Quick Chicken Lasagna

Quick Chicken Lasagna 

I was watching the Pioneer Woman on the food network She always inspires me.

Today she was doing a chicken lasagna.

Since I did not have all the ingredients she had and I wanted to use some left over lasagna noodles I had in the freezer I took the inspiration and ran with it.

I assembled all that I had so I knew what I had to use and what needed to be substituted.

From the freezer I found the noodles and the shredded chicken from Tyson.

Good start. I had a can of Hunts spaghetti sauce in the pantry and of course I had the Italian seasonings and the fennel I am so fond of (if your not fond of fennel don't use it)

In the refrigerator I found shredded Italian cheese, some Parmesan cheese (the kind in the jar you sprinkle) and some cottage cheese. I was out of sour cream so I had to do with out if you have and you are using cottage cheese even ricotta use a tablespoon of it because it really enhances the taste of the cheese. I also got out an onion and some garlic and I was ready.\

I defrosted the noodles and chicken and made the sauce, ok ,ok enhanced the sauce. I felt guilty because this is something I almost always make from scratch. Its so easy.

Here is what I did:

Quick Chicken Lasagna 

Ingredients:

1 small onion chopped

1 teaspoon or clove of garlic finely chopped

1/2 can of spaghetti sauce (put the rest in a bag and freeze it.)

1/2 teaspoon of fennel (remember use only if you like)

1/4 teaspoon of Italian seasonings

4 Lasagna Noodles (any  kind you can layer will do)

1 cup of chicken cooked ( if making from scratch one chicken breast will do)

1 cup cottage cheese or ricotta 

1 hand full  of shredded Italian cheese

sprinkling of Parmesan cheese

Directions:

1.  Heat oil in pan and add onions and garlic. Cook for about 3 minutes until the onions start to       become transparent. 

2. While the onions are cooking make the cheese. Combine combine all the cheese and stir until   smooth.

3. Once the onions are cooked add a half can or small jar of sauce and add the spices and     combine and cook for a few minutes then add the chicken and mix in.

4.  You are now ready to assemble. I used a bread pan. I put two noodles on the bottom and      topped with the sauce and chicken then topped with the chicken and sauce. Then I put two  more noodles on top of the sauce and cheese and used the rest of the sauce and chicken then  topped with some shredded cheese and sprinkled with the Parmesan.

5. Put pan in preheated over for about 1/2 hour or until you see the cheese start to brown.

6. Remove and allow  to set up for about twenty minutes. My trip is when the pan is warm but easy to touch and handle is when its ready to serve

Here is a tip. If you use the fennel or the sauce is a bit tart use a teaspoon of sugar or sugar substitute. You want a sweet sauce not a sharp or tart sauce for this dinner. 

This is great with a green salad and a tangy dressing and maybe a glass of red wine!

Now I am going next door and give my neighbor some for dinner. After the feast she made for us yesterday I would bet that making dinner is not on her to do list!

Enjoy I know this one is a winner!