Buffalo Chicken Lasagna

Add some spicy twist to a classic family recipe! This creamy buffalo chicken lasagna is about to become your favorite comfort meal.

Healthy Buffalo Chicken Lasagna

What can I say about this recipe? It sure doesn’t taste as healthy as it really is! Layers of spice are sandwiched in between tender shredded chicken and thick noodles. All of it is tied together with creamy, melted cheese.

The spicy buffalo sauce is a surprising twist on a classic recipe!

Everyone is used to ground beef in an Italian-flavored marinara sauce. Now, there is nothing wrong with a classic lasagna– I love it! But, I wanted to try something a bit different.

I took that idea and made it taste more like my favorite game-day food… buffalo chicken wings.

The result is a sauce that wakes up your taste buds and makes you look forward to every bite. Thankfully, it is low enough in calories and high in nutrients and fiber so you can eat your fill without guilt!

Ingredients Needed

The reason this buffalo chicken lasagna tastes so good is that I used whole ingredients that are good for you. The best part is, that it doesn’t take any longer to use fresh ingredients. Here is a bit more information about what I used:

• Lasagna Noodles: I used 10 ounces of rice lasagna noodles in order to make this gluten-free. They needed to be cooked ahead. You can also use a no-cook noodle and can use any type of noodle if you are not gluten-free.
• Avocado Oil: You will need 2 tablespoons of your favorite kind of healthy oil to saute the vegetables.
• Carrots: Chop up two large carrots. Dice them really small since they will be added to the sauce.
• Onion: Use your favorite type of onion, but my go-to is red onions. They have the boldest flavor! Make sure to dice the onion as small as you can.
• Celery Stalks: I used three celery stalks, but you can use fewer stalks if you don’t like how it tastes. Dice them up small as well.
• Garlic: If you really enjoy the taste and aroma of garlic, you can use it more. I minced 3 garlic cloves.
• Chicken: Any type of chicken will do! You will use 3 heaping cups of cooked and shredded chicken in the lasagna.
• Buffalo Sauce: This is what gives the lasagna the spicy heat. Use 1 cup of it.
• Ricotta Cheese: I used one 15-ounce tub of ricotta cheese to add creaminess to the layers.
• Blue Cheese Dressing: This is optional but I suggest you use it because it adds earthiness to the cheese layers. You can also use ranch instead of blue cheese – use 1/2 a cup.
• Egg: This is an emulsifier and helps all the ingredients in the cheese layer stick together – you need 1 large egg.
• Parsley: Fresh parsley tastes the best, so chop up 1/4 a cup.
• Mozzarella Cheese: You’ll need 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese. It melts beautifully and will give the lasagna and golden crust on top.
• Salt and Pepper: Use as much as you like to season the ingredients.

Kitchen Tools Required

This recipe uses very basic kitchen tools. Here is what I used:

• 9×13 Casserole Dish
• Non-Stick Spray
• Large Saute Pan
• Mixing Bowls
• Whisk

For measuring, you will need 1 cup, 1/2 cup, 1/4 cup, and 1 tablespoon.

How To Make An Easy Buffalo Chicken Lasagna

This recipe is pretty easy to make, especially if you have ever made lasagna before!

First, cook the noodles and then set them aside. You may skip this step if you are using no-cook noodles.

Then, preheat the oven to 350 and grease a 9×13 casserole dish with nonstick spray.

In a large saute pan or dutch oven, heat oil over high heat. Once hot, add carrots, celery, and onions and cook for 6-7 minutes or until softened. Add garlic for one minute.

In a large bowl, mix together shredded chicken and buffalo sauce. Add carrots, celery, onion, and garlic into the chicken mixture. Stir until combined.

In a smaller bowl, mix together ricotta, blue cheese, egg, and parsley. Add in 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese. Stir.

Layer 1/2 of the buffalo chicken mixture in the bottom of a casserole dish. Then, add a layer of noodles. Add half of the ricotta mixture, followed by a layer of noodles. Add the other half of the chicken mixture, followed by more noodles, and then the rest of the ricotta mixture. Top with remaining shredded mozzarella.

