Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups - Thriving Home (2024)

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Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups - Thriving Home (1)

By: Polly Conner

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Filled with a mix of cheeses, marinara, fresh herbs, and spinach, Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups are a delicious version of traditional lasagna where the ingredients are rolled up instead of layered. These lasagna rolls even made our top list of vegetarian meals for kids, because all ages love these!

“This is a great recipe! I’ve doubled and tripled it before, frozen batches, and it always turns out great! I’m planning to bring the next round to a new mama. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️” – Amanda

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Table of Contents

Highlights of This Recipe

  • Filled with flavor thanks to the fresh herbs and mix of cheeses.
  • Vegetarian but super filling.
  • Great way to include some sneaky nutrition in a kid-favorite meal.
  • Freezer-friendly. Tastes like a fresh meal if you use our instructions.
  • Big-batch recipe, so it’s a great inexpensive recipe when serving a group.

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups…

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Ingredient Notes

  • Lasagna noodles – I like to use whole wheat noodles if you can find them, because they are fiber-rich and less processed.
  • Parsley and basil – Fresh, minced herbs are best but dried will work if needed.
  • Frozen chopped spinach – It’s imperative to this recipe to use frozen spinach, but it has to be thawed and drained well. The good news is that frozen spinach is such a bargain! You’d have to buy loads of fresh spinach to get the same amount.
  • Marinara sauce – The sauce is a main component of this recipe, so be sure to use high-quality sauce like our Homemade Marinara Sauce or Raos brand.

Pro Tip

Add shredded cooked chicken in the spinach lasagna rolls if you want to add in more protein.

How to Make Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups

Prepare the noodles & filling

Cook your whole wheat lasagna noodles until they are al dente, toss with a little olive oil to prevent sticking, and lay them out on a cooking sheet.

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Add the filling & marinara sauce

Spread the cheesy spinach mixture evenly over the noodles.Now spread some of that saucy goodness over the cheesy goodness. A lot of goodness happening right now.

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Roll them up

Roll the noodles up, and place the seam side down in a greased pan that has a little of the marinara sauce in the bottom of it.

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Top with cheese & bake

Top entire casserole with remaining sauce, remaining mozzarella, and remaining Parmesan cheese. Oh yes…this is gonna be GOOD. Bake at 375°F for 25-30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.

Finally, serve hot and enjoy!

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Side Dish Ideas

Classic Fruit Salad

Texas Toast

Oven Roasted Asparagus

Mandarin Orange Salad with Creamy Citrus Dressing

How to Freeze Lasagna Rolls

As I mentioned before, these roll ups freeze beautifully and can be a great freezer meal for a new mom! Since this is a big batch recipe, you can easily freeze half a batch in an 8×8 inch dish for another meal.

Here’s how to prep it as a freezer meal…

Freeze for Later: Assemble the lasagna rolls completely, but do not bake. Wrap the dish tightly in several layers of plastic wrap and 1 or 2 layers of foil, squeeze out excess air and freeze.

Prepare From Frozen: Thaw in the refrigerator for 24 hours. Set out on the counter for 30 minutes to bring to room temperature and then bake as directed.

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Recipe FAQs

Can I halve this recipe?

Instead of using less ingredients, consider assembling in two 8×8-inch pans and freezing one. Trust us, your future-self will thank you!

How do I thaw frozen spinach?

You have several options. You can thaw overnight in the fridge (12+ hours).
You can use cold water method by placing frozen spinach in a leak-proof bag, squeezing out any air, and submerging in cold water for 1-2 hours. Or you can
place the block of frozen spinach on a microwave-safe plate and use the microwave’s defrost setting.

How do you drain the liquid from frozen spinach?

Wrap thawed spinach in a tea towel and squeeze as much liquid from it as possible over the sink. Alternatively, you can place the spinach in a colander and press down on it to squeeze out the liquid.

Can I make this ahead?

Yes! If you make it a day or two before, just set it out on the counter while the oven is preheating and you should be able to bake as directed.

More Vegetarian Recipes You’ll Love

  • Protein Bowl
  • Make Ahead Lunch Wraps
  • Pumpkin Chili
  • Cheddar Chive Egg Bites
  • Cancer-Fighting Soup
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Did you make this? Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!

