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

Quick and Easy 15 Minute Chicken Stir-Fry [+ Video]

Looking for quick dinner ideas for tonight but only have 15 minutes to whip together a fresh but easy meal? Try our quick and easy 15-minute chicken stir-fry and ditch the grilled cheese.

I always thought that life was busy with kids and that it would slow down a little once they were in school and I was alone at home to get things done. I laugh out loud at my naive self. You don’t get more done with kids in school, you become a taxi, a tutor, a teacher, a maid, a lunch lady, a soccer mom, a shopper, an errand runner, a project planner, a nurse (because heaven knows once they start school they bring home every germ in the world) — and the list only goes on and on. But this Quick and Easy 15-Minute Chicken Stir Fry recipe is totally attainable even with all of that work.

Creating This Quick Dinner Recipe

Between packing and unpacking lunches and backpacks and making sure everyone gets out the door on time with all homework finished, there isn’t a lot of time left for meal planning. And we know you’re in the same boat as us.

I thought I made quick and easy dinners before, but we’ve stepped up our game. Who’s got time for a 30-minute meal on a day when 3 kids have to be in 3 different places all over town between 4-4:30?!

Cade called to see if I needed anything from the store, and when I told him a super quick dinner idea I could make before the girls had dance he showed up with Yakisoba noodles he found in the produce department and that only require a quick rinse in warm water to eat, and all the veggies for a chicken stir-fry.

He rinsed the noodles and chopped the broccolini and peppers. I opened the matchstick carrots, the pre-sliced package of crimini mushrooms, and cut the baby bok choy open. Two minutes was all it took, and I bet you could find a package of stir fry-veggies that would cut back on your prep time even more. 

In a measuring cup, we threw together a little sauce for it all and opened up a package of already cubed chicken from the meat department (which does cost more, so next time we will just use our own. But hey, convenience on a night like that was important). 

What’s in This Easy Chicken Stir Fry Recipe? 

For this quick and easy dinner recipe, you’ll need: 

• Cubed skinless chicken breasts
• Yakisoba noodles
• Cooking oil
• Your favorite stir-fry vegetables (I’ve shared ours in the recipe card below)

We opted to make a quick homemade s

Quick and Easy Lemon Orzo with Parmesan and Peas

As the winter is starting to melt away we make recipes that scream spring like this quick and easy lemon orzo with Parmesan and peas.

We toast the orzo first to give it a delicious nutty flavor, and then add minced garlic for boldness. The orzo is then cooked with chicken broth and then we add peas, lemon and fresh thyme. It is a bright dish that is the perfect transition into spring!

The Beauty of Garden Produce

There’s truly nothing better than fresh garden produce. I didn’t understand this as a child and I don’t know that many people have experienced true farm to table even today. Mom and Dad would harvest the garden with all of us kids at the end of summer, but for me it was the excitement of fresh corn, homemade raspberry jam, and making boats to float in our mudroom sink made out of hollowed out cucumbers, while Mom and Dad were anxious to cut open a juicy tomato, sprinkle it with a little salt and savor every bite.

I’m not kidding. I did not get that. I still don’t eat a tomato like an apple. Do you?

I have gained such an appreciation for food that you’ve labored over. It’s a fact: fresh picked tastes better.

Unfortunately, it’s not time for fresh peas but when they are ready we will be shelling them for this quick and easy lemon orzo with parmesan and peas. We often eat this as a main dish (check our our ham version for a main dish), but it’s wonderful and light so it makes a great healthy side dish as well.

What is Orzo?

I love this question; it’s so satisfying to see people’s reactions when they learn that orzo isn’t a grain, despite the fact that it looks like one. Spoiler: orzo is actually a flat, rice-shaped pasta that’s great in soups, salads, or enjoyed as is.

How is Orzo Different from Rice?

Although orzo can be cooked like rice and has similar nutritional information, it cooks up in about half the time. This is the number one reason why I love cooking with orzo. Well, that and the fact that I like the shape. And it tastes really good, especially when you toast it first. Okay, there are a lot of reasons why I love orzo. 

Is Orzo Healthier Than Rice?

Orzo has higher protein and fiber content than rice, but orzo has slightly higher carbohydrates per serving. Because orzo is higher in protein and fiber, it will help you feel fuller for longer which can help with weight loss.

Tips on How to Cook Orzo

Like I mentioned above, you can cook orzo like pasta, boiling it in liquid, which works well if you’re serving it in soup because you can

One Pan Pollo a la Crema

This one pan pollo a la crema recipe is a delicious dish that combines tender chicken, flavorful vegetables, and a creamy sauce. Perfect for a quick and easy weeknight meal!

