Loaded with a rich, meaty ragù and stuffed with gooey cheese, these lasagna roll ups are a playful twist on a classic. They capture all the familiar Italian flavors and are surprisingly simple to prepare. You can assemble them ahead of time and freeze leftovers, making them a convenient, make-ahead meal that reheats beautifully.
Easy Lasagna Roll Ups
Lasagna is comfort food at its best: layers of pasta, a hearty sauce, and plenty of cheese. These lasagna roll ups deliver that same comfort in an easier-to-serve form. Each noodle is filled with a creamy ricotta mixture, shredded mozzarella, a savory beef ragù, and fresh herbs. The rolls are finished with marinara and more melted cheese for a meal that’s both comforting and crowd-pleasing.
Why You’ll Love This Lasagna Roll Ups Recipe
- Simple to make. Despite rich flavors, assembly is straightforward. The rolls take about an hour from start to finish.
- Comforting. Tender noodles, savory meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and melted mozzarella make a hearty, satisfying meal.
- Great for meal prep. These reheat well and freeze beautifully, so you can prepare them ahead for quick weeknight dinners.
Ingredients For Lasagna Roll Ups
Below are the main ingredients used in this recipe. Exact measurements are included in the recipe card further down.
- Ricotta cheese
- Shredded mozzarella
- Grated parmesan
- Egg
- Fresh basil
- Salt & pepper
- Olive oil
- Yellow onion
- Garlic
- Ground beef
- Dried oregano & dried thyme
- Lasagna noodles
- Marinara sauce
Variation Ideas
Lasagna is versatile. Try these variations to match your preferences or dietary needs.
- Swap the meat. Use ground chicken, turkey, pork, lamb, or a plant-based substitute.
- Mushroom version. Sautéed mushrooms can replace the meat for a vegetarian roll with plenty of umami.
- Extra veggies. Stir baby spinach into the sauce at the end of cooking, or add grated carrots, zucchini, or peppers.
- Make it spicy. Add crushed red pepper flakes to the meat sauce for heat.
- Alternative noodles. Use gluten-free, whole wheat, or high-protein lasagna noodles if you prefer.
How To Make Lasagna Roll Ups
- Cook the pasta. Boil salted water and cook lasagna noodles until al dente. Drain and lay them out on a clean towel to cool.
- Prepare the cheese filling. Combine ricotta, shredded mozzarella, grated parmesan, egg, and chopped basil. Season with salt and pepper and mix until smooth.
- Sauté aromatics. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook chopped onion until translucent, then add garlic and cook until fragrant.
- Brown the meat. Add ground beef with dried oregano, dried thyme, and a bit of fresh basil. Break up the meat and cook until nicely browned.
- Finish the ragù. Stir marinara into the browned beef and simmer about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Assemble. Preheat oven to 375°F. Spread half the marinara over the bottom of a baking dish. Spread the cheese mixture over each noodle, leaving a small uncovered edge, then top with meat sauce. Roll each noodle and place seam-side down in the dish.
- Top and bake. Pour remaining marinara over the rolls and sprinkle with shredded mozzarella. Cover with foil and bake 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10 minutes, until cheese is bubbly and lightly golden. Garnish with fresh basil and serve hot.
Tips for Success
These straightforward tips will help ensure the best results.
- Brown the meat well. Proper browning builds flavor. If the beef steams instead of searing, raise the heat slightly to get a good color.
- Salt the pasta water. Use generous salt when boiling noodles—this seasons the pasta from the inside.
- Save space. If you don’t have counter room to lay out noodles, toss drained noodles with a little olive oil in a bowl to prevent sticking and assemble one at a time.
- Rotate the dish. If your oven has hot spots, rotate the baking dish halfway through cooking for even browning.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these roll ups with classic Italian sides like a crisp salad, garlic bread, or roasted vegetables to round out the meal.
Can Lasagna Roll Ups Be Prepared In Advance?
Yes. Assemble the rolls, cover, and refrigerate up to 24 hours. When baking from chilled, add about 5 extra minutes to the covered baking time.
How to Store & Reheat Leftovers
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat: warm in a 350°F oven for about 15 minutes or microwave in 30-second intervals until heated through.
Can Lasagna Rolls Be Frozen?
Yes. Cool completely, transfer to an airtight container, and freeze up to 3 months. Thaw before reheating in the microwave, or bake from frozen at 350°F for about 25 minutes.
More Lasagna Recipes To Try
If you love lasagna roll ups, consider trying other lasagna-style dishes for variety—slow-cooker lasagna, zucchini lasagna, or skillet lasagna are great alternatives.
Lasagna Roll Ups
Ingredients
For the Cheese Filling:
- 1½ cups ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella
- ½ cup grated parmesan
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the Meat Sauce:
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 2 tsp fresh basil, chopped
- 1½ cups marinara sauce
For Assembly:
- 12 lasagna noodles
- 1 cup marinara sauce (divided)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella
- Chopped fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook lasagna noodles until al dente, drain, and lay on a clean towel to cool.
- In a bowl, mix ricotta, parmesan, egg, mozzarella, and basil. Season with salt and pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook the onion until translucent. Add garlic and cook 1–2 minutes.
- Add ground beef, oregano, thyme, and basil. Cook until browned, breaking up the meat.
- Stir in marinara and simmer 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Spread half of the marinara over the bottom of a baking dish.
- Spread cheese mixture over each noodle, leaving a small uncovered edge. Top with meat sauce, then roll each noodle and place seam-side down in the dish.
- Pour remaining marinara over the rolls and sprinkle with shredded mozzarella. Cover with foil and bake 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10 minutes until bubbly.
- Garnish with fresh basil and serve hot.
Notes
- Leftovers: store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze up to 3 months.
- Reheat: 350°F oven for 15 minutes or microwave in 30-second increments. From frozen, bake at 350°F for about 25 minutes.
- You can assemble the rolls a day in advance and keep them covered in the fridge until baking.
Nutrition
Calories: 343 kcal | Carbs: 27 g | Protein: 24 g | Fat: 15 g (approximate)
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as a courtesy. Values may vary with ingredient brands and portion sizes.