Lemon Ricotta pasta is so light, delicious, and simple! This silky sauce is delicious with grilled chicken or with roasted vegetables. Plus, it takes minimal effort and just a few ingredients!
Recipe Inspiration
You will love this lemon ricotta pasta recipe. With just a few simple ingredients, you'll have a simple and delicious pasta dish your whole family will love.
Starchy pasta water is the magic trick in this recipe - in fact, pasta water is the magic trick in most pasta recipes. Did you know that the starch in the pasta water helps bind the sauce to the pasta? Well, it does, and it works wonders!
This pasta is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. Or, you could make this for date night, and serve with grilled chicken and veggies, and a good bottle of wine, of course.
The result was a lusciously creamy sauce with pasta. It's lemony but not *too* lemony. You know what I mean?
This would be delicious with grilled chicken or grilled vegetables. You can even add vegetables like peas and asparagus to the pasta - whatever you like is best!
If you're looking for other easy recipes, check out our Marinated Mozzarella Balls, Chickpea Patties, and Lemon Pepper Shrimp.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
Here's why you'll love this healthy recipe.
- Easy - This lemon ricotta pasta recipe is extremely easy and approachable for home cooks of all levels!
- Fast - This recipe is done in less than 20 minutes, making this great for busy families. Plus, you'll love the delicious flavor!
- Versatile - Top pasta simply with parmesan cheese, chili flakes, or lemon zest, or take it up a notch by adding grilled chicken and veggies. You can also top with a drizzle of olive oil. Yum!
Lemon Ricotta Pasta Ingredients
Here are the simple ingredients you will need for this recipe.
- 1 lb pasta - I used spaghetti, but you can use any type of pasta you like or have on hand. Bow tie pasta would be fun with this!
- Ricotta cheese - Use can use part skim or whole milk ricotta depending on your preference
- Lemon Juice - Fresh lemon juice squeezed or bottled
- Salt - Maldon salt is my favorite
- Black pepper - freshly cracked
- Pasta water - the secret ingredient!
Step by Step Directions
Let's make lemon ricotta pasta together.
Step 1
First, bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Salt the water, then cook pasta until al dente, about 7-8 minutes. Before draining, save a big mug of pasta water.
Step 2
Then, make the lemon ricotta sauce. Combine about ¼ cup of the pasta water with ricotta, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a large bowl while the pasta cooks. Stir well.
Step 3
Add cooked pasta to the ricotta mixture. If you find too thick, continue adding reserved cooking water until you reach your desired consistency. If you think you have excess water, add in more ricotta to even everything out.
You can top with fresh basil, a pinch of red pepper flakes, or grilled chicken. Serve and enjoy!
Expert Tips and Tricks
Here are some expert tips and tricks to make this creamy pasta dish perfect.
Tip 1: Use up Leftovers
This recipe is great when you need to use up some of a ricotta container. It's delicious and a great way to use up ricotta, pasta, or lemons!
Tip 2: Don't Skip the Pasta Water!
You really need the pasta water to help bind everything and make the sauce. If the sauce dries out a bit, just add some more of the reserved pasta water to liven it up, it'll be back to it's silky consistency with just a tad more water.
Tip 3: Double the Recipe
Double the recipe so you have some of this delicious pasta on hand throughout the week. It's such an easy dinner after a long day!
Kitchen Equipment
Here is some kitchen equipment you will need for this creamy lemon ricotta pasta. You can find all of these products on Amazon.
Pasta Pot - I use a pasta pot multiple times a week, and this one is great quality with a steamer and pasta insert. If you make pasta as often as I do - check this out!
Pasta Bowls - I absolutely love these pasta bowls for serving this recipe. They're perfect for pasta with a shallow shape, and it's microwave and dishwasher safe!
Recipe Substitutions and Variations
Here are some common substitutions and variations in this simple pasta recipe.
Recipe Additions - This is a base recipe, so you can easily add in your favorite ingredients. Grilled chicken, roasted vegetables, peas, baby spinach, fresh arugula, or asparagus are all delicious with this simple pasta dish. Or, serve green beans and garlic bread on the side.
Ricotta Cheese - I use store bought ricotta cheese, but you can always make your own homemade ricotta. Here's a great guide on how to make your own ricotta cheese. If you buy your ricotta from the store, you can buy whole-milk ricotta or skim, whichever you prefer.
Pasta Shape - You can use any pasta shape you'd like for this recipe! Some of my favorites are bucatini, bowties, or even orzo.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ricotta cheese has a mild taste. It is creamy and thick, making it good for a variety of sweet and savory dishes.
Ricotta cheese is made by using milk scraps from other cheese production. It is the whey that separates from the milk cheese curd. Ricotta means 'twice cooked' in Italian, because it is a dairy byproduct made from milk.
More Pasta Recipes
Looking for more pasta recipes? Check out some of our favorites!
Lemon Ricotta Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 lb pasta
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 3 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 mug of pasta water
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil.
- Cook pasta until al dente. Before draining, save a big mug of pasta water.
- In a large bowl, combine about ¼ cup of the pasta water with ricotta, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Stir well.
- Keep adding water 2 tbsp at a time until the consistency is smooth, but not too runny. Add pasta to sauce, toss, and serve.
Emily says
In under 30 min you can make a dinner that tastes like something you would order at a restaurant while on vacation!!
Christina Musgrave says
Yes!! It totally has summer vacation vibes!
Diane RUTAN says
Could you make this vegan? Is there a decent ricotta substitute?
Christina Musgrave says
I don't specialize in vegan recipes, but I know there are vegan ricotta recipes out there that you can make with nutritional yeast and tofu if you wanted to give that a try!