Easy, Healthy Freezer Meal: Kale Stuffed Lasagna Rolls
A delicious and freezer friendly twist on lasagna! Stuff with kale, ricotta, mozzarella and Parmesan then roll noodles instead of layering.
Perhaps you can guess from the post title that this month's Recipe ReDux theme is.....
Fantastic Freezer Meals:
Share your tips and tricks for making one – or more freezer meals. It’s the end of the gardening season for some of us; let’s store away that produce in heat-and-eat-from-the-freezer-meals. Show how convenient healthy freezer breakfast, lunches or dinners can be!
Confession: I don't do freezer meals.
Sure I'd love to be organized enough to do all my food prep every weekend, make a few large batches of dinners and freeze the extras for the week ahead, but these days, that's not how I operate.
In fact, the only recipe that I consistently make and freeze is these whole grain pancakes (just made a batch today.)
So, I was stumped for awhile with this theme until I remembered the go-to dish my mom makes for a crowd and holidays and sometimes freezes ahead: Spinach Lasagna Rolls. She got the recipe from Cooking Light eons ago (aka before the Internet) and we've both made variations of it dozens of times over the years.
And taking to heart the other part of the theme of preserving produce, I swapped in my CSA kale for the spinach and even got to use the garlic that also came in my veggie share last week.
[bctt tweet="Roll instead of layer! Freezer friendly Kale Stuffed Cheesy Lasagna Rolls via @tspbasil #thereciperedux"]
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Easy, Healthy Freezer Meal: Kale Stuffed Lasagna Rolls
- Yield: 12 servings (3 rolls per serving.) 1x
Description
Easy, healthy, family-friendly freezer meal of kale stuffed lasagna rolls.
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 6 cups chopped kale, stems removed (or you can swap in spinach)
- 16 ounces ricotta cheese
- 8 ounces part-skim mozzarella, shredded
- 1 cup Parmesan, Romano or Asiago cheese, grated
- 1 (15 ounce) can low-sodium pizza sauce
- 1 cup grape tomatoes, diced
- ÂĽ cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
- 18 lasagna noodles (NOT no boil)
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Add kale and sauté for about 5 minutes or until tender. (If using spinach, this will take less time.) Remove from heat, cool and then squeeze liquid out of greens.
- In a large bowl, mix together ricotta cheese, mozzarella and Âľ cup Parmesan cheese. Add kale and mix well.
- In a small bowl, mix together pizza sauce, tomatoes and basil.
- Cook lasagna noodles according to directions. Drain.
- Using either one 13x9x2-inch pan or two 9x9-inch pans (tin is best if freezing - do not use glass if not baking immediately), spread a little bit of sauce on the bottom of the pan(s).
- To assemble rolls, take one noodle and spread out on a flat surface. Scoop about 3 tablespoons of kale cheese mixture and spread evenly on noodle. Roll up noodle and then cut in half crosswise. Place rolls cut side down in pan. Repeat with remaining rolls.
- Gently spoon remaining sauce over lasagna rolls in pan.
- If freezing, place sheet of wax paper over pan and then wrap in heavy aluminum foil.
- When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Remove wax paper and recover with foil. Bake for 45 minutes, remove from oven, sprinkle with remaining ÂĽ cup Parmesan and return to oven uncovered. Bake for another 5 minutes or until the cheese is completely melted. Serve warm.
This recipe makes two batches, one you can eat that night and one you can freeze for later. When I'm freezing these, I don't cook them ahead of time and I use a tin baking pan vs. glass. I cover the top with wax paper or parchment and then wrap the entire thing in heavy duty aluminum.
For more inspiration - which I clearly need - check all our ReDuxers' deep freeze inspired recipes in the thumbnails below. And if you can't get enough, check out Cooking Light's Best Freezer-Friendly Meals and Food Safety Tips For Freezer Meals <---just as important as the cooking is the freezing and reheating.
