Quick and Easy Creamy Chicken Pesto Lasagna

Indulge in a delicious twist on traditional lasagna with this easy and flavorful Chicken Pesto Lasagna recipe. Follow along with our step-by-step instructions and impress your family and friends with this tasty dish.

We layer lasagna noodles with a homemade creamy béchamel sauce, fresh pesto sauce, chunks of juicy rotisserie chicken and cheese, glorious cheese! It can be made in about an hour and it is a recipe perfect for spring!

Back when we lived in Utah County, there was a great little Italian restaurant (Màstra for the locals, SO GOOD!) with a delicious pesto lasagna. I have thought of how wonderful the lasagna was for over two years now, and while I couldn’t remember all the details about it, I knew I could create a simple lasagna recipe that our fans would fall in love with. I just had no idea it would actually become my favorite recipe thus far in 2024.

Tips for the Best Pesto Lasagna

It is so easy to make and so delicious! I think a few things make a difference… first, go ahead and use shredded chicken breast meat from a rotisserie chicken. I buy mine at Costco and divide it up into freezer bags using our food saver. It makes meals like this easy chicken lasagna a cinch and it’s far more tender and flavorful.

Second, I prefer to make my own béchamel sauce as it’s so darn easy, but if you really want to hurry you can just use Alfredo sauce. Rao’s makes a good one. In fact, did you know you could use evaporated milk and extra salt, pepper and Parmesan if you need to stretch it out even more? Half and half, milk, and heavy creamy would work as well.

Lastly, homemade pesto is always more fresh and vibrant but again, Costco or Harmons in Utah make fantastic pesto that pulls things together in a jiffy. While it’s not shown in the photo, I love to toast pine nuts to sprinkle on top and maybe a little Aleppo pepper flakes too. Totally up to you, but in less than an hour you’ve got dinner with such a small amount of work.

Ingredients Pesto Chicken Lasagna

The ingredients list includes a few pantry friendly ingredients to make the béchamel sauce and then a few more ingredients to assemble all the delicious lasagna layers. Here is what you will need:

For the Béchamel Sauce

• Unsalted Butter: if you only have salted butter, just omit the salt from the sauce
• Flour: just regular all purpose flour works the best
• Heavy Cream: makes the sauce extra rich and creamy
• Salt: adds flavor
• Pepper: adds flavor and a tiny bit of heat
• Nutmeg: adds flavor

Delicious Peanut Butter Chicken Recipe [+Video]

Looking for a new and tasty chicken recipe? Look no further! This peanut butter chicken dish is easy to make and full of flavor. Try it out tonight!

I kind of have this thing for peanut sauce (hello, Thai peanut noodles with chicken!) and it’s grown even greater in my life because of my friend Kerri! She makes the most amazing peanut chicken with this mango cucumber salsa over the top and we might totally have to convince her to share the recipe on the blog because I can’t stop making all things peanut butter sauce after eating dinner at her house.

So this chicken recipe is totally different than hers. It’s kind of a fun takeout Feik out that even your pickiest of eaters should love. Heck it’s like a peanut butter sandwich, or I guess not. I mean it is chicken, but you see what I’m saying.

Introduction: Why is This Recipe a Must Try

Peanut chicken is great for busy weeknights because you can have dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes.

The peanut sauce is to die for! The flavor is so addicting!

Peanut chicken is super family friendly. The flavors are familiar for children but elevated at the same time to satisfy adult palates.

This recipe is perfect for meal prep. You can make the chicken and then portion it out into containers with rice or noodles to eat for lunches or dinner all week.

Ingredients for Peanut Chicken

Sometimes when I see a recipe that leans in the direction of Asian cuisine, I get worried that the ingredients are going to be random and hard to find. This is not the case with this recipe! All the ingredients are easy to find, affordable, and pantry friendly so once you get them, they will last forever. Here is what you will need:

For the Chicken

• Chicken Thighs: boneless, skinless
• Soy Sauce: low sodium
• Canola Oil: or olive oil works great too
• Garlic: fresh and finely minced
• Ginger: fresh is preferred

For the Sauce

• Peanut Butter: we had the best results with natural pb
  • PRO TIP: If you have a peanut allergy, almond butter works great in this recipe too!
• Hoisin Sauce: thick, sweet and salty and found by the soy sauce at the grocery store
• Crushed Tomatoes: we love the brand Cento but any brand works great
• Chicken Stock: helps thin out the sauce while adding flavor
• Sesame Oil: gives that signature Asian flavor to the dish
  • PRO TIP: Don’t use sesame oil to sauté the chicken. The flavor will be too overpowering. Sesame oil is best in small quantities!
• Honey: adds natural sweetness
• White Vinegar: adds acidity and flavor
• Ground Cumin: adds flavor
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Weekly Menu Plan – Sept. 11 to Sept. 17

We’ve heard you loud and clear! You want weekly meal plans, and you want them now!! So here is our first one and stay tuned for weekly posts for dinner ideas. For me, it’s not actually making the meal that’s the issue, it’s coming up with what to make! Ugh! We are here to save the day…or the week actually!

This is for next week so you have time to run to the store and get what you need before Monday!