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5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star5 from 5 reviews

Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups

A family favorite packed with spinach, marinara sauce, and yummy cheese! Kids and adults alike love this comfort meal. Freezer instructions included.

Yield: 8 servings (2 rolls per serving) 1x

Prep: 25 minutesCook: 30 minutesTotal: 55 minutes

Print RecipeRate Pin for Later

Units:

Scale:

Ingredients

  • 1 (16-ounce) package uncooked lasagna noodles (you’ll need 16 noodles)
  • Olive oil or avocado oil
  • 2 (25-28 ounces) jars marinara sauce, divided (or use 67 cups Homemade Marinara Sauce)
  • 2 cups (8-ounce bag) shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
  • 1 1/2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese, divided
  • 1 (15-ounce) container ricotta cheese
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained, and squeezed very dry
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley leaves (sub: 2 tablespoons dried parsley flakes)
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil leaves (sub: 1 tablespoon dried basil)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic (2 cloves)

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions

Make It Now:

  1. Boil Noodles: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook at least 16 lasagna noodles until al dente (i.e. slightly undercooked), about 6 to 8 minutes. Drain in a colander. Coat them with a bit of olive oil, lay noodles out flat on a cookie sheet (divide layers with parchment paper), and set aside.
  2. Prep Pans: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish (or two 8×8 inch dishes) with oil or cooking spray. Spread 1/2 cup of marinara sauce on the bottom of the 9×13 dish (or 1/4 cup in each 8×8 dish) in a thin layer.
  3. Make Filling: In a large mixing bowl, stir together 1 cup mozzarella cheese (reserve the other 1 cup), 1 cup Parmesan cheese (reserve the other 1/2 cup), ricotta cheese, eggs, spinach, parsley, basil, pepper, salt, and garlic.
  4. Roll Noodles: On each noodle, spread 1/4 cup of the cheese mixture and then 2 1/2 – 3 tablespoons of sauce. Note: You should have used up all the cheese mixture and one entire jar of sauce (3 – 3 1/2 cups) by this point, dividing them evenly among the noodles. Roll the noodles up, and place seam side down in the prepared pan(s). Squeeze them in however they fit best.
  5. Finish Casserole: Top entire casserole(s) with the remaining jar of sauce (3 – 3 1/2 cups), remaining 1 cup mozzarella, and remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese. (Freezing instructions begin here.)
  6. Bake & Serve: Bake for 25-30 minutes or until bubbly on the edges and hot in the middle. Let sit for 5-10 minutes and garnish with lots of fresh chopped herbs.

Freeze For Later: Follow steps 1-5. (Do not bake). Wrap the casserole tightly in a few layers of plastic wrap and foil, squeezing out any excess air. Freeze for 3-6 months.

Prepare From Frozen: Thaw the casserole using one of these safe methods. Cook as directed in step 6.

Notes/Tips

  • This is a big batch recipe. It’s easy to divide into two 8×8 inch dishes and freeze one for later.
  • If you want these to look more like individual rolls after baking, be more precise when placing the sauce and cheese on top. Just put a dollop on each roll instead of spreading it out. Or try our faster Easy Cheesy Baked Pasta that uses a similar filling and penne pasta instead.
  • How to Thaw Frozen Spinach:
    • Thaw overnight in fridge. (12+ hours)
    • Use cold water method. Place frozen spinach in leak-proof bag and squeeze out any air. Submerge in cold water for an hour or so. (1-2 hours)
    • Place block of frozen spinach on a microwave-safe plate. Use microwave’s defrost setting for fastest thawing. (5 minutes)
  • How to Drain Liquid from Frozen Spinach: Wrap thawed spinach in a tea towel and squeeze as much liquid from it as possible over the sink. Alternatively, you can place the spinach in a colander and press down on it to squeeze out the liquid.
  • Tips for Lasagna Noodles:

    • Use whole wheat, plain, or gluten free noodles.
    • Boil in salted water until al dente. Should still have a little bite to them when you taste test; do not over cook.
    • After boiling, lay out noodles side by side on a greased sheet pan.
    • Divide single layers of noodles with parchment paper.
    • Spray the tops of each layer of noodles with cooking spray to prevent drying out or sticking.
    • If you make these a few hours ahead, cover with a moist paper towel or plastic wrap until ready to use.

