This is an Olive Garden copycat recipe for air fryer five-cheese lasagna fritta. It’s fried lasagna filled with creamy ricotta cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan, Romano, and Asiago cheese spread in between rolled lasagna noodles that are then dipped in batter and fried golden crispy.
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I thought it was going to be difficult to make a copycat version of Olive Garden’s lasagna frittas, but it was actually pretty simple!
Try out my Air Fryer Olive Garden Chicken Kabobs that marinates the chicken in their dressing and cooks on skewers with delicious vegetables!
What are lasagna frittas?
In case you’ve never had them, lasagna frittas are fried lasagna. They are filled with cheese, rolled up, battered, and fried until they are golden and crispy.
It’s so delicious! These are one of my favorite Olive Garden copycat recipes and it also happens to be one of my top recipes on here because they’re just that good!
This version of lasagna fritta is a tad larger than the appetizer version Olive Garden serves. The noodles you buy from the grocery store are just a wee bit bigger, but I guess that means more lasagna fritta, right? Yum!
I decided to do this air fryer style because we don’t need to add more grease on top of a carb-loaded appetizer. Although, frying them in oil is still super, super tasty which is why I give BOTH recipes here!
There are so many yummy Olive Garden copycat recipes out there like Zuppa Toscana, their Alfredo sauce, and their truly addicting breadsticks.
Ingredients for Air Fryer Five-Cheese Lasagna Fritta
- Lasagna Noodles
- Whole Milk Ricotta Cheese
- Parmesan Cheese
- Romano Cheese
- Asiago Cheese
- Mozzarella Cheese
- Italian Seasoning
- 4 Large Eggs (for the filling and the batter)
- Finely Grated Parmesan
- Italian Bread Crumbs
- Olive Oil Spray (other oils work too) – for the air fryer cooking version
- Canola/Vegetable Oil – for the pan-fried version
Ingredients for Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce
- Butter
- Grated Parmesan
- Heavy Cream
- Garlic Salt
- Parsley, for topping
Optional – Try the Alfredo sauce with extra cheese leftover from the lasagna frittas!
- ½ cup Grated Romano
- ½ cup Grated Asiago
Is air-fried food healthy?
Air-fried food is healthier than deep-fat frying foods in oil. The food becomes saturated in oil as it cooks, whereas with an air fryer a minimal amount (typically 1-2 tablespoons) of oil is added to breadcrumbs or the food is lightly brushed with oil or butter.
How to use an air fryer:
It’s actually very simple! Once you have it assembled, there is no preheating required at all!
I always spray my basket with olive oil to avoid any sticking. Place the food on the tray, set the temperature, and time and that’s it.
The fabulous thing is that the air fryer is very versatile. You can bake a cake in it, fry fish, get french fries nice and crispy, cook bacon, the ideas are limitless!
Can you use Pam nonstick spray in an air fryer?
It’s best not to. It’s been found that air fryer baskets do not tolerate aerosol spray. It causes the coating to peel off the baskets. To get around it, use a non-aerosol spray bottle of olive oil, or you can rub coconut oil directly on the basket.
What fries the bread crumbs in an air fryer?
If you leave the bread crumbs without ANY type of grease or fat it will leave them very dry. The nice thing with an air fryer is that you can cut out the majority of the oil and fat and have a slightly healthier version of cooking than if you deep-fried the food.
There are two ways to air fry bread crumbs:
- Spray the bread crumb coating that is already on your food with cooking spray or oil.
- Heat a small amount of olive oil with the bread crumbs prior to coating your food with it. Microwave it for 30 seconds at a time until it begins to lightly brown.
How to Make Air Fryer Five-Cheese Lasagna Fritta
It all begins by boiling your noodles according to the box directions until al dente. They need to be soft to handle and roll-up.
If you are unable to find lasagna without ribbons, it’s best to cut the ribbon edges off. They do not roll well or stay together with the bumpy ribbon edge.
The cheesy mixture needs to be spread evenly on each noodle before you roll them up.
These are of course larger than Olive Garden’s lasagna frittas, but you can, of course, cut the noodle down to try to aim for their size of the appetizer.
