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What to do with ricotta cheese? Check out these fabulous ricotta recipes featuring scrumptious pasta, incredible desserts, and everything in between. A convenient tub of ricotta cheese can go a long way!
Published April 2020/updated March 2025
What is ricotta cheese?
Ricotta (literally translated as re-cooked) is an Italian fresh cheese with a moist, fluffy texture and a slightly sweet taste. Traditionally, ricotta is made from cow, sheep, or goat milk whey leftover from other cheese production. The Italian cheesemakers used to cook the whey to achieve little curds to make ricotta.
Modern ricotta, which we buy at the grocery store, is usually made from whole cow milk and is fattier than ricotta made by the traditional method.
This fresh cheese, along with parmesan cheese and mozzarella, is an essential ingredient in Italian cuisine. Its creamy texture and mild flavor work beautifully in sweet and savory recipes.
From amazing pasta dishes like gnocchi and lasagnas to appetizers and sweet treats, these ricotta recipes are my family’s favorites and will surely please everyone.
Whether you want to add more meatless meals to your diet or are simply looking for new ideas for using a convenient tub of ricotta, the recipes below are perfect for inspiring you!
Lemon ricotta pasta
It's hard to resist this amazing pasta with ricotta! It's a sensational family meal that uses simple fresh ingredients and it's ready in less than 15 minutes. What's not to love?
Crostini with Ricotta & Peas
What to do with leftover ricotta? These wonderful, fresh crostini topped with creamy ricotta and peas make a lovely appetizer or snack ready in minutes.
Ricotta Meatballs (no-meat recipe)
These melt-in-your-mouth ricotta meatballs are made with a handful of ingredients and they are cooked in a delicious homemade tomato sauce. A terrific meatless meal for the whole family.
Lemon Ricotta Muffins
You're just a few steps away from ultra moist, fluffy and bursting with lemon goodness muffins! The simple recipe uses lemons and ricotta cheese for the most delicious crumb and flavor.
Baked Ricotta
Economical and versatile, this baked ricotta is one of my favorite Italian appetizer. It's super easy to make, delicious and perfect for anytime you’re entertaining.
Cake with Ricotta
In this easy ricotta cake the dense, moist crumb pairs beautifully with dark chocolate chips and fresh orange zest. It's also a breeze to make in 1 bowl, and it’s so delicious that you’ll be making it again and again!
Spinach Appetizer
Think of garlicky spinach and soft ricotta wrapped in flaky puff pastry. How delicious is that? This spinach and ricotta appetizer is the quintessential party finger food!
Ricotta Spaghetti
This fabulous ricotta spaghetti is ready in less than 15 minutes, and it's a breeze to customize it with proteins or veggies you like! It's the perfect recipe for a quick midweek meal.
Whipped Ricotta Crostini
I love how the crispy bread, the fluffy fresh ricotta and the sweetness of the honey turn this crostini recipe into a n elegant, slightly sweet appetizer perfect for any occasion.
Ricotta Muffins
The ricotta cheese makes these simple muffins similar to scrumptious mini cakes. They are flavored with lemon juice, vanilla, and their texture is a bit dense and super moist. They're perfect any time of the day!
Ricotta Pizza
Pizza night, anyone? This ricotta pizza makes a simple, delicious white pizza topped with fresh garlicky ricotta and herbs. It’s full of flavor and great to customise with your favorite veggies.
Ricotta Cream
All you need are 3 ingredients, a bowl and an electric beater to make this fluffy, slightly sweet ricotta cream with dark chocolate. Spoon or pipe it into nice serving glasses and serve with fresh berries or shortbread.
Strawberry Ricotta cake
The juicy strawberries, the vanilla hints and the super moist texture make this easy strawberry ricotta absolutely delicious and perfect for all occasions.
Mushroom Ricotta Pasta
Creamy ricotta, savory mushrooms, and plenty of garlic make this pasta dish sensational, and you'lI love the richness that ricotta brings to the dish. This is a hit in my house.
Raspberry Ricotta Cake
You’ll love this moist raspberry ricotta cake, it’s bursting with fresh juicy raspberries and vanilla hints. Plus, it’s easy to make in one bowl, so simple, straightforward, and turns perfectly every single time.
Tomato basil Pasta with Ricotta
You need only one pot, minimal effort, and a few simple ingredients for this flavorful tomato pasta with ricotta. It’s a cozy family meal perfect for on-the-go weeknights!
Lemon ricotta cake
Inspired by the Italian sbrisolona cake, the crispy crumble and the creamy ricotta filling with hints of lemon make this ricotta cake sensational. This is one of our favorite ricotta dessert recipes.
Spinach and Ricotta Cannelloni
Photo Credit: www.recipetineats.com
Think of juicy spinach and ricotta filling inside cannelloni pasta tubes, topped with a homemade tomato basil sauce and melted cheese. How delicious is that?
Pasta with Zucchini
This pasta with zucchini is ready in about 15 minutes and requires only 5 ingredients. A simple recipe that turns zucchini and ricotta cheese into a meal perfect for both carnivores and vegetarians.
No-Churn Chocolate Chip Ricotta Ice Cream
Photo Credit: anitalianinmykitchen.com
This no-churn ricotta ice cream is easy and requires only four ingredients. It's so yummy and creamy that everyone will want seconds.
Zucchini & Herbed Ricotta Flatbread
Photo Credit: sallysbakingaddiction.com
This flatbread recipe includes herbed garlic ricotta cheese, zucchini, tomatoes, and goat cheese. It's a wonderful family meal that everyone will love!
Vegetarian Lasagna
Photo Credit: www.recipetineats.com
This wonderful lasagna is made with a creamy ricotta and spinach filling as well as layers of vegetables and a rich tomato lasagna sauce. Veggies and ricotta cheese make an incredible combination!
Homemade Ricotta Cheese
Photo Credit: www.spendwithpennies.com
Lastly, here is a super easy recipe to make your homamade ricotta cheese that tastes way better than store-bought, and it's just perfect for scrumptioius pasta dishes!
Notes & tips
Is ricotta supposed to be grainy or smooth?
Not all ricotta is created equal, and quality varies from brand to brand.
It’s not unusual to find a tub full of grainy or rubbery ricotta rather than soft, creamy curds. However, standard supermarket ricotta should work fine for most recipes, especially when cooked or baked. Here is a helpful list!
Making your Homemade ricotta cheese?
You can quickly make this fresh, soft cheese in your kitchen with a good homemade ricotta recipe. This simple recipefrom a fellow blogger requires only three ingredients (milk, white vinegar or lemon juice, salt), a thermometer, and cheesecloth. It’s so easy to make and delicious, you’ll want to eat it with a spoonful! 😊
Can ricotta be frozen?
Yes, ricotta cheese can be frozen, but freezing affects the texture. Previously frozen ricotta leftovers can be used for cooked dishes such as pies, cannelloni, or cakes.
Loved these ricotta cheese recipes?
If you enjoyed this collection of recipes, you might love more recipe roundups featuring other ingredients:
- Cream cheese recipes
- Cannellini bean recipes
- Bean recipes
- Spinach recipes
- Cherry tomato recipes
I hope you’ll try some of these delicious recipes and love them. And let me know if you have any questions; I would love to hear from you! x
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