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Ricotta Pasta

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πŸ‹ Brighten your meals with this One Pot Lemon Ricotta Spinach Pasta, combining creamy ricotta and fresh lemon for a light yet satisfying dish.
🍝 Perfect for quick, flavorful weeknight dinners, this easy-to-make recipe keeps cleanup minimal with just one pot to wash.

  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale

1 tablespoon olive oil

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 (32-ounce) carton low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth

1 pound dried spaghetti pasta

5 ounces baby spinach or arugula (about 5 packed cups)

1 cup whole-milk ricotta cheese

3 ounces finely grated Parmesan cheese (1 1/3 cups store-bought grated), plus more for serving

Finely grated zest of 1 medium lemon (1 tablespoon), plus more for garnish

Juice of 1 medium lemon (about 3 tablespoons)

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed

1/4 teaspoon freshly grated black pepper, plus more for garnish

Instructions

1-First: heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a 12-inch high-sided skillet or large Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering. Add 3 cloves minced garlic and cook until lightly browned and fragrant, about 2 minutes.

2-Next: add 1 (32-ounce) carton low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth and 1 pound dried spaghetti pasta, then bring to a simmer. Continue to simmer, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente, about 15 minutes. If more liquid is needed, add water 1/4 cup at a time up to 1 cup total.

3-Stir in 5 ounces baby spinach until almost wilted, then turn off the heat. Stir in 1 cup whole-milk ricotta cheese, 3 ounces finely grated Parmesan cheese, the finely grated zest of 1 medium lemon (1 tablespoon), the juice of 1 medium lemon (about 3 tablespoons), 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated black pepper until the ricotta melts and the sauce becomes creamy.

4-Taste and adjust salt as needed, then garnish with additional Parmesan cheese, black pepper, and lemon zest if desired. For a twist, try incorporating tips from our spicy chilli prawn pasta recipe to add some heat.

Notes

🍳 Cooking pasta directly in broth infuses extra savory flavor.
πŸ‹ Lemon zest and juice brighten the creamy ricotta and Parmesan sauce.
🧊 Refrigerate leftovers up to 4 days; add water or broth when reheating to loosen sauce.

  • Author: Brandi Oshea
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: One Pot Cooking
  • Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 638
  • Sugar: 3.6 grams
  • Sodium: 608 milligrams
  • Fat: 16.9 grams
  • Saturated Fat: 7.9 grams
  • Carbohydrates: 92.2 grams
  • Fiber: 4.3 grams
  • Protein: 27.7 grams