33 Rich Ricotta Cheese Recipes

Ricotta is a widely beloved cheese — although it's not a cheese in the conventional sense, as it's made from whey, which is a watery liquid byproduct of cheesemaking. It has a soft but almost crumbly texture that can be used in a surprisingly wide variety of dishes, ranging from savory meals, like lasagna and pizza, to desserts, such as cheesecake and cookies. Because of ricotta's versatility, we've collected some of our favorite ricotta cheese recipes, all in one place, to make it easier for you to use this iconic dairy product.

Whether you've got some leftover ricotta hanging out in the fridge that you need to find something to do with or you're just trying to come up with new ways to use it, we've got you covered. These ricotta recipes are sure to please every cheese lover around your dining table, whether they're partial to savory or sweet dishes — or both!

There are few things in this world more glorious than cheesecake, which is why we're such huge fans of this recipe for Baked Ricotta Cheesecake. In this recipe, otherwise crumbly ricotta cheese is used to make a smooth, creamy cake that provides the perfect counterpoint to the thick crust. 

Top this cheesecake with some berries for a slightly sweet tang. The colors from the fruit will make this cheesecake look just as good as it tastes.

Recipe: Baked Ricotta Cheesecake

Everyone loves lasagna, but what happens when you want to ditch the red sauce in favor of something a bit creamier? That's where this recipe for White Lasagna with Sausage and Ricotta comes in. 

The ricotta in this recipe keeps things at least somewhat traditional and makes the layered pasta dish feel more substantial. Instead of using a red marinara sauce, this recipe calls for a white sauce. The fattiness from the sausage works to pull all of those flavors together in one delicious, memorable dish.

Recipe: White Lasagna with Sausage and Ricotta

Are you a fan of crepes? If so, you're in luck, because crespelle are very similar. Treated more like pasta, crespelle tend to lean toward the savory end of the spectrum. This recipe for Tuscan Spinach and Ricotta Crespelle does just that, and we couldn't love it more. 

The batter for the crespelle is incredibly easy to make, so all you really have to worry about is the filling. Spinach and ricotta join forces to create a creamy, but light, filling that's especially enjoyable in this application.

Recipe: Tuscan Spinach and Ricotta Crespelle

Squash, beans, and corn, known here as the "three sisters," work well in a wide variety of applications, but we especially love them in this recipe for Whipped Ricotta Toast. As the name suggests, whipped ricotta is spread over toast, creating a creamy bed of bread for the veggies you'll put on top. Once the squash, beans, and corn are all mixed together and seasoned, spoon them onto the toast. 

You can then eat them as open-faced sandwiches. Could there be a more delicious way to get your vegetable quota for the day?

Recipe: Indigenous-Inspired 3 Sisters Whipped Ricotta Toast

Lasagna is a fan favorite, but it's a heavy dish that may not feel right during the warmer months of the year. If you're looking for a lighter alternative, look no further than this Lemony Spinach Pistou Lasagna. Instead of béchamel, you'll use ricotta for a lighter, almost tangy, flavor that complements the brightness of the lemon. 

Pistou is a sauce made from basil and olive oil, and it lends a lovely fragrant, floral note to the finished dish. Eat this with some bread or a side salad, and you have a new weeknight pasta favorite.

Recipe: Lemony Spinach Pistou Lasagna

Croquettes can be heavy, but that doesn't mean every single croquette on the market is going to land like a bomb in your stomach. As the name suggests, this recipe for Surprisingly Light Herb and Cheese Croquettes offers a simple snack or appetizer that anyone would enjoy noshing on. 

Ricotta is a huge player in this recipe. Although it does have a slight sweetness and tang to it, it's not an overpowering cheese, so it mainly plays a textural role and really allows the flavors of the herbs to shine.

Recipe: Surprisingly Light Herb and Cheese Croquettes

If you're the kind of person who loves when savory and sweet ingredients join forces in one coherent dish, then you'll go crazy for this Fig and Caramelized Onion Whipped Ricotta Dip. It was a subtle sweetness from the figs, and the caramelized onions heighten that sweetness even more while adding a distinctly savory flavor. 

Using whipped ricotta is important here, as it'll yield that ultra creamy texture we're going for. Eat this dip with chips, veggies, or whatever else you have on hand.

