So simple, creamy, and bursting with flavor, this 20-minute lemon garlic ricotta pasta with spinach is an effortless weeknight dinner.
Easy Lemon Ricotta Pasta
It’s the end of a long week, your fridge is looking bare, and you have zero desire to run to the store. I am right there with you!
And that's why I love sharing recipes that you can whip up with just a handful of ingredients, like macaroni carbonara, broccoli pasta, green pasta sauce, and this creamy lemon ricotta pasta!
It couldn't be easier to make. Just boil some pasta, make the creamy lemon ricotta sauce, combine and toss, and you're done!
The lemon + ricotta + garlic flavor combination is just out of this world! Add some basil to this combination and you've got the most delicious creamy ricotta pesto. SO good!
And here is a master list of quick AND delicious kid-friendly family meals.
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Ingredients
I am highlighting just the ones that need further explanation. The complete list is in the recipe card below.
- Pasta - Can use any pasta of choice. I've listed my favorites below.
- Ricotta - Be sure to use whole milk ricotta cheese for the desired creaminess, richness, and flavor (skim milk ricotta will be grainy and bland). It’s also a great way to add extra fat (for optimal brain development) to your child's diet.
- Parmesan - be sure to use freshly grated parmesan not the canned ones for best flavor.
- Spinach - can use both fresh or frozen (no need to thaw).
- Fresh lemon - Both the lemon juice and the zest truly brighten up the sauce AND help enhance the absorption of iron (a critical nutrient for babies) in the spinach.
- Fresh basil (optional)
Choosing the Best Pasta
While any shape will work with this sauce, I prefer the short pasta shapes with ridges or grooves, like fusili, rigatoni, or corkscrew, as they really soak up this creamy green sauce. Orzo would be delicious too!
You can use regular, whole wheat, or legume based pasta for extra protein.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions. Be sure to reserve 1 cup of the starchy pasta water, then drain the pasta.
- While the pasta cooks, melt butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add garlic and stir for about a minute, until fragrant. Add spinach and cook until wilted, 5 minutes.
- Lower the heat to low and add ricotta, parmesan, lemon juice and zest and stir well. Stir in ½ cup of pasta water until smooth. Add cooked pasta and toss until well-coated. Add more reserved pasta water as needed.
Tips for Success
- Use room temperature ricotta. Remove from the refrigerator about 30 minutes prior to cooking. This will help lessen the chances of the sauce becoming grainy.
- Don't forget to reserve the pasta water! This is key to creating a smooth sauce.
Serving Suggestions
Enjoy as is or with additional protein, such as:
Fresh herbs like basil or fresh arugula would be delicious too!
For babies
Start with small portions as seeing too much food can be overwhelming. It will also help reduce waste.
Pictured: lemon ricotta pasta with sweet potato and sardine.
Is your baby 6 months old and up?
Learn all the secrets to starting solids safely while optimizing nutrition!
If your child doesn't like anything green or foods touching each other, you can separate the spinach from the pasta as you see here.
Pictured: with carrots and sardine (my son is not a fan so serving a tiny portion for exposure!)
Is your toddler becoming picky?
Arm yourself with these strategies that will transform your mealtimes!
Storage
This ricotta pasta tastes best immediately after cooking as the sauce thickens as it cools and becomes drier. However, you can transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for 3-4 days.
The sauce will separate, so when reheating on the stovetop, add a splash of milk or water.
I don't recommend freezing as the texture will become unpleasant once thawed. The good news is it's super easy to whip up so you can make it at any time ;).
More Creamy Pasta Recipes
Did you make this recipe? Leave a rating below and let me know how you liked the recipe! Your feedback means so much to me!
Lemon Ricotta Pasta with Spinach
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 ounces pasta
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 6 ounces baby spinach
- 1 cup ricotta (8.5 ounces), at room temperature
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2-3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
- 1 cup reserved pasta water
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup of cooking water and drain pasta.
- While the pasta is cooking, melt butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add garlic and stir for about a minute, until fragrant. Add spinach and cook until wilted, 5 minutes.
- Lower the heat to low and add ricotta, parmesan, lemon juice and zest and stir well. Stir in ½ cup of pasta water until smooth. Add pasta and toss the pasta until well-coated. Add more pasta water as needed.
Notes
- Best to eat immediately, but can refrigerate for 3-4 days. The sauce will separate, so when reheating on the stovetop, add a splash of milk or water.
Jade says
Very easy and fast to make, enough for the whole family plus left overs. It makes life so much easier not having to cook separate meals, this is delicious for all of us. My husband said it's restaurant quality, I agree, it's delicious! Eating with salmon tonight
Min says
This makes my heart sing! Thank you for sharing!
Jenny says
I needed something simple for a mid-week dinner tonight and this was perfect. I made some ricotta a couple days ago and needed to use it, so I went searching on this website for recipes containing ricotta. Definitely recommend using the max amount of lemon juice. First time serving this dish to my toddler (14 mos) and he ate every last bite which made me SO happy. He'll be having it for lunch tomorrow too 😉 Will definitely make this again!
Buxey says
Easy to execute and very delicious! Toddler approved
Min says
So happy to hear!!