10 Creative Ways To Use Ricotta Cheese

Ricotta is a traditional Italian cheese with a soft, lumpy texture and mild, milky taste. Typically made from cow's milk, it's produced by heating whey — a common byproduct of other cheesemaking processes. Hence, the word "ricotta" translates to "recooked" in English. When the whey is heated and acidified, it forms the soft, fine curds that are so characteristic of ricotta, resulting in a delicate, airy cheese that's creamy yet relatively low in fat. You can even make your own ricotta at home by curdling boiled milk with lemon juice and then straining the mixture through a cheesecloth.

While it's often found inside a hearty lasagna or as a delicious filling in stuffed pasta such as ravioli and manicotti, ricotta is an incredibly versatile ingredient that shines in a vast array of sweet and savory dishes. Its gentle flavor fits seamlessly into homebaked treats, simple snacks, and elegant dinners — the cheese adds moisture and richness without being overly heavy. And, it tastes fantastic when paired with everything from bold aromatics to tangy-sweet fruits and decadent chocolate. So, if you've previously overlooked ricotta when browsing the dairy aisle, it might be time to give it a try, because this humble cheese is an undeniably effective tool for elevating your everyday cooking.

Due to its moist, fluffy consistency, ricotta is an excellent addition to a quiche or a tart, where it creates a moreish textural contrast against the crisp, flaky pastry. The best approach here is to blend the ricotta in a food processor until silky smooth, which makes for a much more pleasing mouthfeel. It'll combine beautifully with a wide range of ingredients, such as garlic, lemon zest, fresh herbs, and other cheeses like grated Parmesan or cheddar. We love spooning the creamy ricotta filling into a pre-baked tart shell, then layering juicy heirloom tomato slices on top before baking. The result is a vibrant, Mediterranean-style creation that's bursting with freshness and savory depth.

Another wonderfully fuss-free technique is to spread the seasoned ricotta mixture over a rectangular sheet of store-bought puff pastry, then top everything with some thinly sliced veggies, such as red onions, zucchini, bell peppers, or mushrooms. As everything bakes, the pastry will become gloriously puffy and golden. The veggies will be tender and caramelized, while the ricotta layer will add richness to every bite. Or, you could even go for mini tartlets, perhaps stuffing each mini pastry cup with an herby spinach and ricotta blend. Try adding a final sprinkling of shredded mozzarella before they hit the oven for a gloriously melty finish.

Gooey and crisp grilled cheese is the ultimate crowd pleaser, but who says you always have to stick to the same old cheddar or American cheese filling? To make this beloved sandwich infinitely more elegant, try incorporating fluffy ricotta. Due to its spreadable nature, it's super easy to stuff ricotta between the slices, and the resulting sandwich has a slightly lighter feel. As the cheese warms, it won't become oily or stringy. It'll simply soften into a luscious, velvety layer, infusing the bread with richness and enhancing the flavor of other add-ins.

The mild milkiness of ricotta makes it the perfect candidate for pairing with other sharp and creamy cheeses such as Parmesan, fontina, and mozzarella. To make a nutrient-packed spinach and ricotta grilled cheese, wilt the leafy greens in a pan before layering them over cheese-slathered sourdough slices, then pan-fry the sandwiches until crispy and golden. Or, to continue the Italian theme, try subbing in a hearty Italian-style bread like ciabatta or focaccia, and enhancing the ricotta layer with a drizzle of pesto or roasted cherry tomatoes. Meats like bacon, shredded chicken, or prosciutto would also taste amazing with it. And, if you fancy injecting a little sweetness, spread a dollop of your favorite fruity jam or chutney (think fig, cranberry, or plum).

To bring a touch of sophistication to the breakfast table, there's nothing quite like a batch of zesty lemon ricotta pancakes. Mixing the cheese into the batter yields an exceptionally soft, moist, and airy consistency (exactly what you want in a pancake!), and this fluffy canvas is perfect for enhancing with a refreshing hit of citrus.

