Creamy Smoked Chicken Lasagna with Mascarpone & Spinach: An Irresistible Italian Twist

Lasagna, the quintessential Italian comfort food, is a dish celebrated worldwide for its heartwarming layers and rich flavors. While the classic Bolognese variant holds a special place in many hearts, the beauty of lasagna lies in its incredible versatility. This particular rendition, featuring tender smoked chicken, a luscious mascarpone tomato sauce, and vibrant spinach, offers a wonderfully creamy and uniquely savory experience that’s sure to become a new favorite.

The allure of Italian cuisine is undeniable, and in my home, it’s a weekly staple. There’s something inherently comforting and deeply satisfying about its simple yet profound flavors, a sentiment thankfully shared by many (unlike perhaps the more polarizing Indian curries!). Among the many Italian delights, homemade lasagna stands out as a true masterpiece. While I adore the traditional Bolognese recipe, which I’ve happily shared before, I find myself frequently turning to this distinctive alternative.

This variant is a culinary revelation, showcasing the delightful interplay of savory smoked chicken with the luxurious creaminess of mascarpone and the earthy freshness of spinach. It presents a completely different flavor profile, yet it’s every bit as delicious and comforting as its classic counterpart. I’m excited to share this recipe with you and hope it brings as much joy to your table as it does to mine. Prepare to indulge in layers of smoky, creamy, and utterly delightful goodness!

The Allure of Smoked Chicken Lasagna with Mascarpone and Spinach

Why This Smoked Chicken Lasagna Recipe Stands Out

While many associate lasagna with ground beef and rich tomato sauce, this smoked chicken and mascarpone variant offers a delightful departure. The star of the show is undoubtedly the smoked chicken, which imparts a deep, savory, and slightly smoky flavor that elevates the entire dish. This isn’t just a simple chicken lasagna; it’s a gourmet experience that’s surprisingly easy to achieve at home.

The addition of mascarpone cheese is another game-changer. Unlike ricotta, which can sometimes be grainy, mascarpone melts into the tomato sauce, creating an unbelievably smooth, rich, and velvety texture. This luxurious creaminess perfectly complements the robust flavors of the smoked chicken and the tang of the tomatoes, making every bite a comforting embrace. Fresh spinach not only adds a vibrant green hue but also a refreshing, slightly earthy counterpoint that balances the richness of the cheese and meat, making the dish feel wholesome and complete.

Building Flavors: The Mascarpone Tomato Sauce

The foundation of any great lasagna is its sauce, and this mascarpone tomato sauce is truly exceptional. It begins with a simple yet essential step: sautéing onions and garlic until fragrant. This process unlocks their sweet and pungent notes, creating a aromatic base. Next, tomato paste is added and cooked briefly, allowing its raw, acidic edge to mellow and intensify, concentrating its rich tomato flavor.

The introduction of peeled and sieved tomatoes forms the body of the sauce, providing a robust, fruity backbone. A touch of sugar helps to balance the acidity, while a medley of classic Italian herbs like thyme, rosemary, and basil, along with a bay leaf, infuse the sauce with depth and warmth as it simmers. This slow simmer is crucial; it allows all the flavors to meld and deepen, transforming simple ingredients into a complex, satisfying sauce. Finally, stirring in the mascarpone off the heat ensures its creamy texture is preserved, enriching the sauce with a silken finish that defines this lasagna’s unique character.

Key Ingredients: More Than Just Fillers

• Smoked Chicken: Choosing pre-smoked chicken breast or rotisserie chicken significantly cuts down on prep time without sacrificing flavor. Its inherent smokiness adds a layer of sophistication that traditional cooked chicken simply cannot match, giving the lasagna a distinct, gourmet twist.
• Mascarpone Cheese: This Italian cream cheese is richer and smoother than ricotta. When folded into the tomato sauce, it creates an incredibly luxurious and creamy texture that coats every noodle and piece of chicken, contributing to the dish’s indulgent feel.
• Spinach: Fresh or frozen (thawed and squeezed dry) spinach is not just for color. It provides a subtle earthy flavor, a soft texture, and a boost of nutrients that balance the richness of the cheese and chicken. It’s an essential component that makes the lasagna feel hearty yet fresh.
• Quality Tomatoes: Using a combination of peeled and sieved tomatoes ensures a sauce with both body and smooth consistency. Good quality canned tomatoes are paramount here; they are the heart of the sauce.
• Lasagna Noodles: Whether you opt for traditional dry noodles (which you might pre-boil slightly for a softer texture, though not strictly necessary for this recipe as they cook in the sauce) or no-boil sheets, ensure they are spread evenly to create distinct, tender layers.

Crafting Your Lasagna Masterpiece: Assembly and Baking Tips

Assembling the lasagna is where all the wonderful components come together. Start with a thin layer of sauce at the bottom of your oven dish to prevent sticking and ensure the first layer of noodles cooks properly. Then, alternate between lasagna sheets, the vibrant spinach, the savory smoked chicken, and generous dollops of the creamy mascarpone tomato sauce. Repeat these layers, ensuring each component is evenly distributed for a balanced bite every time.

