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Homemade Pesto Lasagna Roll Ups photo

Pesto Lasagna Roll Ups

Delicious lasagna noodles rolled with a ricotta-spinach-pesto filling and baked in creamy béchamel.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 12 lasagna noodles
  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 4 cups whole milk room temperature
  • pinch ground nutmeg
  • kosher salt to taste
  • 2 cups ricotta cheese
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 10 ounces frozen spinach thawed, drained, and squeezed to remove water
  • 1/2 cup basil pesto
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese plus 3 tablespoons divided
  • 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • pinch nutmeg
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided

Equipment

  • Large Pot
  • Baking Dish (9x13 inch)
  • Medium Saucepan
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Whisk
  • Spatula or spoon
  • foil

Method
 

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the lasagna noodles until al dente according to package directions. Drain and lay noodles flat on parchment or a cooling rack to cool.
  2. Make the béchamel: in a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter until foaming. Whisk in the flour and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Gradually whisk in the milk, about ½ cup at a time, then bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, whisking frequently, until thickened to a cream consistency (about 8–10 minutes). Season with a pinch of nutmeg and kosher salt, then remove from heat.
  3. Prepare the filling: in a medium bowl combine ricotta, egg, minced garlic, drained spinach, pesto, ¼ cup Parmesan, crushed red pepper flakes, a pinch of nutmeg, and salt and pepper to taste. Stir until well combined.
  4. Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray and spread ½ cup of the béchamel evenly over the bottom of the dish.
  5. Assemble rolls: spread about ¼ cup of the ricotta-spinach mixture evenly over each lasagna noodle. Top each noodle with 2 tablespoons shredded mozzarella and 2 tablespoons béchamel, then carefully roll up and place seam-side down in the prepared dish.
  6. Top the arranged rolls with the remaining béchamel, the remaining mozzarella, and the remaining 3 tablespoons Parmesan. Cover the dish with foil sprayed lightly with cooking spray.
  7. Bake covered at 350°F for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake an additional 5 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • Cool completely before freezing if storing long-term.
  • Drain and squeeze spinach well to avoid a watery filling.
  • Use room-temperature milk for a smoother béchamel.
  • Assemble rolls seam-side down to prevent unrolling while baking.