I rarely do freezer meals either! If I do freeze things, it's usually ingredients that just last longer in the freezer, not pre-made meals. Way to go on this recipes though! It looks amazing!
I'm the exact same way. Don't really do freezer meals yet my freezer is stuffed to the brim - I got to clean out the freezer and start over (we should have tagged this theme with a Fall Freezer Clean -ha!)
Lasagna is one of my favorite go-to freezer meals, but it's been a while since I've made it. I look forward to trying this recipe out!
Funny, I make pasta all the time but lasagna, not so much. But it's so easy to make and everyone seems like it - back in my meal rotation now. LMK if you make it!
I just laughed out loud because I had the same confession on my post today too -- I just don't really do freezer meals! These lasagna roll ups look delicious though...freezer or not! Great recipe!
I'm glad I'm not alone in this boat. I think I have to first clean out my freezer and start all over 🙂
That is my kind of recipe. I'm always on the lookout for hearty vegetarian dishes for my hubby, and for my boys, even though they're meat lovers, I think they'd eat this very happily. Pinning NOW!!!
Whoot - let me know what the fam thinks if you make it 🙂
I need to up my freezer meal game big time! So glad this month's theme is here to the rescue 🙂 Currently salivating over your lasagna rolls - KALE!
I'm in the same boat as you - I know we'll be inspired in the next few days 🙂
YUM! Delicious idea! I need to freeze more meals and make my life easier 🙂
Oh me too, sister! I'm hoping this month's theme is that kick in the butt to do so 🙂
These look delicious! What a great way to get some kale into everyone!
My problem is remembering that I actually have a freezer meal in the freezer to use. However,I am very good about having homemade waffles or muffins in the freezer at all times for a quick and easy breakfast. Those lasagna rolls look great and I will definitely be giving those pancakes a try.
Allie- that's EXACTLY what happens to me! I'll occasionally freeze some leftover entree, an apple cake, and it goes to die of freezer burn in the back of my freezer 🙂 But like you, frozen homemade pancakes, waffles and muffins always get used.
I love freezer meals but usually the meals don't start out as ones planned to be frozen- sometimes they just end up there! Kale is so rustic and fall- perfect timing of this recipe!
Ha - another good point about freezer meals! And of course I'll be checking out your pancakes..
The only thing I usually stock my freezer with is bread ( can't eat it that fast!) and homemade stock. Cooking for one usually means I just cut recipes down so I don't get tired to death of it. Love these super cute roll ups though!
YES - I definitely use my freezer for extra bread and I have to start making homemade stock - I know you have good easy veggie stock recipe on your blog.
This might be the only way I'll ever get The Professor to eat kale...but I'll take it! 🙂
Good luck! Hubby is a lost cause in this house for any new veggies but hopeful the 8 year old will come around soon 🙂
Lasagna rolls are on my menu this week. Perfect for freezer friendly meals. And easy to make gf.
Yes! LMK how the go over in your house!
Looks delicious! I love the swap for kale since that is still going strong in our garden. I am also going to try freezing pancakes - sounds like it is a popular thing to do!
Oooh - jealous about your garden - this black thumb has such respect for anyone who can grow their own food 🙂
i made something similar on valentines day long time ago..thank you for reminding. also, i love how you placed them facing upwards.
Dixya - Funny that's the only way I knew how to make them but now I see the versions where they are lying side by side which probably is good for preventing them from drying out (if you don't have enough sauce to cover.) Will try it that way next time!
the perfect freezer meal. And maybe i can even get everyone in my house to eat kale!
Confession: this did not get daughter or husband to eat kale. I'm way more hopeful daughter will come around - hubby is a lost cause - ha!
I love that you added kale to your roll-ups! My families version uses pepperoni and spinach. But I think I'll try kale and spinach next time! And I'm with you on freezer meals... I don't do many. Mainly because my freezer is so small!
OK - I'm actually loving the idea of adding a little bit of pepperoni next time 🙂