For the top layer, a final spread of sauce is essential, crowned with a generous sprinkle of grated cheese, like Parmesan, and slices of fresh mozzarella. This combination will melt into a golden, bubbly crust, adding an irresistible texture and flavor to the finished dish. Baking at the specified temperature allows the lasagna to cook through, the flavors to meld, and the cheese topping to achieve that perfect golden-brown crispness. If using a convection oven, remember to slightly reduce the temperature as suggested in the equipment section to prevent overcooking.

Serving, Storage, and Variations

Once baked to perfection, allow the lasagna to rest for a few minutes before slicing. This helps the layers set, making for cleaner cuts and preventing it from falling apart. This rich and hearty lasagna pairs wonderfully with a simple green salad dressed with a light vinaigrette, offering a refreshing contrast to its creaminess. A side of crusty garlic bread is also an excellent addition for soaking up any extra sauce.

Leftovers, if any, are a treat! Store the lasagna in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave or a larger piece in the oven until heated through. To prevent drying out in the oven, you can cover it loosely with foil for the first part of reheating, then uncover to crisp up the cheese.

Feel free to customize this recipe further. You could add sautéed mushrooms, bell peppers, or zucchini to the filling for extra vegetables. For a spicier kick, a pinch of red pepper flakes in the sauce would be fantastic. Experiment with different cheeses on top, such as provolone or fontina, for varying flavor profiles. This recipe is a fantastic canvas for your culinary creativity!

📖 Recipe

RECIPE CARD

Lasagna with Smoked Chicken and Mascarpone

Andréa

Lasagna, a wonderfully flavorful Italian dish, can be crafted in many delightful variations. This particular version, featuring succulent smoked chicken and a rich mascarpone tomato sauce, is exquisitely creamy and made extra delicious with the addition of fresh spinach.

5 of 3 votes

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Prep Time

30 minutes
mins

Cook Time

30 minutes
mins

Total Time

1 hour
hr

Course
Dinner

Cuisine
Italian

Servings

4
persons

Calories

931
kcal

Equipment

• Skillet
• Frying pan
• A conventional oven is used. When using a convection oven (with air fan) decrease the temperature with 30 °F / 20 °C
• Oven dish

Cook Mode

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Ingredients

Mascarpone tomato sauce

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  1
  onion

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  ▢
  
  
  1
  clove
  garlic

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  ▢
  
  
  120
  grams
  tomato paste

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  ▢
  
  
  400
  grams
  peeled tomatoes

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  ▢
  
  
  400
  grams
  sieved tomatoes

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  1
  teaspoon
  sugar

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  ▢
  
  
  1
  teaspoon
  salt

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  Italian herbs,
  thyme, rosemary, basil

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  bay leaf

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  125
  grams
  mascarpone

Lasagna Assembly

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  ▢
  
  
  400
  grams
  spinach ,
  thawed and squeezed dry

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  250
  grams
  smoked chicken ,
  shredded or in strips

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  12
  sheets
  Lasagna noodles

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  ▢
  
  
  250
  grams
  mozzarella

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  50
  grams
  Parmesan cheese ,
  grated

All my recipes are written both in Metric (gram / ml) and US Customary (cups / pounds). Here you can select which type of amount you would like to see.

Instructions

Mascarpone tomato sauce:

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  Slice the onion.

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  Finely chop the garlic.

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  Heat a little olive oil in a frying pan.

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  Place the pan on a large burner over low heat.

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  Add the sliced onion and cook for 3 minutes until softened.

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  Add the chopped garlic and fry for another 2 minutes until fragrant.

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  Reduce the heat to low.

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  Add the tomato paste to the pan.

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  Stir gently with a wooden spoon and cook the tomato paste for about 3 minutes. Smell the tomato paste; if it still smells sour, cook a little longer until the aroma is sweet and rich, then it’s ready.

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  Stir in the mixed herbs, sugar, peeled tomatoes, and sieved tomatoes.

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  Add the bay leaf to the sauce.

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  Cover the pan with a lid and let the sauce simmer for 20 minutes.

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  Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.

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  Season with salt and pepper to taste.

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  Remove the sauce from the heat and stir the mascarpone through the tomato sauce until fully incorporated and creamy.

Prepare lasagna

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  Preheat your oven to 220 degrees Celsius (425°F).

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  Spread half of the thawed spinach evenly in the bottom of an oven dish, then top with half of the smoked chicken.

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  Spoon one-third (⅓) of the mascarpone tomato sauce over the spinach and chicken layer in the baking dish.

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  Cover this with a layer of lasagna sheets, ensuring they overlap slightly if needed to cover the entire surface.

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  Repeat steps 1-1, 1-2, and 1-3 two more times to create additional layers. You will have a total of three layers of spinach, chicken, sauce, and pasta.

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  Finish the dish by topping it with the remaining mascarpone tomato sauce, then sprinkle generously with grated cheese and arrange slices of mozzarella on top.

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  Bake the lasagna in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until golden brown and bubbly.

Nutrition

Calories:
931
kcal


Carbohydrates:
88
g


Protein:
48
g


Fat:
44
g


Saturated Fat:
23
g


Cholesterol:
141
mg


Sodium:
1798
mg


Fiber:
9
g


Sugar:
15
g


Vitamin A:
11196
IU


Vitamin C:
55
mg


Iron:
8
mg

Keyword
smoked chicken lasagna, mascarpone lasagna, spinach lasagna, Italian lasagna recipe

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