Two of my favorite Italian meals are lasagna and pasta Alfredo. I have combined them together to make these chicken Alfredo roll ups. The recipe gives all the flavors of both dishes but in small individual sized parcels.
This easy, no-fuss way of making lasagna brings this Italian comfort food to the table in easy to serve portions, each infused with a delicious Alfredo sauce.
Fall is the time for hearty recipes like lasagna. For another fun take on the traditional lasagna casserole, try this lasagna soup. It’s made in one pot and tastes amazing.
I love that I can have this recipe on the table more quickly. Because the lasagna noodles are rolled with the fillings inside, there is no waiting for the lasagna to set so that it can be cut into pieces and still hold together well.
This makes it perfect for busy weeknights, when you are in a hurry but your family is asking for their favorite Italian dishes.
What is better than chicken and Parmesan cheese? The two just go together so well. (Check out my new recipe for chicken and mushrooms in a creamy Parmesan sauce.)
Lasagna rollups are such a fun way to make the traditional Italian classic. See my recipe for a traditional Italian lasagna roll up recipe for another tasty way to server them.
For another great slimmed down recipe, check out my baked chicken cordon bleu. The flavor is amazing.
Slimming down this chicken Alfredo roll ups recipe
Normal lasagna and Alfredo dishes are loaded in calories. Since I am interested in cooking in a more healthy way, I decided to tackle the challenge of slimming these down a little.
Trying to make such a rich dish a bit more healthy is not an easy feat, but I’ve done my best. Instead of normal lasagna noodles, I opted for whole wheat noodles and I chose a light cream cheese instead of the full fat version. The sauce is also lightened up a little by using half heavy cream and half 2% milk instead of all cream.
The final step is to go lightly on the cheese. The entire recipe calls for 2 cups and that is for the sauce as well as the topping. (Many rollup recipes call for 3 cups!) The dish is still rich and delicious, but is a little better for you than a normal version.
Roll up your lasagna for an easy and fun way to eat Italian food. I ♥ #chickenalfredo. #lasagnarecipes. Share on XMaking Chicken Alfredo Roll ups
I love fresh herbs for cooking. They add a delicous taste to recipes and when you try to slim down dishes, fresh herbs are even more important. Dried herbs lose their flavor quickly so choose fresh when you can.
Also, fresh herbs for kitchen gardens are easy to grow and most grocery stores stock them now. For this recipe, I chose fresh oregano, thyme and parsley as well as sea salt and cracked black pepper.
What you choose for cheese makes a big difference in the taste. I used freshly grated Parmesan Reggiano cheese (not the bottled Parmesan) and a 4 State cheddar cheese. (Wisconsin, NY, and Vermont Sharp and California mild mixture)
To make these chicken Alfredo roll ups, start by cooking your noodles according to the package directions. I chose whole wheat noodles, not only because they are more healthy and also because they have a nutty consistency that holds up well in the oven.
While the noodles are cooking, you can make your sauce. Put the butter in a saucepan over medium low heat and let it melt. Add the garlic and low fat cream cheese and whisk until the mixture is smooth.
Stir in the heavy cream and 2% milk, the herbs, Parmesan cheese and 1 cup of the cheddar cheese. Cook gently, stirring often for about 10 minutes until the sauce is creamy and thick.
Making the Lasagna Rollups
Prepare your casserole dish by spraying first with some cooking spray and then adding about 1/4 cup of the Alfredo sauce over the bottom of the pan.
Lay out each lasagna noodle and add a teaspoon of the sauce along the length of the noodle. Add some of the sliced chicken, another teaspoon of the sauce and a tiny bit of the sharp cheddar. It helps for rolling if you don’t have the mixture on the last inch of the noodle.
Roll the noodles with the filling inside and place them with the end side down in the prepared casserole dish. Finish with the remaining noodles. Add the remainder of the sauce over the lasagna rollups and top with the rest of the cheese.
Bake in a preheated 350 º F oven for 30 minutes until the roll ups are heated through and the cheese is bubbly. It is nice to be able to serve them almost as soon as they are out of the oven. They keep their shape well, so no waiting to cut the lasagna!
Tasting These Chicken Alfredo Roll Ups
These rollups are very rich and filling. They are easy to make and easy to eat!
If you love the taste of rich Italian food with a healthy twist, you’ll really like these. The whole wheat noodles gives the roll ups a nice nutty consistency and taste and the creamy Alfredo sauce is rich and decadent. Each of the chicken Alfredo roll ups works out to about 357 calories. Two of them would still be a fairly rich meal but still much lighter than any restaurant version.
Admin note: This recipe first appeared on my site in October 2013. I have updated the post with new images and more step by step instructions to make the cooking process easier for you to follow.
Chicken Alfredo Roll-Ups - Creamy Lasagna Rollup Recipe
Ingredients
- 10 whole wheat lasagna noodles
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 2 cloves fresh minced garlic
- 2 ounces reduced fat cream cheese
- 1/3 cup of heavy cream
- 1/3 cup of 2% milk
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground cracked black pepper
- 1 1/2 tsp fresh oregano
- 3 sprigs of fresh thyme
- 1 tbsp of fresh parsley
- 2/3 cup Parmesan reggiano cheese
- 1 cup of shredded cheese (I chose 4 State Cheddar)
For the Roll ups:
- 2 cups cooked, thinly sliced pieces of cooked chicken (I used a rotisserie chicken)
- 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
Instructions
Nutrition Information:
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 714.6Total Fat: 47.6gSaturated Fat: 29.1gUnsaturated Fat: 13.6gCholesterol: 165.8mgSodium: 646.6mgCarbohydrates: 44.9gFiber: 7.3gSugar: 2.8gProtein: 33.5g