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A simple White Pesto Lasagna for these days in between Christmas and New Years…simply the BEST. Layers of creamy cheese bechamel sauce with basil pesto and spinach. This dinner is always a favorite with our family, who are all in town right now for the holidays. It’s a great meal for entertaining, just make it ahead of time, and bake it off before guests arrive. Serve with a big bright salad!
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Hi guys! Hope you all had an awesome Christmas! Ours was snowy and amazing. We had one new addition this year with little baby Walker – who will be here (with his parents) through February! Always thankful for my big family and the adventures they bring with them!
Keeping all these posts pretty short this week in an attempt to take a little time away from the computer. And honestly, really just give my mom a break who proofs these posts every single day!
So jumping into recipe things!
The details
This lasagna consist of 3 layers of noodles, pasta bechamel, and basil pesto. And we’re using pesto instead of ricotta cheese, so it has even more flavor and color!
Layer the sauce, then the noodles, then the pesto…and repeat! It’s super simple!
I made a homemade broccoli and basil pesto, but any store-bought pesto works great too. Just make sure if it’s extra oily to drain away the excess oil.
For serving
I make this, along with my more traditional meat lasagna, every single year for my family over the Christmas break. The girls usually prefer the white, while the boys devour the red. I serve each with my favorite winter salad and bread.
Perfect family dinner to feed a crowd!
Looking for other easy dinner recipes? Here are my favorites:
Crispy Tomato Herb Cheese Pan Pizza
Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta
My Family’s Favorite Pesto Pasta Bolognese
Lastly, if you make this White Pesto Lasagna, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
White Pesto Lasagna
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 4 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 shallot, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, smashed
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 2 cups shredded provolone
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 1/2 cup basil pesto
- 2 packages (10 ounces) frozen spinach, thawed and drained
- 1 box no-boil lasagna noodles
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 375° F. Grease a 9×13 inch dish.2. In a medium saucepan, melt together the olive oil and butter. Add the shallots, garlic, thyme, rosemary, chili flakes, salt, and pepper. Cook 5 minutes or until fragrant. Remove the garlic cloves and discard. 3. Whisk in the flour and cook for about 1 minute. Add the milk and broth. Bring to a boil and stir for 2-3 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the provolone and 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese. Stir until the cheese is fully melted and the sauce is smooth. 4. To assemble, spread 1/4 of the cheese sauce into the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Top with 3-4 lasagna sheets. Spread with 1/2 the pesto and sprinkle over some spinach. Add another 1/4 of the cheese sauce. Place another 3-4 lasagna noodles on top, add the remaining pesto, spinach and then another 1/4 of the cheese sauce, sprinkle over the remaining spinach. Layer the remaining lasagna noodles and pour the remaining cheese sauce over top. Top with a 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese. 5. Bake, covered, for 30 minutes or until the cheese is bubbling. Uncover and bake another 15 minutes, until the cheese is browned. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
If you Mom needs days off, I’m a good proof reader! Would love to help team HBH ?
Not seen a white lasagne before, looks so good. Xx
Thanks so much Kelly-Jane! I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan
Tieghan..this looks really good! Do you have a recipe for the broccoli pesto?
Oops! Sorry..didn’t notice others had asked for it and you shared your link! Thanks! Seems like a good New Years dish!
Hey Colleen,
I sure do:
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/broccoli-pesto-pasta-with-whipped-ricotta/
Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Made this tonight for dinner for my husband and I snd our daughter. We absolutely loved it. I had purchased jarred basil pesto (Barilla), which was quite good. We’ll have this dish again, for sure.
Hi Pamela,
Awesome!! I am thrilled to hear this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! Happy Holidays!? xT
Very good food. Recipes
Hi Rocco,
Awesome!! I am thrilled to hear this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! Happy Holidays!? xT
This sounds so perfect! I learned, this year, that I can’t really eat red sauce if I want to have a peaceful life and I’ve been mourning lasagna. But this sounds incredible!
I hope you love the recipe Libby, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
You said you did a broccoli pesto? Do you have a recipe for that? It sounds amazing.
I saw this in another recipe of hers:
In a blender or food processor, combine a head of roughly chopped broccoli, 1/2 c. of fresh basil, 1/2 c. of grated parmesan cheese, 1/4 c. olive oil and a pinch of salt and crushed red pepper. Pulse until chunky smooth. Hope that helps. (I was wondering the same thing.)
Hi Brandy,
Here you go: https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/broccoli-pesto-pasta-with-whipped-ricotta/
Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I love pesto and I love lasagna.. this recipe is the best combo ever!!
Miki x
https://www.littletasteofbeauty.com/
Thanks so much!
I didn’t see how much chili flakes to add. The recipe sounds yummy!
Hi Ruth,
A pinch of red pepper flakes is great. Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
For the first layer, you say to sprinkle with some of the spinach but then never mention using the rest of the spinach in the assembly. Do I assume it is added similarly to the rest of the lasagna layers?
Do you think this would be good if meat was added? Such as ground Italian sausage? Or chicken?
Hi Sam,
Totally, either one of those would be great! Please let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
Hi Theresa,
Yes, that is correct. Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
Can I use fresh spinach?
Hi Katie,
Yes, that will work, but you will want to cook it down first:) Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
Hopefully, I did not just record a 3 star rating, it was not intentional! I clicked stars in an attempt to get to rating comments, it then looked like a 3 star rating. This looks amazing and I am looking forward to making it and then commenting and rating!
Happy Holidays!
Just make the recipe as stated!
If you can’t have dairy…this might not be the best recipe for you. If you are gluten free a pasta dish is probably not the best choice for you. If you are allergic to pesto…don’t make and eat the pesto lasagna.
Not everything is for everyone.
I hope you love the recipe Elaine! xTieghan
Can you substitute whole milk for those who can’t have dairy? I have a family member who can can’t tolerate milk.
Hi there,
Sure, any dairy free milk that you enjoy will work. Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
Can you share you recipe for the broccoli-basil pesto? Sounds great.
Following! I was going to ask too! That sounds yummy!
Following as well! I was looking for the recipe for the broccoli pesto too.
Here you go Melissa:
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/broccoli-pesto-pasta-with-whipped-ricotta/
Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Hey there,
Here you go:
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/broccoli-pesto-pasta-with-whipped-ricotta/#wprm-recipe-container-75040
Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
what about eggplant rather than noodles to reduce carbs?
Hi Mark,
Sure, that would be a fun idea. Let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Can you use fresh spinach?
Hi Dianna,
Yes, that will work for you, I would just cook it down first. Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan