of the cooked lasagna noodles on top. Layer on ½ of the chicken and mushroom mixture, then spread ½ of the wilted spinach on top. Dollop half of the ricotta cheese on top then spread the rest of the sauce on top. Sprinkle with ⅓ of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.
Repeat layers by first arranging another layer of noodles over the first complete layer, then topping with the remaining chicken filling, spinach, ricotta cheese, and another ¼ of the sauce mixture and ⅓ of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
Finish the lasagna by arranging the last three noodles on top. Spread the remaining sauce on top of the noodles and sprinkle with the last of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
Bake. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 35 to 40 minutes until hot and bubbly, finishing under the broiler just to add a little color to the top, but be careful not to burn the cheese. Let the lasagna stand for at least 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving. Sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley, if desired.
Recipe FAQ's
Lasagna is one of those dishes that can be loaded with almost any vegetable and still taste incredibly cheesy, creamy, and delicious! Try some chopped bell peppers, zucchini, carrots, and even broccoli are all great in lasagna. Just make sure they are chopped finely enough so that your lasagna isn't too lumpy.
This is a great recipe to last for a couple of meals throughout the week! Allow it to cool completely, and then store this classic lasagna in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat it in the oven as before, covered with foil, or in the microwave.
It's also freezer-friendly! Store the baked and cooled lasagna in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. When you're ready to reheat it, allow it to thaw in the refrigerator overnight, and then bake it in the oven as before, covered with foil.
Tips for Success
- Use real, freshly grated mozzarella cheese rather than the pre-shredded stuff that doesn’t melt well.
- Add roasted peppers or artichoke hearts along with the spinach for even MORE veggies!
Make Ahead Lasagna
Assemble the lasagna and wrap it tightly with plastic wrap. Store it in the refrigerator for 1 day before baking it with 15 minutes of added cooking time. Alternatively, wrap it in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil before freezing it for up to 1 month. Simply defrost in the refrigerator overnight before baking it, or bake it from frozen with aluminum foil on top for 2 hours.
Substitutions and Variations
- You can use canned chicken for this recipe if you have it to hand.
- You could use 1 package of frozen spinach in place of the fresh spinach. Just defrost it and squeeze out as much water as you can before using it in this white lasagna recipe.
- Use lean ground turkey if you prefer - or make turkey mince from leftover turkey from the holidays.
- If you use oven-ready lasagna, assemble the dish as specified without having to boil lasagna noodles first!
What to Serve with White Chicken Lasagna
Lasagna is a filling dish on its own, but if you're wanting to round it out into a meal for the whole family, or want to make it go a bit further, there are loads of side dishes that go great with lasagna.
We always love bread with our meals, so this Homemade French Bread or my Grilled Garlic Bread are ideal choices.
Extra veggies on the side are always a win too, we like this Oven Roasted Asparagus and my Oven Roasted Broccoli with Garlic, Parmesan, and Lemon.
Alternatively, salads are a great way of adding more color and nutrients onto the table and can be quicker options too! Try this Classic Caesar Salad or my delicious Olive Garden Salad with Dressing (Copycat).
Serve with these yummy Raspberry Peach Italian Cream Sodas too for a full Italian feast!
More Easy Dinner Recipes
- One Pot Bruschetta Chicken Pasta
- Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole
- Tuna Noodle Casserole
- Cajun Pasta with Sausage and Peppers
Did you make this recipe?
Let me know what you thought with a comment and rating below. You can also take a picture and tag me on Instagram @houseofnasheats or share it on the Pinterest pin so I can see.
White Chicken Spinach Lasagna
Ingredients
Sauce
- ¼ cup butter
- 1 onion medium, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 ½ cups milk
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon fennel seed
Lasagna
- 9 whole lasagna noodles cooked according to package directions
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 16 ounces crimini mushrooms minced
- 4 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
- 2 cups ricotta cheese
- 16 ounces baby spinach
- 1½ cups Parmesan cheese grated
- Parsley chopped for sprinkling on top optional
Instructions
Sauce
- In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and garlic, and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Sprinkle the flour over the softened onions, then stir to combine, cooking for another 1-2 minutes.
