7 Recipes To Make With Leftover Ricotta

Leftover ricotta is a tasty addition to many of your favorite recipes.

By
Claudia Cash
Claudia Cash
Claudia Cash
Claudia has been a contributor for Simply Recipes 2017, writing numerous articles focused on cooking on a budget, quick and easy meals, and kid-friendly foods.
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Updated February 22, 2025
Claudia Cash
Lemony Spaghetti with Peas and Ricotta
Sally Vargas

Ricotta is one of the best things about life. That may be a bold statement, but I stand by it! Its creamy texture pairs well with so many ingredients and its mild flavor can enhance any savory or sweet dish.

It’s really easy to make homemade ricotta—this is a great way to use up milk or yogurt. Whether you make ricotta from scratch or buy it at the store, making sure you have ideas to make the most of what’s sitting in your fridge is always a good idea.

You can freeze it, but I prefer to eat it on my morning toast with a little jam. If you’re looking for something with a little more pizzazz, put leftover ricotta to good use with these recipes!

  • Pasta with Spinach, Artichokes and Ricotta

    Lemon artichoke pasta with spinach
    Sally Vargas

    Frozen artichokes, fresh spinach, and creamy ricotta come together in a delightful dish. It can be on the table in under 30 minutes. How’s that for winning?

  • Lemon Blueberry Ricotta Pound Cake

    Lemon Blueberry Ricotta Pound Cake
    Elise Bauer

    Wait a minute — ricotta in a pound cake? You betcha! It takes the place of some of the butter and flour in this recipe and it’s sure to win the hearts of everyone who is lucky enough to try it.

  • Zucchini Ricotta Frittata

    Zucchini Ricotta Frittata
    Elise Bauer

    Seriously so fun to say and it’s even more fun to eat! Who thought ricotta and frittata would become best friends? Welp, they are and it’s glorious!

  • Spinach Ricotta Gnocchi

    Spinach Ricotta Gnocchi
    Elise Bauer

    Why yes, gnocchi CAN be made with ricotta! It’s much more forgiving than the potato version, so if you’ve ever wanted to try making gnocchi but haven’t made the plunge, now’s your chance.

    Continue to 5 of 7 below

  • Honey Ricotta Stuffed French Toast

    How to Make Stuffed French Toast
    Nick Evans

    The divine combo of honey, ricotta, and lemon is what sets this French toast apart from all the other recipes out there. Just one of these slices is enough to fill you up, so dig in!

  • Corn and Ricotta Bruschetta

    Corn and Ricotta Bruschetta on a Wooden Board

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    The ricotta in this dish provides a lot of the meal’s texture and mouth feel, so you’ll want to use the best version you can find. Cheap, mass-produced ricotta will technically work just fine, but it has a relatively rough, grainy texture. Cheese made by a smaller producer, like Belfiore or the award-winning Bellwether Farms, will be creamier and fluffier and have a richer, more milky flavor.

  • Sausage Meatballs With Ricotta

    meatballs

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    This is a quick and easy way to make juicy meatballs with lots of flavor.

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