Best 20 Baked Ricotta Recipes

CHEESY BAKED PASTA WITH SAUSAGE AND RICOTTA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Heat oil in a 12-inch ovenproof skillet over medium-high. Crumble sausage into skillet, using a spoon to break it into small pieces. Cook until starting to brown, stirring occasionally, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in garlic, oregano, fennel seeds and red-pepper flakes (if using), and cook another 1 to 2 minutes.
• Stir in whole tomatoes and their juice, using a spoon to break them up. Add crushed tomatoes, bay leaves and 2 teaspoons salt, and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 10 minutes to thicken slightly.
• Stir in pasta and 1 cup water and return to a simmer. Continue to simmer for 2 minutes, stirring frequently to make sure pasta doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan. Remove from heat, pluck out the bay leaves, and fold in about a third of the mozzarella.
• Top pasta with remaining mozzarella and dollops of ricotta. Sprinkle with Parmesan, then transfer to oven. Bake until pasta is tender when poked with a fork, and cheese is bubbly and lightly golden, 18 to 22 minutes. (If you'd like a more deeply browned topping, run the pan under the broiler for 1 or 2 minutes.) Remove from oven and let cool slightly before serving. Top with basil, plenty of black pepper, and more red-pepper flakes, if you like.

BAKED POLENTA WITH TOMATO SAUCE AND RICOTTA

Steps:

• To prepare the tomato sauce:
• Preheat the oven to 425°F. Place the tomatoes, yellow onion, and garlic in a baking pan. Bake for 45 minutes or until the garlic is soft and the skin is peeling away from the tomatoes. Remove from the oven and cool to room temperature. Remove the skin from the tomatoes and put in a saucepan. Squeeze the garlic out of the bulb and into the tomatoes. Remove the skin from the onion. Coarsely chop the onion and add to the tomatoes.
• Add the olive oil to the tomatoes and puree with a handheld immersion blender until smooth. You may need to add up to 1/3 cup water if there is not enough liquid. Season with salt. Warm the tomato sauce just prior to use.
• To prepare the polenta:
• Preheat the oven to 400°F. In a medium saucepan, bring 3 cups of water to a simmer and stream in the polenta. Whisk together until there are no lumps. Cover with a lid and continue to cook over low heat for 20 minutes, stirring every 3 minutes. Be careful when you go to stir the polenta-it tends to spit out pieces of the cornmeal, which is very hot. Remove the polenta from the heat and stir in the olive oil and basil. Drop in teaspoon-size pieces of the ricotta cheese. Pour the polenta into an 8-inch square baking pan and spread evenly. Sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese and let sit for 1 hour or until the polenta has firmed up. Bake the polenta in the oven for 15 minutes or until heated through. Cut the polenta into 8 equal pieces.
• To serve:
• Place 1/2 cup warm tomato sauce in 4 shallow bowls and top with two pieces of the polenta. Sprinkle with the chopped basil.

BAKED PASTA WITH SPINACH, RICOTTA, AND PROSCIUTTO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cook pasta a few minutes less than package instructions suggest. Cut prosciutto into thin strips.
• In a 9-by-13-inch baking dish, toss pasta with spinach, half of prosciutto, milk, ricotta, and garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Top with remaining prosciutto and Parmesan. Bake until golden, 30 to 40 minutes.

TWICE BAKED SWEET POTATOES WITH RICOTTA CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Pierce potatoes with a fork and bake until soft, about 1 hour. Remove from oven and cool until potatoes can be handled, about 20 minutes.
• Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a large baking sheet.
• Meanwhile, place olive oil in small skillet over medium heat. Add shallots and cook and stir until softened and beginning to brown, about 10 minutes. Set aside.
• Cut potatoes in half lengthwise and scoop out pulp, leaving a thin shell. Set shells aside. Place pulp into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Add ricotta, salt, pepper, ginger, and sugar to the blender; blend until smooth.
• Return potato mixture to a bowl; stir in shallots, Parmesan cheese, and sage. Spoon mixture back into potato skins. Place potatoes on prepared baking sheet.
• Bake until heated through, about 30 minutes.

BAKED RIGATONI WITH SPINACH, RICOTTA, AND FONTINA

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Oil a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
• In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the rigatoni until almost done, about 12 minutes.
• Drain.
• Put the pasta in the prepared baking dish and toss with 1 tablespoon of the oil.
• Meanwhile, squeeze as much of the water as possible from the spinach.
• Put the spinach in a food processor and puree with the ricotta, 3 tablespoons of the Parmesan, the nutmeg, salt, and pepper.
• Stir in half the fontina.
• Stir the spinach mixture into the pasta.
• Top with the remaining fontina and Parmesan.
• Drizzle the remaining 2 tablespoons oil over the top.
• Bake the pasta until the top is golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes.
• VARIATION:.
• You can substitute another chunky pasta, such as penne rigate, penne, ziti, or fusilli. Boil all of these one or two minutes less.

