Nothing satisfies a craving for a home cooked meal quite like comfort food. The best meal time comfort foods are warm, creamy, cheesy and filling. Aunt Sheri’s Chicken Lasagna is all of the above. It’s comfort food at its very best!
My sister-in-law, Sheri, first made this dish for us years ago, and it has been a family favorite since. When my kids were growing up, it was a meal I made often when I had to take dinner to a neighbor. I always made a double batch (sometimes a triple batch). Aunt Sheri’s Chicken Lasagna always was, and still is, a hit in our home. This dish is the quintessential comfort meal – a meal you would have been served back in your grandparents era when there was not a thought given to calories and fat content!
Chicken Lasagna is creamy and filling and loaded with cheese. It’s similar to lasagne because of the way it is layered. This dish also has many of the same staple ingredients in traditional lasagne: cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese, parmesan, eggs and pasta.
The recipe calls for layering, but placing the ingredients together in a large bowl and gently folding also produces a great result.
I love this dish for make ahead in the slow cooker. All of the ingredients may be prepared early in the day, or the night before. Then simply layer in the slow cooker and plug in. Directions for cooking in slow cooker on recipe notes. Aunt Sheri’s Chicken Lasagna is the perfect meal for so many occasions: Sunday dinner, new baby, new neighbors, cold nights… I know this is going to become a favorite in your home too.
Aunt Sheri’s Chicken Lasagna
Ingredients
- 1- 12 oz package of wide egg noodles cooked al dente
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 4 cups cooked chopped chicken
- 1 24 oz container cottage cheese
- 1 egg beaten
- 2-3 cups grated mozzarella cheese
- 3/4 cups grated parmesan cheese
- additional sprinkle of pepper and chopped fresh or dried parsley for garnish if desired
Instructions
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Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium to medium high heat. Add flour, salt, pepper, dried basil and cook for 1-2 minutes.
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Whisk chicken broth into flour and butter mixture, about a cup at a time, until mixture is thickened.
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Turn down heat and add chicken.
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Turn off heat.
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Mix cottage cheese and egg together in a medium bowl.
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Mix cheeses together in small bowl.
Layer the ingredients together in this order in a greased 9×13 pan:
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one third-chicken mixture
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one half- pasta
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one half- cottage cheese mixture
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one third- mozzarella mixture
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one third- chicken mixture
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one half- pasta
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one half-cottage cheese
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one third- mozzarella
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one third chicken mixture
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one third- mozzarella on top
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If layering is too complicated, see notes for simplified version!
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Bake at 350 degrees uncovered for 35-45 minutes or until golden on top and bubbly.
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Garnish with fresh chopped parsley or basil and a sprinkle of pepper.
Recipe Notes
-This recipe takes a bit of time to make. You can cut down on time by using pre cooked chicken (rotisserie chicken works). Cooking the chicken the day before serving, and also preparing the grated cheeses, mixing together the cottage cheese and egg, and preparing the sauce ahead will also speed up the process of assembly. -Quick option for assembly: Instead of layering the ingredients as you would for a lasagne (and as directed in the recipe), gently fold all of the ingredients in a large bowl. Reserve a cup of the mozzarella cheese and about 1/4 cup of the Parmesan cheese. Pour into a greased 9×13 pan. Top with the reserved cheeses. Bake as directed.-Slowcooker directions: Layer all ingredients in a greased slow cooker. Cook on low for about 3-4 hours or until bubbly. If the ingredients are taken from the fridge, after being prepared earlier, the cooking time will be closer to 4 hours. If you’re making the layers and then immediately placing in the slow cooker, the ingredients will already be warm and the cooking time will most likely be closer to 3 hours.
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Excited to make this. Do you recommend shredding the chicken or cubing it?
Hi Liz,
Either way is fine, I cube it!
Also, could you use alternative noodles for this? (Regular lasagne or bowtie?)
Bowtie is fine, I would probably not use lasagna noodles, unless I added a bit more sauce.
Hi, can I substitute ricotta cheese instead of cottage cheese?
It was easy, delicious, and kid friendly, what more could I ask for?
Thanks Kristy! Im glad you loved this recipe!
Made this for Sunday dinner and also made another for a friend who had a baby recently and it was delicious and super easy to make! Double win. Definitely adding it to our family cookbook. Thanks Si!
This is the best dinner for new moms! It really is on e of the best comfort food meals I have eaten. Thanks for reading ABK!
xo
Si
Can you substitute the cottage cheese with ricotta cheese?
Sheena,
Yes you can. I suggest blending the cottage cheese before using it. Let me know how you like this recipe. Thanks for reading ABK
xo,
Si
This was delicious!! A big hit with the whole family. Definitely saving this recipe. Thank you!
Carrie,
Thanks for your positive feedback! I’m so glad you loved this recipe.
Thanks for reading ABK.
xo,
Si
Made it tonight and it was a huge hit! I used chicken thighs that I had precooked in a slow cooker earlier in the week. I usually make a big batch, shred the meat and toss the skin and bones. It was so flavorful in this recipe! Amazing
At what temp and for how long would you cook this for if you make this and then freeze it for later on?
Ashley,
I usually bake at 325 degrees and let it sit on the counter for about an hour before baking. You may also removed from freezer the day before baking and let sit in the fridge. It takes anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour and 15 to cook at 325 after frozen.
Hope this helps!
xo
Si
Have you ever tried to freeze this lasagne?
Hi Jenni, yes you can freeze this lasagna, just make sure it is sealed tightly in a container. Thanks for asking and for reading ABK!
xo
Si
This exact recipe was in the January 1996 edition of Southern Living. Credited to Yvonne M. Greer. I have made it often.
Oh, I’m glad you found it. Southern Living always has such great recipes, and this one is definitely a favorite. Thanks for sharing, Donna!
xo
Si
This is delicious! Perfect comfort meal that my family loved. I’m excited to have found this recipe that I will definitely be using often.
I’ve already shared it with my 4 sisters 🙂
God bless Aunt Sherry! This recipe is a STUNNER. Do yourself a favor and make this today. This fancy and unexpected dish is a hit with both adults and children. (Thank you, Si!) While it is a bit more involved, it is well worth the effort! I follow Si’s advice and prep the ingredients in stages – I bake and cube the chicken in advance and freeze it, defrosting the day before I’m ready to assemble. The truth is: preparing this dish brings me great JOY! There is something about whisking the white sauce in my Le Creuset that nurtures the Francophile in me. (Oui Oui!)
This was my first recipe of yours I made and has since become my husband’s favorite! He asks for it regularly! Such a fun one to serve to other people too!
Hey there! Can i assemble this an hour before and place in fridge until ready to bake? Will this effect end result at all? TIA! 🙂
Hi Brittany, yes you can assemble this before baking, it shouldn’t effect the end results at all. Thanks for asking and for reading ABK!
xo
Si
Hi! This looks delicious. Can cottage cheese be substituted with something other than ricotta cheese?
Hi Angelique, you could possibly use greek yogurt, are you wanting to make it dairy-free?
Si
The very picky eaters in my family love this casserole. This truly is comfort food at its finest. I also love that it can be made ahead of time.
Such a staple recipe in my house! This dish is comforting, delicious, and keeps everyone full. Would highly recommend as a meal to give to neighbors/friends who might need a meal.
This recipe is major comfort food. It’s so good and my kids loved it.