Chicken Pesto Lasagna Roll Ups with Tomato Sauce

Whether you’re hosting a dinner party or simply craving a tasty and filling meal, these Chicken Pesto Lasagna Roll Ups with Tomato Sauce are sure to be a fun twist to your dining table. Get ready to roll, literally! 

Lasagna is a classic comfort food and a family favorite in my household. My chicken lasagna roll ups have a blend of tender lasagna noodles stuffed with ground chicken, ricotta cheese, marinara sauce and homemade pesto.

Why this recipe works

• It’s wonderful for the whole family (especially the little ones!).
• If you’re a huge lasagna fan, this recipe is for you!
• The recipe uses simple ingredients. 
• This Chicken Pesto Lasagna Roll Up is great for any night of the week. Make ahead by prepping the dish and bake it off the next day. It’s perfect for meal preps and meal plans. 

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Try these other easy pasta recipes: 5-Ingredient Baked Ziti and Vegetarian Lasagna Soup.

Ingredients

• Lasagna noodles. Be sure to get the regular classic lasagna noodles. 
• Extra virgin olive oil. You can cook the chicken in olive oil or use non stick spray to reduce calories in the dish. 
• Ground chicken. I found using ground chicken is the easiest for this recipe. Leftover rotisserie chicken or shredded chicken breast works too.  
• Marinara. Any pasta sauce or tomato sauce will be delicious.
• Ricotta cheese. The ricotta is going to be mixed in with the ground chicken and pesto make a delicious filling. 
• Fresh parsley.
• Pesto. My Pesto with Avocado Oil works perfectly in this recipe or you can use any store-bought pesto. I recommend fresh pesto such Kirkland (Costco) Brand or Trader Joe’s.
• Kosher salt.
• Black pepper.
• Oregano. Dried oregano works great or use fresh oregano. Or you can use regular Italian seasoning.
• Garlic powder. Minced garlic can be used.
• Mozzarella cheese. Any type of soft shreddable cheese will work in this recipe. 

How to prepare Chicken Pesto Lasagna Roll-ups

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Add 1/2 cup of the marinara sauce to the bottom of a casserole dish and spread it to coat the bottom evenly. Drizzle some pesto onto the bottom as well. 

2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook the lasagna noodles according to the package directions.

3. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large saute pan. Add the ground chicken when ready. Season with garlic powder, oregano, salt and pepper. Cook until no longer pink. Set it aside when done. 

4. In a large bowl combine ricotta cheese, the cooked ground chicken, 1/4 cup of pesto, parsley and dash of salt and pepper. 

5. On a large sheet pan or your counter space, place some parchment paper down and lay the lasagna noodles out to dry for a few minutes. 

6. Take about a 1/3 cup of the mixture and spread it over the noodle. Carefully roll and place the compact roll-up seam side down in the baking dish. Repeat with the remaining cooked lasagna noodles. 

7. Spoon about a tablespoon of marinara sauce over each roll. Then drizzle remaining remaining pesto over the top. Sprinkle the top of the chicken pesto roll-ups with mozzarella cheese. 

8. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Store any remaining leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Freeze for up to 3 months. Be sure to use a freezer-safe baking dish if you plan to freeze this meal. 

Helpful tips

Use cooked regular lasagna noodles.

As the lasagna sheets dry, they will get to room temperature and that’s ok. 

A serving size is 2 rolls but for added portion control, try one roll and serve with a fresh salad. 

Serving suggestions for Chicken Pesto Lasagna Roll Ups

• This recipe can be made with a white sauce. Pesto sauce is amazing when mixed with bechamel sauce or a creamy garlic herb sauce.
• Use cottage cheese in replace of ricotta for more added protein.
• Make a traditional lasagna with the staples of this recipe. Adjust ingredient quantities as needed. 
• Pesto chicken roll-ups are wonderful with Romano cheese, parmesan cheese, or make it unique and top with crumbled feta. 
• Sneak in some added veggies such as shredded kale or spinach.
• Fresh basil leaves added into the ricotta mixture is so good! 
• Add red pepper flakes for extra spice.
• For any dietary restrictions, use dairy free cheese or gluten free lasagna noodles.
• To switch out proteins, try with ground turkey or ground beef. Or make it vegetarian! 

Recipe inspiration

This recipe is inspired by the vegetarian lasagna roll up I have tried from the blog Skinnytaste. While I love vegetarian meals, my husband demands some meat in his dinners! This meal definitely checked all the boxes for him. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do! 

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