Description
Lasagna Roll Ups are a delicious twist on traditional lasagna, featuring seasoned ricotta cheese and a rich meat sauce rolled inside tender lasagna noodles. This recipe combines creamy cheese filling with savory meat sauce, baked to perfection and topped with melted mozzarella for a comforting Italian meal that’s perfect for family dinners or entertaining guests.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Cheese Filling
- 15 oz. ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Meat Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 1/2 lb. ground beef
- 1/2 lb. ground Italian sausage, hot or mild
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 32 oz. marinara sauce
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce (optional)
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce (optional)
Lasagna
- 12 lasagna noodles plus extra in case of breakage
- 1.5 cups mozzarella cheese (for topping)
Instructions
- Prepare Cheese Filling: In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg, 2 cups mozzarella, Parmesan, oregano, salt, basil, parsley, and pepper. Mix well and set aside.
- Prepare Baking Dish: Spread ½ cup of marinara sauce evenly on the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch baking dish.
- Preheat Oven and Boil Noodles: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for the noodles.
- Sauté Onions: Heat olive oil over medium heat in a skillet. Add diced onions and cook for 10 minutes until softened and slightly caramelized.
- Cook Meat: Add ground beef and Italian sausage to the skillet. Increase heat to medium-high and crumble the meat finely with a spatula. Cook for 8-10 minutes until browned and cooked through. Add minced garlic during the last minute of cooking. Drain excess grease.
- Make Meat Sauce: Pour in chicken broth and use a silicone spatula to scrape and deglaze the skillet. Add marinara sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce (if using). Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer gently.
- Cook Lasagna Noodles: Cook noodles al dente according to package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop cooking and cool for handling.
- Assemble Roll Ups: Lay noodles flat on parchment or wax paper. Spread approximately 2 ½ tablespoons of cheese filling evenly over each noodle. Spread ¼ cup of meat sauce over the cheese on each noodle.
- Roll and Arrange: Roll up each noodle tightly to keep the filling contained. Place seam-side down in the prepared baking dish.
- Top and Cover: Pour remaining meat sauce over the rolled noodles and sprinkle with 1.5 cups mozzarella cheese. Spray a piece of foil with nonstick cooking spray and cover the dish, spray side down, to prevent sticking.
- Bake: Bake at 375°F for 35 minutes. Optional: Remove foil and broil at 450°F briefly to brown the cheese; watch carefully to avoid burning.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven and garnish with fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
- Make sure to rinse noodles with cold water after boiling to prevent them from sticking and to make rolling easier.
- The Worcestershire and hot sauce in the meat sauce are optional but add extra depth and a mild kick.
- If foil sticks to cheese during baking, spraying the foil with nonstick spray helps prevent this problem.
- Watch the roll ups carefully during broiling as cheese can brown quickly and burn.
- Extra marinara sauce can be served on the side for dipping.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Roll Up (approx.)
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
