Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups

Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups

The Spruce / Rachel Riesgraf

Prep: 25 mins
Cook: 90 mins
Total: 115 mins
Servings: 6 servings

These lasagna roll-ups are a fun change of pace, and your family will love them. Instead of layers, the cooked lasagna noodles are wrapped around a spinach and ricotta filling and baked with a meaty sauce.

Alternatively, you might want to omit the ground beef or use a purchased marinara or spaghetti sauce for a meat-free dinner. Serve this delicious lasagna with sliced homemade garlic bread and a fresh tossed salad.

See the tips and variations below the recipe for some shortcuts and freezing tips.

Ingredients

  • 1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach (or about 6 cups of fresh chopped spinach)
  • 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 pound ground chuck (or lean ground beef)
  • 8 ounces fresh mushrooms (sliced)
  • 1 cup chopped onion
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 2 (6-ounce) cans tomato paste (2 cans=12 ounces)
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil leaves
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 drops hot sauce (or a dash of crushed red pepper flakes, optional)
  • 1 (15-ounce) carton ricotta cheese
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (divided)
  • 2 eggs (slightly beaten)
  • 6 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (divided)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/8 ground nutmeg
  • 12 lasagne noodles, cooked and drained

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups ingredients

    The Spruce / Rachel Riesgraf

  2. Place spinach in 4-quart Dutch oven. Cover and cook over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes or until wilted.

    spinach cooking in a Dutch oven

    The Spruce / Rachel Riesgraf

  3. Drain the spinach in a colander, pressing with a spoon to squeeze out as much liquid as possible. Set aside.

    spinach in a colander

    The Spruce / Rachel Riesgraf

  4. Puree the tomatoes in a food processor or blender until smooth.

    tomatoes puree in a blender

    The Spruce / Rachel Riesgraf

  5. Cook ground chuck, mushrooms, onion, and garlic in the same Dutch oven over medium heat for 10 minutes or until ground beef is browned. Pour off excess fat.

    ground chuck, mushrooms, onion, and garlic in a Dutch oven

    The Spruce / Rachel Riesgraf


  6. Add the pureed tomatoes, tomato paste, water, 2 tablespoons of the parsley, oregano, basil, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and hot sauce or crushed pepper flakes, if using. Blend well. Cook over high heat until the mixture comes to a boil. Reduce the heat to low; simmer, partially covered, for 45 minutes.

    pureed tomatoes, tomato paste, water, parsley, oregano, basil, pepper, and hot sauce added to the mushrooms and meat in the Dutch oven

    The Spruce / Rachel Riesgraf

  7. Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine the drained spinach, remaining 2 tablespoons parsley, ricotta cheese, half of the mozzarella cheese, the beaten eggs, 4 tablespoons of the Parmesan cheese, salt, 1/8 teaspoon pepper, and nutmeg; mix well.

    spinach, parsley, ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, beaten eggs, and Parmesan cheese in a bowl

    The Spruce / Rachel Riesgraf

  8. Preheat oven to 350 F. Pour 1 1/2 cups of the prepared sauce in a 9-by-13-inch baking pan (3-quart) or baking dish. 

    sauce in a baking dish

    The Spruce / Rachel Riesgraf

  9. Spread 1/3 cup of the spinach-cheese filling on a cooked lasagna noodle.

    cheese and spinach mixture on a cooked lasagna noodle

    The Spruce / Rachel Riesgraf

  10. Roll up and place on the sauce in the baking dish. Repeat with the remaining noodles.

    rolled lasagna noodles with spinach and cheese, in a baking dish

    The Spruce / Rachel Riesgraf

  11. Top the rolls with the remaining sauce and remaining 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese.

    Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups in a baking dish

    The Spruce / Rachel Riesgraf

  12. Bake the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Top with the remaining mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese. Return to the oven for about 5 minutes, or until the cheese has melted.

    Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups in baking dish

    The Spruce / Rachel Riesgraf

  13. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

    Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups in a baking dish

    The Spruce / Rachel Riesgraf

Tips

  • Use a large jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce, with or without meat and skip the meat sauce prep.
  • Lasagna freezes well, so don't worry about leftovers. Or, make two pans! Freeze it in freezer bags or wrap in plastic wrap then in foil. Freeze for up to 2 months. Defrost lasagna in the refrigerator or microwave and then cover the baking dish with foil and bake until hot. Leftover or reheated casseroles should alway be cooked to a minimum temperature of 165 F (73.9 C).

Recipe Variation

  • Substitute a package of frozen spinach for the fresh spinach and follow the package directions for cooking. Drain it well, pressing or squeezing out excess moisture. 

 

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
486 Calories
22g Fat
33g Carbs
43g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 486
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 22g 28%
Saturated Fat 11g 53%
Cholesterol 174mg 58%
Sodium 539mg 23%
Total Carbohydrate 33g 12%
Dietary Fiber 7g 25%
Protein 43g
Calcium 446mg 34%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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