Lasagna Roll Ups

     I've made different versions of these and this recipe mimics a true lasagna more closely.  If you want a lite version with no meat or a spinach alfredo version you can visit those recipes here: 
Meatless Rollups
Spinach Alfredo


Lasagna Roll Ups 

Ingredients

• 12 lasagna noodles

MEAT FILLING: 

• 1 1/2 lbs. lean ground beef
• 32 oz Jar of your favorite pasta sauce or marinara
• 1 small onion, diced 
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp sea salt 
• 1/2 tsp black pepper 
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano

CHEESE FILLING:

• 15 oz ricotta cheese
• 1 large egg
• 2 teaspoons dried parsley 
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, shredded
• 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded & divided

Directions: 

1. If Baking and eating right away - Preheat oven to 375˚F.
2. Cook noodles in a large pot of salted water according to package instructions then drain and fill pot with cold water to halt the cooking process and help keep the noodles from sticking together.
3. In a large pan, over medium-high heat, cook ground beef until no longer pink. Drain off any fat. Add diced onion and cook until softened. Add garlic, salt, pepper and oregano; sauté for about a minute. Add jarred sauce, bring to a simmer then turn off the heat.
4. Spread 1/2 cup meat sauce over the bottom of a 9x13 casserole dish.
5. In a large bowl, stir together: ricotta, egg, parmesan cheese, 1 cup mozzarella cheese and parsley.
6. Use a large baking sheet and arrange noodles over sheet in a single layer. Spread 1/4 cup of cheese mixture over the top of each noodle. Add a heaping Tablespoon of meat sauce in a strip down the center of the noodle. Roll noodles up and arrange in the prepared casserole dish seam side down.
7. Spread remaining meat sauce over the tops of roll-ups and sprinkle on the remaining mozzarella cheese. Cover with foil, making sure foil isn't touching cheese.
8. Bake covered at 375˚F for 40 minutes. Remove foil and broil another 2-3 minutes or until cheese is lightly golden.

**If you aren't baking right away - cover with foil and place in refrigerator.  Preheat oven to 400F. bake for 55-70 minutes.  Finish off under broiler.