Looking for the ultimate spooky, fun, and crowd-pleasing main course for your Halloween feast? A dish that is as delicious and comforting as it is delightfully ghoulish? This incredible, from-scratch-tasting “Ghostly” Lasagna is the perfect centerpiece for your haunted gathering! It’s a classic, rich, and cheesy lasagna, packed with a creamy ricotta-spinach filling and savory chicken, and haunted by the most adorable, gooey, and melted mozzarella ghosts.
This isn’t just a recipe; it’s a guide to your new favorite Halloween tradition. We’ll show you the simple secrets to a perfect, non-watery lasagna and the easy, kid-friendly craft of turning it into a spooky masterpiece. This is the kind of satisfying, one-dish wonder that is perfect for feeding a crowd of hungry ghouls and goblins before a long night of trick-or-treating.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Recipe Overview: The Ultimate Spooky & Fun Halloween Dinner
What makes this Ghostly Lasagna so spectacularly delicious is its wonderful combination of a classic, comforting casserole with a super fun, festive, and spooky presentation. This recipe is a masterpiece of family-friendly flavors. The lasagna is built with layers of tender pasta, a rich and creamy spinach and ricotta filling, savory shredded chicken, and a classic marinara sauce. The real magic, however, is in the decoration. Simple slices of mozzarella cheese are cut into adorable ghost shapes and baked on top until they are perfectly melted, gooey, and golden, creating a fun, edible work of art that is guaranteed to be a hit with kids and adults alike.
| Metric | Time / Level |
| Total Time | 1 hour 15 minutes |
| Active Prep Time | 25 minutes |
| Difficulty Level | Easy |
| Servings | 8-10 |
The “Ghost’s” Anatomy: The Essential Ingredients
This iconic party dish uses a handful of smart shortcuts and pantry staples to create its signature comforting and cheesy flavor.
- The Lasagna Layers:
- Lasagna Noodles: A classic, 1-pound box of your favorite lasagna noodles is the perfect foundation.
- Shredded Cooked Chicken: Using about 2 cups of pre-cooked, shredded chicken is the ultimate time-saver. A store-bought rotisserie chicken is a fantastic and convenient choice.
- The Ricotta Filling: A classic, creamy, and flavorful filling of part-skim ricotta cheese and chopped spinach. For the best, non-watery result, be sure to use cooked, frozen spinach that has been thawed and squeezed very dry.
- The “Ghostly” Topping:
- Mozzarella Cheese: It is best to use sliced, low-moisture mozzarella for the ghosts. The pre-sliced variety is the perfect thickness and is very easy to cut into your ghost shapes.
- Black Olives: A few pitted black olives, finely chopped, are all you need to create the perfect, spooky “eyes” for each of your ghosts.
- The “Bloody” Sauce: A jar of your favorite marinara or spaghetti sauce is a fantastic and convenient shortcut that serves as the perfect, “bloody” base for our spooky ghosts.
Step-by-Step to the Best Ghostly Lasagna
This fun and festive meal is incredibly simple to prepare.
Step 1: Cook the Noodles and Prepare the Filling
Step 1: First, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Step 2: Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Cook your lasagna noodles according to the package instructions until they are al dente. Drain the cooked noodles and set them aside.
Step 3: While the noodles are cooking, in a medium bowl, mix together the 2 cups of ricotta cheese, the 2 cups of chopped spinach, and a generous pinch of salt and pepper.
Part 2: Assemble the Lasagna Layers
Step 1: In a 13×9-inch baking dish, spread a thin layer of your marinara sauce (about 1 cup). Step 2: Arrange a single layer of your cooked lasagna noodles over the sauce. Step 3: Spread a layer of your ricotta and spinach mixture over the noodles, followed by a layer of the 2 cups of shredded chicken. Step 4: Repeat the layers of sauce, noodles, ricotta, and chicken, ending with a final layer of noodles topped with the remaining marinara sauce. Step 5: Sprinkle the top of the lasagna with the 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese.
Part 3: Create Your Spooky Ghost Topping and Bake
Step 1 (The Fun Part!): To create your mozzarella ghosts, you can use a small, ghost-shaped cookie cutter to cut out shapes from your slices of mozzarella cheese. If you don’t have one, you can simply use a small, sharp paring knife to cut out a classic, wavy ghost shape. Step 2: Arrange your mozzarella ghosts over the top of the lasagna. Step 3: Use tiny pieces of your chopped black olives to create two “eyes” for each of your ghosts. Step 4: Bake the lasagna for 30 to 35 minutes, until the sauce is hot and bubbly and the mozzarella ghosts are perfectly melted and a light golden brown.
Let the Ghostly Lasagna rest for a few minutes before you slice and serve it.
‘Ghostly’ Lasagna (The Perfect Halloween Dinner!)
A classic chicken and spinach lasagna with a fun and spooky ‘ghostly’ Halloween twist. This family-friendly casserole features layers of cooked lasagna noodles, a creamy ricotta and spinach mixture, savory shredded chicken, and marinara sauce. The top of the lasagna is creatively decorated with slices of mozzarella cheese cut into ghost shapes, using small pieces of black olive for the eyes. The entire dish is then baked until it is golden brown and bubbly.
