Creamy Chicken and Bacon Lasagna
Indulge in this rich and comforting Creamy Chicken and Bacon Lasagna, where tender minced chicken meets crispy bacon in a luscious sauce, layered between sheets of tender pasta. With a hint of fresh spinach and a creamy white sauce topped with parmesan, this dish is perfect for gatherings or hearty family dinners. Experience the delightful combination of flavors that come together in this one-dish meal, sure to please everyone's palate.
4
Servings
N/A
Calories
16
Ingredients
Ingredients
medium onion
1 (finely chopped)
butter
65 g (divided)
streaky bacon
75 g (sliced into chunky strips)
chicken stock cube
1 (dissolved in 250 ml boiling water)
spinach
200 g (blanched and chopped)
fresh thyme
1 teaspoon (chopped)
bay leaf
1 (whole)
minced chicken
500 g (uncooked)
salt and pepper
to taste (for seasoning)
flour
50 g (for thickening chicken sauce)
flour
1/2 tablespoon (for thickening chicken sauce)
lemon
1/2 (juiced)
milk
600 ml (for white sauce)
nutmeg
to taste (for seasoning)
no-boil lasagna pasta
9 sheets (uncooked)
parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons (freshly grated)
Instructions
1
In a large frying pan, melt a quarter of the butter over medium heat and sauté the finely chopped onion until translucent and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes.
2
While the onion is cooking, slice the streaky bacon into chunky strips.
3
In a separate pot, bring water to a boil and blanch the spinach for 1-2 minutes. Drain and rinse immediately with cold water to stop the cooking process. Squeeze out excess water and roughly chop the spinach.
4
Add the bacon to the pan with the onion, along with the chopped thyme and bay leaf. Increase the heat slightly and cook until the bacon is crispy, approximately 5-7 minutes.
5
Add the minced chicken to the pan, stirring constantly until it is browned all over, about 5-7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
6
Sift 1/2 tablespoon of flour over the chicken mixture, stirring until it is well combined.
7
Pour in the lemon juice and dissolved chicken stock. Raise the heat to high, stirring continuously until the mixture reaches a boil. Reduce the heat and let it simmer uncovered for 15 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken and deeply flavor the chicken.
8
Stir in the chopped spinach and remove the pan from the heat, discarding the bay leaf.
9
For the white sauce, melt the remaining butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the remaining flour to create a roux and cook for about 1 minute.
10
Gradually add the milk, whisking constantly until it thickens and is smooth, about 5 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg.
11
Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Grease a baking dish with a bit of the chicken sauce, then arrange three sheets of no-boil lasagna over the base.
12
Spread half of the chicken and bacon mixture over the lasagna sheets, followed by one third of the white sauce.
13
Layer with another three sheets of lasagna, the remaining chicken mixture, and another third of the white sauce.
14
Finish with the last three lasagna sheets and pour the remaining white sauce over the top. Sprinkle with freshly grated parmesan cheese.
15
Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 30 minutes until the top is golden brown and bubbling around the edges.
16
Remove from the oven and allow to stand for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Creamy Chicken and Bacon Lasagna?
It is a rich and comforting one-dish meal featuring minced chicken, crispy bacon, and fresh spinach layered between tender pasta sheets and topped with a creamy white sauce and parmesan cheese.
What are the primary proteins in this dish?
The primary proteins are 500g of minced chicken and 75g of streaky bacon.
How many people does this recipe serve?
This recipe makes 4 servings.
What temperature should I preheat my oven to?
The oven should be preheated to 180°C (350°F).
How long does the lasagna need to bake?
It should be baked for approximately 30 minutes until the top is golden brown and bubbling.
What type of chicken should I use?
The recipe calls for 500g of uncooked minced chicken.
Do the lasagna sheets need to be boiled first?
No, this recipe uses 9 sheets of no-boil lasagna pasta.
How is the spinach prepared for this recipe?
The spinach is blanched for 1-2 minutes, rinsed with cold water, squeezed of excess moisture, and then roughly chopped.
What ingredients are in the white sauce?
The white sauce is made from butter, flour, 600 ml of milk, salt, pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg.
How long should the chicken mixture simmer?
The mixture should simmer uncovered for 15 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken and flavors to develop.
What herbs are used for flavoring?
The recipe uses 1 teaspoon of chopped fresh thyme and one whole bay leaf.
When should I remove the bay leaf?
The bay leaf should be removed from the chicken and bacon mixture after simmering and before you begin layering the lasagna.
What is the total amount of butter required?
The recipe requires a total of 65g of butter, which is divided between sautéing and making the roux for the white sauce.
How much milk is needed for the white sauce?
You will need 600 ml of milk for the white sauce.
How many lasagna sheets are used in total?
The recipe uses a total of 9 lasagna sheets, divided into three layers of three sheets each.
What kind of cheese is sprinkled on top?
The lasagna is topped with 2 tablespoons of freshly grated parmesan cheese.
Why do I need to rinse the spinach in cold water?
Rinsing the blanched spinach with cold water stops the cooking process immediately to preserve texture.
How long should the lasagna stand after baking?
It should stand for 5 minutes before slicing and serving to allow the layers to set.
What should I use to grease the baking dish?
The base of the baking dish should be greased with a bit of the prepared chicken sauce.
What spices are used to season the white sauce?
The white sauce is seasoned with salt, pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg.
How do I prepare the bacon?
The streaky bacon should be sliced into chunky strips and cooked until crispy.
What is the purpose of adding flour to the chicken?
A small amount of flour (1/2 tablespoon) is sifted over the chicken mixture to help thicken the sauce as it simmers.
How long should the onions be sautéed?
The finely chopped onion should be sautéed in butter for 3-4 minutes until translucent and fragrant.
How much spinach is used in the recipe?
The recipe calls for 200g of spinach.
What type of bacon is recommended?
The recipe specifies 75g of streaky bacon.
How much chicken stock is used?
One chicken stock cube dissolved in 250 ml of boiling water is used.
When do I add the lemon juice?
The juice of half a lemon is added to the pan after the chicken has been browned and the flour has been stirred in.
How is the chicken and bacon mixture layered?
It is spread in two layers: half over the first set of lasagna sheets and the remaining half over the second set of sheets.
What is the texture of the finished dish?
The dish features tender layers of pasta, a creamy filling, and a golden, bubbling cheese topping.
Is this recipe suitable for family dinners?
Yes, it is described as a perfect dish for gatherings or hearty family dinners.