Super creamy and a little bit spicy, this Chicken Lasagna with Green Chile and Cheese is comfort food at its best! Noodles are layered with a cheesy chicken and green chile filling and topped with an easy homemade alfredo.
Wondering what to serve alongside this Chicken Lasagna? We love these Sesame Green Beans and Homemade Breadsticks.
I used to always think that lasagna was a long, drawn out affair to make. So I’d save it for a weekend, or when I’m really just feeling like spending a lot of time in the kitchen.
Well, folks – I was wrong.
Ok, so if you are making a red sauce from scratch, it might take some time. But really – it doesn’t have to be a long, drawn out affair.
Let’s take this Chicken Lasagna with Green Chile and Cheese, for example.
Sure, it takes just over an hour from start to finish, but the vast majority of that time is spent with the lasagna in the oven. Hands on time is very minimal, especially if you already have some cooked, shredded chicken on hand.
And as much as I love a more traditional lasagna, this Chicken Lasagna gets me every time. A cheesy, creamy chicken filling studded with green chiles. An easy alfredo sauce. And of course, the pasta to keep it all together.
This just may become your go-to lasagna recipe.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Lasagna Noodles: As noted in the recipe, you are making a 9-inch square lasagna, so traditional lasagna noodles are too long. You can cook 7 noodles and use the ends that you cut off to piece together the last part of the third layer of noodles, or you can cook 9 noodles and just discard the ends that you cut off.
- Shredded Chicken: This is the biggest time saving hack! I keep cooked, shredded chicken on hand to make recipes like this a breeze. You could also the pulled chicken from a rotisserie chicken, as well.
- Cream Cheese: I use full fat cream cheese, but low fat should work, as well.
- Mozzarella: The mozzarella is perfect in this recipe, but feel free to experiment with other cheeses..
- Green Chiles: You can buy these canned or jarred, or you can even roast and chop your own if you have some.
- Salt and Pepper: Seasoning to taste with salt and pepper is very important – it can make or break the recipe!
- Butter: I like to use unsalted butter.
- Flour: I have only tested this using all-purpose flour.
- Milk: For best results, you’ll want to use 2% or whole milk. I have not tested it using any nut milks or milk alternatives.
- Parmesan: You don’t want to use pre-grated parmesan, as it won’t melt very well. Of course, a good quality parmesan would be the best, but even a block of inexpensive parmesan from the grocery store will work.
Tips and Tricks
The green chiles don’t add heat, but they do add a great flavor. If it was up to me, I’d add 2 cans because I love them so much!
I make sure to lay all of my noodles in the same direction to make cutting the lasagna easier.
Let the lasagna sit for 10-15 minutes after it is done baking so that it will stay together when you cut it.
Make Ahead or Freeze For Later
One thing I do love about this lasagna recipe is that it is easy to make ahead of time or freeze for later.
Sometimes I have more time during the day, so I can make this recipe and then refrigerate it until closer to dinnertime. You may need to add a few minutes onto the bake time if it is coming from the refrigerator. You could even make it the night before and then bake it just before you are ready for it.
Lasagna is also a recipe that freezes really well. When you are assembling the recipe, put it in a freezer safe container. Do not bake the lasagna, but fully assemble it and make sure it is tightly covered in foil. Thaw the lasagna in the refrigerator overnight before baking it.
More Lasagna Recipes
American Lasagna
Lasagna Soup
Skillet Butternut Squash Lasagna
One Skillet Lasagna
Spaghetti Lasagna
LOOKING FOR MORE FREE RECIPES?
Subscribe to my free recipe newsletter to get new family friendly recipes in your inbox each week! Find me sharing more family-friendly inspiration on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram.
Chicken Lasagna with Green Chile and Cheese
Ingredients
- 7-9 lasagna noodles*
- 2 cups cooked chicken (cubed or shredded)
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided
- 1 (4 oz) can chopped green chiles
- Salt and pepper
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
- Cook the lasagna noodles to al dente then set aside on paper towels in a single layer.
- In a bowl, combine the chicken, cream cheese, 1 cup of the mozzarella and the green chiles. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
- In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in the milk and cook until thickened, a few minutes. Stir in the Parmesan cheese until melted.
- Put just enough of the sauce in the bottom of a 9-inch square baking dish to cover the bottom.
- Put down one layer of the noodles, cutting the noodles if needed. Layer 1/2 of the chicken mixture over the noodles. Put down another layer of noodles, the remaining chicken mixture, then one last layer of noodles.
- Pour the remaining Alfredo sauce over the top, then sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella over.
- Bake in the preheated oven until the cheese is melted and the lasagna is heated through, 30-45 minutes.
- Let the lasagna sit for 10 minutes before cutting to serve.
Laurie Kimmey Johnson says
This recipe is fantastic! I did add some shoepeg corn to my chicken, mozzarella and cream cheese along with a roasted Hatch chilies that I had in the freezer and dash of garlic powder. for seasoning. I made this for Valentine’s Day last Friday and my husband literally cried because it was so delicious. Thanks for sharing this!!!
Deborah says
That sounds wonderful! I’m so glad it was a hit!
mary j says
Very good.
Jasper J says
This was phenomenal. We love lasagna and this version blew us away.
Cindy b says
It’s good but too bland for me. I added more seasoning and green chilies.
Also, there is an error in the recipe. Ingredients call for 2 cups mozzarella but you need 3 when following the directions. 2 cups added to chicken mix and 1 cup to sprinkle over the top. Agree and learned from you to grate your own Parmesan. Its so much better when you do. .I think I’ll double the Parmesan next time too. So flavorful. Thank you for the recipe.🙂
Nancy O'Brien says
I really enjoy this recipe.. My whole family does. It’s great for using up left over chicken or turkey
Jeff says
I can never follow a recipe, so I added sautéed onion & jalapeño, some ricotta I needed to use, fat free cream cheese, and a can of green chile enchilada sauce. Deleted the Alfredo & Parmesan cheese. It was awesome!
Deborah says
I’m so glad you were able to make it work for your needs! 🙂
Lis says
Well, your baby is about a year old now and I’m just seeing this recipe today! Congratulations a year late!!
I sure made a mess making this, but I just put it in the oven and it’s all I can do to wait until it comes out!! Thank you so much for such an awesome and simple recipe!!
Heather of Kitchen Concoctions says
Yum! These remind me of a version of chicken enchiladas I make but in pasta form. PS I’m glad that baby Camden finally came!
grace says
i like enchiladas as much as the next person, but composing them in the form of lasagna is a great and refreshingly different idea!
Cassie | Bake Your Day says
This is a very fun recipe, Deborah! I love twists on traditional lasagna because I’m not the biggest fan. But for these flavors, I am all in!
Emily says
Um, you had me at cheesy chicken. Green chile sealed the deal.
Rose says
This is seriously an AMAZING reciepe! I got this in my e-mail today and I am making it for dinner, so thanks for making up my mind on what I was going to make 🙂 I have it in the oven right now and I was “taste testing” and it was amazing before it was even cooked. I cant wait to eat it! Oh and I hope you have ur baby boy soon. I have never went over on a due date so I dont know how u are feeling but im glad I never did! Good luck.
Deborah says
@Rose, I hope that you love it as much as I did!!
Bree says
Looks really delicious!
Chels R. says
You are so close, not to much longer now!!!
And this looks really good! I can’t wait to try it!
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious says
Sending you good thoughts that the baby comes soon! And this lasagna is just my style! I could make this and freeze it so I can have leftovers whenever!