These Crispy Fried Lasagna Rolls are the lasagna variation you didn't know you needed in your life, but you really do. With a cheesy middle, lasagna sheets rolled up in a delicious spinach alfredo sauce, and a crispy crunchy coating, these rolls have it all. They are not too difficult to make, can be prepped ahead and frozen, and will wow all guests at any party!
Read the full blog post below for detailed notes, tips, tricks, photos and videos.
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WHAT ARE CRISPY FRIED LASAGNA ROLLS MADE OF?
These rolls have 4 main elements:
- Lasagna sheets. Can't have lasagna without them! You will boil the sheets until al dente, and then roll them up with the sauce
- Spinach alfredo sauce. This is a really simple but delicious cheesy sauce which will be spread on each lasagna sheet. I also use the same recipe in my famous Chicken Alfredo Lasagna!
- Mozzarella. This goes in the middle of each roll and create the most incredible cheese pull. You can either get fresh mozzarella and cut it into sticks yourself, or use Mozzarella string cheese and cut it as needed. Just make sure the length of the sticks, after being cut, is slightly less than the width of a lasagna sheet
- Crispy coating. Each roll is dipped into egg and coated in a mixture of crushed crackers, parmesan and chili flakes. You can also use panko bread crumbs, but I find crackers to be tastier and crispier!
VIDEO TUTORIAL
Here's a quick video tutorial of this recipe:
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PROCESS WITH PHOTOS
The detailed recipe is provided in the recipe card at the bottom of this post, but let's quickly go over the method with photos so you can visualize the steps:
For the sauce, saute onion until golden, then add garlic:
Then, add the seasoning and flour. Lightly toast, then add milk and cook until the sauce thickens. End with parmesan cheese and spinach:
Separately, boil the lasagna sheets and separate them so they don't stick together:
For the coating, crush the crackers and mix in parmesan and chili flakes:
With that, it's time to assemble! Cut each lasagna sheet into half and spread on a layer of sauce:
Place a cheese stick on one end of each sheet and roll it up tightly:
Chill the rolls so they firm up. Then dip each roll in egg, and coat generously with the crushed crackers:
Deep fry the rolls until golden and crispy:
Serve with marinara sauce and you're ready to enjoy!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
I recently learned that parmesan cheese is typically not vegetarian or halal, but luckily, you can find vegetarian parmesan cheese on the market! I use the Grated Parmesan Cheese from Whole Foods which is vegetarian and therefore halal.
Yes! If you're not a fan of alfredo, you can play around with a different kind of sauce like marinara. Just be sure to use a thicker sauce which won't seep out when the lasagna sheet is rolled up (which is why a thicker, cheesy alfredo sauce works best).
Yes, you can use panko crumbs instead of the crackers, but I recommend giving the crackers a chance because they taste really good!
Yes, these lasagna rolls can be cooked in an air fryer. First, chill the rolls in the freezer so they firm up. Then give them a generous coating of oil spray, and air fry at 350F until golden and crispy. You may have to give them a flip midway through. I highly recommend the Cuisinart Air Fryer as it gives incredible results.
Yes! You can prepare these lasagna rolls in advance, and freeze them after assembly (before frying). You can then fry them directly from the freezer like other frozen fried food. Just make sure the oil is not too hot as they will take longer to cook through on the inside.
Firstly, make sure to freeze the rolls before coating them in egg wash and crumbs, as that will seal the shape. Then, make sure to give them a thorough coating of the crumbs on all sides, especially the two ends, and press in the crumbs so they stick. Thirdly, gently and constantly stir and flip the rolls while frying so they cook evenly on all sides. If you fry too long on one side and then try to flip them over, there's a higher chance of them coming undone.