There's no need to blend the ricotta here, and you won't notice any lumps once the pancakes have been cooked. In fact, you can easily have a basic batter prepped in just five minutes. You'll mix the cheese, lemon juice, and zest with other wet ingredients like milk, eggs, and vanilla extract, and then you'll fold in flour and other dry mix-ins. To take it to the next level, you could always add some fresh or frozen blueberries, which bring mouth-watering pops of juicy sweetness while tempering the sharpness of the lemon. Chopped nuts or toasted coconut would work great, too. Once pan-fried into golden rounds, the pancakes can be stacked and adorned with your favorite toppings, such as maple syrup, Greek yogurt, and fresh fruit. A dollop of crème fraiche and lemon curd would also fit well with the creamy brightness of these pancakes.

Many cheesecake recipes call for cream cheese as the main component of the filling, but with the help of ricotta cheese, you can craft a lighter, fluffier dessert that still feels creamy and indulgent. Ricotta-infused cheesecakes are a little less cloying than cream-cheese-only versions, and the subtle character of this Italian cheese allows the flavors of other add-ins to shine through without being overpowered.

Ricotta cheesecake begins much like any other version of this beloved dessert — with a buttery cookie crumb base. You could use graham crackers, Oreos, or even Biscoff cookies here, pressing the mixture into the bottom of your cake pan and chilling it until firm. To incorporate ricotta into the filling, just blitz it up in a food processor with cream cheese and other ingredients such as eggs, sugar, and vanilla extract. Pour the mixture over the crust and gently bake everything until set. Ricotta will absolutely work in an egg-free, no-bake cheesecake too. Just make sure to chill the assembled cheesecake in the pan for at least four hours before slicing.

When it comes to toppings, there are plenty of delicious options to consider. A simple dusting of powdered sugar and scattering of fresh berries is always a winner, but for something saucier, drizzle some fruit compote or citrusy curd before serving. A layer of chocolate ganache atop the creamy filling would also immensely boost the decadence.

Ricotta serves as a deliciously creamy base for a savory dip, especially alongside vibrant herbs and zesty lemon. But, if you're looking to satisfy your sweet cravings, you can also transform the cheese into an indulgent dessert-worthy dip. By combining ricotta with a handful of other ingredients, you can create a smooth, luxurious mixture that's perfect for dunking sweet treats.

One low-effort and totally delicious method is to add ricotta to a food processor with a drizzle of honey and pinch of salt, and blitz it up until it takes on an ultra-light, whipped consistency. A cannoli-inspired dip also comes highly recommended. Here, the ricotta is blended with cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon, and it's then enhanced with a generous scattering of chocolate chips. However, there's endless opportunity for experimenting with other mix-ins, such as citrus zest, crushed cookies, caramel sauce, or chopped nuts. 

Once your creamy concoction is ready, pair it with a selection of dippers, such as graham crackers, pretzels, vanilla wafers, and sliced fruits like apples, pears, and strawberries. It'll make a fantastic addition to any party spread, but it's also easy enough to prep as a quick weekend treat for the kids.

Add ricotta to a cake batter, and your bake is sure to come out beautifully moist and tender. This humble cheese is an incredible tool for amping up the richness of a basic cake. Unlike milk and cream, it can bring moisture to the batter without making things too runny, and this game-changing add-in can be incorporated into everything from quick breads and muffins to decadent multi-tiered cakes.

You can add the ricotta at the start of your batter prep, beating it with the butter and sugar before adding the remaining ingredients. As always, sweet and tangy fruits are a fitting match for the mild, milky cheese. Try adding some orange zest and fresh cranberries to your ricotta cake mixture, and bake it in a single layer for a simple, bright, and flavorful dessert. Lemon zest and some lemon juice make equally great additions to the fluffy cake, as do other varieties of berries, such as raspberries, blackberries, or diced strawberries. Ricotta also pairs particularly well with almond flour, which further boosts the moisture of the crumb and injects a wonderful dose of sweet, nutty flavor.

Ricotta can even be whipped into a creamy cake frosting. Just beat the cheese with some softened butter and powdered sugar until smooth and fluffy,. Flavor the mixture as desired: A drop of vanilla, pinch of cinnamon, or dusting of cocoa powder would all be delicious.

It might not seem like a natural addition to a burger patty, but ricotta is a secret weapon for yielding tender, juicy meat without imparting any unwanted mushiness or overwhelming flavors. It's great for bulking out ground beef, making it go further while adding moisture. It also serves as an effective binder if you're throwing in other mix-ins like diced onion or fresh herbs.

