15 Lemon-Ricotta Recipes From Creamy Pasta to Fluffy Pancakes

These light and bright recipes show why lemon and ricotta just belong together.

Photo by Fred Hardy II / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn / Prop Styling by Christina Brockman
Photo by Fred Hardy II / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn / Prop Styling by Christina Brockman

If your searches and saves are any indication, we know you love lemon-ricotta recipes. And what's not to love? Bright, tangy lemon and mild, fluffy ricotta cheese taste dreamy together and don't overpower one another, whether paired in sweet or savory dishes. From speedy weeknight pastas to beautiful spring desserts, these are some of our favorite lemon-ricotta combinations.

Lemon-Ricotta Pasta

<p>Jordan Provost / Food Styling by Thu Buser</p>

Jordan Provost / Food Styling by Thu Buser

Creamy ricotta cheese is the secret to the no-cook sauce for this 15-minute dish. It's brightened with lemon zest and juice and tossed with pasta for an effortless, elegant dinner.

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Lemon-Ricotta Cake

Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Lydia Pursell
Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Lydia Pursell

This moist, tender cake from chef Camille Cogswell gets its wonderfully light texture from ricotta. Lemon zest and an optional dash of lemon extract flavor the batter.

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Vatrushka with Lemon and Ricotta Filling

<p>Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Christine Keely</p>

Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Christine Keely

These sweet, cheese-stuffed buns from Ukrainian cookbook author Anna Voloshnaya are traditionally served for Easter. Here, the fresh ricotta filling is flavored with lemon zest, sugar, and golden raisins.

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Limoncello Ricotta Cheesecake

Photo by Fred Hardy II / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn / Prop Styling by Christina Brockman
Photo by Fred Hardy II / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn / Prop Styling by Christina Brockman

This light ricotta cheesecake gets lots of lemony flavor from both fresh lemon juice and limoncello, a sweet and potent Italian liqueur made from steeping lemon peels in grain alcohol or vodka. A spiced cookie crust and basil garnish balance the lemon beautifully.

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Quinoa Pancakes with Ricotta and Lemon

Photo by Antonis Achilleos / Prop Styling by Kathleen Varner / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey
Photo by Antonis Achilleos / Prop Styling by Kathleen Varner / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey

Fluffy ricotta and egg whites lighten up these wholesome pancakes, while whole wheat flour and cooked quinoa add plenty of flavor and texture. They're sweetened just enough with lemon zest, vanilla, and maple syrup.

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Lemon-Ricotta Cupcakes with Fluffy Lemon Frosting

Christina Holmes
Christina Holmes

Ricotta gives these lemon cupcakes a moist, tender crumb. Both the batter and frosting are flavored with fresh lemon zest and honey for a light, not-too-sweet flavor.

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Lemon-Ricotta Pancakes with Caramelized Apples

© Christina Holmes
© Christina Holmes

These airy pancakes are lightened up with ricotta and finely grated lemon zest in the batter. They're topped with a sauté of apples, butter, sugar, and cinnamon, but you can also garnish simply with more lemon zest.

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Lemon-Ricotta Soufflés

© Tina Rupp
© Tina Rupp

These heavenly soufflés from chef Maria Helm Sinksey are crisp on the outside and custardy on the inside. Fresh lemon zest and juice and mild ricotta yield a delicate, not-too-sweet flavor.

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Baked Rigatoni with Milk-Braised Pork, Ricotta and Lemon

© Con Poulos
© Con Poulos

This hearty yet brightly-flavored dish from chefs Ryan Hardy and Tim Caspare includes lemon zest in the braising liquid for the pork, which gets transformed into a luscious sauce. The stunning dish is dolloped with fresh ricotta before baking.

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Poppy Seed Crêpes with Tangy Lemon Curd and Ricotta

© Sarah Bolla
© Sarah Bolla

Lemon and poppy seeds are another tried-and-true combo. Here, a delicate poppy seed batter is brightened with lemon zest, filled with warm ricotta, and served with a vibrant homemade lemon curd.

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Lemony Ricotta Dutch Baby with Blueberries

© Dana Cowin
© Dana Cowin

This show-stopping brunch dish includes ricotta and lemon zest in the bright, airy batter. Fresh blueberries make it a seasonal stunner.

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Herbed Pea Puree and Ricotta Salad with Black Garlic and Lemon Confiture

© John Kernick
© John Kernick

This elegant, complex appetizer from chef Matthew Accarino combines three types of peas, a creamy ricotta-pea puree, and a sweet-tart lemon jam.

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Crostini with Roasted Butternut Squash, Ricotta and Preserved Lemon

© Guy Ambrosino
© Guy Ambrosino

For this simple and impressive appetizer, toasted baguette slices are topped with creamy ricotta, earthy butternut squash, and a tangy and salty preserved lemon relish.

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Herbed Ricotta with Grilled Bread

© Abby Hocking
© Abby Hocking

This easy yet elegant dip is a simple combination of ricotta, lemon zest and juice, garlic, and olive oil. Serve with crostini or crudités.

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Spaghetti with Spinach and Ricotta

© Kate Winslow
© Kate Winslow

A creamy lemon-ricotta sauce is the perfect contrast to earthy spinach in this easy pasta dish, which comes together in just 30 minutes. Red pepper flakes add a touch of heat.

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