Leftover Turkey (or Chicken) Lasagna Roll Recipe with Sun-Dried Tomatoes & Spinach {Low Fat}

When you have leftover turkey (or chicken), try these lasagna rolls, filled with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach. The low-fat mix is tucked inside whole wheat pasta and baked until bubbling and golden brown.

What happens when one little family of four cooks a 20 pound turkey at Thanksgiving? Well, either we eat until we balloon up and float to the ceiling, or we find plenty of ways to use the leftovers. Of course, a hot turkey sandwich – open-faced, topped with stuffing and cranberry sauce and smothered with gravy, please – is always an option. And I can’t resist my favorite Turkey, Brie, Pear & Cherry Chipotle Panini. However, sometimes you want something a little different, and that’s where these baked lasagna rolls come in.

When I first made my Healthy Lasagne Recipe with Turkey, Pesto and Peppers, I found a way to make this typically fat-laden layered pasta dish into a very tasty, low-fat meal. The trick is to replace the ricotta cheese or bechamel sauce with pureed cottage cheese. Your family will never know the difference.

And don’t think that you have to wait until Thanksgiving rolls around to make this. Instead of turkey, use leftover chicken, or cut the meat off of a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store.

The recipe:

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the lasagna noodles and cook until just tender. Drain the noodles, gently rinse with cold water and lay on a kitchen towels, separated from each other.

For the filling, heat olive oil in a large frying pan set over medium heat. Add onions and saute until soft, 4 to 5 minutes. Add garlic and saute for additional 30 seconds.

Add the diced turkey (or chicken) and heat until warm, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl.

Stir in spinach and sundried tomatoes until combined, and allow the mixture to cool.

Place the cottage cheese in the bowl of a food processor or blender and puree until smooth. Stir the cottage cheese, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, dried chile flakes, nutmeg, salt and pepper into the turkey mixture.

Lay a few lasagna noodles on a cutting board. Spread 3 heaping tablespoons of the turkey mixture along each noodle. Starting at one short end, tightly roll up the lasagna noodle and filling.

Prepare a 9- by 13-inch baking pan by spreading 1 cup tomato sauce on the bottom. Arrange the lasagna rolls, seam side down. Repeat with the remaining lasagna noodles and filling.

Spread additional 1 1/2 cups tomato sauce on top, and sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan cheese.

Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake for additional 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Other leftover turkey (or chicken) ideas:

Cookin’ Canucks Turkey, Brie, Pear & Cherry Chipotle Panini
Cookin’ Canuck’s Baked Tortellini with Turkey, Butternut Squash & Chard
Kalyn’s Kitchen’s Leftover Turkey Salad with Indian Spices, Lemon & Cilantro
Foodiecrush’s Turkey Cranberry & Grilled Brie Cheese Sandwich
Healthy Green Kitchen’s Leftover Turkey Pho

Leftover Turkey (or Chicken) Lasagna Rolls with Sundried Tomatoes & Spinach {Low Fat}

When you have leftover turkey (or chicken), try these lasagna rolls, filled with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach.

Print Pin Rate

Course: Entrees, Pasta

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: Healthy Dinner Recipes, Whole Wheat Recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Cooling Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Servings: 12 Servings

Calories: 208kcal

Author: Dara Michalski | Cookin' Canuck

Ingredients

• 12 whole wheat lasagna noodles

Filling:

• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 small yellow onion chopped
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 14 ounces diced leftover turkey or chicken, mixture of light and dark meat
• 1 1/2 cups packed roughly chopped fresh spinach
• 1/2 cup sundried tomatoes chopped
• 12 ounces low-fat cottage cheese
• 1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese divided
• 1/2 teaspoon dried chile flakes
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 1/4 cups tomato sauce your favorite kind

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the lasagna noodles and cook until just tender. Drain the noodles, gently rinse with cold water and lay on a kitchen towels, separated from each other.
• For the filling, heat olive oil in a large frying pan set over medium heat. Add onions and saute until soft, 4 to 5 minutes. Add garlic and saute for additional 30 seconds.
• Add the diced turkey (or chicken) and heat until warm, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl.
• Stir in spinach and sundried tomatoes until combined, and allow the mixture to cool.
• Place the cottage cheese in the bowl of a food processor or blender and puree until smooth.
• Stir the cottage cheese, ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, dried chile flakes, nutmeg, salt and pepper into the turkey mixture.
• Lay a few lasagna noodles on a cutting board. Spread 3 heaping tablespoons of the turkey mixture along each noodle. Starting at one short end, tightly roll up the lasagna noodle and filling.
• Prepare a 9- by 13-inch baking pan by spreading 1 cup tomato sauce on the bottom. Arrange the lasagna rolls, seam side down. Repeat with the remaining lasagna noodles and filling.
• Spread additional 1½ cups tomato sauce on top, and sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan cheese.
• Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake for additional 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Roll | Calories: 208kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 574mg | Potassium: 511mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 13.5% | Vitamin C: 8.4% | Calcium: 9.6% | Iron: 13.2%

Tried this recipe?If you make this recipe, I'd love to see it on Instagram! Just use the hashtag #COOKINCANUCK and I'll be sure to find it.

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