To prep the burger mixture, just combine ground beef and ricotta in a mixing bowl using your hands. Around ½ cup of ricotta per pound of meat is an ideal ratio to work with. Throw in any extras as desired, whether you fancy spicing things up with paprika or chili flakes, or boosting the aromatic depth with garlic, red onion, parsley, or dill. Then, simply shape handfuls of the mixture into patties, and grill or pan-fry the burgers until lovely and charred on the outside, yet succulent in the center. They'll pair brilliantly with all of the classic toppings, like fresh tomato and lettuce, tangy pickles, cheese, and sweet relish.

With its creamy consistency, ricotta is a staple for stuffing pasta, but it can also excel as a filling inside hollowed-out veggies like mushrooms, peppers, and tomatoes. This approach is easy but elegant, delivering big flavors and satisfying textures, with plenty of room for customization.

Mushrooms are a classic choice, and larger varieties like portobello offer ample room for stuffing. To craft a well-rounded filling mixture, mix the ricotta with some grated Parmesan and fresh aromatics like garlic, chili, lemon zest, basil, or parsley before spooning everything into mushroom cups. Then, simply bake everything until the mushrooms are tender, and the filling is gloriously gooey.

Bell peppers are another top pick for pairing with ricotta, providing a slightly sweet contrast to the soft, milky cheese. For an irresistibly melty finish, try stuffing them with a blend of ricotta and shredded mozzarella, and throwing in some sauteed veggies like diced onion, spinach, zucchini, or corn for added savory depth. Or, for a super quick, no-bake appetizer with bags of visual appeal, stuff the seasoned ricotta mixture into drained, jarred cherry peppers. Hollowed tomatoes also make an excellent base for a cheesy filling, perhaps with a crispy breadcrumb topping and drizzle of pesto to finish.

Ricotta toast is a sophisticated addition to any brunch plate, as it provides the most delicious contrast of crisp, golden bread and smooth, creamy cheese — a duo that's just screaming to be topped with a whole host of sweet and savory extras. To get that luscious, lump-free consistency, whipping the cheese is key. This is easily done in a food processor or a blender, and getting creative with some flavor-boosters is always welcome. 

If you're going for a savory toast, a pinch of salt, sprinkle of dried herbs, or a glug of extra virgin olive oil are natural picks for enhancing the spread, but then there are also the classics like lemon zest, garlic, and chili flakes. If sweetness is the goal, blitz up ricotta with some honey or maple syrup, and go for add-ins like vanilla extract, citrus zest, or warming spices.

After spreading your whipped ricotta atop the crispy toasted bread, go ahead and add the toppings. These can be as healthy or indulgent as you wish, and there are countless combinations to try. Delicate folds of prosciutto and grilled peach slices serve as a beautifully balanced addition to the creamy toast, while smoked salmon works great with a halved, jammy boiled egg. On the sweeter side, you could go for a swipe of jam or fruit compote. You can also just sprinkle some fresh berries or crunchy pomegranate seeds or scatter some shaved chocolate for a more dessert-like approach.

You've likely heard of gnocchi, but have you met its lighter, cheesier cousin? Gnudi are traditional Italian dumplings, made by shaping a rich ricotta cheese mixture into balls that are then boiled or baked until soft and pillowy. Most recipes see the cheese paired with egg, flour, and grated Parmesan as a particularly popular addition. Some versions also incorporate spinach for a vibrant pop of green. The ingredients are mixed into a sticky dough that's then shaped by hand into lumpy dumplings.

Boiling the gnudi generally takes around five minutes, and like gnocchi, you'll know the dumplings are ready when they float to the top. If you're baking gnudi on a sheet pan, they'll take around 20 minutes to firm up, after which they're ready to be paired with a complementary sauce. You can't go wrong with a rich, herby pesto, though a fragrant sage butter is another popular choice. Flavor-packed marinara sauce would also taste wonderful here, as would a simple drizzle of garlic-infused olive oil and a sprinkle of Parmesan. Tender sauteed veggies like mushrooms, onion, or cherry tomatoes will fit right in alongside these delicate dumplings, and you can absolutely boost the protein content by pairing the gnudi with some crispy pan-fried pancetta, or even elegant seafood options such as scallops or shrimps.