These Italian Sausage Lasagna Roll Ups have all the cheesy, saucy goodness of classic lasagna, but they’re rolled into individual servings that are easy to assemble, bake and serve. Lasagna noodles are filled with creamy ricotta, Parmesan and mozzarella, rolled up, and baked in a hearty Italian sausage marinara sauce.

If you love lasagna but don’t always love the work involved in layering it, these lasagna roll ups are such a fun alternative.

Each noodle gets its own layer of creamy ricotta filling and mozzarella cheese before being rolled up and tucked into a casserole dish. A simple meat sauce made with sweet Italian sausage and tomato-basil marinara goes underneath and over the top, followed by plenty more mozzarella.

The result is a bubbling pan of cheesy lasagna rolls with crispy little edges and plenty of sauce. Since everyone gets two roll ups, serving couldn’t be easier! And I’ll admit: I think lasagna roll ups are a whole lot easier to serve than a towering piece of traditional lasagna!

one Italian Sausage Lasagna Roll Ups on a plate

Why You’ll Love These Lasagna Roll Ups

There are plenty of reasons to make these instead of traditional lasagna.

They’re easier to serve. There’s no trying to cut perfect squares of lasagna that fall apart as soon as you lift them from the pan.
The filling is evenly distributed. Every roll has ricotta, Parmesan, mozzarella and meat sauce in every serving.
They’re great for entertaining. Assemble the casserole ahead of time and put it into the oven when you’re ready.
They’re freezer-friendly. Lasagna is one of my favorite meals to have waiting in the freezer.
Kids love them. There’s something about getting your own little rolled-up lasagna that makes dinner more fun.

Ingredients displayed for making Italian Sausage Lasagna roll Ups

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Meat Sauce

Sweet Italian sausage: I use sweet Italian sausage because it gives the sauce plenty of flavor without adding a lot of heat. You can substitute hot Italian sausage if you prefer.
Tomato-basil marinara: Using a good jarred marinara keeps this recipe manageable for a weeknight. I prefer Classico tomato-basil marinara, but use your favorite. You can also make homemade marinara sauce.

For the Lasagna Roll Ups

Lasagna noodles: You’ll need 12 traditional lasagna noodles. Don’t use no-boil noodles for this recipe because they need to be cooked and flexible enough to roll.
Ricotta cheese: Part-skim ricotta makes the creamy base of the filling.
Parmesan: Grated Parmesan adds salty, nutty flavor to the ricotta mixture.
Eggs: These help bind the ricotta filling so it stays inside the rolls.
Fresh Italian parsley: Fresh parsley adds color and freshness to the cheese filling.
Salt and pepper: For seasoning the ricotta mixture.
Mozzarella: And plenty of it! Some goes inside each lasagna roll and the rest gets sprinkled over the top.

How to Make Italian Sausage Lasagna Roll Ups

Make the Italian Sausage Sauce

Brown the Italian sausage in a large skillet over medium heat, breaking it apart as it cooks.
Drain off and discard any excess fat. Add the marinara sauce to the sausage and stir everything together.

That’s your meat sauce—nice and easy!

Cook the Lasagna Noodles

Preheat the oven to 375°F and spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
Cook the lasagna noodles according to the package directions until tender. Drain and rinse the noodles, and then lay them flat on a cutting board or clean work surface.

Try not to pile the noodles on top of one another because they’ll have a tendency to stick together.

Make the Ricotta Filling

In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta, Parmesan, beaten eggs, parsley, salt and pepper.
Spread ¾ cup of the Italian sausage sauce over the bottom of the prepared baking dish.

Assemble the Lasagna Roll Ups

Spread a little more than ¼ cup of the ricotta mixture evenly over each lasagna noodle.
Sprinkle a thin layer of mozzarella over the ricotta.
Starting at one short end, gently roll up each noodle. Don’t roll them excessively tight—you want the filling to stay put instead of squeezing out the sides.
Arrange the rolls seam-side down in the prepared casserole dish.
Spoon the remaining meat sauce evenly over the lasagna rolls and sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese over the top.