- Whisk the chicken broth and milk into the onion and flour mixture, then stir constantly until the sauce simmers and thickens, about 4-5 minutes. Stir in the basil, oregano, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and fennel seed, then remove from heat.
Lasagna
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, then cook the lasagna noodles according to package directions. Drain and lay out in a single layer on a baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray so they don't stick.
- In the same pot, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and heat over medium-high heat. Add the spinach and cook for 3-4 minutes until wilted. Drain in a colander, squeezing out as much excess water as possible.
- In a large pan, heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat, then combine the ground chicken and mushrooms and brown together until the chicken is cooked through. Drain off any liquid.
- To assemble, spread ¼ of the sauce on the bottom of a large 9x13-inch baking dish. Lay 3 of the cooked lasagna noodles on top. Layer on ½ of the chicken & mushroom mixture, then spread ½ of the wilted spinach on top. Dollop with half of the ricotta cheese then spread with another ¼ of the sauce. Sprinkle with ⅓ of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
- Repeat layers by first arranging 3 more of the lasagna noodles over the first layer, then topping with the remaining chicken & mushroom mixture, spinach, ricotta cheese, and another ¼ of the sauce and ⅓ of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.
- Finish the lasagna by arranging the last three noodles on top, then spread with the remaining sauce and sprinkle with the last of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
- Bake at 350 degrees F. for 35 to 40 minutes until hot and bubbly, finishing under the broiler just to add a little color to the top, but be careful not to burn the cheese. Let the lasagna stand for at least 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving. Sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley, if desired.
Notes
- Fridge: Lasagna can be made a day in advance and refrigerated. Just add 15 minutes to the baking time, and cover with aluminum foil for the first 20 minutes of baking.
- Freezer: Freeze the unbaked lasagna and bake it for 2 hours until heated through, keeping it covered with aluminum foil for the first 1 hour and 15 minutes.
- Store: Store in an airtight container or covered tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat it in the oven as before, covered with foil, or in the microwave.
- Freeze: Store the baked and cooled lasagna in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. When you're ready to reheat it, allow it to thaw in the refrigerator overnight, and then bake it in the oven as before, covered with foil. Inspired by All Recipes.
Nutrition
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
This looks and sounds great! Only substituting shredded cooked chicken (we don't like ground chicken). Can't wait to try it.
You can never go wrong with lasagna of any flavour. This is the perfect way to feed a crowd. I just know I would have no leftovers...so I would have to make a double batch to enjoy again in the week.
I love this lighter version of lasagna and the addition of mushrooms is a wonderful one! Definitely adding umami and lots of depth of flavor. Cannot wait to make it! Pinned and on my menu for next week.
What a great change up. I love this idea, especially the creamy sauce part. It looks easy enough for a beginner cook, bonus. What I enjoy most about recipes like this is the hands on nature, it's meditative.
I've never tried a white lasagna, but I love this idea! Mushrooms and spinach sound delicious. And how clever to freeze it ahead of time- I need to meal prep more often.
I love mixing together mushroom and beef in an effort to blend and extend! I'd love a lasagna with a delicious white sauce so I'll need to give this a go. We had a red sauced lasagna recently so this would be a nice change.
Oh damn. This looks and sounds incredible. I hate to admit it, but I've yet to make a white lasagna AND THEY LOOK SO GOOD. I don't know what the heck I'm waiting for. We have out of town family visiting twice this month, so I'm definitely going to use this for inspiration for dinner some night.
This recipe is definitely a keeper. You can't go wrong with lasagna -- everyone adores lasagna -- but this recipe with chicken sounds and looks amazing. I am pinning to make later and I don't want to lose the recipe.
