Recipes with ricotta cheese

Cheesy, juicy and full of flavors. It's an easy and tasty weeknight meal

Quinoa Italian style layers cooked quinoa with a lean beef and tomato sauce, ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan like a gluten-free lasagna. A high-protein, lower-fat twist on the classic.

Light ricotta cheesecake swaps cream cheese for ricotta and buttermilk, finished with fresh orange zest. The crust is graham crackers spiced with ground ginger. Italian-leaning, lighter version.

This lemony pumpkin-flavored dessert is low-fat, airy, and souffle-like because it's made with only the beaten whites of the egg. The cake puffs in the steamer and then deflates slightly as it stands.

Cavatelli tossed in a spicy tomato sauce loaded with crumbled hot Italian sausage and fresh basil, topped with cool dollops of ricotta cheese. A hearty, make-ahead Italian pasta dinner ready in 30 minutes.

Pasticiotti with pasta and ricotta, a sweet Italian pasta pudding baked with eggs, sugar, and vanilla. A nonna-style dessert casserole that eats like a ricotta cheesecake with noodles.

Pasta with ricotta-walnut sauce blended from ricotta, yogurt, walnuts, garlic, and Parmesan with fresh herbs. A creamy, no-cook pasta sauce lighter than traditional Alfredo.

This summer lasagna swaps pasta noodles for tender zucchini strips layered with ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, fresh tomatoes, and herb-seasoned tomato sauce. Low-carb, veggie-loaded, and ready in about an hour.

No-crust spinach pie with ricotta, eggs, sauteed mushrooms, and red peppers. A crustless, low-carb take on spinach quiche that comes together in minutes.

Ground beef in a garlicky tomato sauce layered with creamy ricotta, stretchy mozzarella, and sharp Parmesan. Classic baked ziti that feeds a crowd without breaking a sweat.

A lighter vegetarian lasagna with homemade veggie-red wine tomato sauce, ricotta, fresh spinach, and nonfat mozzarella. Ovo-lacto friendly and packed with vegetables in every layer.

Artichoke, tomato, and three-cheese pizza with creamy ricotta, melty mozzarella, and sharp Asiago over Roma tomatoes and marinated artichoke hearts. The Italian-style white pizza with bright flavor.

Charred flatbread topped with creamy ricotta, juicy tomatoes, fresh basil, and roasted garlic oil. Grill it in 10 minutes for the smokiest summer appetizer.

Crab puff Savannah layers flaky phyllo dough with seasoned crab meat, sauteed red peppers and mushrooms, a ricotta-spinach filling, and Swiss cheese. Scored into diamonds and baked golden.

Spinach ricotta stuffed shells with a cabbage twist, baked in tomato-broth sauce with nutmeg. A lighter Italian-American main with hidden-vegetable smarts.

We like this piquant tomato sauce, which is easy on the calories, but if you are in the mood to indulge, try cream in place of the ricotta and yogurt.