Creamy, cheesy, and loaded with chicken and veggies – no layering required!
One day not long ago I had a craving for something super creamy, comforting and veg-forward. I checked the freezer but it looked pretty bare, so I thought that I’d try making a white lasagne! A “white” lasagne is one that is made without the customary tomato in the sauce. Instead, it’s all creamy, cheesy deliciousness! I love this recipe so much that I included it in my new cookbook Simple Dinners Every Day.

In this lasagne, chicken breast is cooked until golden and tender. It’s then shredded and simmered with Italian herbs and broccoli in a creamy, cheesy, garlicky sauce flavoured with leek and chicken stock. Fresh lasagne sheets are cut, then tossed into the pan to cook directly in the sauce, before the entire dish is covered with mozzarella and finished under the oven grill (broiler).
Since then, I’ve made this recipe too many times to count and it’s firmly planted itself in my regular meal plan rotation. It’s one of those meals that looks amazing, yet you don’t realise just how insanely good it is until you make and taste it for yourself! I like to serve One-pan Chicken and Broccoli Lasagne with a simple leafy salad with balsamic dressing and maybe some cheesy garlic bread. The dish is also very customisable – try adding bacon or pancetta, or more veggies (see my suggestions below). You can easily create a completely vegetarian version, too. Leftovers keep for up to 3 days in the fridge, and the dish is freezer-friendly!

What should I serve with this One-pan Chicken and Broccoli Lasagne?
This dish is a meal in itself, but if you want to go the extra mile, serve it with a simple green salad or some roasted veggies, such as zucchini (courgette), pumpkin or cherry tomatoes, to balance out the creaminess. And don’t forget the garlic bread – you can never have too much bread when there’s a gorgeous sauce involved!

Can I make this vegetarian?
Absolutely! Swap the chicken for mushrooms, zucchini (courgette) or even canned cannellini beans. Add extra broccoli or baby spinach to pack in more veggies.
What other additions can I toss into this lasagne?
Feeling fancy? Add crispy pancetta, crumbled bacon (my daughter’s request for the next time I make this!), or shredded roast or barbecued chicken, if you’ve got leftovers. For an extra veggie hit, stir through some baby spinach, kale or frozen peas just before serving. If you’re feeling indulgent, adding a dollop of ricotta or mascarpone on top before grilling (broiling) is a game-changer.

What pasta can I use if I don’t have lasagne sheets?
Any short pasta like rigatoni, penne or even gnocchi will work! Just cook it halfway through before adding it to the sauce to finish cooking in the pan.

Watch how to make One-pan Chicken and Broccoli Lasagne
If you enjoyed One-pan Chicken and Broccoli Lasagne, I think you’ll love:
One-pot Lasagne Recipe
Spinach and Cheese Pasta Bake Recipe
Chicken and Sun-dried Tomato Pasta Bake Recipe
Creamy Parmesan Chicken Pasta Recipe
One-pan Gnocchi Bolognese Recipe

One-pan Chicken and Broccoli Lasagne
“I’ve made this four times now and each time it’s so good I can’t wait to make it again!” Share Pin Recipe PrintIngredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 300 g (10½ oz) boneless, skinless chicken breast, sliced horizontally into thinner steaks
- ½ tsp sea salt flakes
- ¼ tsp freshly cracked black pepper
- 60 ml (¼ cup) water
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 small brown onion, diced
- 1 tbsp freshly minced garlic
- 1 leek, white part only, finely sliced
- 30 g (¼ cup) plain (all-purpose) flour
- 625 ml (2½ cups) chicken stock
- 375 ml (1½ cups) thickened (whipping/heavy) cream
- 1 tbsp Italian mixed herbs (Italian seasoning) – can be substituted with dried oregano or thyme
- 90 g (3¼ oz) broccoli florets, roughly chopped into 1 cm (½ inch) pieces
- 1 tsp sea salt flakes (see note 1)
- ¼ tsp freshly cracked black pepper
- 250 g (9 oz) fresh lasagne sheets, cut into 10 cm (4 inch) squares (see note 2 if you want to use dried lasagne)
- 50 g (½ cup) freshly grated parmesan
- 150 g (1 cup) freshly grated mozzarella
- Fresh oregano or basil leaves, to serve (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven grill (broiler) to high.
- Cook the chicken – Heat the olive oil in a large, deep, heavy-based pan over medium heat. Sprinkle the chicken with the salt and pepper on both sides and cook for 5–6 minutes, or until the chicken is just cooked, turning once halfway through. Remove and set aside on a plate to rest. Once cool enough to handle, shred the chicken using two forks.
- Make the sauce – Use the 60 ml (¼ cup) of water to deglaze the pan if needed, to scrape up any sticky bits. Keeping the pan over medium heat with any pan juices, add the butter, onion and garlic. Cook, stirring, for 1–2 minutes.
- Add the leek and cook, stirring, for 3–4 minutes or until softened.
- Add the flour and cook, stirring, for 1 minute until well incorporated.
- Pour in the chicken stock and stir until combined.
- Add the thickened cream, Italian mixed herbs, broccoli, salt (see note 1) and pepper. Bring to a simmer.
- Add lasagne sheets – Using tongs, add the cut lasagne squares, ensuring they are completely submerged in the sauce and as evenly distributed as possible.
- Cook the lasagne – Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 6–7 minutes, allowing the lasagne sheets to soften.
- Remove the lid and continue to simmer, uncovered, for 4–6 minutes until the lasagne sheets are almost cooked through and the liquid has reduced into a thick sauce.
- Stir often using tongs to ensure the pasta remains separate and to prevent it sticking to the bottom of the pan. The sheets may break apart a little bit, which is fine. If there appears to be a lot of residual liquid in the pan, see note 3.
- Add the chicken and cheese – Add the chicken and parmesan to the pan. Stir them through carefully to avoid the pasta breaking too much. Remove from the heat and sprinkle over the mozzarella cheese.
- Grill (broil) the top – Place the pan into the oven under the grill and cook for 3–5 minutes until golden brown on top.
- Serve – Allow to stand for 5 minutes before serving (the longer it sits, the more the sauce will absorb into the pasta sheets). Serve with fresh oregano or basil leaves, if using.
Nutrition information
Disclaimer re gluten-free and dairy-free recipes




















