This spinach and ricotta pasta is creamy, comforting, and surprisingly simple to make. The ricotta and Parmesan come together to create a rich, silky sauce, while fresh spinach and a little lemon keep the whole dish feeling bright and fresh.
It’s perfect for a quick meatless dinner, but you can easily add grilled chicken, shrimp, or your favorite roasted vegetables if you want to make it a little heartier.
Ingredients
- 16 ounces dry linguine
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 8 cups fresh baby spinach, or 2 cups frozen spinach, thawed and well drained
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ¾ cup milk
- ½ tablespoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon dried jalapeño or chili flakes
- ⅓ cup finely chopped onion
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Directions
Step 1: Cook the Pasta
First, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook it according to the package until it’s al dente, or tender with just a little bite left. Before you drain it, scoop out about ½ cup of the pasta water and set it aside. You may need a splash of it later to loosen the sauce and help everything come together. Once you’ve saved the pasta water, drain the pasta and set it aside for now.
Step 2: Make the Ricotta Sauce
While the pasta is cooking, go ahead and get the creamy ricotta sauce ready. In a large bowl, whisk together the milk, ricotta, and Parmesan until the mixture is smooth and well combined. Set it aside while you work on the spinach.
Step 3: Cook the Spinach
Next, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and garlic and sauté for about 1-2 minutes, or until they’re soft and fragrant. Then, add the fresh spinach and cook for about 2 minutes, just until the leaves wilt down. If you’re using frozen spinach instead, make sure it’s completely thawed and well drained before adding it to the skillet.
Step 4: Bring the Sauce Together
Once the spinach has wilted, pour the ricotta mixture into the skillet. Stir everything together so the creamy sauce coats the spinach, onion, and garlic. Next, add the Italian seasoning, lemon zest, dried jalapeño or chili flakes, salt, and black pepper. Reduce the heat and let the sauce gently simmer for about 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Keep the heat low here. You don’t want the sauce to boil. Just let it warm through and thicken slightly.
Step 5: Add the Pasta
Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss gently until every strand or piece is coated in the creamy spinach and ricotta sauce. If the sauce seems a little too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water and toss again. Keep adding a little at a time until the sauce reaches the consistency you like. Next, stir in the fresh lemon juice. Give everything one final toss, then taste and adjust the salt, pepper, or lemon juice if needed.
Step 6: Serve and Enjoy
Finally, remove the skillet from the heat and serve the pasta right away while it’s warm and creamy.
For a heartier meal, serve it alongside grilled chicken, shrimp, or your favorite roasted vegetables. And, of course, a little extra Parmesan sprinkled over the top is always a good idea!
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