Ingredients
- 12 lasagna noodles
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
- 2 cups spinach, chopped
- 2 cups ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- A few black olives
- 3 cups marinara sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cook the lasagna noodles in a large pot of salted water according to the package instructions. Drain and set them aside.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the ricotta cheese, chopped spinach, salt, and pepper.
- Spread a thin layer of marinara sauce in the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Arrange a single layer of lasagna noodles over the sauce.
- Spread a layer of the ricotta mixture over the noodles, followed by a layer of the shredded chicken.
- Repeat the layers of sauce, noodles, ricotta, and chicken, ending with a final layer of noodles topped with the remaining marinara sauce.
- Sprinkle the top with the grated Parmesan cheese. Cut the mozzarella slices into ghost shapes and arrange them on top of the sauce. Use small pieces of black olive to create ‘eyes’ for the ghosts.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, until the top is golden and the sauce is bubbly.
- Let the lasagna rest for a few minutes before serving hot.
Notes
- This is a creative and kid-friendly way to serve a classic comfort food for a Halloween dinner.
- Using pre-cooked chicken (such as from a rotisserie chicken) and jarred marinara sauce are convenient time-saving shortcuts.
- You can use a small ghost-shaped cookie cutter or a paring knife to create the mozzarella cheese shapes.
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
Lasagna is the ultimate make-ahead meal for a stress-free and festive dinner party.
- Make-Ahead: You can fully assemble the entire, unbaked lasagna up to 2 days in advance. Simply cover it tightly with foil and store it in the refrigerator. When you are ready to bake, you may need to add 15-20 minutes to the total baking time since it will be starting from cold.
- Storage: Store any leftover lasagna, well-covered, in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Freezing: This casserole freezes beautifully! You can freeze it either before or after baking. Let it cool completely, then wrap the pan very well in a double layer of plastic wrap and then a layer of foil. It will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.
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Creative Recipe Variations (“Make it Your Own Potion!”)
- Make it a Vegetarian Ghostly Lasagna: For a delicious and hearty vegetarian version, you can simply omit the shredded chicken and add an extra 1 to 2 cups of chopped, cooked vegetables, like sautéed mushrooms or roasted zucchini, to your ricotta mixture.
- Use a Different “Ghostly” Sauce: For a spooky, “white ghost” lasagna, you can substitute the red marinara sauce with an equal amount of your favorite creamy Alfredo sauce. A vibrant green basil pesto would also be a delicious and spooky “monster” sauce!
- Use a Different Meat Filling: If you’re not a fan of shredded chicken, you can easily substitute it with about 1 pound of seasoned and browned ground beef or Italian sausage.
Enjoy Your Ultimate Spooky & Fun Halloween Dinner!
You’ve just created a truly special dish that is a perfect harmony of fun, classic ingredients and delicious, satisfying flavors. This classic “Ghostly” Lasagna is a testament to the power of a simple, creative idea to become an instant family favorite and a treasured holiday tradition. It’s a rewarding and deeply satisfying recipe that is sure to make your Halloween dinner a memorable one.
We hope you enjoy every last, perfect, and delicious bite!
If you enjoyed making this recipe, please leave a comment below or share it with a friend who loves an easy and impressive meal!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is the absolute, number one secret to a lasagna that is not watery?
The secret is to make sure your fillings are not too wet. If you are using fresh spinach, it is crucial to cook it first and squeeze out as much of the excess water as you possibly can. If you are using ricotta cheese, for an even richer, less watery result, you can drain your whole milk ricotta in a fine-mesh sieve for a few hours before you use it to remove the watery whey.
Q2: How do I make the mozzarella ghosts easily?
The easiest and most foolproof method is to use a small, ghost-shaped cookie cutter and some slices of a low-moisture mozzarella cheese from the deli counter. If you don’t have a cookie cutter, you can easily use a small, sharp paring knife to free-hand a classic, wavy ghost shape.
Q3: Can I make this Halloween lasagna ahead of time for a party?
Yes, this is a perfect make-ahead dish! You can fully assemble the entire unbaked lasagna, cover it, and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. When your party starts, you can simply pop it in the oven to bake.
Q4: Can I freeze this lasagna?
Yes, this is a fantastic freezer meal! For the best result, it is a great idea to assemble the lasagna completely, but do not bake it. You can then wrap the entire dish very well in a double layer of plastic wrap and then a layer of foil. When you are ready to eat, you can bake it directly from frozen, just be sure to cover it with foil for the first hour and then uncover it, and add about 45-60 extra minutes to the total baking time.
Q5: What is the best way to reheat leftover lasagna?
The best way to reheat lasagna and keep it from drying out is to place an individual slice on a microwave-safe plate, sprinkle it with about a tablespoon of water, and then cover it loosely before you microwave it until it is hot. You can also reheat it in an oven-safe dish, covered with foil, in a 350°F oven.