Easy Lasagna Roll Ups Recipe with Pesto and Cheese

If you love the cozy comfort of classic lasagna without all the work, these lasagna roll ups are for you! 

This dish delivers all the flavors of your favorite lasagna recipe – creamy ricotta, plenty of sauce and gooey cheese – but with built-in portion control and a much faster assembly process.

Whether you’re feeding a family, stocking the freezer or planning an easy weeknight meal, this is truly the best way to enjoy lasagna without spending forever in the kitchen.

Ingredients

• Lasagna noodles
• Ricotta cheese
• Mozzarella cheese
• Parmesan cheese
• Tomato sauce. I don’t mean plain tomato sauce out of a can, I just don’t mean marinara sauce. I think marinara sauce is too watery for this recipe. Try to find a good pasta sauce that’s thicker than marinara.
• Pesto sauce. Buy yours premade or try my easy homemade recipe.
• Egg
• Italian seasoning

How to Make Lasagna Roll Ups

Cook the Pasta

Boil and drain the lasagna sheets. I like to add a little bit of olive oil to the pasta water to keep the noodles from sticking together. 

​Then, lay the sheets onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. 

Make the Filling

In a mixing bowl, combine the ricotta, egg, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning and 1 cup of the mozzarella.

Assemble the Roll Ups

Spread the ricotta mixture down each lasagna sheet. Then, drizzle pesto sauce over top in a thin line. 

Now, roll them up! 

Prepare for Baking

​Spread half of the tomato sauce onto the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish. Then, arrange the roll ups in a single layer in the dish. Top with the remaining sauce and cheese.

Now, you’re ready to pop them into the oven. 

Serving Suggestions

These hearty lasagna roll ups are a full comfort meal on their own, but they pair wonderfully with a few simple sides:

• Garlic knots or a loaf of crusty sourdough bread
• Caesar salad
• Roasted vegetables like broccoli, green beans or zucchini
• Antipasto platter

Variations

1. Make it Meaty. This vegetarian version of lasagna roll-ups can be make extra hearty with the addition of ground beef or ground turkey. 

2. Change the Cheese. Experiment with swapping cottage cheese in for the ricotta or fontina in for the mozzarella. 

3. Add Veggies. Incorporate spinach, onions and bell peppers into the roll ups for added nutrition.

Make Ahead Instructions

This recipe is great for meal prep because the rolls can be assembled completely ahead of time.

Simply prepare the lasagna roll ups through assembly, cover the pan tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate up to 24 hours before baking.

You can also freeze the whole dish, unbaked, for longer storage. If you’re freezing it, be sure to give it a double layer of protection with both plastic wrap and aluminum foil.

Thaw it overnight in the fridge before baking, or bake straight from frozen, adding extra minutes to the cooking time. 

Storage Instructions

Refrigerate leftover lasagna rolls in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Reheat individual rolls in the microwave or warm the whole dish in the oven, covered with foil.

For longer storage, pop them into the freezer in either an airtight container or in a dish double wrapped with plastic and foil. 

When you make these lasagna roll ups, I’d love to hear about it! Drop a rating or leave a comment below. Enjoy! 

For more easy dinners, try these:

• Baked Ravioli (No Boil and One Pan Meal)
• Tater Tot Casserole with Ground Turkey
• Cozy Chicken Parm Casserole