Malissa Brincau says:
I just made this , tastes nice however I found the lasagne sheets (used fresh) did not hold shape and became mushy .
I’d try next time with dried ,
Nicole says:
Hi Malissa, thanks so much for your comment! Glad you enjoyed the flavour. Fresh sheets can sometimes go a bit soft if they’re in the sauce for too long or if the sauce is quite thin. Dried sheets would definitely hold their shape better. Just make sure there’s enough liquid in the pan for them to cook through, and you might need an extra few minutes of simmering. Let me know how you go! Nic x
Teena says:
In the process right now we made a double recipe to keep for Tractor dinners and late night dinners this week. Smells absoluteley delicious !
Nicole says:
Love this feedback, Teena! 😊 Nic x
Tanya Strother says:
The flavour in this dish simply delicious! Will be on regular rotation in our house hold that’s for sure. Love your work Nic
Nicole says:
Hi Tanya, thank you for your lovely comments! 🥰 So happy you’re enjoying the recipes, including this lasagne (one of my faves!). Thanks for the rating. 😊 Nic x
Katy says:
So delicious! Very hands on but a quick meal!
Nicole says:
So glad you enjoyed this, Katy! Thanks for the rating too. 😊 Nic x
Nikki says:
Did this with leftover roast chicken. Halved the recipe as it’s only 2 of us. Added peas and corn and perhaps didn’t halve the broccoli. Absolutely delicious. Will definitely do again, especially for the grandkids.
Nicole says:
Thanks for this great feedback, Nikki. Loved hearing how you made it. Nic x
Tina says:
I don’t have a grill can I put it in the oven instead
Nicole says:
Hi Tina, thanks for your comment! Absolutely, just pop it in the oven at around 200°C (390°F) fan-forced for 10–15 minutes until the cheese is melted and golden on top. Keep an eye on it as every oven is a bit different. Nic x
Fiona says:
Hi Nicole
Wondering whether you have tried this with chicken mince? And if so would you increase the quantity from 300g?
Thanks
Fiona
Nicole says:
Hi Fiona 😊 I haven’t personally tested it with minced (ground) chicken, but I think you’re onto something! I am actually thinking I might create a brand new recipe for it! You can keep the quantity the same at 300 g (101/2 oz) or use a full 500 g (1 lb) packet of chicken mince. Because chicken mince is leaner than shredded chicken, the texture and flavour will be slightly different, but it will still be delicious and nice and creamy. I’d just make sure to season it well during the browning step. Nic x
Lindsey says:
Have made this twice now! We did the lasagna sheets the first time but second time we only had chickpea pasta on hand – both times were absolutely delicious. Definitely keeping this one around.
Nicole says:
Hi Lindsey, so happy this worked out well with the lasagne AND the chickpea pasta … awesome! Thanks for the rating too. 🧡 Nic x
Laura says:
Hi… Is this actually 1029 calories per serving?…or for the whole lasagna???
Nicole says:
Hi Laura, this is a very rich dish so it’s actually just for one serve. 🫢 It’s the cream, butter and cheeses that push those calories up. If you want to try and bring the cals down, evaporated milk works beautifully as a lighter, non-cream option. You can also use light cream, oat or soy cooking cream if you prefer dairy-free. I hope this helps! 🧡 Nic x
Kelly says:
My goodness, this was so good, we loved it. It was very easy to make and the leftovers reheated beautifully.
Nicole says:
So happy you enjoyed this, Kelly! Nic x
Dianne says:
Made this for a regular Wednesday night family dinner, absolutely delicious, big hit with everyone.
Easy to follow recipe, will definitely feature again
Nicole says:
Wonderful to hear, Dianne! Thanks for the rating too. 🧡 Nic x
Jackie Leighton says:
This was DIVINE. I cheated and used a cooked chicken from the supermarket. Added some frozen corn along with the chicken. Thought we might get some leftovers but kids got up for third helpings, will be adding this to my list of favourites!
Nicole says:
Hi Jackie, so thrilled you enjoyed this! There’s no shame in a shortcut and it was clever of you to use the cooked chicken. 👏🏻 So great that the kids had three helpings! 🙌🏻 🧡 Nic x