Recipe: Fig and Caramelized Onion Whipped Ricotta Dip

Trying to cut down on the amount of pasta you eat on a weekly basis? If so, you may be looking for pasta alternatives, and spaghetti squash is one of them. But it's not just a replacement for pasta — spaghetti squash is delicious in its own right, especially when it's put in lasagna form. 

By using ricotta in this recipe for Spaghetti Squash Lasagna, you get a nice mix of lighter ingredients (like the squash) and heavier, more substantial ones (like the ricotta), which evens things out. You're left with a veggie-forward dish that even pasta lovers will enjoy.

Recipe: Spaghetti Squash Lasagna

When was the last time you had a lasagna that truly seemed like something creative? If you want to expand your lasagna horizons, you don't have to look further than this recipe for White Spinach and Artichoke Lasagna. It's also great for people who are sensitive to the acidity of tomatoes. 

Spinach, artichoke, and lasagna come together to create a flavorful, veggie-forward filling that features the signature creaminess you love in lasagna. Pair with a salad or some fresh bread.

Recipe: White Spinach and Artichoke Lasagna

Spaghetti squash is one of the easiest types of squash to cook, and it's at its best when it's doused with a ton of tomato-forward ingredients. That's exactly what you'll get when you make this recipe for Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Boats. It may sound fancy, but it's actually incredibly easy. 

Since you're adding your ricotta cheese and other lasagna ingredients right into the halved squash, it's very quick to put together. You may never go through the process of making regular lasagna again.

Recipe: Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Boats

We love all pasta, but there's perhaps no pasta quite as fun as shells. We're not talking about the miniature shells you put in a pasta salad. No, we mean the big ones, stuffed with cheese and other ingredients until they're practically bursting. 

If you're looking for a solid recipe for shells, you have to try these Baked Stuffed Shells. Ricotta, of course, plays a starring role in this recipe, as do spinach, sausage, and Parmesan cheese.

Recipe: Baked Stuffed Shells

Ricotta cheese makes the filling of these shells nice and creamy, which is why cooked spinach works so well in these Sausage and Spinach Stuffed Shells. Though this recipe looks sophisticated once you plate it, it's actually incredibly easy to make. 

It requires about 15 minutes of prep time and around an hour to cook. It's perfect for those cozy weeknights when you're craving something warm and comforting.

Recipe: Sausage and Spinach Stuffed Shells

You don't have to make cannoli from scratch to get that classic cannoli flavor we all know and love. Instead, just try making this Cannoli Thumbprint Cookie recipe. These cookies are indented in the middle and filled with a ricotta-based cannoli filling that you'll want to eat straight out of the bowl. 

A fun dessert for an Italian-themed dinner party, they're also great to have out during the holidays. Enjoy them with a cup of coffee for maximum deliciousness.

Recipe: Cannoli Thumbprint Cookies

Who says you can't have cannolis for breakfast? Certainly not Jessica Morone, who dreamed up this indulgent recipe for Cannoli Pancakes. This dish utilizes all the flavors you'd usually find in a cannoli and instead puts it into pancake form. Ricotta cheese makes the base of the frosting topping, which is then covered with chocolate chips. 

Is this the kind of breakfast you want when you're trying to eat your healthiest? Maybe not. But it's perfect for those special occasions when you really want to put an impressive breakfast on the table.

Recipe: Cannoli Pancakes

Forget the same old boring corn on the cob recipe you always make. Instead, turn your corn into an exciting side dish by making this Creamy Corn Pudding. Sure, it may require a bit more work than your typical grilled ear of corn, but once you taste the creamy, cheesy casserole, you'll understand why it's worth the work. 

Corn may be the star of the show in this dish, but ricotta does some heavy lifting by adding both creaminess and some weight to the pudding. You'll add in some cheddar cheese for flavor as well.

Recipe: Creamy Corn Pudding

You don't have to choose between potatoes and pasta when you make gnocchi because gnocchi is a type of pasta made from potatoes. In this case, though, you're going to use sweet potatoes, which give a hint of sweetness. By cooking them in brown butter, you'll get a rich, savory flavor that's hard not to love. 

It's not all about the pasta itself, though. Take this recipe to the next level by spooning a generous serving of ricotta over the dish.

Recipe: Sweet Potato Gnocchi