Chicken Cordon Bleu Lasagna
Ingredients:
- 1 (8-ounce) package lasagna noodles
- ½ cup butter
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 ½ cups shredded Swiss cheese
- 1 ¾ cups warm milk
- 2 ½ cups cooked chicken, chopped
- 8 ounces deli ham, chopped
- ½ cup shredded Swiss cheese (for topping)
- ½ cup bread crumbs
- A pinch of Italian seasoning, to taste
Preparation:
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Cook the Lasagna Noodles: In a large pot, bring lightly salted water to a boil. Add the lasagna noodles and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are al dente—cooked but still firm, about 8 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Prepare the Cheese Sauce: In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Once melted, add the softened cream cheese, stirring until it begins to melt and blend with the butter, about 5 minutes. Season with salt, onion powder, and ground black pepper. Gradually whisk in the warm milk until the mixture is smooth. Stir in 1 ½ cups of shredded Swiss cheese, continuing to stir until the cheese has fully melted and the sauce has thickened, which should take about 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Assemble the Lasagna:
- Spread ¾ cup of the cheese sauce evenly across the bottom of a 9×9-inch baking dish.
- Place one-third of the lasagna noodles over the sauce.
- Layer half of the chopped chicken and half of the chopped ham on top of the noodles.
- Pour 1 cup of the cheese sauce over the chicken and ham.
- Repeat the layering process with half of the remaining lasagna noodles, the remaining chicken, the remaining ham, and 1 more cup of cheese sauce.
- Finish by placing the last third of the lasagna noodles on top, followed by the remaining cheese sauce, ½ cup of shredded Swiss cheese, and the bread crumbs. Sprinkle the top with a pinch of Italian seasoning to taste.
- Bake: Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven until the casserole is bubbling, about 25 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 10 minutes, or until the bread crumbs are golden brown.
- Serve: Let the casserole stand for 5 to 10 minutes before serving, allowing it to set.
Enjoy your flavorful Chicken Cordon Bleu Lasagna—a comforting and indulgent twist on a classic dish!
