24 Recipes That Use Ricotta Cheese

Beefy skillet lasagna in cast iron
Photo:

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn

While we're sure you used to ricotta cheese appearing on the ingredient list for lasagna, it can be used in so many other delicious recipes. The versatile, soft cheese can actually be used for every meal of the day, not just supper. We're talking Ricotta Pancakes for breakfast, White Calzones with Marinara Sauce for lunch, and Raspberry Ricotta Cake for dessert.

From appetizers to mains to desserts, these are our best recipes that use ricotta cheese.

01 of 24

Our Best Lasagna

Our Best Lasagna

Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

Our Best Lasagna recipe calls for a full 32-ounce container of ricotta cheese.

02 of 24

Instant Pot Baked Ziti

instant pot baked ziti
Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Christine Kelly Food Stylist: Ali Ramee

Cooking up ziti in your multicooker will help it come together quicker than an oven-baked version.

03 of 24

Ricotta Pancakes with Brown Butter-Maple Syrup and Blueberry Compote

Ricotta Pancakes with Brown Butter-Maple Syrup and Blueberry Compote

Hector Sanchez

Using ricotta cheese in this recipe gives these pancakes a light and airy texture.

04 of 24

Creamy Spinach-Ricotta Crostini

Creamy Spinach-Ricotta Crostini
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

From start to finish, this appetizer comes together in just 15 minutes but is still guaranteed to impress your dinner guests.

05 of 24

Grilled Sweet Pepper Salad With Ricotta And Summer Herbs

Grilled Sweet Pepper Salad With Ricotta And Summer Herbs
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

This pretty grilled salad is almost too pretty to eat.

06 of 24

Beefy Skillet Lasagna

Beefy skillet lasagna in cast iron

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn

While we do love homemade lasagna, it usually takes quite a bit of time to pull together. This skillet version allows you to enjoy the same great flavor in just 40 minutes.

07 of 24

Focaccia With Ricotta and Crispy Herbs

Focaccia with Ricotta and Crispy Herbs
Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Christine Keely

Store-bought pizza dough helps this appetizer come together a little easier and quicker.

08 of 24

Sausage-Pimiento Cheese Pasta Rollups

Sausage-Pimiento Cheese Pasta Rollups
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch

Pimiento cheese gets a supper-ready upgrade with the addition of pasta and Italian sausage.

09 of 24

Raspberry Ricotta Cake

Raspberry Ricotta Cake
Joy Howard

This cake isn't too sweet, which means it can also be enjoyed for breakfast alongside a cup of coffee.

10 of 24

White Calzones with Marinara Sauce

White Cheese Calzones with Marinara Sauce
Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

While we call for jarred marinara sauce for dipping, you can definitely use homemade if you have some on hand.

11 of 24

Spaghetti Pie

Southern Living Spaghetti Pie in the cast iron skillet with a wedge cut out to serve

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Serve up the flavors of spaghetti by the slice by baking it in your favorite cast-iron skillet.

12 of 24

Baked Ziti with Summer Vegetables

Baked Ziti with Summer Vegetables
Alison Miksch

Our test kitchen recommends broiling the vegetables before adding them to the casserole so they don't make the casserole too watery as it bakes.

13 of 24

Smoky Sausage-and-Collard Stuffed Shells

Smoky Sausage-and-Collard Stuffed Shells
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch

This impressive dish comes together in just 45 minutes with 9 ingredients.

14 of 24

Baked Ziti with Sausage

Baked Ziti with Sausage
Southern Living

Ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheeses are the ideal trio to add plenty of cheesy flavor to this baked ziti.

15 of 24

Zucchini Lasagna

Zucchini Lasagna
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Tina Stamos

This lasagna not only has thin slices of zucchini but it calls for lasagna noodles as well.

16 of 24

Skillet Mac and Cheese with Crispy Breadcrumbs

Skillet Mac and Cheese with Breadcrumbs
Hector Manuel Sanchez

In addition to Cheddar cheese, Velveeta, and whole-milk ricotta, this macaroni and cheese recipe also calls for mayonnaise to ensure it has an extra creamy texture.

17 of 24

Lasagna Roll Ups

Tomato-Basil Lasagna Rolls
Hector Sanchez; Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell

Instead of layering, opt for this rolled version of lasagna next time you're looking for a fun supper to serve.

18 of 24

Buttermilk-Ricotta Cheese Dip

Buttermilk-Ricotta Cheese Dip
Hector Sanchez

Follow this recipe to make your own homemade ricotta. You'll just need whole milk, buttermilk, and heavy cream.

19 of 24

Red Pepper, Potato, and Ricotta Frittata

Red Pepper, Potato, and Ricotta Frittata
Greg DuPree

While we call for red peppers and potatoes, you can also include other veggies you have on hand like onions, mushrooms, or spinach.

20 of 24

Green Bean Lasagna

Green Bean Lasagna
Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck

Think of this dish as a combination of lasagna and green bean casserole.

21 of 24

Eggplant Rollups

Eggplant Rollups
Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele

Featuring eggplant instead of noodles, this veggie-packed lasagna calls for just five ingredients.

22 of 24

Italian Casserole

Italian Casserole
Hector Manuel Sanchez

Whether you want to serve this casserole for a weeknight dinner or for weekend entertaining, this casserole can be assembled the day before and stored in the refrigerator overnight.

23 of 24

Three-Cheese Pasta Bake

Three-Cheese Pasta Bake

In addition to the ricotta cheese, this pasta bake also calls for mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese.

24 of 24

Spinach-and-Herb Pastatta

Spinach-and-Herb Pastatta
Melina Hammer

This hearty casserole combines baked pasta and a frittata into one dish.

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