Spinach and Artichoke Lasagna

Spinach and Artichoke Lasagna is comfort food and should be on rotation! Packed with layers of no-boil noodles, chopped spinach, artichoke hearts, white cream sauce (known as béchamel), and cheeses. It is divine!

Make this lasagna special…

Lasagna is always comfort food. And because we adore our baked artichoke and spinach dip, we thought it would be a delicious idea to turn our two favorite veggies into a delicious lasagna.

If you love the creaminess of spinach and artichoke dip, then you’ll love this delicious flavor of lasagna. It’s an ideal and nutritious meal for everyone to keep on rotation.

Reasons to LOVE this Lasagna:

• Lasagna is one of the most popular meals.
• This spinach and artichoke lasagna is very light.
• Loaded with nutrient-dense veggies.
• Packed with protein!
• Full of vitamins and minerals, including B vitamins, vitamin K, and antioxidants.
• Perfect meal for the whole family to enjoy! 😉

Lasagna Made with White Sauce…

Béchamel sauce is a white cream sauce traditionally made from a white roux and milk mixture. And, it is made with 3 ingredients, butter, flour, and milk, and it’s widely used in Italian and French cuisine.

How to Make Spinach and Artichoke Lasagna?

Let’s discuss the 3 easy steps to making this spinach and artichoke lasagna. (includes Step-by-Step photos below)

1. First Step: Flavor the Veggies: It’s best to saute the onion and garlic first, then add the veggies and seasonings to flavor them.
2. Second Step: Make the White Sauce: In a medium pot, heat butter, and milk, then whisk in the flour and nutmeg and simmer until the cream mixture thickens and it’s ready to use.
3. Last Step: Assemble the Lasagna: For this recipe, you will only need 9 (no-boil) lasagna sheets. Each layer will contain only 3 lasagna noodles, with a layer of veggies, cream, and shredded cheeses, along with grated pecorino.

Ingredients Needed for our Spinach and Artichoke Lasagna…

For this recipe, you will need the following ingredients:

• olive oil – to saute the veggies for a few minutes
• frozen artichoke hearts, and frozen chopped spinach – you can get these from the supermarket’s frozen section.
• onion and garlic – to flavor the veggies.
• milk – at least 4 cups of low-fat milk, is preferred.
• butter
• all-purpose flour
• no-boil lasagna sheets
• package of shredded cheeses – I used Quattro Formaggi, which is a blend of Parmesan, Asiago, Fontina, and Provolone cheeses.
• some seasonings – salt, black pepper, cayenne, and nutmeg.
• grated cheese – pecorino to add additional flavor.

Directions to Make This Lasagna? (*full recipe card on the bottom)

1. Thaw The Veggies and Chop Artichoke Hearts:

• You can thaw veggies overnight in packages. Or thaw them in a bowl on your counter, if you prefer.
• Next, you will need to chop the artichokes in a food processor, or you can chop by hand with a sharp knife and cutting board. Do this in small batches if you need to.

2. Sauté the Vegetables:

• In a very large skillet, heat olive oil, and butter, and saute onions and garlic, until they are golden and caramelized. Add in the chopped artichokes and chopped spinach, along with the seasonings. Stir to combine on low heat, for only one minute.
• This is to warm the veggies while flavoring them, not necessarily to cook them. Cover with a lid, or with a sheet of foil on top, and remove from the heat.

3. Make the Béchamel Sauce (white cream sauce):

• Over moderate heat, melt butter in a saucepot, pour in the milk and whisk in the flour and nutmeg. Simmer over low heat until the cream slightly thickens, and “sticks” to the back of a wooden spoon. Then remove from heat.

Now you are ready to make the lasagna!

4. ASSEMBLE the 1st Half of the LASAGNA:

A. Use a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Lightly spray with cooking spray on the bottom. Then, pour in one cup of the white cream sauce.

B. Place 3 lasagna sheets, evenly spaced, side-by-side over the cream sauce. Take only “half “of the veggie mixture and spoon it over the lasagna sheets and in one even layer.

C. Pour one-third of the remaining white cream sauce over the veggies.

D. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of pecorino cheese, then with shredded cheese on top.

5. CONTINUE with 2nd HALF of the LASAGNA:

E. Lay 3 lasagna sheets on top.

F. Spoon the remaining veggie mixture into an even layer.

G. Spoon half of the remaining cream sauce on top. Sprinkle with shredded cheese.

H. Top with the remaining 3 lasagna noodles. Pour the remaining cream sauce, (here is where you can stir in some half & half into the cream sauce to give you additional sauce to cover the noodles). Sprinkle with shredded cheese on top.

6. Cover and Bake:

Cover with foil wrap and bake in a preheated oven at 400 degrees F. for 35 minutes. Then remove the foil wrap, and bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes, until the cheese melted and the edges are golden brown.

Remove and sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley and grated pecorino cheese on top. Cut into squares and serve.

ENJOY!! 🙂

Notes and Tips for Success…

• If the cream sauce turns out to be too thick, you can easily stir in some half-n-half, or add a little more milk.
• If you feel you need a little more cream sauce to top the final lasagna noodles, you may also pour some heavy cream over the top, about 1/4 cup.
• I used a blend of cheeses in one package, called “Quattro Formaggi” with four kinds of Italian cheeses shredded. But you can use other shredded cheeses, like shredded mozzarella, fontina, and even gruyere with this recipe.
• I prefer frozen artichoke hearts, which are already cleaned. You can get these at Trader Joe’s or the Bird’s Eye brand in any supermarket.

Faq’s

1. Can we use “fresh” spinach instead of frozen?

Yes, you can. Be sure to coarsely chop it, rinse, and drain. Do not squeeze excess liquid from them, you will need the moisture for this recipe. Then add it in small batches to the skillet and stir into the mixture. Cover the skillet until the spinach wilts. Give it a final stir to incorporate into the mixture.

2. Can we use marinated artichoke hearts, ones in a jar or can?

Yes, you may. Be sure to use about 12 ounces, drain all the liquid, rinse, and chop them.

Store, Reheat & Freeze…

1. To Store: Allow the lasagna to cool completely before storing. Cover with foil or clear wrap and keep it chilled in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

2. To Reheat: Transfer the amount of lasagna needed to reheat. You can reheat in either the microwave or a preheated oven for a few minutes.

3. To Freeze: Because it is made with the Bechamel sauce, it is best to bake the lasagna first, as you normally would, then allow it to cool. Once cooled, wrap it tightly with foil and then place it into the freezer. You can then heat it back up without any noticeable difference from when it was fresh.

More Delicious Lasagna Recipes

• Best Vegetable Lasagna
• Easy Meat Lasagna with No-Boil Noodles – Lightened!
• Homemade Lasagna with Vegetables
• Best Zucchini Lasagna – without Noodles! (Gluten-Free)
• How to Make Lasagna with No-Boil Noodles (4 Easy Steps)

If you try our recipe for spinach and artichoke lasagna, let us know and leave a comment below. We’d love to hear from you. Have fun and snap a photo and hashtag it on Instagram @2sistersrecipes, or  Pinterest if you like (no pressure). We’d love to see what you cook! This recipe was inspired and adapted from Health.com.