BAKED ARTICHOKES WITH OLIVES AND RICOTTA CHEESE

Steps:

• In a shallow Dutch oven or braising pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the shallots and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft but not browned, about 5 minutes. Add the olives, white wine and capers and cook about 2 minutes.
• Halve 6 of the cleaned artichokes and place them in the braising liquid. Add the tomatoes and their liquid and season with salt and pepper. Be sure to taste, as the olives and capers can make the sauce very salty. Cover the mixture, bring to a simmer and cook over medium heat until the artichokes are tender (a knife should go through without resistance) and the liquid has reduced by half, about 40 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Drop dollops of the ricotta cheese on each artichoke, then top with the grated Pecorino. Bake in the oven covered for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake until golden brown, about 25 minutes.
• In the meantime, heat 2 inches canola oil in a Dutch oven or fryer to 350 degrees F. Slice the remaining 2 artichokes extremely thin using a mandolin slicer or by hand. Pat the slices dry with paper towels. Drop the artichoke slices into the hot oil and fry until golden brown and crispy, about 5 minutes.
• Top the baked artichoke with the fried artichoke slices and tarragon serve.

SAUSAGE AND RICOTTA BAKED CANNELLONI

Steps:

• Béchamel:
• Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook, whisking occasionally, until mixture smells slightly nutty, about 3 minutes. Whisk in milk, then increase heat to medium-high, and still whisking constantly, bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to maintain a simmer and cook just until thick and no longer floury tasting, 8-10 minutes. Add Parmesan and whisk until melted, then whisk in cayenne and nutmeg; season with salt. Cover béchamel and keep warm until ready to use.
• Do Ahead: Béchamel can be made 3 days ahead. Let cool; cover and chill. Reheat over medium-low, whisking constantly and adding a splash of water if needed to loosen.
• Assembly
• Remove ribs and stems from Swiss chard leaves and thinly slice. Tear leaves into large pieces. Combine oil and sausage with Swiss chard ribs and stems in a large skillet and set over medium-high heat. Cook, breaking up sausage with a heatproof rubber spatula or wooden spoon into small pieces, until sausage is almost cooked through, 5-7 minutes.
• Add Swiss chard leaves to skillet a handful at a time, tossing and letting them wilt slightly between additions, until all the leaves have been added. Cook, reducing heat as needed (liquid should be bubbling slightly at this point), until liquid is almost completely evaporated (it's important to dry out the Swiss chard here so the filling isn't soggy), about 5 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl. Let cool 5 minutes, then stir in ricotta. Season filling with salt.
• If using pasta sheets, cook in a pot of boiling salted water 1 minute. Transfer to a large bowl of cold water. Lay out a row of pasta sheets on a rimmed baking sheet (don't overlap), then top with a sheet of waxed or parchment paper. Repeat with remaining pasta sheets, placing sheets of paper between each layer.
• If using shells, cook in a pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, just until very al dente, about 3 minutes less than package instructions; rinse under cold water to cool quickly.
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Spread half of béchamel into a 13x9" baking dish. If using pasta sheets, lay out a sheet on a clean surface with a short end facing you. Spoon a heaping ¼-cupful of filling so it runs all the way down the center. Roll pasta around filling to create a 1 1/4"-diameter tube (the pasta will overlap quite a bit). Repeat with remaining pasta sheets, arranging in baking dish as you go to create 2 rows. If using shells, spoon a heaping tablespoonful of filling into each shell and nestle next to each other to create rows (you'll have about 5 rows of 6 shells each). Spread remaining béchamel over cannelloni, then marinara sauce. Top with Parmesan.
• Bake cannelloni until edges of pasta are lightly browned and sauce is bubbling around edges of pan, 30-40 minutes.
• Do Ahead: Filling can be made 2 days ahead. Let cool completely, then cover and chill.

BAKED POTATOES STUFFED WITH RICOTTA AND HERBS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 220 degrees celcius. Prick the potatoes with a fork, coat with cooking spray and place on a baking tray. Bake for 1 hour or until cooked.
• When the potatoes are cooked, cut the tops off and scoop out the flesh, leaving a 1cm shell. Return the shells to the oven for 10 minutes.
• Combine the ricotta with the potato flesh, garlic, chives and parsley and season to taste with salt and pepper. Fill each potato shell with the ricotta and herb mixture and return to the oven for 10 minutes. Top with the sweet chili sauce if desired.

