Lasagna Roll Ups

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If you’re a fan of lasagna but not how it can take all day to make, then you need to make this lasagna roll ups recipe. Just like the classic, this roll up recipe is easy to make ahead, freezer-friendly, and reheats really well, making it perfect for busy weeknights. By rolling up the lasagna noodles, they mimic the layers in the classic version without all the work.

Fancy enough for an intimate dinner party but easy enough for an everyday family meal, you’ll love that these rolls are contained, so serving them is a breeze. Say goodbye to messy squares that fall apart as you eat them. It’s an easy and elegant way to serve lasagna! For another simple but satisfying recipe, try my eggplant parmesan recipe or vegetarian enchiladas recipe.

Key Ingredients You Need

Ingredients needed to make lasagna roll ups.

Lasagna noodles — You’ll need regular lasagna noodles, not the no-boil ones, as they need to be flexible enough to roll them up.
Marinara sauce — I highly suggest that you try your hand at making homemade marinara sauce. You won’t believe how much flavor you can pack into a homemade sauce. However, a jar of store-bought marinara is fine for ease and convenience.
Cheese — These lasagna rolls use three different cheese types: ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, and parmesan cheese. They each play their own role, so I don’t recommend skipping any of them. The ricotta gives the filling a creamy texture, the parmesan provides a tangy and salty flavor, and the mozzarella is the perfect melting cheese.

How to Make Lasagna Roll Ups

Set of two photos of onions sautéed and ricotta mixture mixed.

Step 1: Cook noodles in a large pot according to package instructions. Meanwhile, add the olive oil and onions in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute until slightly translucent, and then add the garlic. Cook for another 1 to 2 minutes. Add the marinara and bring to a simmer, then turn off the heat and set aside.

Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, add ricotta, egg, ¼ cup parmesan cheese, oregano, and ½ cup of mozzarella cheese. Mix until well combined.

Set of two photos showing ricotta mixture and marinara added to lasagna noodles.

Step 3: On the baking sheet with the lasagna noodles, add ¼ cup of the cheese mixture.

Step 4: Next, layer the marinara sauce mixture over the cheese mixture.

Set of two photos showing pasta noodle rolled and casserole dish topped with cheese.

Step 5: Top with mozzarella cheese and then roll up the lasagna noodle and place it into the baking dish with ½ cup of marinara sauce spread on the bottom. Repeat until you have used up all of the lasagna noodles.

Step 6: Sprinkle the top of the remaining cup of mozzarella cheese over the top of the lasagna rolls and cover the baking dish with foil before baking for 20 minutes. Garnish with chopped basil.

A casserole dish of lasagna roll ups with chopped basil garnish.

Tips For This Recipe

Spray parchment paper with olive oil to keep noodles from sticking.
Let your lasagna rolls rest before cutting into it. Doing so helps the rolls firm up and hold its curl when you serve it. It might unravel if you serve it straight out of the oven.
I try to cook a couple of extra noodles when possible as sometimes the noodles break while they boil.
To prevent the lasagna noodles from sticking together and breaking while they cook, stir the pot occasionally.
Cook the lasagna noodles to al dente according to the package. As the noodles are cooked again in the oven, you don’t want to overcook them.
You can cook lean ground beef with the onions before adding the marinara sauce to the pan to make this recipe extra hearty.
If you want to add more vegetables, spinach and mushrooms make for a great addition to the rolls.

Close up of a plate of lasagna roll up with parmesan on top.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I store and reheat this?

You can store the assembled rolls unbaked and tightly wrapped in the fridge for 24 hours. Once baked, let it cool. Portion the rolls out into airtight containers or cover the whole dish tightly in plastic wrap for up to 4 days.

To reheat, you can microwave individual rolls. If you are reheating a large portion, you can do so in the oven in a baking dish. Bake at 350F until warmed through.

How do I freeze this?

To freeze this dish, allow it to cool fully before freezing. Wrap it up in plastic wrap and then a layer of aluminum or store in a freezer-safe airtight container for up to 3 months in the freezer. Thaw overnight before reheating.

Alternatively, you can freeze this assembled but unbaked. Tightly wrap the dish in plastic wrap and then aluminum and freeze for up to 3 months. When freezing the entire recipe, I suggest using an aluminum tray as you can bake it without worrying about ceramic or glass casserole dishes experiencing thermal shock when baked.

How do you soften oven-ready lasagna noodles for roll ups?

While I recommend using regular lasagna noodles for this recipe, if you only have oven-ready noodles, boil them for 2 to 3 minutes to soften them up enough to roll. I recommend doing a few at a time so the noodles don’t firm up before you can roll them.