12 Authentic Pasta with Ricotta Recipes.
Pasta is, of course, the most famous Italian staple. And ricotta is probably one of the most popular cheeses in the Italian kitchen. Pasta recipes that make use of ricotta are among my favourites. In fact, there are many dishes that combine these two favourite Italian foods. Check out these 12 Italian pasta with ricotta recipes . I’m sure you’ll find a few you’d like to try!
What exactly is ricotta?
Ricotta is actually a whey cheese obtained by reheating the whey left over from the production of other cheeses made with sheep, goat, water buffalo or cow’s milk. In fact, the word ‘ricotta’ means recooked!
Even the Ancient Romans made ricotta!
Simply put, when you make cheese, you separate milk into two substances, curds and whey! Most cheeses are made using the curds. Ricotta is made using the whey. It’s a bit similar to cottage cheese. Italians have been making ricotta for centuries. Even the Ancient Romans made it!
Traditional Italian fresh ricotta is smoother than cottage cheese and tastes mildly sweet. Ricotta is mostly used and eaten when it’s fresh. However, there are ricotta cheeses which are aged such as ricotta salata (salted ricotta), ricotta affumicata (smoked ricotta) and ricotta infornata (baked ricotta). These 12 Italian pasta with ricotta recipes all call for fresh ricotta!
Just click the recipe name to find out more about each dish!
Meatless Italian pasta with ricotta recipes.
Sicilian ricotta and pistachio pasta
Two of the most important ingredients in the Sicilian kitchen are ricotta and pistachios. Both are used in desserts and pasta recipes. This Sicilian ricotta and pistachio pasta is a delicious example of how beautifully these two typical foods can be used together to make a divine creamy plate of pasta.
Italian ricotta and mushrooms lasagna
This Italian ricotta mushroom lasagne al forno is one of my favourite lasagna recipes. Made with fabulous Southern Italian dried lasagna riccia and porcini mushrooms, this dish tastes as beautiful as it looks!
Calabrian ricotta balls in tomato sauce.
This fabulous vegetarian version of pasta with ‘meatballs’ is based on a traditional recipe from Calabria in Southern Italy. Actually, these Calabrian ricotta balls in tomato sauce are delicious with pasta or without! You can also make extra and fry or bake them!
Sicilian ricotta pasta 2 ways (with walnuts or nutmeg)
In Southern Italy, pasta with ricotta is a popular go-to recipe when mothers don’t know what to cook or haven’t had time for shopping. Kids love it! I’m sure you and your family will love these Sicilian ricotta pasta recipes too!
Ricotta and basil filled paccheri pasta.
This paccheri recipe is so full of Mediterranean flavour , yet super simple to make. If you’ve never tried Neapolitan paccheri pasta before, this is a great recipe to begin with.
Linguine with mint pesto & ricotta cream.
This fresh and creamy contemporary linguine pasta with mint pesto recipe is perfect for summer days when mint is in season and heavy meals are the last thing on our minds!
Homemade ricotta gnocchi with mushrooms.
Traditionally made with Piemontese ricotta and fresh porcini, this vegetarian recipe is just as delicious with other types of ricotta and mushrooms.
Baked conchiglioni pasta shells with ricotta & spinach.
The two most traditional Sunday lunch baked pasta shell dishes in Italy are either with a meat ragu filling or like this recipe for pasta shells with spinach and ricotta.
Spaghetti al limone with basil & ricotta.
This spaghetti al limone with ricotta and basil has a wonderful fresh summer taste, with an intense lemony flavour. In fact, close your eyes and you can even imagine you are eating this dish sitting on a terrace overlooking the sea on the Amalfi coast or Capri!
Ricotta gnudi with black truffle.
Ricotta gnudi with black truffle is a heavenly dish made with Tuscan gnudi (gnocchi). However, even without black truffles you will love these divine ricotta dumplings!
Ragu lovers Italian pasta with ricotta recipe.
Tuscan pasta tordellata with ragu, ricotta & Swiss chard.
Known as Tuscan pasta tordellata, intordellata or stordellata, this delicious deconstructed version of a traditional tortelli recipe from Tuscany tastes as good as the filled pasta dish, with less work! I loved everything about this recipe, including having 2 sauces.
Sweet pasta with ricotta.
Prune & fig cjarsons, sweet ravioli from Friuli.
These traditional Northern Italian sweet ravioli are a unique and delicious way to serve pasta. These cjarsons are filled with prunes, figs and ricotta and served with melted butter, cinnamon and sugar!
If you do make these Italian pasta with ricotta recipes, I’d love to hear how they turn out. Please write a comment here on the blog or post a comment on the Pasta Project Facebook page.
Your feedback means a lot to me!
Buon Appetito!
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Genevieve says
I want to come visit you and have you cook pasta for me! Your pasta always look so delicious!
The Pasta Project says
Thank you for the kind comments, and of course we always love visitors Genevieve!
Michelle says
I would have never considered using ricotta in these other recipes. The only time I have used ricotta is in lasagna. It is nice to have options, thank you for sharing.
The Pasta Project says
It is really versatile, though also wonderful in lasagne!
AJ says
This is my go-to collection for pasta dishes!
The Pasta Project says
Thank you, AJ! I hope you get to try them all!
Anindya Sundar Basu says
I always love Pasta in any form. bookmarking this for my future reference
The Pasta Project says
I hope that you get the chance to try some of the recipes, Anindya!
Nart at Cooking with Nart says
This is such a great collection! I could make one for each day for 12 days!
The Pasta Project says
That sounds like a great plan, Nart!
Kez says
I had no idea that there were so many pasta dishes that used ricotta!
The Pasta Project says
There are many more, I hope you get to try some of them!
Kevin says
one of those reminds me of the Polish dish perogies, thanks for sharing this !
The Pasta Project says
Thank you, Kevin! Gnocchi is the Italian version of perogies, so the gnudi recipe is very similar!
chad says
I bookmarked all these amazing recipes! I can't wait to make all of these, can't wait!!!
The Pasta Project says
You must let me know how you like them if you make them!
Rochelle says
This is such a nice collection of pasta recipes! Each one looks so delicious!
The Pasta Project says
Thank you, Rochelle!
Neli Howard says
Oh God, all these recipes made me hungry! Seriously, this is an incredibly tasty list. Especially Italian ravioli. I will definitely keep this list. THANK YOU!
The Pasta Project says
If you make any of the recipes, please do let me know how it turns out!
Charla says
I'm not really reversed with Italian cuisines so this roundup is a great resource for a novice like me
The Pasta Project says
Thank you, Charla. I am pleased it's useful for you, and I hope you get to try a recipe or two!
kim says
So many good recipes to try! I'm thinking of making the ricotta balls first!
The Pasta Project says
They are quick and easy to make and taste delicious, so that is a great place to start!
Lauren Vavala | Delicious Little Bites says
This is such an amazing list of recipes. I absolutely love ricotta on pasta (and pizza!) and can't wait to give a couple of these recipes a try soon.
The Pasta Project says
Thank you, Lauren. I am a ricotta fan too!
Tammy says
I love ricotta cheese in red sauce for a light yet creamy dish. Love the variety of dishes here! I know I would enjoy them all..thanks for sharing ^_^
The Pasta Project says
Thank you, Tammy!