• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Crunchy Creamy Sweet

Easy Recipes for Busy Parents

  • All Recipes
  • Air Fryer
  • Asian
  • Dinner
  • Instant Pot
  • Dessert
  • About Us
menu icon
go to homepage
  • All Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • About Me
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • All Recipes
    • Subscribe
    • About Me
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    You are here: Crunchy Creamy Sweet / Pasta / Best Lemon Ricotta Pasta

    Best Lemon Ricotta Pasta

    Published: May 22, 2021 · Modified: Jun 6, 2022 by Anna 6 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Sharing is caring!

    644 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This is Lemon Ricotta Pasta is the best, easy and perfect for vegetarian dinners. Fettuccine in creamy lemon ricotta sauce, with spinach and garlic, is served with toasted breadcrumbs for a contrast of textures and added flavor!

    Serve this dish with my One-Hour Skillet Focaccia and a side of my Perfect Caesar Salad with homemade croutons. This meatless dish is bound to become your favorite!

    Ricotta pasta in a pan.

    If you ever doubted that a handful of simple ingredients can turn into an impressive dish, doubt no more! This Lemon Ricotta Pasta has three main ingredients (as the title suggests) and can be customized to likings. I added spinach, garlic (sliced and sauteed until crispy), and my favorite pasta topping: toasted bread crumbs!

    This dinner is perfect for meatless Mondays or simply when you need something easy but with tons of flavor. Great for busy weekdays or when entertaining guests. This pasta dish never fails to impress!

    The toasted bread crumbs as garnish make a huge difference. They can take a boring pasta to a new level! They add crunch and nutty, toasty flavor. Perfect in this dish!

    Ingredients:

    • pasta (I used fettuccine)
    • Ricotta cheese
    • lemon
    • butter
    • olive oil
    • garlic
    • spinach (optional)
    • breadcrumbs
    • salt and pepper
    • Parmesan cheese

    How to make Lemon Ricotta Pasta?

    • Start by cooking pasta in a pot of boiling water, until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain pasta. Keep warm.
    • Melt butter in a pan. Add breadcrumbs and Italian seasoning and toast until golden brown. Remove from pan and set aside.
    Cooked pasta in pot and breadcrumbs in pan.
    • Add oil and butter to the same pan. Add sliced garlic and saute, stirring often, until golden.
    • Add spinach. Saute until wilted.
    Sauteed garlic in pan and spinach added.
    • Add ricotta, lemon juice and zest. Stir in until creamy.
    • Add pasta and Parmesan cheese. Stir in to coat.
    • Serve with more Parmesan cheese and toasted breadcrumbs garnish.
    Ricotta cheese with spinach and pasta in pan.

    Variations:

    • gluten-free: use GF pasta and bread crumbs
    • add protein: beans, chicken or shrimp can be added as well
    • more veggies: add sun-dried tomatoes, kale, red bell pepper, etc

    Storing leftovers:

    Any leftovers should be stored in a container with a lid, in the fridge for up to 4 days. If reheating in a pan, add water or milk to make the pasta creamy again.

    Ricotta pasta on a plate with fork.

    More easy pasta recipes:

    • Instant Pot Tuscan Chicken Pasta
    • Garlic Butter Mushroom Shrimp Pasta
    • Spaghetti alla Carbonara
    • Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta
    • Easy Shrimp Scampi
    • Creamy Zucchini Pasta

    For more recipes like this one, feel free to browse our Pasta Category.

    If you like this recipe and make it, snap a photo and share it on INSTAGRAM! Tag me @crunchycreamysweet so I can check it out and leave a comment!

    Ricotta pasta in a pan.

