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These Lasagna Roll Ups have everything I love about classic lasagna, but they are easier to serve, easier to freeze, and so fun to make. Tender lasagna noodles are filled with a creamy cheese mixture, rolled up, covered in rich meat sauce, and baked until hot and cheesy.
5 Star Reviews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“My family loved this recipe. Will definitely be making it again” – Andrea
“These are so much easier to serve & everyone loves them! I love being able to make ahead. It saves me so much time.” – Kristyn
“I was very nervous about making the roll ups because my whole life I made lasagna the old fashioned way! What a time saver and wonderful recipe! Will definitely add this to my recipe file!” – Christine
Why I Love This Style of Lasagna
I love these Lasagna Roll Ups because they give you that cozy, homemade lasagna flavor without the hassle of slicing and serving messy squares. Each noodle has the perfect amount of sauce, filling, and pasta, so every serving feels hearty and balanced.
This is one of my favorite dinners for busy nights, taking dinner to a friend, or feeding company. You can make the roll ups ahead of time, freeze extras, or bake them fresh and serve them with garlic bread and a simple salad. It is comfort food that feels special, but it is still easy enough for a weeknight.
🩷 Erica
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Lasagna noodles – Cook the noodles just until al dente so they are soft enough to roll but not mushy.
- Italian sausage – I love the flavor of Italian sausage, but ground beef also works well.
- Onion and garlic – These cook with the meat and give the sauce a homemade flavor.
- Spaghetti sauce – Use your favorite jarred sauce or our delicious homemade spaghetti sauce.
- Cottage cheese or ricotta cheese – Cottage cheese gives the filling a creamy texture, while ricotta gives it a more classic lasagna flavor.
- Parmesan cheese – Adds salty, savory flavor to the cheese filling.
- Egg – Helps bind the cheese mixture so it stays tucked inside the roll ups.
- Parsley and seasonings – Parsley, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper season the filling.
- Mozzarella cheese – Sprinkled over the top so the roll ups bake up melty and cheesy.
Ingredient Additions and Substitutions
- Use ricotta instead of cottage cheese if you prefer a more traditional lasagna filling.
- Swap the meat with ground beef, ground turkey, or ground chicken.
- Add spinach to the cheese filling for extra color and flavor. If using frozen spinach, thaw it first and squeeze out as much liquid as possible.
- Add red pepper flakes to the sauce for a little heat. Start with a small pinch if you are serving kids.
- Use homemade sauce if you have time, or keep it simple with a good jarred spaghetti sauce.
- Try fresh parsley in place of dried. Use a little more fresh parsley since the flavor is lighter.
- Use low-moisture mozzarella for the best melting. Fresh mozzarella has too much moisture for this recipe.
- Make it vegetarian by leaving out the meat and adding spinach, mushrooms, zucchini, or extra cheese filling.
How to Make Lasagna Roll Ups
- Cook the Meat Sauce. In a large skillet, cook the sausage (or ground beef), onion, and garlic until the meat is fully cooked. Drain excess grease, then stir in the spaghetti sauce and simmer for about 15 minutes.
- Prepare the Baking Dish. Spread half of the meat sauce evenly in the bottom of a glass baking dish.
- Make the Cheese Filling. In a bowl, combine cottage cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg, parsley, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Fill and Roll the Noodles. Spread the cheese mixture over each cooked lasagna noodle, then roll up tightly.
- Assemble and Bake. Place the roll ups seam-side down in the baking dish and top with the remaining sauce. Bake at 375°F for 30-35 minutes.
- Add the Cheese. About 5 minutes before the lasagna is done, sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the top. Return to the oven and bake until melted.
Recipe Tips
- Cook a few extra noodles. Lasagna noodles can tear, so it helps to have a couple extra ready.
- Do not overcook the noodles. They should be flexible but still firm enough to hold the filling.
- Lay noodles flat after draining. Parchment paper, wax paper, or a lightly greased baking sheet keeps them from sticking together.
- Do not overfill the roll ups. Too much filling can squeeze out the sides and make them harder to roll.
- Place roll ups seam-side down. This keeps them tucked together while they bake.
- Cover with foil while baking. This helps the roll ups heat through without drying out.
- Spray the foil with cooking spray if it might touch the cheese. This keeps the melted cheese from sticking.
- Let the dish rest for a few minutes before serving so the roll ups hold together better.
- Use a flavorful sauce. Since the sauce is a big part of the recipe, choose one you really like. I prefer our homemade spaghetti sauce made with fresh tomatoes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Ricotta cheese is a great substitute for cottage cheese and gives the roll ups a more classic lasagna flavor. You can also use a mixture of both.
Regular lasagna noodles work best because they are easier to roll once cooked. If you only have no-boil noodles, boil them first just until they are pliable enough to roll.
After draining, lay the noodles flat on parchment paper, wax paper, or a lightly greased baking sheet. Try not to stack them directly on top of each other.