Air Fryer Method
For the air fryer cooking method, it is best to still freeze them. They tend to be messy once you begin dipping them in egg wash and bread crumbs.
Once they are frozen (in about 1-2 hours) you can immediately start dipping them in the egg wash, and then dip in the bread crumb/Parmesan coating.
How long and what temperature do you cook lasagna frittas in the air fryer?
You still need to add some form of oil/butter to the bread crumbs. I used the method mentioned above – microwaving olive oil with the bread crumbs.
The large, full-size lasagna frittas are cooked at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for a total of about 16 minutes, flipping halfway.
To check for doneness, open the air fryer tray and peek in on them to see if they are golden brown.
Pan-Frying Method
For the pan-fried cooking method, you will also need to freeze them.
Freezing them for 1-2 hours before they are battered with bread crumbs keeps the cheesy inside the rolled lasagna noodle. It’s also important to freeze them before pan-frying because the cheese will immediately come out in the oil as well.
After they are frozen, it is time to batter them. First, dip them in the egg wash, and then dip in the bread crumb/Parmesan cheese coating.
For pan-frying, put enough oil in the pan to cover the tops of them like a deep-fry and heat it over medium-high heat. Flip them halfway (2 minutes on each side) for even cooking.
Final Touches for Both Cooking Methods
For serving, place a layer of marinara sauce onto the plate. Then place the lasagna frittas on top of the sauce and drizzle Alfredo sauce over top.
There was extra Parmesan, Romano, and Asiago cheese from the lasagna frittas. I put the cheese (about a cup and a half) into the Alfredo sauce. It turned out fantastic and I might need to do that every time now!
Recommended Recipes
- Bruschetta with Tomato and Basil
- Chicken Parmesan
- Fettuccine Alfredo
- Old Chicago’s Italian Nachos (Copycat Recipe)
- Olive Garden Chicken Kabobs
- One-Pot Lasagna Soup
- Toasted Ravioli
Enjoy!
Air Fryer Five-Cheese Lasagna Fritta
Ingredients
- 10 oz Lasagna Noodles, About 10 noodles
- 15 oz Whole Milk Ricotta Cheese
- ½ cup Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese
- ½ cup Freshly Grated Romano Cheese
- ½ cup Freshly Grated Asiago Cheese
- ½ cup Freshly Grated Mozzarella Cheese
- 2 tbsp Italian Seasoning
- 2 Large Eggs
Batter
- 1 ½ cups Italian Bread Crumbs or Panko
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil
- ½ cup Finely Grated Parmesan
- 2 Large Eggs
Air Fryer Cooking Method
- Olive Oil Spray
Pan-Fried Cooking Method
- Canola Oil
Sauces
- Homemade Alfredo Sauce, If you have leftover Parmesan, Romano, or Asiago cheese it is perfect to throw in this recipe.
- Jar of Marinara Sauce
Instructions
Noodle Prep
- Boil lasagna noodles according to package directions until al dente. Once cooked, place in a colander and rinse with cold water for handling. If your lasagna noodles have ribbon edges, trim the ribbons off the sides.
- In a medium-sized bowl mix together egg, all five kinds of cheese, and Italian seasoning.
- Lay lasagna noodles flat. Spread cheese mixture over top of the noodles. Roll the noodles into about a 2-3" length.
- Place them in a container lined with parchment or wax paper to prevent sticking together and freeze for 1-2 hours.
Batter
- Scramble egg in a shallow dish. In a microwave-safe dish, blend 2 tablespoons of olive oil and bread crumbs. Microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds until they begin to turn golden brown. Let cool and add Parmesan cheese.
- One by one, dip each rolled lasagna in egg, followed by breadcrumbs. Shake off any excess between steps.
Air Fryer Cooking Method
- Spray the inside basket of the air fryer with oil and place lasagna frittas in the basket. Lightly spray the top of the lasagna frittas with oil as well.
- Set air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook for 8 minutes, flip, and cook for another 6-8 minutes until golden brown and crispy. If they look dry as they cook, lightly spray with cooking oil. Remove from basket and serve with marinara and/or Alfredo sauce.