    Best Lemon Ricotta Pasta

    Author: Anna
    This is Lemon Ricotta Pasta is the best, easy and perfect for vegetarian dinners. Fettuccine in creamy lemon ricotta sauce, with spinach and garlic, is served with toasted breadcrumbs for a contrast of textures and added flavor!
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 35 mins
    Course Main Dish
    Cuisine American, Italian
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 454 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 8 oz fettuccine pasta
    • 2 tablespoons butter divided
    • ¼ cup bread crumbs
    • ¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 3 garlic cloves sliced thinly
    • 1 cup fresh spinach
    • 1 lemon zested and juiced
    • 6 oz whole-milk ricotta cheese
    • ½ cup Parmesan cheese
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

    Instructions
     

    • Cook pasta in a pot of boiling water, until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water, then drain pasta. Drizzle a little bit of olive oil over it and stir in, this will keep it from sticking. Keep warm.
    • In a large skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of butter. Add breadcrumbs and Italian seasoning and toast until golden brown. Remove from pan and set aside.
    • In the same pan, melt remaining butter with oil. Add thinly sliced garlic and fry until golden brown and crispy.
    • Add spinach and stir in. Cook until wilted.
    • Add lemon juice, zest and ricotta cheese. Stir in. Cook until creamy.
    • Add pasta to skillet and stir in to coat with sauce. Add half of pasta water and stir in. If needed, add more.
    • Add cheese and stir in.
    • Serve pasta garnished with toasted bread crumbs, and more Parmesan cheese.

    Notes

    • Please note, that the nutrition value can vary depending on what product you use. The information below is an estimate. Always use calorie counter you are familiar with.
    • For more protein, beans, chicken or shrimp can be added as well.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 454kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 93mg | Sodium: 644mg | Potassium: 264mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1203IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 284mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment with rating below!

    More Pasta Recipes

    • Creamy Sausage Pasta
    • Gnocchi with Tomato Sauce
    • Easy Broccoli Pasta
    • Creamy Zucchini Pasta

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Did you make this recipe? Let me know! Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Jennifer says

      May 25, 2021 at 9:32 pm

      5 stars
      This is seriously one of our favorite dinner recipes we've ever made! We absolutely loved it and plan to make it again and again!!

      Reply
      • Anna says

        May 31, 2021 at 11:21 pm

        Yay! That's wonderful! Thank you, Jennifer!

        Reply
    2. Beth says

      May 24, 2021 at 9:36 am

      5 stars
      This was such a yummy dinner last night! I can't wait to make this again, so delicious! My family absolutely love love loved it. So excited to make this again!

      Reply
      • Anna says

        May 31, 2021 at 11:16 pm

        Thanks so much, Beth!

        Reply
    3. Lisalia says

      May 23, 2021 at 5:21 pm

      5 stars
      I followed the recipe but had to guess on the lemon! It's not mentioned in the recipe. So I grated the zest of one lemon and added that to the delicious, thick cheesy sauce. And then I squeezed a wedge of lemon over each of the servings. It turned out great. Would love to know how you made yours. Lemon and ricotta are a match made in heaven and it tasted so yummy in this savory dish.

      Reply
      • Anna says

        May 31, 2021 at 11:16 pm

        It must have gotten lost. So sorry about that, Lisalia! I am glad you enjoyed the pasta!

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Crunchy Creamy Sweet Anna

    Hi, I'm Anna! Thank you for stopping by! Here you will find easy and delicious recipes for busy people. My recipes are made with everyday ingredients and all of them are family approved!

    More about me →

    Easy Dinners

    • Quick Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowls Recipe
    • Easy Sesame Chicken Recipe
    • Creamy Garlic Chicken
    • Creamy Lemon Garlic Chicken Recipe
    • Creamy Mushroom Garlic Chicken
    • Cheesy Beef Noodle Casserole

    Popular Recipes

    • Air Fryer Shrimp
    • Instant Pot Baked Potatoes Recipe
    • Thai Peanut Noodles Recipe
    • Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets Recipe
    • BLT Pasta Salad Recipe
    • KFC Coleslaw Copycat Recipe

    Featured in

    Logos of publications like yahoo, Parade magazine, MSN.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Crunchy Creamy Sweet All rights reserved.

    © Copyright 2023 - Crunchy Creamy Sweet - Privacy Policy