Yes. Double the ingredients and use two baking dishes. This is a great recipe to double because you can bake one pan now and freeze one for later.
Yes, you can stand them upright in the pan, but you will want the roll ups close together so the filling does not slide out. Laying them seam-side down is easier and more reliable.
They are done when the sauce is bubbling, the filling is hot, and the cheese on top is melted. If you want the top more golden, broil briefly at the end.
Yes. Thaw frozen spinach and squeeze out the extra water before mixing it into the filling. If using fresh spinach, sauté it first and let it cool slightly.
Make Ahead and Storage
- Make ahead: Assemble the Lasagna Roll Ups, cover tightly, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking. Let the dish sit at room temperature while the oven preheats, then bake as directed. Add extra baking time if the dish is still cold.
- Storing leftovers: Store leftover roll ups in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freezing: Freeze assembled roll ups tightly covered for up to 3 months. You can freeze them in a baking dish or freeze individual portions for quick dinners.
- Reheating: Reheat individual portions in the microwave until warmed through. To reheat in the oven, place the roll ups in a baking dish with a little extra sauce, cover with foil, and bake at 350 degrees until hot.
Pairing Ideas
These Lasagna Roll Ups are filling on their own, so I like to keep the sides simple. Serve them with Garlic Bread, Caprese Salad, Caesar Salad, Roasted Vegetables, or Breadsticks. If you want to add dessert, something like Italian Lemon Cookies, Raspberry Ice Cream Cake, or a simple Fresh Fruit Salad would be perfect after a cozy pasta dinner.
More Lasagna Recipes
Lasagna is such a classic, home-y meal that brings back memories of sitting around the table with my family. Check out some of our other favorite variations!
These Lasagna Roll Ups are easy to serve, easy to make ahead, and full of the classic lasagna flavors everyone loves. The creamy cheese filling, hearty meat sauce, tender noodles, and melted mozzarella make this a family dinner worth keeping in the rotation.
Try them for your next pasta night and let me know in the comments if you made them with cottage cheese, ricotta, or your own favorite filling. 💛
Lasagna Roll Ups
Video
Ingredients
- 9 lasagna noodles, prepared
- 2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
MEAT SAUCE:
- 1 lb italian sausage, or ground beef
- 1 onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cup spaghetti sauce, our homemade spaghetti sauce is amazing in this recipe.
FILLING:
- 2 cup cottage cheese
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 1 tablespoon parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- salt & pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a large skillet cook sausage (or ground beef), onion and garlic until the beef is no longer pink. Drain any excess fat from the pan.
- Add spaghetti sauce and simmer for about 15 minutes.
- Spread half of the meat sauce on the bottom of a glass baking dish.
- In a bowl combine cottage cheese, parmesan cheese, egg, parsley, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Spread a little of the cheese mixture evenly over each lasagna noodle.
- Roll up and place seam side down in rows in the baking dish.
- Top with remaining sauce. Bake in the oven at 375 degrees for 30-35 minutes.
- About 5 minutes before the dish is finished cooking remove from the oven and top with shredded mozzarella cheese. Return to oven and cook until cheese has melted.
Notes
- Cook a few extra lasagna noodles in case some tear while boiling or rolling.
- Cook noodles just until al dente so they are easier to roll and do not get too soft while baking.
- Lay cooked noodles flat on parchment paper or a greased baking sheet so they do not stick together.
- Do not overfill the noodles or the cheese mixture may squeeze out the sides.
- Place the roll ups seam-side down to help them stay together.
- For a little heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- To add spinach, thaw frozen spinach and squeeze out the liquid before stirring it into the cheese filling.
- Store leftovers tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freeze assembled roll ups for up to 3 months. Thaw before baking for best results.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Looks amazing and so yummy! My teens are going to love this recipe! So excited!
My family loved this recipe. Will definitely be making it again 🙂
These are so much easier to serve & everyone loves them! I love being able to make ahead. It saves me so much time.
I am excited to make this recipe!! I was just wondering if anyone could tell me if the 1 TBSP parsley in the recipe is dried or fresh? Thanks soooo much!!!
In this recipe it is dried!
I was very nervous about making the roll ups because my whole life I made lasagna the old fashioned way! What a time saver and wonderful recipe! Will definitely add this to my recipe file!
I’m so glad you like it! Thank you for the 5 stars! I make this recipe all the time. It is so much easier to serve than regular lasagna and it is also easy to make ahead.
This recipe was Awesome! My kids loved it also!
I love this recipe. I use gluten free noodles with it and it’s delicious! Thank you!! =)
Hi! This is a fantastic recipe! I shared this lasagna on my Must Try Tuesday blog post. Thank you!
This recipe was awesome Erica! I didn't realize this was your site. I've had a link to it on my blog for a while, but didn't know it was for someone I knew. I just send you a friend request on FB.