CHICKEN BAKED RICOTTA MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Cut chicken into small cubes.
• Chop garlic very fine.
• Cook chicken and garlic with olive oil and garlic salt. When done set aside.
• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Boil water and cook manicotti according to box directions.
• Mix ricotta,cottage cheese, 1/2 cup parmesan mix and salt to taste.
• Add cooked chicken.
• Take manicotti pasta and stuff with mixture.
• Set in non-stick bake pan in rows (it should fill bottom of pan).
• If there is any stuffing left over, layer it on top.
• Pour heavy cream over until all is covered (do not have to use all of it). Then top with cheese and remaining parmesan mix cheese and bake for 25 minutes then raise heat to 375°F for 8-15 more minutes depending on how brown and bubbly you like the top.
• Enjoy with garlic bread, salad or your favorite side items.

SPINACH AND RICOTTA BAKED PASTA

Steps:

• Set oven to 350 degrees.
• Butter a 4-quart baking dish.
• Cook pasta in boiling water, until firm-tender; drain.
• Place the cooked pasta in the casserole dish.
• In a large pot of boiling water BLANCH the spinach (don't overcook!); cool, squeeze out excess liquid, then roughly chop the spinach.
• In a bowl combine spinach, ricotta, sour cream, eggs, Parmesan cheese, dill, pepper and salt.
• Spoon mixture over the pasta in the casserole dish; toss lightly to combine.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.
• Let stand for 5 minutes before serving Cut in wedges-- enjoy!

BAKED RICOTTA FRITTATA WITH FRESH MINT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the oil in a 2-quart baking dish or a 9-inch cast iron skillet. Rub the oil over the sides of the pan, and place in the oven. Meanwhile, whisk the eggs in a large bowl. Whisk in the salt (about 1/2 teaspoon), pepper, ricotta, mint and garlic. Remove the baking dish from the oven and scrape in the egg mixture. Return to the oven, and bake 30 minutes or until lightly colored on the top and set.
• Remove from the heat, and allow to sit for 10 minutes or longer before serving. Serve hot, or allow to cool and serve at room temperature.

BAKED ROTINI PASTA WITH RICOTTA PESTO

Steps:

• Puree the basil leaves, almonds, garlic and salt together in a food processor.
• With motor running, gradually add the olive oil thru the feeder tube.
• Stir in 2 tablespoons of the Parmesan cheese and set aside.
• Cook pasta in boiling salted water until still a little firm about 8 minutes, then drain.
• In another bowl, combine pesto, ricotta, half the mozzarella and the black pepper.
• Add the pasta and toss to blend.
• Pour into a 1 1/2 quart shallow baking dish and top with the remaining 2 tablespoons of Parmesan and the rest of the mozzarella.
• Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

BAKED GNOCCHI WITH RICOTTA AND MARINARA

Steps:

• Heat broiler, with rack in top position. Divide gnocchi among four 8-ounce shallow baking dishes or place in an 8-inch square baking dish. Season with salt and pepper,then top with dollops of marinara sauce and ricotta cheese. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan and broil until tops are browned in spots and gnocchi are heated through, 3 to 5 minutes, rotating once.

BAKED RICOTTA WITH SPRING VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil, add the asparagus and blanch 5 minutes. Drain and set aside. Toss mushrooms with 2 teaspoons of the oil and sear in a small skillet over medium heat until softened, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
• Grease a 9-inch cast iron skillet with 1 teaspoon oil. Place ricotta in a bowl. Fold in the Parmesan, mozzarella, oregano, egg and egg yolk. Season with salt and pepper. Spread in the cast-iron skillet. Gently swirl in the pesto, leaving streaks of it.
• Heat a broiler. Place the cast-iron skillet on a burner turned to low and let cook about 10 minutes, until heated through and showing signs of browning along the edges. Remove from heat. Scatter the asparagus, mushrooms and artichokes on top. Sprinkle with scallions and mint. Place under the broiler close to the source of heat until it starts to become lightly dappled, about 6 minutes.
• Meanwhile grill or toast the bread. Brush with the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoon olive oil and rub with garlic. Serve the cheese and vegetables directly from the skillet, with grilled bread alongside.

BAKED ZITI WITH EGGPLANT AND RICOTTA CHEESE

Steps:

• Place eggplant cubes in colander, sprinkle generously with salt. Let stand for 30 minutes. Rinse and drain thoroughly.
• Cook ziti in large amounts of boiling salted water until tender; drain. Add butter and toss to coat.
• In large skillet, cook eggplant, onion and garlic in oil until tender. Stir in tomatoes and tomato paste, 1/2 tsp salt, basil, oregano and red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and stir in parmesan cheese.
• In small bowl, blend ricotta cheese, egg and remaining 1/2 tsp salt.
• In shallow three quart (3mL) casserole, layer half each: cooked pasta, tomato mixture, ricotta cheese mixture and mozzarella cheese. Repeat layering with remaining ingredients. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until cheese melts.