Bake for 40 minutes and then broil for the last 4-5 minutes to get a golden top. Let rest 15 minutes before serving.

That’s it! Enjoy!

Below are some common lasagna questions. Don’t see the answer you’re looking for? Leave a comment at the bottom of this post!

How many layers must a lasagna have?

Honestly, the number of layers in a lasagna is completely up to you. Most typical lasagna recipes call for either three or four layers.

Why do you put eggs in a lasagna?

Almost every single lasagna recipe calls for an egg in the cheese mixture. This is because the egg makes it even creamier and binds all the layers of the lasagna together. If you leave the egg out, it will still taste and look delicious, but it won’t hold its form as well.

Can I use frozen vegetables?

While it is ok for you to saute frozen celery and carrots, I think using fresh vegetables will give you better results. Frozen vegetables have a higher water content in them, so they will give you a different texture when you saute them.

Is this recipe gluten-free?

Yes, this recipe is naturally gluten-free! If you do not eat a gluten-free diet, you can certainly use a different type of noodles.

Wondering if you can use a different type of meat and vegetables? There are a few ways you can!

Instead of chicken, use shredded beef or pork loin. It will give you a different taste and texture, but it will still taste pretty delicious.

Try this recipe with different types of vegetables too! Just make sure you dice them up very small. Here are a few different types that I think will also work really well:

• Bell Peppers
• Squash
• Zucchini
• Cauliflower

This recipe is the perfect thing to use in your meal prep. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for up to 5 days.

If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try these!

Here are some more of my favorite chicken recipes. Enjoy!

• Healthy Baked Chicken Parmesan
• One-Pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta
• One-Pan Honey Mustard Chicken Dinner
• Healthy Chicken Nuggets
• Healthy BBQ Chicken Thighs

Recipe by Erin Morrissey and Photos by The Mindful Hapa

★★★★★ 5 from 18 reviews

Buffalo Chicken Lasagna

Add some spicy twist to a classic family recipe! This creamy buffalo chicken lasagna is about to become your favorite comfort meal.

Prep: 30Cook: 45Total: 1 hour 15 minutes

Yield 10 servings 1x

1x2x3x

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Ingredients

• 10 oz lasagna noodles *see notes
• 2 tbsp avocado oil
• 2 large carrots, diced small
• 3 celery stalks, diced small
• 1 yellow onion, diced small
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 heaping cups cooked chicken, shredded
• 1 cup buffalo sauce
• 15 oz ricotta cheese
• 1/2 cup blue cheese dressing (or ranch)
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

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Instructions

1. Cook noodles according to package, drain and rinse with cold water.
2. Preheat oven to 350 and grease a 9×13 casserole dish with nonstick spray.
3. In a large saute pan or dutch oven, heat oil over high heat. Once hot, add carrots, celery, and onions and cook for 6-7 minutes or until softened. Add garlic for one minute.
4. In a large bowl, mix together shredded chicken and buffalo sauce. Add in carrots, celery, onion, and garlic into chicken mixture. Stir until combined.
5. In smaller bowl, mix together ricotta, blue cheese, egg and parsley. Add in 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese. Stir.
6. In bottom of casserole dish, layer 1/2 of the buffalo chicken mixture. Then add a layer of noodles. Add half of the ricotta mixture, followed by a layer of noodles. Add the other half of the chicken mixture, followed by more noodles, and then the rest of the ricotta mixture. Top with remaining shredded mozzarella.
7. Bake for 40 minutes and then broil for the last 4-5 minutes to get a golden top. Let rest 15 minutes before serving.
8. Enjoy!

Notes

* I used brown rice noodles that you must cook ahead before using, but you can also use no-cook noodles. You also do not need to use brown rice if not GF.

Author: ErinCategory: dinner, lunch, meal-prep, gluten-freeMethod: ovenCuisine: AmericanDiet: Gluten Free