Ghostly lasagna brings layers of flavor and a dash of spooky charm to your dinner table. Tender noodles, creamy ricotta, chicken, and spinach are baked with marinara, then finished with mozzarella ghosts complete with olive eyes. It’s both comforting and festive, making it a natural fit for October gatherings. To add more variety to your spread, see our Halloween dinner ideas roundup.
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Ghostly Lasagna (Halloween 2025)
- Total Time: 70
- Yield: 8 servings
Description
Festive ghostly lasagna layered with chicken, ricotta, spinach, marinara, and topped with mozzarella ghosts for Halloween fun.
Ingredients
- 24 lasagna noodles
- 4 cups cooked chicken, shredded
- 4 cups spinach, chopped
- 4 cups ricotta cheese
- 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- A few black olives, sliced
- 6 cups marinara sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the noodles: Boil lasagna noodles until al dente, drain, and lay flat.
- Mix the ricotta filling: Combine ricotta, spinach, salt, and pepper until smooth.
- Build the first layers: Spread sauce in a baking dish, then layer noodles, ricotta, chicken, mozzarella, and sauce.
- Repeat and finish: Add another round of noodles, filling, chicken, and sauce. Top with noodles, sauce, and cheese.
- Create the ghosts: Cut mozzarella into ghost shapes, add olive eyes, and sprinkle Parmesan on top.
- Bake until bubbly: Cover with foil and bake 30 minutes at 375°F. Uncover and bake another 10–15 minutes until golden.
- Rest before serving: Let sit 10 minutes before slicing so the layers hold together.
Notes
- Squeeze spinach dry to prevent watery layers.
- Use low-moisture mozzarella for ghost shapes that hold well.
- Tent foil slightly to stop cheese from sticking.
- Let lasagna rest before slicing for clean portions.
- Prep Time: 25
- Cook Time: 45
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Why You’ll Love Ghostly Lasagna
This ghostly lasagna is comforting, flavorful, and fun. Each layer blends tender chicken, creamy ricotta, and gooey mozzarella, so every forkful is satisfying. At the same time, the ghost toppers transform an everyday pasta bake into a centerpiece worth serving at Halloween parties or family dinners. In addition, it’s flexible with substitutions, reheats beautifully, and makes mealtime feel like a celebration. For that reason, you’ll love how this dish is equal parts delicious and delightful.
Ingredients for Ghostly Lasagna
To make this festive pasta bake, you’ll need pantry staples and fresh ingredients that combine into layers of savory comfort. Before you start, gather everything—it makes assembly quick and stress-free.
Pantry & Fresh
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Lasagna noodles | 24 sheets |
| Cooked chicken, shredded | 4 cups |
| Fresh spinach, chopped | 4 cups |
| Ricotta cheese | 4 cups |
| Shredded mozzarella cheese | 4 cups |
| Grated Parmesan cheese | 1 cup |
| Black olives, sliced | A few, for eyes |
| Marinara sauce | 6 cups |
| Salt and pepper | To taste |
Substitutions
This ghostly lasagna adapts easily. For instance, you can swap chicken for roasted mushrooms or butternut squash for a vegetarian twist. Cottage cheese may replace ricotta if drained well. In addition, gluten-free noodles work perfectly with extra sauce, while dairy-free ricotta or vegan mozzarella melts nicely for a plant-based option. Finally, for extra flavor, try adding caramelized onions or roasted garlic between layers.
How to Make Ghostly Lasagna
Before starting, preheat your oven to 375°F and line up your ingredients. That way, layering will be smooth and stress-free.
- Cook the noodles
First, boil lasagna noodles until just al dente. Next, drain and lay them flat on parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Mix the ricotta filling
Meanwhile, combine ricotta, spinach, salt, and pepper in a bowl until smooth and green-speckled.
- Build the first layers
After that, spread a thin layer of marinara in a 9×13 dish. Then add noodles, ricotta mixture, chicken, mozzarella, and sauce.
- Repeat and finish
Continue layering with noodles, filling, chicken, and sauce. Finally, finish with noodles, sauce, and mozzarella.
- Create the ghosts
Now cut mozzarella slices into ghost shapes, press olive “eyes” in, and sprinkle Parmesan over the top.