Bake

Place the casserole on the lower rack of your oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the sauce is bubbling and the cheese is hot and melted.
Let the lasagna roll ups rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Plan on two roll ups per person.

overhead shot of Italian Sausage Lasagna Roll Ups in white casserole dish

Tips for the Best Lasagna Roll Ups

Don’t overcook the noodles. You want them tender and flexible, but noodles that become overly soft can tear when you’re spreading and rolling.
Cook an extra noodle or two if you have them. It’s always nice to have a backup in case one of the noodles tears.
Lay the cooked noodles flat. This keeps them from sticking together while you’re preparing the filling.
Don’t overfill the rolls. It’s tempting to load them up, but too much filling will squeeze out when they’re rolled.
Place them seam-side down. This keeps the lasagna rolls from opening while they bake.
Let them rest before serving. Give them 5 to 10 minutes after they come out of the oven. They’ll be easier to serve, and the filling won’t be quite as molten-hot.

close up dish of Italian Sausage Lasagna Roll Ups

Can I Use Ground Beef Instead?

Definitely. Ground beef works well if you don’t care for Italian sausage.

You can also use ground turkey or ground chicken. If you’re using a leaner meat, I’d add some Italian seasoning to the sauce since you won’t have all the seasoning that’s already in Italian sausage.

You can also use hot Italian sausage if your family likes a little spice.

Can I Make Lasagna Roll Ups Ahead of Time?

Yes! That’s one of the reasons I love this recipe for entertaining.

Assemble the entire casserole, cover it tightly and refrigerate it until you’re ready to bake. I would assemble it up to one day ahead.

Since the casserole will be cold going into the oven, you may need to add a little extra baking time. I like to take it out of the refrigerator while the oven is preheating to take some of the chill off.

Italian Sausage Lasagna Roll Ups in Casserole Dish with some taken out

Can You Freeze Lasagna Roll Ups?

Yes. These are a great freezer meal.

Assemble the lasagna roll ups in a freezer-safe baking dish, but don’t bake them. Wrap the dish tightly and freeze. For best quality, I’d use them within about 2 to 3 months.

Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking. If they’re still very cold when they go into the oven, expect them to take a little longer than the recipe indicates.

You can also freeze leftover cooked lasagna rolls individually, which is convenient when you only need one or two servings.

What to Serve with Lasagna Roll Ups

Since these are pretty hearty, I like to keep the rest of dinner simple.

A big Italian green salad or Caesar salad is perfect. Garlic bread is always a good idea, too. Add your favorite red wine, and you’ve got the best meal!

serving of Italian Sausage Lasagna Roll Ups

Frequently Asked Questions

How many lasagna roll ups should I serve per person?

This recipe makes 12 roll ups and serves six, so plan on two per person. For smaller appetites or when you’re serving several side dishes, one may be enough.

Can I use cottage cheese instead of ricotta?

You can, although the texture will be different. If you aren’t a fan of ricotta, small-curd cottage cheese is the best substitute.

Can I use no-boil lasagna noodles?

I wouldn’t for this recipe. Traditional lasagna noodles work best because they’re cooked before assembling and become flexible enough to roll without breaking.

Why are my lasagna noodles tearing?

They may have been overcooked or damaged while draining. Handle them gently and spread the filling without pressing too firmly.

Can I make these without meat?

Yes. Simply omit the Italian sausage and use marinara sauce. You could also add sautéed spinach or mushrooms to make vegetarian lasagna roll ups.

Fun Facts About Lasagna:

July 29th is National Lasagna Day.
The traditional lasagna of Naples is, “Lasagna di Carnevale.” It’s made with Italian sausage, fried meatballs, hard-boiled eggs, ricotta or mozzarella cheese and Neapolitan ragu.
All regions of Italy make lasagna in different ways.
In Italy, Easter and Christmas dinners wouldn’t be complete without lasagna served as the 1st or pasta course.
Most lasagnas are made with 3 to 4 layers.
Lasagna is comic strip character Garfield’s favorite food.
Weird Al Yankovic’s song “Lasagna” is a parody of the song: La Bamba.
Some say you can make lasagna in the dishwasher! Cover your assembled lasagna tightly with foil, and use the heated dry and sanitize cycle to cook the lasagna.