I LOVE this twist on the original, simply delicious! We love chopping mushrooms up and using them in dishes where we would usually eat more meat. It started off trying to hide them from the kids, but now they request them 🙂
Why is it called white chicken (esp. if ur using ground chicken)? Makes no sense...
Lol, sorry! It's meant to distinguish the lasagna, not the chicken. Since most lasagna's are red from the red sauce, this is a white lasagna made with a white sauce. But I see where the confusion lies!
I love the sound of this lasagna without red sauce! Sometimes, I really just want something creamy and comforting and this lasagna absolutely fits the bill! I love that you have cremini mushrooms in the filling. They have such a wonderful, earthy flavor and it must pair so well with the chicken, spinach, and cheeses. Total comfort food!
Oh boy..this sounds devine , except I'm going to use shredded chicken breast... Can't wait to try this!
This recipe sounds wonderful and I would LOVE to make it for my family soon, however, one important missing element to the recipe that prevents me from trying it is the oven temp. After looking over the recipe a couple of different times I didn’t see an oven temp anywhere.
Monica, I am so glad you pointed that out! I don't know how I missed that crucial info! Oven temp is a little less strict with something like a lasagna since it's mostly about heating it through and melting cheese, unlike baking with there are more scientific reasons for a specific temperature, but I find that 350 is great for this lasagna because it gets the lasagna how all the way through to the middle and melts all the cheese without burning it on top. Thanks for letting me know about that omission!
Good catch, Liszzie!
Thanks for bringing that to her attention.
Looks great but wow the sodium-56%! What is making is so high??
I'm not sure but I would guess it's from the cheese and the salt?
Hi, thank you for the recipe! I didn't have ricotta cheese so I substituted sour cream and I used a Perdue shredded chicken with olive oil and rosemary 9oz bag bcuz it was on sale lol.. I didnt have mozzarella so I used a little swiss and topped with a bit of mild cheddar cheese bcuz I love different cheeses in some of my dishes. I halfed the recipe and am excited to taste it! God bless you and I'm looking forward to trying more of your recipes!
I'm glad you liked it!
I chopped up asparagus and sauteed with the mushrooms 🙂
That sounds like a delicious alteration!
Fantastic recipe! I agree that the red sauce recipies are a little heavy so this is a nice variation. I didn't have cremini mushrooms so I used baby bellas and it worked fine. I guessed on the mozzarella instead of measuring and wished I had paid more attention. Could have used more so I am sure the recipe is right. Next time I am going to add the suggested roasted peppers but this recipe is excellent as it is. Thank you.
This was fantastic! I layered in sauteed zucchini as well. Thanks!
Every Saturday I make a family style dinner and invite friends over. Recently we found out one of our friends had acid reflux, so I looked for lasagna and came up with your recipe.
It www a huge hit, I did omit the mushrooms as one friend is allergic to them.
It was definitely worth the time though, thanks for the great recipe!
I love to give most recipes my own twist. I have butternut squash from the garden, and think it would be a tasty addition. Either sliced or cubed, and then roasted or sauteed, and layered with the other ingredients. A few sliced and sauteed apples sound pretty good too. I make my butternut soup with apples and chicken broth; similar ingredients! Can't wait to experiment.
I LOVE those ideas! They sound so good! I may have to try it myself next time I make this!
Made this last weekend and it was even better than I expected (and I had high expectations). I followed this recipe almost exactly as posted, just added a bit more garlic to the sauce and added some to the chicken/mushroom mixture. Like all lasagnas, it takes a long time from start to finish but the effort is definitely worthwhile.
I will definitely make it again and thanks so much for posting this recipe. Only change I would make would be to increase the amount of chicken/mushrooms mixture as I found it a bit lacking in proportion to the other ingredients (just a personal opinion).
Turned out delicious. My teenage boys loved it! I ended up using ground turkey and shredded mozzarella because that’s what was available at my local grocery store.
Where are direction for the "Ricotta mixture?"