RELATED RECIPES
If you like this recipe, be sure to check out these savory hits:
CRISPY FRIED LASAGNA ROLLS RECIPE
- Total Time: 90 min
- Yield: 16 rolls
Description
Lasagna sheets rolled up in a delicious spinach alfredo sauce with a cheesy middle, and a crispy crunchy coating on the outside
Ingredients
Spinach Alfredo Sauce:
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- ¼ medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- ½ tsp salt (or to taste)
- ¼ tsp pepper
- ½ tsp chili flakes
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- 2 tbsp all purpose flour
- 1 cup whole milk
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup chopped spinach (frozen or fresh) - optional
Coating:
- 1 ½ cups crushed crackers (or bread crumbs)
- ¼ cup shredded parmesan cheese
- ½ tsp chili flakes
Assembly:
- 8 lasagna sheets, boiled to al dente according to package instructions and separated so they don't stick together
- 4 Mozzarella string cheese sticks
- 2 large eggs
Frying & serving:
- Oil to deep fry
- Tomato sauce to serve (optional)
Instructions
Spinach alfredo sauce:
- Melt butter in a nonstick saucepan over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and saute until the onion becomes golden
- Add the garlic and saute for a few seconds until fragrant
- Add the salt, pepper, chili flakes and italian seasoning, as well as the flour, and toast for 1 minute
- Add the milk and cream, and gently stir, breaking down all lumps. Cook until the mixture thickens up a bit
- Add the parmesan cheese and stir it in. Then stir in the chopped spinach
- Turn off the heat and taste and adjust as needed. The sauce should be thick but not too thick, as it will thicken up more to a spreadable consistency as it cools down
Coating:
- Crush the crackers using a rolling pin or food processor, and mix with the parmesan cheese and chili flakes. Place in a large bowl or a deep plate
Assembly:
- Boil the lasagna sheets if you haven't already
- Cut each mozzarella stick into half along the length, and then half again along the width. This will give you 4 little sticks from each stick, and the length of each stick will be almost the same as the width of a lasagna sheet. If you're using fresh mozzarella, cut into a similar stick shape
- Place a lasagna sheet onto a clean surface, and cut into half so you have 2 shorter sheets (1 lasagna sheet will make 2 rolls)
- Spread a layer of the spinach alfredo sauce on each half evenly
- Place a mozzarella cheese stick on one end of the sheet, and then roll it up tightly into a little log
- Repeat until all sheets are used up (you should have a total of 16 rolls)
- Place the rolls in the freezer for 15-20 minutes until they firm up
- In the meanwhile, break 2 eggs in a large bowl and whisk until they are properly broken down
- Once the rolls have firmed up, remove from the freezer. Working one roll at a time, dip into the egg, and then into the coating. Make sure to get the coating all over, especially on the two ends of each roll so they cheese cannot leak out. Place the rolls on a wire rack
Frying & serving:
- Heat 2" of vegetable oil in a wide-bottomed pan until it reaches 350F. Start by frying 1 test roll. Gently place it in the oil, and constantly stir and turn it gently as you cook for 5-6 minutes until the roll is golden and crispy all over. Let it cool down and taste it to ensure it is cooked to your liking
- Then fry the remaining rolls in 2-3 batches, making sure not to overcrowd the pan
- Serve the rolls while still hot with some marinara sauce on the side. Enjoy!
Video tutorial:
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id="vUCEGrtz" upload-date="2024-03-25T00:19:21.000Z" name="Crispy Fried Lasagna Rolls" description="How to make crispy fried lasagna rolls" player-type="default" override-embed="default"]
Notes
- For prepping ahead of time, assemble and coat all rolls but do not fry. Freeze them uncooked and fry directly from the freezer when ready to eat them. Make sure to always fry one test roll so you know how hot the oil should be and how long you need to cook for
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 20 min
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: American
Sam says
Literally so tasty! I made them for an event and everyone loved them that I had to make them again! You’re missing out if you don’t try these!
Zoha says
AWW thanks Sam!!!
Amy Gledhill says
these look delicious! Instead of spinach, can I use something different?
Zoha says
Feel free to modify to your liking! you could even do shredded chicken
S Rahman says
Can I fry these in an air fryer? If so, what temperature should I use and for how long?