Monday: Mexican Chicken Bowls

Tuesday: Caprese Orzo Pasta

Wednesday: Smoked Chicken (Double this!!)

Thursday: Kale Salad (use leftover smoked chicken)

Friday: Date Night!

Go try a new restaurant, see a movie, go ax throwing (SO fun!), go for a hike, have a game night with some friends…so many options!

Saturday: Best Steak Marinade

Sunday: Teriyaki Beef Casserole

There’s a little bit of everything there! Mexican, Asian, chicken, beef, salad, vegetarian…so much variety and so much delicious!!

READ: Weekly Menu Plan – Sept. 11 to Sept. 17

Baked Chicken Meatballs and Orzo

These chicken meatballs are so juicy and flavorful but they are also healthier! Serve them over creamy sun dried tomato and mushroom orzo and you’ve got a new family recipe!

Last year we visited Israel for a couple of weeks and ate, and ate, and ate. The breads there, my goodness, there’s just nothing like bread outside of the USA. But what was interesting was that as much as we ate we really didn’t feel gross nor did we come home gazillions of pounds heavier. It was just fresh food and that made all the difference. Since coming home and dreaming of those cobblestone streets and warm challah, I’ve been heavily focused on dishes that incorporate more herbs and brightness to simple meals.

Meatballs are awesome, but a chicken version that’s still moist and juicy with the freshness of all those beautiful herbs is exactly what this blog needed.

I especially love the fried herbs we toss on top at the end. They are so delicate but still pack their flavor.

And before you ask, I don’t know what the best part of our trip was; Petra was amazing, Israel was like breathing new air, and the borders of Syria and Lebanon, well some of the best food we had all through the trip was there!

I think you have to leave home every now and again in order to find out what home really is to you. Home is everyone I love, a casual night around the table with no deadlines or hurrying and a big plate of the creamiest orzo dotted with earthy mushrooms and fragrant meatballs.

Ingredients Baked Chicken Meatballs

Get ready for bold flavorful chicken meatballs that are moist and super easy to make! While those are baking, you whip up creamy orzo and you have a great simple family meal. Here is what you will need…

For the Meatballs

• Panko Bread Crumbs: You can also crush up crackers or use regular breadcrumbs. These help bind the meatballs together.
• Milk: We use 2% or whole milk and it helps keep the meatballs moist.
• Olive Oil: helps the meatballs become golden when they bake
• Salt: adds flavor
• Aleppo Pepper: This is optional, but it adds great Middle Eastern flavor.
• Ground Chicken: ground chicken thighs also work or ground turkey
• Eggs: the real binders for the meatballs
• Grated Parmesan: adds flavor and helps hold the shape of the meatballs
• Shallot: adds flavor
• Garlic Powder: adds flavor
• Fresh Herbs: parsley, thyme, rosemary or you could do 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning

For the Orzo

• Sun-Dried Tomatoes: adds bright pops of flavor
• Oil: Use the oil from the sun-dried tomatoes jar. If you aren’t using sun-dried tomatoes, add an additional tablespoon butter.
• Butter: used if you don’t use the sundried tomato oil, helps sauté the mushrooms, shallots and herbs
• Read more

One Pan 10-Minute Sticky Mexican Chicken

This one pan sticky Mexican chicken recipe only needs 6 simple ingredients and you’ll be eating the most flavorful chicken dinner in just 10 minutes! I love the combination of the citrus from the lime, a hint of sweet from the honey to counteract the spicy seasoning. It’s a perfectly balanced chicken recipe!

I love quick and easy chicken recipes! Chicken tends to take over in the quick dinner category which is funny because ground beef is actually faster to cook, but alas, here we are. Ok, so I’ve fallen in love and I need everyone to join me. I love this sticky Mexican chicken recipe and I really think it will be your back pocket recipe as well.

Where This Recipe Came From

This recipe started with a dying lime.

It was breathing it’s last few wispy breaths from the fruit basket I detest and I just knew that it was time for a little cpr. With only 6 ingredients I busted out dinner in just 10 minutes and now I can’t stop using the Mexican chicken in everything from tacos to rice bowls, and salads to soups, plus everything in between.

I really think the key is to use either our homemade taco seasoning or the Kinders brand, which I buy at Costco. I wouldn’t recommend the little taco seasoning packets as they don’t boast as much flavor. But if you must, the recipe will still be delicious.

I’d love to hear how you use the chicken! Reach out and share your recipes and photos on instagram @ohsweetbasil

Ingredients for Sticky Mexican Chicken

Sometimes the best recipes come from the most simple ingredients combined in just the right way. Here are the 6 ingredients you will need:

• Chicken Breasts: cut into bite size pieces, the chicken breasts can also be cooked whole if you prefer (see recipe notes for instructions)
• Taco Seasoning: we like to use our homemade recipe, but you can use store bought (we recommend Kinders)
• Olive Oil: used to cook the chicken and keep it from sticking
• Green Onions: greens only, chopped in 1″ pieces, adds flavor
• Lime Juice: adds a bright citrus flavor
• Honey: adds natural sweetness and balances the seasoning

The measurements for all the ingredients are listed in the recipe card at the end of this post.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• One Pan: the whole recipe is made from start to finish in one pa