Sorry - that was a typo. I just dollop the ricotta on straight from the container.
chicken spinach lasagna Curious why cook lasagna noodles after boiling for how long and temperature
Unnless you use the no-cook noodles, you have to cook the noodles first to soften them, then cook the entire lasagna to heat it through and allow all of the flavors to combine.
hello just a bout to make this. Can I use the no cook lasagna noodles?
I've never tried using no cook lasagna noodles, but I don't see why not.
Hi. Has anyone used a flour other than all purpose flour? If not, which flour do you think would be a good substitute in this recipe? My boyfriend prefers to stay away from the all purpose flour.
My workmates love it. I definitely cook this recipe again. It is not sweet, so light and so healthy. Thank you for this!
I made it and it turned out great but I used a creamy alredo suace instead of using the flour. Also used roasted bellpeppers n onions it. Had a great flavor
I followed the recipe instructions and this lasagna turned out very delicious. The only thing is red pepper flakes and fennel seeds are included in the ingredients, but not in the recipe instructions. Not sure where they were supposed to go (in the sauce or cooked with the chicken and mushrooms)? It may have been even better if those were included.
I must have missed that! They go in the sauce and I've updated the instructions to reflect that.
I made this recipe but added sauteed peppers and squash. It was delicious!
I would say that the only changes I would make would be to add another half teaspoon of salt to the sauce as well as another garlic clove, plus I would layer in fresh basil while making the lasagna. Also, I don't know that the crushed red pepper was necessary; it gave it a little spice that didn't seem to feel at home in this dish. I'd either omit it next time or reduce to 1/4 teaspoon. But make no mistake, this is a delicious recipe.
I'm so excited to try this for Christmas Eve dinner! I love the idea of a good make ahead recipe so that I don’t miss a minute of our family activites! We're not big on the consistency of ricotta cheese so I was wondering if cottage cheese can be substituted without changing the overall taste?
Have you ever tried a combination of cottage cheese and sour cream? It's what I use in our baked spaghetti casserole and my husband (who hates both ricotta and cottage cheese) loves it.
Do not forget the chicken broth! My fiancé forgot it and it was still good but lacking in flavor! Lol. Still really good though! Can’t wait to make it again!
LOVE this recipe!! I use gluten free lasagne sheets which can’t be pre cooked, so I just cover the lasagne in alfoil for 45mins and then 15mins uncovered to brown the cheese!! Yummmm
Just curious, do you add any salt to the chicken and mushrooms when cooking? Or to the veggies (if I decide to add more veggies like red peppers or squash). Is the white sauce and cheese enough to season it?
Thanks 🙂
I felt like this recipe was plenty salty without any additional salt, although if I added some anywhere it would be with the chicken and mushrooms to season them.
This was absolutely delicious! My husband even liked it and he doesn’t like lasagna.
This recipe is fabulous! One of my favorite meals ever! I’m making it again this week but I am going to add artichoke hearts.
We used rotisserie chicken breast cubed and it was delicious!
I'm glad to hear that! Thanks for commenting!
I made this using almond milk (extra creamy unsweetened) and almond flour, also I cannot eat spinach so substituted baby kale. Ground up extra fennel seed and did add some Italian seasoning and garlic to the chicken mushroom mixture. I have to use the Gluten free no bake lasagna noodles so I made 1 1/2 times the sauce to accompany the gf noodles. Turned out amazingly tasty!
I’m making this for my neighbors/good friends. Adding Jared drained artichoke and a little roasted red pepper. I’m going to make some extra sauce in case it is a little dry. Can’t wait to make this!
I made this as directed, with everything except the fennel. I served this white lasagna, for those who don’t eat beef, along with House of Nashes classic red lasagna. Both were delicious & a hit. 2 lasagnas fed a group of 12 adults & provided leftovers. I made ahead of time, following Amy’s suggestion to soak the noodles, not fully cook them. Then I froze the lasagna. The flavor was perfect-not bland, like some white pasta/lasagna can be.
I'm so glad you enjoyed this recipe, Christy!