My friend was telling me about her weekend with her mom and how they always order this delicious creamy chicken whenever they go out for Mexican food and I was like, hold up, what creamy chicken?! I’ve seriously never heard of it!

We ended up chatting all afternoon about what it must be made with, what it’s really called (was it pollo con crema, pollo a la crema or pollo de crema?!) and then I laid awake, like always, unable to get the recipe out of my head.

It’s become one of our new staples and I cannot comment enough on how easy this dinner recipe is. If you want fast, cheap, affordable, delicious, and family friendly, it’s all about the creamy chicken!

What is Pollo a la Crema?

Pollo a la Crema, or creamed chicken, is a South American dish that consists of tender chunks of chicken, sauteed bell peppers, onions and mushrooms all cooked in a creamy flavorful sauce. It is usually served with warm flour tortillas.

Ingredients Needed for Pollo a la Crema

These ingredients are simple and easy to find. The only item that might be a little out of the ordinary is the Mexican crema which can be found in the refrigerator section for the Mexican specialty foods like fresh salsa and chorizo. Here is what you will need:

For the Chicken

• Chicken Breasts: boneless, skinless
• Seasonings: salt and pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, chili powder
• Olive Oil

For the Rest of the Dish

• Green Bell Pepper
• Red or Orange Bell Pepper
• White Onion
• Baby Bella Mushrooms: or white button mushrooms work fine as well and if you’re not a mushroom fan, just omit them!
• Mexican Crema: see section below for more details
• Sour Cream
• Smoked Paprika
• Salt and Pepper
• Cilantro

The measurements for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.

What is Crema?

Crema is the Mexican version of French crème fraîche, a little bit tangy and creamy. It is slightly soured and thickened cream, milder and less thick than American sour cream. The flavor is a lot more mild in my opinion and a touch buttery.  You will find it in the meat and Mexican ingredients section of your grocery store. There’s not really a great substitute for it in this recipe, so try your best to find it!

How to Make Pollo con Crema

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Easy Homemade Fish Tacos Recipe +Video

Discover the secrets to creating delicious fish tacos in the comfort of your own kitchen. From seasoning the fish to assembling the tacos, follow our step-by-step guide for the perfect homemade meal.

Cade loves fish tacos, so being the kind and considerate wife that I am😁, I worked for months to get this recipe just right! I wanted the breading to be light and flavorful and for the fish taco sauce to be perfection. This homemade fish tacos recipe is sure to be a hit for all our seafood lovers! And Cade can’t get enough of them!

What is the Best Fish for Fish Tacos?

For fish tacos, you want a white fish that is firm and mild in flavor. For this recipe, we are using cod, but other good options would be tilapia, halibut, or mahi mahi. If you’re not in the mood for fish, shrimp would work great for this recipe too!

Ingredients for Fish Tacos

There are three different components to this recipe – the fish with the ingredients for the breading, the toppings for the tacos, and the items needed to make the fish taco sauce. Here is what you will need…

• Buttermilk: helps marinate the fish and helps the breading stick to the fish pieces
• Cod: the fish should be cut into strips that are 1″ by 3″, see section below for choosing good fish
• Flour: main component for the breading on the fish
• Seasonings: smoked paprika, chili powder, salt and pepper
• Peanut Oil: has a neutral flavor, is very affordable and has a high smoke point so that fish cooks quickly
  • TIP: Use corn oil, canola oil or vegetable oil as a substitute if needed.
• Butter: combines with the oil to pan fry the fish pieces
• Corn Tortillas: Vista Hermosa brand is our favorite for corn tortillas
  • TIP: If you aren’t a corn tortilla fan, flour tortillas work great too.

Toppings:

• Green and Purple Cabbage: adds freshness
• Limes: adds acidity
• Cilantro: adds flavor and freshness
• Jalapeno Slices: adds heat
• Avocado: adds creaminess and flavor

For the Sauce

• Seasonings: garlic powder and smoked paprika
• Cilantro: adds flavor and color
• Mayonnaise: adds creaminess
• Sour Cream: adds creaminess
• Lime Juice: adds acidity, fresh limes are always preferred

NOTE: If you want to add some heat to the sauce, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of sriracha sauce.

The measurements for all the ingredients can be found in the recipe card below so keep scrolling for all the details.

How to Choose Good Fish for Fish Tacos

When you are picking out fish for fish tacos, you want it to be firm in texture, and even in color with no darkened areas. It should appear moist