Pan-Fried Cooking Method
- Heat canola oil in a pan at a medium-high temperature. Carefully place the lasagna frittas in the pan once it is hot. Cook for about 2 minutes, flip, and fry for 2 more minutes until they are golden brown. Remove and place on a paper towel-lined plate. Serve with marinara and/or alfredo sauce.
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Really delicious! Thank you for the clear directions. I used my air fryer and am happy that I did as the texture of the breading was perfect and not greasy. I didn’t need to cook for the entire time though, just until they were brown and crispy.
Delicious!
I’m planning on making these but wanted to know if anyone had tried it with Italian sausage or ground beef? And if so how did it turn out?
I have a block of parm & asiago. Can I use the “shaker can” cheese? It’s parm & Romano. I couldn’t find a block of Romano. Also, can I use bagged shredded mozzarella? I always get confused between grated and shredded. Thanks!
Hi Emma!
Shaker can grated cheese works great.
I sometimes use it in this recipe and it works well for the filling and for the parmesan that is added to the breadcrumbs.
I have also used bagged shredded mozzarella too. Sometimes grating everything takes too long and it’s easier just to get it “pre-shredded”. Whichever works easier, I say go for it!
Let me know how it turns out!
-Tiffany
I am planing to make them the day before my Christmas party ( plan to do the freeze then bread then freeze again as you mentioned in an above comment). Just wondering if I should airfry them frozen or defrost them?
Hi Melissa,
If they’re already breaded, sometimes thawing can cause the breading to get soggy as they defrost. I always take them directly from the freezer and pop them in the air fryer basket.
-Tiffany
These were so good!! I added pesto income of mine, just right on top of the cheese mixture, and it was actually a really good combination!!
Can you make them the day before you air fry them and freeze then overnight?
Hi Taylor,
Yes, they can be made the day before and frozen overnight. I often make them the day before we plan to eat them and freeze overnight.
They can actually be kept uncooked and frozen for up to 3 months (for best quality) before air frying.
-Tiffany
Lllooovvveeedddd this. I thought why not try it since lasagna is such a time consuming process and I’ve kinda been wanting a lasagna lately anyways. So I tried it and not only I loved it but my husband did. He waited until I left the kitchen to go sneak some lore food before I could pack it away for lunch the best day. Will definitely be making again so good!
I made this dish last week, delicious! I actually went to Olive Garden and ordered this dish, and your recipe is much better! Thanks!
Do you think it’d be possible to bread them and freeze them for baking another time? I’d love to make a batch and keep them in the freezer for snacks.
Hi Melissa,
Yes, they’re great for freezing for later! I still recommend freezing them prior to dipping in the batter because they can fall apart and the cheese filling can come out. Then they can be placed back in the freezer after that.
-Tiffany
Do I have to freeze them??
I highly recommend freezing them because the times I have tried breading and frying them unfrozen they were very messy and the cheese did not stay inside them.
Very good! Hubby loved it too. Unfortunately, I forgot to spray the basket for the air fryer and it stuck a little bit but it was still good. I also added some crushed garlic to the cheese mixture. It was a fun recipe to make.
Hi Sharon,
I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe! The crushed garlic sounds so delicious. Thank you for stopping by.
-Tiffany
Wow! Incredible taste and great instructions for the air fryer. The tip on pre-cooking bread crumbs was perfect. I am new to my air fryer, so thank you for this success!
Lisa,
I’m so glad you enjoyed the lasagna frittas and it was a success for you. Thank you for coming back to share!
-Tiffany
Tried these tonight after finding this recipe a week ago. They were so good! My whole family love them. Will definitely add this to my “cook again” list. Thanks for sharing this recipe!!!
Hi Lorene,
I’m so glad you and your family liked them!
Thank you for stopping by!
-Tiffany
My air fryer only heats to 350. How long should I cook them?
Hi Karen,
I have not personally cooked them at 350 degrees before. I would try starting at the 16 minutes (flipping halfway) and then check them to see how brown they are and go from there. It will take a little longer for the center to get warm at 350.
Let me know how it goes for you!
-Tiffany