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36 Delicious Ricotta Cheese Recipes, from Pastas to Pancakes

By Stephanie Cain

| May. 24, 2022

Additional reporting by Taryn Pire

If your experience with ricotta only goes as far as lasagna, it’s time to reacquaint yourself with the creamy Italian cheese. From a creamy crostini topping to the secret ingredient in extra-fluffy pancakes, ricotta cheese is as versatile in the kitchen as it is tasty. (And we’ll be the first to admit that we’ve eaten it directly out of the container on more than one occasion.) For a little inspo of your own, here are 36 ricotta cheese recipes to prepare for breakfast, lunch, dinner and every snack in between.

RELATED: 29 Burrata Recipes That Are Creamy, Dreamy and Downright Decadent

Photo: Matt Dutile/Styling: Erin McDowell

1. Broiled Citrus Ricotta Toast

Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy, vegetarian

This heavenly toasted brioche is slathered with cinnamon-sugar butter and ricotta, then topped with honey-broiled citrus and sea salt. Have you ever seen anything more beautiful?

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

2. Mini Spinach-Ricotta Calzones

Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, vegetarian

Take your next party to a new level with these cheesy bites that are deceptively easy to make. Serve them with warm marinara or pesto for dipping.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

3. Zucchini Ricotta Galette

Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, special occasion-worthy

Savory pie for dinner? Sign us up. It’s ridiculously easy to make, but looks elegant enough to dole out at a dinner party.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

4. Bacon, Fig and Ricotta Tartines

Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly

Fact: Everything is better with bacon, especially when it looks this fancy. Sweeten things up by candying the bacon.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

5. Ricotta-Honey Ice Cream

Time Commitment: 4 hours
Why We Love It: no cook, vegetarian, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser

Forget Häagen-Dazs. You can craft your own no-churn ice cream without any fancy equipment. (It will taste just as delicious, promise.)

Photo/Styling: Katherine Gillen

6. Carrot-Ricotta Tart with Pesto and Pine Nuts

Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, vegetarian, <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy

Isn't she lovely? Using multicolored heirloom carrots is the key to this spring-inspired stunner. (Vibrant, store-bought pesto doesn't hurt either.)

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

7. Lasagna Soup

Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, one pot, high protein

Your go-to casserole, in liquid form. It's got all the essentials, from the ground beef to the crushed tomatoes to the gooey mozzarella.

Photo/Styling: Taryn Pire

8. Ritz Crackers with Whipped Honey Ricotta and Bacon

Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, one pan

Forgot to eat dinner again? You can have this satiating snack on the table in 15 minutes flat. (It'd work with goat or cream cheese too, BTW.)

9. Toasted Sourdough with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes, Ricotta and Pistachios

Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, vegetarian, one pan

Snag the best cherry tomatoes you can find at the farmers market, roast them with herbs until jammy and serve with ricotta and toast. Ta-da.

Infraordinario Studio for Dalcò Edizioni S.R.L.

10. Gluten-Free Ricotta Cheesecake

Time Commitment: 2 hours and 10 minutes
Why We Love It: gluten free, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy

Rich, creamy and downright impressive. Top this Polish cheesecake (also called sernik) with melted chocolate, berry compote or caramel sauce.

11. Summer Pasta with Tomatoes, Basil and Ricotta

Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, vegetarian

A bit of pasta water turns the tomato sauce glossy and rich in an instant. Go ahead and add fresh summer corn to the pot, too.

Patricia Niven/Keeping It Simple

12. Baked Chicken and Ricotta Meatballs

Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: one pan, high protein, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly

Serve the meatballs and charred broccolini over pasta, on a hero roll or atop a bed of greens. (We won't tell if you slather them with extra ricotta cheese.)

Charlotte Bland/La Vita E Dolce

13. Almond, Ricotta, Olive Oil and Lemon Drizzle Cake

Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy

This beauty has Mother's Day brunch written all over it. It's finished with a zingy layer of lemon syrup before being topped with simple two-ingredient glaze.

Photo: Matt Dutile/Styling: Erin McDowell

14. Spicy Ricotta-Stuffed Phyllo Rolls

Time Commitment: 55 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, vegetarian

Dunk 'em in hot pepper jelly or sweet chili sauce for a punch of heat, or serve them to the kiddos with marinara sauce.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

15. Ravioli Lasagna

Time Commitment: 1 hour and 25 minutes
Why We Love It: one pan, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly

It's just the twist on lasagna you've been craving. Choose whatever type of ravioli you'd like (mushroom! beef! spinach!)—just don't skimp on the cheese.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

16. Grilled Flatbread Pizza with Artichoke, Ricotta and Lemon

Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, vegetarian

If you're not noshing on this in the yard with a glass of vino in hand, what are you waiting for? The charred lemon slices on top are *chef's kiss*.

17. Sheet-Pan Strawberry Shortcake with Black Pepper, Whipped Honey Ricotta and Togarashi

Time Commitment: 55 minutes
Why We Love It: one pan, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy

For the uninitiated, togarashi is a Japanese spice blend that's equal parts toasty, spicy and sweet. It's optional, but personally, we think it's essential for taking this dish from fantastic to unforgettable.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

18. Skillet Pasta with Summer Squash, Ricotta and Basil

Time Commitment: 55 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, vegetarian, one pan

Helloooo, summer. Round up two yellow summer squash (or zucchini) and turn them into a cheesy, carby masterpiece in your favorite skillet.

