Ricotta is one of those dream ingredients that makes your food taste so much better. It’s no wonder the Italians add it to so many of their famous dishes. It enriches pasta sauce making it taste creamy and delicious. Ricotta is also wonderful to bake with. It makes cakes and cookies light and fluffy, and adds a slight tangy flavor. Once you try a traditional Italian ricotta cheesecake, there’s no going back. It’s the secret ingredient you need to have in your fridge. It even makes a perfect quick snack — ricotta on toast, anyone? Here are creamy ricotta recipes that will convince you of its magnificence.
Baked Ziti with Sausage
Yoly
Rave Review: “I used extra ricotta because the family loves it. This is my new favorite!!! Yum =)” — amberln
Stuffed Shells
DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS
Rave Review: “Just perfect. So simple and basic, yet so delicious!!!” — CLS1220
Chef John’s Turkey Manicotti
Allrecipes Magazine
Rave Review: “Made this manicotti tonight and it was delish and so easy!”— SHRIEKINGVIOLET
Chef John’s Ricotta Meatballs
Photo by Chef John.
Rave Review: “Wonderfully delicious, moist, melt-in-your-mouth meatballs.” — Sherri
Spinach Mushroom and Ricotta Fettuccine
Life Tastes Good
Rave Review: “I made this tonight , adding garlic, onion and Italian spice. Everyone loved it.” — Linda Gibbs
Italian Cream Cheese and Ricotta Cheesecake
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Rave Review: “Easily the BEST cheesecake I’ve ever eaten! And with no crust to distract from the creamy “cheese” taste…yum!” — KatMac
Italian Cheesecake Cookies
Pam Ziegler Lutz
Rave Review: “Love this!! So light, fluffy, and moist!”— Amy
Blueberry Ricotta Squares
Rave Review: “This is a keeper!! Fast and so simple. Wonderful and not too sweet. My guests loved it. I will absolutely make it again.” — JOAN431
Cannoli
Jen Causey / Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling / Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
Rave Review: “These are amazing. Super easy to make but very time consuming. But, so very worth it!!!” — Rachel Poplaski
Ricotta Cheese Cookies
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Rave Review: “These cookies are great…wonderfully light and airy!” — Amy
Zavioli with Spinach and Ricotta
Photo by Buckwheat Queen.
Rave Review: “These were delicious and fun to make! Loved that these were healthier and gluten-free friendly too!” — SuzyQ
Stuffed Tomatoes with Grits and Ricotta
Photo by Allrecipes Magazine.
Rave Review: “This is a true 5-star winner. Very different and interesting combination of grits and cheese. All who tried this recipe were quite impressed.” — Ron
Fig-Ricotta Cake
lutzflcat
“The exture is moist and slightly dense, and the taste is sweet, buttery, and rich,” says lutzflcat.
Eggplant Parmesan Bites
“A bite-size version of one of my favorite entrées,” says Nashville Nosher. “It’s eggplant Parmesan you can eat while standing up! Serve warm or room temperature.”
Pecan-Ricotta Waffles
lutzflcat
“Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, with a little crunch from the pecans,” says lutzflcat. “Keep waffles warm in the oven as they complete cooking and come off the waffle iron. The ricotta adds tenderness, richness, and great texture to the waffles. Breakfast, brunch, or breakfast-for-dinner never looked better! Serve with butter, maple syrup, and additional pecans, if desired.”
Chef John’s Pizza Rustica
Photo by Chef John.
“Some people describe pizza rustica as an Italian meat-filled quiche, but I think this traditional Easter recipe is way closer to a savory cheesecake filled with a massive amount of goodness,” says Chef John. “The light, flaky crust holds together an embarrassment of riches — sausage, smoked ham, salami, and pepperoni, plus ricotta, mozzarella, and Pecorino Romano cheeses. It’s definitely not like pizza!”
Pasta with Ricotta and Turmeric
Pasta with Ricotta and Turmeric.
Buckwheat Queen
While the pasta cooks, you’ll whip up a simple sauce made with creamy fresh ricotta, ground turmeric, and add a touch of ground pepper. “A quick and filling meal for two is just minutes away,” says Buckwheat Queen.
Spinach and Chicken Enchiladas
“If you like spinach and Mexican food, you’ll love these easy chicken enchiladas made with ricotta cheese and spinach,” says duboo.
Dining and Cooking