© Author: Polly Conner

Cuisine:ItalianMethod:Bake

Photos and video by Whitney Reist of Sweet Cayenne.

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Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups - Thriving Home (20)

Polly Conner

As co-founder of Thriving Home, Polly’s passionate about helping busy parents get dinner on the table. With a house full of kids, dogs, and (usually) a DIY project in the works, she knows firsthand how every minute (and every dollar) counts. As a business owner, she enjoys wearing multiple hats and serves best as a project manager for Thriving Home.

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  1. Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups - Thriving Home (21)Amanda says

    How long would you cook if made the night before?? Thanks so much!

    Reply

    • Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups - Thriving Home (22)Carla from Thriving Home says

      Hi Amanda. I’d set it out on the counter while the oven is preheating and then you should be able to bake as directed.

      Reply

  2. Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups - Thriving Home (23)Amanda says

    This is a great recipe! I’ve doubled and tripled it before, frozen batches, and it always turns out great! I’m planning to bring the next round to a new mama.

    Reply

    • Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups - Thriving Home (24)Rachel Tiemeyer says

      Thanks for the review! The first time I had a version of this recipe was when a friend made it for me as a new mom myself. I’m so happy to hear it’s being given to another new mama. 🙂

      Reply

  3. Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups - Thriving Home (25)Cyan says

    Can I bake it and then freeze it?

    Reply

    • Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups - Thriving Home (26)Rachel Tiemeyer says

      Yes, you can. However two things: 1) the texture will be a little mushier when you reheat it than if you freeze before baking, and 2) be sure to wrap it very tightly and to warm in the microwave at 50% power so you don’t dry it out more.

      Reply

  4. Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups - Thriving Home (27)Bonnie says

    This looks delicious! Can you use fresh spinach instead of frozen.

    Reply

    • Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups - Thriving Home (28)Rachel Tiemeyer says

      Yes, for sure!

      Reply

  5. Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups - Thriving Home (29)Jeri says

    My family loved this recipe. So yummy. I used whole wheat lasagna noodles and added turkey Italian sausage. It is definitely a keeper.

    Reply

  6. Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups - Thriving Home (30)Melinda says

    This recipe is SO YUMMY. My family loves this and we’ve made it several times! When I make it, I divide a single batch into two 8×8 pans (since my family is small) and we bake one and freeze the other. My ONLY critique of this recipe is that it takes a significantly longer amount of time to cook after it has been thawed from frozen. I left it in the fridge for over 24 hours before baking, and it still took over an hour to warm through – and even then the middle roll was barely at 145-degrees, which probably isn’t quite hot enough. I wonder if you could leave the egg off the recipe, so you wouldn’t have to worry as much about cooking temperature? Or would it do better cooking at a lower temperature for longer? Anyway – that’s been my experience the last two times I’ve cooked it after thawing. It’s just very dense and hard to cook that middle part of the pan.

    But otherwise — these are the BEST!!! 🙂 Thanks ladies!!

    Reply

  7. Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups - Thriving Home (31)Stefanie Mackriss says

    This could very well be the BEST dish we’ve ever made. The end result was better than restaurant quality (and that’s a direct quote, haha). Thank you so much for the recipe!!

    Reply

    • Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups - Thriving Home (32)Rachel says

      Love that, Stefanie. Thanks for sharing this feedback! I’m glad it was a success!

      Reply

  8. Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups - Thriving Home (33)Amy says

    this looks good!! the recipe calls for a 1 lb bag of mozzarella..but i only see 2 cups being used in the recipe which is what a 8 oz bag holds..so im just curious if its the 8 or 16 oz bag i should be buying? thanks!

    Reply

    • Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups - Thriving Home (34)Rachel says

      Thanks for pointing this out, Amy. I corrected the recipe. Appreciate the feedback!

      Reply

  9. Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups - Thriving Home (35)Emily W Loughlin says

    Where does the spinach go in the final recipe?

    Reply

    • Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups - Thriving Home (36)Polly says

      It’s mixed in with the cheese filling. Yum!

      Reply

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