🇰🇪 Kenyan / Modern · Hotel & Restaurant Favorites
🍗 Kenyan Chicken Lasagna
Lasagna ya Kuku ya Kenya
Kenyan Chicken Lasagna — layers of pasta with a creamy spiced chicken and mushroom filling and golden béchamel. The lighter, equally beloved alternative to the beef version — particularly popular with families who prefer chicken.
The chicken lasagna version uses a creamy chicken and mushroom filling instead of the tomato-based bolognese, producing a lighter, creamier result that many prefer. The Kenyan spicing of the filling with paprika and coriander gives it local character.
Ingredients
Equipment: Large pan, Saucepan, 30x20cm baking dish, Oven
- 12 lasagna sheets
Chicken Filling
- 600g chicken breast — cooked and shredded
- 200g mushrooms — sliced
- 2 onions — diced
- 3 garlic cloves — minced
- 1 cup cream
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp oregano
- 2 tbsp coriander
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tsp salt
Béchamel (same as KEN261)
- 4 tbsp butter
- 4 tbsp flour
- 4 cups milk
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp salt
- 200g mozzarella
- 50g parmesan
Method
- Cook chicken filling: sauté onion, garlic, and mushrooms in butter until golden. Add shredded chicken, paprika, oregano, cream, and stock. Simmer until thick. Add coriander.
- Make béchamel as per KEN261.
- Layer and bake as per KEN261 steps 3—7.
Chef Tips
- Shred chicken finely for even distribution throughout the layers.
- The chicken filling must be thick and dry before layering.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Wet chicken filling — soggy lasagna.
- Not seasoning generously.
The Science
See KEN261 for lasagna baking science.
Nutrition (per serving)
Health Benefits
- High protein from chicken and cheese.
- Mushrooms add B vitamins.
Cultural Note
Chicken lasagna demonstrates that Italian baked pasta has been fully absorbed into the Kenyan restaurant and home cooking repertoire — adapted with local spices and ingredients into something uniquely Kenyan.
Storage & Serving
Storage: Refrigerate 4 days. Freeze 3 months.
Reheating: Oven at 160°C covered for 20 minutes.
Serve with: Caesar Salad (KEN267), Garlic Bread (KEN279)