Chicken Asparagus Lasagna with Pesto Béchamel

Creamy pesto sauce, tender vegetables, and a crisp nutty finish

Prepare each layer, then build the casserole in order

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Chicken asparagus lasagna brings together a creamy pesto sauce, tender vegetables, pieces of chicken, and fresh mozzarella in one generous baked dish. A 9-by-13-inch glass casserole dish gives the layers room to settle into an even, bubbling casserole, while the final topping adds color and a little contrast across the surface.

The method is easiest when the sauce, vegetables, noodles, cheese, and chicken are prepared before assembly begins. Once those pieces are ready, heat the oven to 400°F and follow the listed layer order. Working in stages keeps the noodles from tangling, protects the sauce from forming a skin, and makes the final build calm enough for another cook or family helper to join in.

Build the pesto béchamel first

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Set the measuring cups and spoons beside a roomy saucepan. Melt the eight tablespoons of butter, stir in the flour, and cook it slightly. Use a whisk to bring in the scalded milk, then season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Bring the sauce to a simmer on the stovetop and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, whisking often enough to keep the thickening sauce smooth.

Take the pan off the heat before adding the basil pesto and grated Romano or Parmesan cheese. Press plastic wrap directly against the sauce while it waits. That close cover keeps air away from the surface so the béchamel stays ready to spread between the pasta layers.

Blanch the asparagus and soften the vegetables

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Bring a large cooking pot of water to a rapid boil and salt it. Lower the washed and trimmed asparagus into the water for one minute, then use kitchen tongs to move it into a large mixing bowl filled with ice and cold water. Once the spears are cool, let them drain on a wire rack. Cut them into 1-inch pieces on a cutting board with a chef's knife.

Melt the separate two tablespoons of butter in a frying pan over medium heat. Add the chopped sweet onion and cook until slightly softened, then add the sliced mushrooms. Continue until the mushrooms are soft. Fold in the chopped asparagus with a wooden spoon, then keep the filling nearby for assembly.

Ready the noodles, mozzarella, and chicken

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Cut the fresh mozzarella cheese into 1/2-inch pieces. Cook the lasagna noodles according to the package directions, cool them in cold water, and drain them in a colander. Lay the noodles flat so they stay separate while the other layers are finished.

Arrange the boneless chicken breasts in one layer on a microwave-safe plate. Add a little water, cover, and cook them in the microwave on high for 6 to 8 minutes, rotating the plate several times. Begin checking after 6 minutes and continue in short intervals until the chicken is cooked through. Cut it into 1-inch pieces before layering.

Follow the layer order and finish the top

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Use a silicone spatula to spread sauce over the bottom of the dish. Add noodles, vegetable filling, chicken, béchamel, and mozzarella; repeat those five layers once. Finish with a third noodle layer and the remaining sauce, then scatter the bread crumbs and pine nuts over the top. Keeping the components in order gives each cut portion the same sequence from pasta to filling.

Bake for 30 to 45 minutes, until the casserole is bubbly, brown, and cooked through. Use oven mitts whenever moving the hot glass dish, and set it on a heat-safe surface for serving.

Let the layered casserole anchor the table

Bring the browned casserole to the table where family or friends can see the layers before the first portion is lifted out. One person can pass plates while another cuts through the pasta and spoon-tender filling, making sure each serving carries chicken, vegetables, sauce, and mozzarella. The large dish suits a meal where people settle in together, take their time, and return for another piece if they wish. Preparing the components also gives several helpers useful jobs: one can tend the vegetables, another can arrange the noodles, and someone else can scatter the final topping. Once it is baked and bubbling, the separate tasks come together as one shared centerpiece.

Tell us how your layers came together, or leave a question about preparing the sauce, vegetables, noodles, or chicken. Leave a comment.