19. Shakshuka with Sausage and Ricotta

Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Why We Love It: one pan, crowd-pleaser, high protein

Ricotta salata makes for a salty finishing touch on this breakfast favorite. Unlike the creamy, spreadable ricotta you know and love, this type is made from whey, resulting in a firm texture that makes it ideal for slicing and crumbling.

20. Mixed Greens Lasagna

Time Commitment: 1 hour and 50 minutes
Why We Love It: vegetarian, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly

With all that mozzarella and ricotta in the mix, your kids won't even mind that the lasagna is packed with kale, spinach and arugula.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

21. Asparagus, Pea and Ricotta Tarts

Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, vegetarian, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly

If spring were an appetizer, it'd look like this. Don't let the tarts' appearance fool you: They're a cinch to put together, since they start with store-bought puff pastry.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

22. Honey Ricotta Dip

Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: vegetarian, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, one pan, <10 ingredients

This party starter is as simple as mixing the ingredients together, pouring them into a casserole dish and baking until golden brown. Serve the dip with plenty of crackers and bread for your guests.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

23. Salami, Artichoke and Ricotta Pasta Salad

Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, <10 ingredients, <30 minutes

Why settle for mayo-laden, store-bought macaroni salad when you can whip this beauty up in 20 minutes flat instead? The briny artichoke hearts and fresh rosemary are such a nice touch.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

24. Grilled Peach, Chicken and Ricotta Pizza

Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, high protein, beginner-friendly

Aka our favorite way to make magic with summer peaches. Shred a store-bought rotisserie chicken instead of cooking your own to save time.

25. Roasted Sweet Potato and Bacon Open-Faced Sandwich with Herbed Ricotta

Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, one pan

Sad desk lunch? We think not. Skip the soggy salad in favor of this crispy, savory sammy that boasts 26 grams of protein per serving.

The Recipe Critic

26. Lemon Ricotta Pancakes

Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: kid-friendly, one bowl, beginner-friendly, vegetarian, <30 minutes

Complete with blueberry syrup (and lemon zest, if you're fancy). Not only does the ricotta make the pancakes supremely light, but it also gives them a protein boost.

Half Baked Harvest

27. Raspberry Ricotta Croissant French Toast

Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy

Your decadent brunch will be ready in 30 minutes, thanks to store-bought croissants. Extra maple syrup, please.

The Modern Proper

28. Lasagna-Stuffed Zucchini Boats

Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, gluten free

A grain-free, one-pan dish that makes for a quick and tasty weeknight dinner the entire family will scarf down. Feel free to substitute ground chicken for beef, turkey or sausage.

29. Sweet and Spicy Corn Pasta with Ricotta and Chives

Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: gluten free, <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, beginner-friendly

We’re gonna let you in on a secret: Ricotta can be the X factor in a delightfully creamy pasta sauce. (Thanks for the tip, Phoebe Lapine.)

30. Sweet Potato and Caramelized Onion Pizza

Time Commitment: 1 hour and 25 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, vegetarian, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly

With this recipe from Coterie member Heidi Larsen, you can whip up your own pie with just ten minutes of active prep.

I Am a Food Blog

31. Kale and Ricotta Stuffed Shells

Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Why We Love It: one pan, beginner-friendly, vegetarian, kid-friendly

Tired of lasagna? It’s time to start stuffing giant pasta shells with greens and cheese—your picky kids will thank you for it.

32. Gougeres Tea Sandwiches with Spiced Carrots, Tapenade and Ricotta

Time Commitment: 4 hours and 20 minutes (includes marinating time)
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, vegetarian

Don’t be alarmed by the total cooking time—that’s just how long it takes to marinate the carrots. Might we suggest sipping some wine while you wait?

33. Lemon Ricotta Zucchini Pasta with Kalamata Olives

Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, vegetarian, gluten free

Fewer than ten ingredients and ready to serve in a flash—Coterie member Ali Maffucci knows us too well. Use a Y-shaped peeler to make the zoodles if you don't have a spiralizer.

Ambitious Kitchen

34. Honey-Lemon Ricotta Breakfast Toast with Figs and Pistachios

Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, vegetarian, beginner-friendly

We don’t care what the Wheaties box says—this is the breakfast of champions. (Thanks, Monique Volz.) You can substitute the chopped pistachios for almonds, pecans or macadamia nuts if you'd prefer.

Cookie and Kate

35. Mediterranean Roasted Sweet Potato and Farro Salad

Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: vegetarian, beginner-friendly

You can easily make it nut-, gluten- and dairy-free, but we think this healthy bowl is all about the chopped hazelnuts, tender farro and creamy ricotta cheese.

36. Baked Spaghetti with Ricotta

Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, one pan, high protein, <10 ingredients

The ultimate family-style meal that includes pasta, tomato sauce, cheese and a way to tuck in some hidden veggies.

RELATED: 40 Cheese Appetizers That Are Ooey, Gooey and Oh So Easy to Make

For even more great recipes, check out our first cookbook, Only the Good Stuff.

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