23 Meals You Can Make With a Half-Used Tub Of Ricotta

Ricotta is the kind of ingredient you buy for one recipe and then forget about until it’s on the verge of going bad. The good news is you don’t need a lasagna marathon to use it up because who has time for that. That half-used tub in your fridge can pull its weight across all kinds of dinners. From lazy pastas to baked casseroles to sneaky ways to make chicken less boring, ricotta’s got range.

Zucchini Ricotta Bake

All the flavor of a baked pasta dish without any pasta. Just layer zucchini and ricotta and bake it like a casserole. A perfect back-pocket move when your fridge is on life support.
Get the Recipe: Zucchini Ricotta Bake

Chorizo Naan Pizza

Grab some naan, spread on ricotta, top with chorizo, and bake. It’s like pizza but faster and just different enough to feel new. Great for last-minute dinner plans.
Get the Recipe: Chorizo Naan Pizza

Pumpkin Stuffed Shells

These stuffed shells feel like fall in a baking dish. Pumpkin and ricotta go great together, and this is a good way to use up both before they end up forgotten in the back of the fridge.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Stuffed Shells

Baked Ziti with Sausage

This one checks all the boxes: cheesy, meaty, saucy, and easy. The ricotta bakes right into the ziti, making it creamy without any extra work. It’s a great recipe when you’ve got a half tub left and want to feed people without stressing.
Get the Recipe: Baked Ziti with Sausage

Ricotta Pesto Pasta

No need to cook a sauce or chop a bunch of things. You just stir ricotta, pesto, and a little lemon together and toss it with pasta. It’s perfect for busy nights when that leftover ricotta needs a job.
Get the Recipe: Ricotta Pesto Pasta

Lasagna Pizza

This is what happens when lasagna and pizza stop fighting and get along. It’s got layers of sauce, meat, gooey cheese, and yes—ricotta gets a starring role. It’s a great way to use what’s left in the tub without making a full-blown lasagna.
Get the Recipe: Lasagna Pizza

Crock Pot Baked Ziti

Dump everything in the slow cooker and let it do the work. The ricotta melts into the sauce and gives you that creamy texture without having to touch a stove. It’s a great lazy-day dinner that still hits the spot.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Baked Ziti

Lasagna Meatball Soup

Lasagna and meatballs in soup form is as chaotic as it sounds, but it works. The broth gets a kick from roasted tomatoes, and a scoop of ricotta stirred in at the end gives it the same vibe as a baked dish—just easier.
Get the Recipe: Lasagna Meatball Soup

Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup

All the things you love about lasagna but way less work. The slow cooker handles everything while the ricotta gives it that rich, cheesy finish without having to layer anything.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup

Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna

No layering, no baking tray, no nonsense. The Instant Pot handles the heavy lifting while ricotta melts into the sauce. It’s great when you want lasagna flavor but zero effort.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna

Million Dollar Spaghetti

A spaghetti casserole with a creamy ricotta layer hiding in the middle. It tastes like something fancy but it’s just baked pasta with stuff you already have. Perfect for using up that ricotta before it expires.
Get the Recipe: Million Dollar Spaghetti

Crock Pot Lasagna

You don’t need to boil noodles or dirty a bunch of pans. Just layer everything into the slow cooker and let it go. Ricotta makes this one creamy and rich without much work.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Lasagna

Lemon Ricotta Pasta

This one’s light but still creamy, thanks to the ricotta. Add in a little lemon, basil, and tomato and you’ve got a quick dinner that feels fresh. Perfect when you want something easy but not boring.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Ricotta Pasta

Stuffed Shells with Sausage

Jumbo shells packed with spinach and ricotta, then covered in marinara and sausage. You can prep it ahead or freeze it. Great for when you want something hearty but don’t feel like building a whole lasagna.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Shells with Sausage

Zucchini Lasagna Rolls

Thin strips of zucchini rolled up with a ricotta filling. It’s basically lasagna without the noodles. It still hits all the comfort food notes and gets that ricotta out of your fridge.
Get the Recipe: Zucchini Lasagna Rolls

Zucchini Gnocchi in Rustic Tomato Sauce

These soft little gnocchi get extra flavor from zucchini and are perfect for tossing in a quick tomato sauce. A spoonful of ricotta on top finishes it off and helps clear out the tub.
Get the Recipe: Zucchini Gnocchi in Rustic Tomato Sauce

Kohlrabi Fritters with Mango Lime Sauce

These fritters are crisp on the outside and soft in the middle. Stirring ricotta into the batter makes them tender and gives them a little extra something. A great way to use leftover cheese in a non-pasta dinner.
Get the Recipe: Kohlrabi Fritters with Mango Lime Sauce

Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli in Caper Butter Sauce

Making ravioli sounds like a project but it’s actually not that bad. The filling is simple—just spinach and ricotta—and the sauce is quick. Great for a weekend meal that feels fancy but isn’t a huge deal to pull off.
Get the Recipe: Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli in Caper Butter Sauce

Ricotta Gnocchi with Caper Butter Sauce

These gnocchi skip the potatoes and use ricotta instead, which makes them faster and lighter. They cook in minutes and the sauce comes together just as quickly. Perfect when the tub of ricotta is hanging on by a thread.
Get the Recipe: Ricotta Gnocchi with Caper Butter Sauce

Zucchini Roll-Ups

Zucchini slices wrapped around a ricotta filling and baked in tomato sauce. It’s the kind of dish that looks like you tried but takes way less effort than it seems. Great when you’re down to one last scoop of ricotta.
Get the Recipe: Zucchini Roll-Ups

Herb Ricotta Stuffed Chicken Breast

Mix some herbs with your ricotta, stuff it into chicken, and bake. That’s it. It’s simple, uses up the ricotta, and actually makes chicken interesting for once.
Get the Recipe: Herb Ricotta Stuffed Chicken Breast

Puff Pastry Tartlets with Ricotta

Store-bought puff pastry turns ricotta, peas, and mint into something that feels pulled together. Great for brunch, snacks, or when you need to use that ricotta before it goes bad again.
Get the Recipe: Puff Pastry Tartlets with Ricotta

Tuna Ricotta Frittata

Eggs, tuna, and a scoop of ricotta turn into a creamy, protein-packed meal. You can eat it hot or cold and it works for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. A great catch-all for fridge odds and ends.
Get the Recipe: Tuna Ricotta Frittata