This post may include affiliate links; see our disclosure policy.
What to do with ricotta? There are are so many tasty ricotta cheese recipes to try: pizza, lasagna, simple toasts, and more!
What to do with ricotta? Let us count the ways! Ricotta cheese is a creamy Italian cheese with a mild flavor. It’s most famously used in lasagna recipes: perhaps you’ve grabbed a container to make this classic Italian pasta dish. But it’s got all sorts of other uses: smear it on toast, swirl it into pasta, dollop it into scrambled eggs or even spread it onto a pizza. You can even use it in sweets, too: like the topping for a fruit cobbler, or a cake or cookies. There are so many recipes using ricotta cheese…let’s get started!
And now…the best delicious ricotta cheese recipes!
Got 5 minutes? Then you can whip up this stunningly simple appetizer: Whipped Ricotta! This recipe is inspired by one we had at a Mediterranean restaurant, and the pairing of fluffy, savory cheese and gooey golden honey had us all licking our plates. It’s creamy, salty sweet perfection scooped up with some warm bread.
Need a show-stopping ricotta recipe? Look no further than these Lemon Ricotta Pancakes! They’re impossibly fluffy and light, with a pop citrus flavor on the finish. Even better: they’re packed with protein: a whopping 9.6 grams per pancake! They might sound fancy, but they’re so easy to whip up and perfect for impressing friends and family at a lazy breakfast or brunch.
Also try: Ricotta Pancakes
Here’s a quick and simple ricotta recipe that’s the perfect shortcut for weeknights: Lemon Ricotta Pasta! Mixing ricotta cheese with olive oil, Parmesan and a little pasta water makes a makeshift white sauce that’s ideal for coating on long noodles (who knew!). This quick weeknight trick has become a staple over here: the zing of the lemon zest makes it absolutely irresistible not to keep slurping down noodles.
Here’s a genius simple ricotta recipe that tastes far greater than the sum of its parts: Ricotta Toast! Spread ricotta cheese on toast, then load it up with sweet or savory toppings. Go basic with juicy ripe tomatoes and a drizzle of olive oil, or hearty with tender smoked salmon, capers and fresh dill. Or go sweet with fruit, a drizzle of honey and cinnamon. Anything goes!
Meet our best classic lasagna with ricotta! The tomato sauce has just the right zing and garlic nuance, and the spinach ricotta cheese filling is classic and creamy. It’s scented with fresh thyme and a little lemon zest, which takes it to over the top status. There’s no one who will turn down a piece! At least, who we’ve met. Here are all our secrets.
Next up in the best ricotta cheese recipes...Ricotta Pizza! This dreamy, creamy pizza is an absolute must-make. This three cheese blend knocks it out of the park: creamy ricotta cheese, stretchy mozzarella and salty Parmesan. Then top it off with tangy artichokes, fresh basil and a honey drizzle. The intense savory with the sweet of the honey and the peppery herbs make it out of this world good! Here’s exactly how to replicate this beauty in the comfort of your own home.
Also try: White Pizza (Pizza Bianca) or Ultimate Spinach Pizza
What’s not to love about ricotta dumplings? They’re homey, comforting, and in the middle of savory tomato basil goodness, they’re like a deconstructed sort of pizza. The recipe is easy enough for a weeknight, but delicious enough to work for a special dinner. Even if you’re not able to find local basil at this season where you live, this one might even be worth a little splurge.
What's a better ricotta cheese recipe than gnocchi? Here’s our recipe for homemade gnocchi, that delicious pillowy fresh pasta. You can eat it with marinara or bolognese, in a cream sauce with mushrooms, or even in soup! Ricotta gnocchi are quicker and easier to make than the traditional potato gnocchi. Try them with your favorite jarred high quality marinara sauce!
Arguably the most popular ricotta cheese recipe is lasagna! This zucchini lasagna alternates beautiful layers of roasted zucchini noodles, hearty garlicky tomato sauce and three gooey cheeses. It tastes as good–or better–than a classic lasagna! In fact, we might pick it over the classic. Here’s what to know about making a kick-ass lasagna that happens to be gluten free, too.
Those elusive days where peaches are ripe and juicy makes them all the more special. Why not use them to make an incredible peach cobbler? Imagine: cinnamon-spiced, ripe and tangy peaches, covered in delightfully flaky ricotta biscuits. It’s truly something special.
Tip: Use these ricotta biscuits to make a fruit cobbler for any season! Try it in this Skillet Apple Cobbler or Blueberry Cobbler.
Last up in our ricotta recipes: a ricotta lasagna recipe that uses squash instead of noodles. It's baked spaghetti squash lasagna! This delicious no-noodle spin on the classic so satisfying, you’ll find yourself dreaming about the next time you get to eat it. It’s naturally gluten-free yet cheesy enough that you won’t miss the noodles. Mix those squash noodles with ricotta and Parmesan, then bake them with marinara and gooey mozzarella on top.
Love ricotta cheese and love pizza? Great. Then here’s your soul mate pizza: White Pizza, aka Pizza Bianca! This recipe uses ricotta cheese to make a creamy white sauce to spread on the crust; its seasoned with a little salt and garlic for good measure! Then it’s topped with stretchy mozzarella and savory Parmesan cheese. Move over, pizza sauce. This white pizza will give you a run for your money.
Is ricotta healthy?
Can ricotta cheese be considered a healthy cheese? Per Healthline, yes! Ricotta is a creamy, white cheese that’s loaded with protein: one ½ cup serving of ricotta has 12 grams protein! In addition, the high-quality whey in ricotta could promote muscle growth and help lower blood pressure.
More sweet ricotta recipes
Want some more sweet ricotta inspiration? Here are a few recipes with ricotta cheese to try:
- Whipped Lemon Ricotta Cheesecake Cheesecake is a common way to use this tasty cheese! It makes a super creamy filling.
- Raspberry Ricotta Cake Here ricotta keeps this cake moist and light, and berries cut the sweetness.
- Lemon Ricotta Cookies Ricotta cookies are a traditional Italian dessert.
- Cannoli The most famous Italian dessert with ricotta cheese is cannoli! Pastry rolls are injected with a sweetened cheese filling.
- Ricotta Cobbler Biscuits Add this sweet biscuit dough to top your favorite fruit cobbler.
12 Tasty Ricotta Cheese Recipes
This whipped ricotta recipe makes an impressive easy appetizer in 5 minutes! Top it with honey for a rich, savory sweet bite.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 6 to 8 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Whipped
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 16 ounces whole milk ricotta
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon white or black pepper
- Honey, to serve
- Fresh thyme or other herbs, to garnish (optional)
- Pita bread, flatbread or grilled bread, to serve
Instructions
- Whisk the ricotta, milk, olive oil, salt and pepper by hand for about 2 minutes until light and fluffy. Alternatively, whisk on medium speed using a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment.
- Optional: Allow to stand 15 minutes before serving so it comes to room temperature. (You can also do this with the container of ricotta before whisking it.) You can serve immediately if you like, it will just be slightly cold.
- To serve, top with honey and if using, fresh thyme. Serve with warm pita bread, grilled bread, or crackers.
