Lasagna is fairly easy to make, once your noodles are cooked and cool enough to handle. You can set up an assembly line of ingredients and then construct the layers in the proper order. Although it doesn’t call for it in the Directions, I generally put a thin layer of sauce on the bottom of my dish prior to laying down the first layer of noodles. Otherwise, that first layer tends to be too dry.

You can’t beat this lasagna for the impression it makes, with its layers that ooze cheesy sauce. Your family will come to love this variation, and it makes a great dish when you have dinner guests.

 

INGREDIENTS

1 (8 oz.) package lasagna noodles

½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter

(8oz) package cream cheese, softened and diced

1 ½ cups shredded Italian cheese blend

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon garlic powder

⅓-1 cup milk, room temperature

2 cups cooked chicken, diced

½ pound deli ham, chopped

1 cup shredded Swiss cheese

½ cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs

 

 

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease a 9×9-inch baking dish, set aside.

Add lasagna noodles to large pot of salted, boiling water. Cook according to minimum time based on package instructions.

In a saucepan on medium heat, melt butter. Add in cream cheese, salt, pepper, and garlic powder and stir until melted. Whisk in Italian cheese blend and stir until completely melted. Whisk in enough milk to make the sauce a creamy, pourable consistency.

Place a layer of lasagna noodles on bottom of baking dish, trimming to fit, if necessary.

Sprinkle 1 cup of diced chicken along with half of diced ham. Pour 1 cup cheese sauce over top and begin second layer, repeating same process. Top with a final layer of noodles with remaining cheese sauce, followed by 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese and finish with a layer of breadcrumbs.

Cover with tin foil and bake for 25-30 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking for 10-12 minutes or until top of lasagna begins to bubble and turn golden brown.

Allow lasagna to rest briefly before serving.

 

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Quick Tip:  Measure your noodles in your baking dish prior to cooking them. Only cook enough noodles to make three layers of lasagna, which is rarely an entire box.  Don’t overcook the noodles – they will finish cooking in your oven.

Recipe and photo courtesy of 12tomatoes.com