- Bake until bubbly
Cover with foil and bake 30 minutes. Afterward, remove the foil and bake another 10–15 minutes until golden and bubbling.
- Rest before serving
Lastly, let the lasagna rest 10 minutes. As a result, the slices will hold together and look neat.
Pro Tips for Ghostly Lasagna
Always squeeze spinach completely dry to avoid watery layers. In addition, low-moisture mozzarella is best for ghost shapes that hold. Tent foil slightly to keep cheese from sticking. Furthermore, resting the lasagna before slicing ensures tidy servings. Imperfect ghost cutouts add charm, so don’t worry if they look quirky.
Variations & Substitutions for Halloween Lasagna
For gluten-free ghostly lasagna, choose GF pasta and a little extra sauce. Likewise, dairy-free cooks can try cashew cream and vegan mozzarella. A lighter version works well with chicken breast and part-skim ricotta. Moreover, stirring pumpkin purée into the ricotta gives a seasonal twist. Meat lovers can also add pancetta or sausage between layers for a heartier bake.
Serve Ghostly Lasagna With
This festive pasta goes wonderfully with garlic bread, roasted vegetables, or a crisp salad. In addition, drinks like a cranberry spritzer or red wine balance the richness. For a fun Halloween table, try serving it alongside purple Halloween punch or witch’s potion punch.
Storage & Reheat Ghostly Lasagna
Cool leftovers fully before refrigerating, and enjoy them within 3 to 4 days for best quality. When reheating, cover slices with foil and warm in a 350°F oven for about 20 minutes, or microwave individual portions until steaming hot. For longer storage, you can freeze the lasagna either baked or unbaked for up to 3 months. Always thaw it overnight in the refrigerator so the layers reheat evenly. Following the FDA’s Safe Food Handling helps reduce foodborne risk, while the USDA Freezing and Food Safety offers clear timing guidance. In addition, the NIH healthy eating resources explain how to make nutritious choices when storing and reheating meals at home.
Ghostly Lasagna Nutrition
Each serving of ghostly lasagna comes in at about 560 calories, with a hearty 38 grams of protein, 45 grams of carbohydrates, and 27 grams of fat. That balance makes it both filling and satisfying, especially for a family dinner. If you’d like to lighten it up, using lean chicken breast and part-skim cheeses can trim calories and fat without sacrificing flavor. Adding extra spinach or swapping in zucchini slices for a few noodles also boosts fiber and nutrients while keeping the dish festive and fun. For reliable information on calorie needs and portion sizes, see the CDC’s About Nutrition.
FAQs about Ghostly Lasagna
Start with sauce, then noodles, filling, chicken, mozzarella, and more sauce. Finally, always finish with noodles, sauce, and cheese to keep the bake moist.
Lasagna typically combines pasta sheets with sauces, cheeses, and proteins or vegetables. Ghostly lasagna, however, adds chicken, ricotta, spinach, mozzarella ghosts, and Parmesan for Halloween flair.
“Lasagna” is the American spelling, while “lasagne” is the Italian plural form. Both describe the same layered pasta dish, though usage differs by region.
The key is balance—seasoned layers, enough sauce, and resting before slicing. In addition, quality cheese and properly drained vegetables always improve results.
More Like This
If you’re planning a spooky menu, you’ll love pairing this ghostly lasagna with other festive dishes and drinks from our kitchen.
- Start with a glass of hocus pocus punch, a bright, fruity drink that shimmers like a cauldron—perfect for both kids and adults at Halloween parties. For something darker and a little dramatic, the vampire punch brings deep red tones and bold flavor that look striking on a themed table.
- On the savory side, the broccoli cauliflower salad adds refreshing crunch to balance the richness of baked pasta. It’s quick to make ahead, and the crisp vegetables hold up well next to hearty mains.
- Finally, if you’re craving another warm dish, the Costco stuffed peppers recipe delivers cheesy comfort with a veggie-packed filling. They bake up tender, satisfying, and make a colorful addition to any Halloween spread.
Save This Recipe for Later
Bookmark this ghostly lasagna for your next Halloween or fall dinner. As a result, you’ll always have a festive recipe ready. Pin it, share it, or print it out—you’ll be glad to have it handy when October arrives.