TWICE-BAKED SWEET POTATOES WITH SAUSAGE AND RICOTTA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Pierce the sweet potatoes all over with a fork. Bake on a sheet tray until tender, about 1 hour to 1 hour and 20 minutes. Allow the sweet potatoes to cool slightly, then cut them in half and scoop the flesh into a bowl, keeping the skins intact. Set aside the skins on a sheet tray.
• Heat a medium saute pan over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook until browned, about 4 minutes, then add the shallots and allow to soften for about 1 minute. Add the pine nuts and stir to combine, allowing them to be coated in the fat. Stir in the raisins, sage and nutmeg, then remove from the heat. Transfer the mixture to the bowl with the sweet potato flesh and allow to cool completely in the refrigerator, about 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, place the ricotta in a strainer over a bowl and allow to strain for 15 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Mix the egg, ricotta, Parmesan and pepper to taste into the filling mixture, being sure to keep the mixture chunky.
• Spoon the mixture into the skins. Bake until the tops are crispy and golden, 35 to 40 minutes. Garnish with fresh herbs if desired.

BAKED EGGPLANT AND RICOTTA ROLLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200 degrees Celsius Spray large baking trays with oil spray to lightly grease, cut eggplants into 16 or so 1cm thick slices lengthways. Arrange eggplant in a single layer, on the repared trays. Lightly spray with olive oil spray. Bake in oven for 10 minutes or until golden.
• Meanwhile, mix the basil, ricotta, and three quarters of the parmesan in a medium bowl. Taste and season well with pepper.
• Place 1 tablespoon of the ricotta mixture on one eggplant slice. Roll up firmly to encose fulling. Place the roll, seam side down, in a 30 x 20cm baking dish. Repeat with the remaining ricotta mix and eggplant slices. Pour the sauce evenly over the rolls, sprinkle with the remaining parmesan and the mozzarella. Bake in oven for 10 minutes or until the mozzarella melts. Serve with polenta, if desired.

BAKED RIGATONI WITH RICOTTA, SWISS CHARD AND ITALIAN SAUSAGE RECIPE

Steps:

• 1. Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until it's still a little firm (about 7 minutes) - it will cook more in the oven. Drain, and set aside. 2. To make the sauce, heat a large saucepan over medium high heat. Add the oil. Squeeze the sausage out of the casings, and cook until no longer pink inside, breaking up with a wooden spoon. Add the chopped onion and garlic, herbs and red pepper flakes. Cook until the onions are translucent. 3. Add the glugs of wine, if you wish, let reduce for a bit, then add the crushed tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, honey and a little salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, stirring, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for about 30 minutes, stirring now and again. Adjust the seasonings. 4. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, mix together the ricotta, egg, Parmesan, basil and red pepper flakes. Heat a medium skillet over medium-high and add olive oil. Sauté the onion until translucent and then add the chard. Cook until soft. Let cool a bit, then add to the cheese mixture. To assemble: In a large, deep 3L casserole dish, lay down some sauce, then half noodles, then the ricotta filling, then remaining noodles, remaining sauce and finish with the mozzarella. Bake until cheese is bubbly and golden, about 25 minutes. Let sit 5 minutes before cutting. Serve with crusty bread and a big salad. Makes lots for 8.

PEAS WITH BAKED RICOTTA AND BREAD CRUMBS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 375°F. Lightly oil a small baking dish; a round Spanish earthenware dish about 6 inches across is perfect for this amount.
• If your ricotta is wet and milky, drain it first by putting it in a colander and pressing out the excess liquid. Pack the ricotta into the dish, drizzle a little olive oil over the surface, and bake 20 minutes or until the cheese has begun to set and brown on top. Cover the surface with the bread crumbs and continue to bake until the bread crumbs are browned and crisp, another 10 minutes. (The amount of time it takes for ricotta cheese to bake until set can vary tremendously, so it may well take longer than the times given here, especially if it wasn't drained.)
• When the cheese is finished baking, heat the butter in a small skillet over medium heat. When the butter foams, add the shallots and sage and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the peas, 1/2 cup water, and the lemon zest. Simmer until the peas are bright green and tender; the time will vary, but it should be 3 to 5 minutes. Whatever you do, don't let them turn gray. Season with salt and a little freshly ground pepper, not too much.
• Divide the ricotta between 2 plates. Spoon the peas over the cheese. Grate some Parmesan over all and enjoy while warm.

BAKED RICOTTA WITH LEMON, GARLIC, & CHIVES

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 375°F Lightly grease a 1/2- to 1-quart gratin dish or baking pan.
• Mix the ricotta, lemon juice and zest, garlic, chives, and salt, and a generous quantity of fresh black pepper. Spread in the baking dish and drizzle with olive oil. (At this point you can cover and refrigerate the ricotta overnight, if desired.)
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until hot. Drizzle again with olive oil. Serve immediately with crackers for dipping.