cozy, gluten-free comfort food from a tiny RV kitchen
If you love Italian comfort food like I do but can’t have the dairy, this is the recipe for you. It’s creamy, cozy, layered, and gives you all those classic lasagna vibes—without relying on heavy cream or traditional cheese sauces. The secret? A velvety butternut squash sauce that blends up smooth, rich, and honestly… kind of magical.
And let’s just say… this is one of those meals where your eyes might be a little bigger than your stomach. It’s so good, so comforting, and so satisfying that it’s very easy to go back for “just one more bite”… and then suddenly you’re sitting there wondering why you’re so full. Worth it though. Every creamy, cozy bite.
Light Chicken & Veggie Lasagna (Butternut Cream Sauce)
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Cook the Chicken: Add chicken, broth, salt, and garlic powder to Instant Pot. Cook on High Pressure for 10 minutes. Natural release 5 minutes, then shred finely.
- Cook the Butternut Squash: Heat skillet with 1 tbsp oil or ghee. Add squash and cook 5–7 minutes. Add 3–4 tbsp water or broth, cover, and steam until fork-soft.
- Cook the Vegetables: In the same skillet, cook onion, mushrooms, carrots, and zucchini for 8–10 minutes until very soft.
- Blend the Cream Sauce: Add cooked squash, vegetables, broth, coconut milk, garlic powder, nutmeg, and salt to a blender. Blend until completely smooth.
- Prepare Noodles: Cook noodles just until slightly underdone. Drain and set aside.
- Assemble Lasagna: In a 9×11 dish:1️⃣ thin layer sauce2️⃣ noodles3️⃣ chicken4️⃣ sauce5️⃣ cheeseRepeat layers. Finish with sauce and cheese.
- Bake at 380°F for 20–25 minutes, loosely tented with foil to prevent over-browning.Remove foil and bake an additional 10–15 minutes until bubbly and lightly golden on top.Rest 10–15 minutes before slicing.
Notes
Estimated Macros (per serving – 1/8 pan)
- Calories: ~380–420
- Protein: ~30g
- Carbs: ~30g
- Fat: ~16g
⭐ Golden Top Trick (Don’t Skip This)
Loosely tent the lasagna with foil for the first part of baking to prevent the top from getting too dark too quickly.
Remove the foil at the end so the cheese can melt and lightly brown without burning.
⭐ Tips
- Blend sauce well so veggies disappear into creamy texture
- Slightly undercook noodles to avoid mushy lasagna
- Let rest before slicing for clean layers
- Butternut naturally thickens sauce without heavy cream
Storage & Reheat
Storage:
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
For longer storage, freeze individual portions for up to 2 months.
Reheat:
Reheat in the microwave or warm in the oven at 350°F until heated through.
Add a small splash of broth if needed to keep the sauce creamy.
More Dinner Recipes
Looking for more cozy, satisfying dinners that don’t feel restrictive? These Nourish-Nest favorites keep things comforting, flavorful, and inflammation-friendly.
My Tiny Kitchen Favorites
These are the pantry staples that make my recipes work (and my RV oven slightly less dramatic):
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Disclaimer (a.k.a. The “I’m Not Your Doctor” Part)
I’m not a doctor or a nutritionist — just a woman who loves her comfort food and believes healthy eating doesn’t have to taste like cardboard. My husband is under the care of a licensed physician for his autoimmune disorders, and everything you see here is based on what works for us (and what keeps him happily fed without setting off alarms).
Please always check with your healthcare provider before making changes to your diet — especially if you’re managing autoimmune conditions, allergies, or any other medical issues. I’ll handle the cozy recipes and humor; you handle the medical side with your doc. Deal? ❤️
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🧑🍳 Did You Make This?
Did your layers come out picture-perfect… or did you sneak a scoop straight from the corner before it even had time to set? No judgment here — that bubbling cheesy top is hard to resist 😄
If you gave this cozy chicken lasagna a try, I’d love to hear how it turned out! Did you add spinach? Go extra saucy? Maybe someone in your house had no idea they were eating vegetables (we love that). Share your tweaks and kitchen wins in the comments!
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