• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
    • Entrees
    • Lunch
    • Side Dishes
    • Snacks
    • Dog-Friendly
  • Life
    • Travels
    • Gift Guides
  • About
    • About Sues
    • Work With Me
    • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Newsletter

We are not Martha logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Life
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Recipes
    • Life
    • About
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • Γ—

    Home Β» Entrees Β» Baked Lemon Ricotta Pasta

    May 27, 2010 Β· Modified: Sep 15, 2020 by Chels Β· This post may contain affiliate links, uses cookies, and generates income via ads Β· View privacy policy + disclosure statement linked in footer Β· 12 Comments

    Baked Lemon Ricotta Pasta

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This Baked Lemon Ricotta Pasta is packed with bright spring flavors, but also makes the perfect winter comfort food. Bonus points for the fact this baked pasta is SO easy to make!

    Overhead view of a serving of lemon ricotta pasta on a white plate with a fork and the casserole dish of baked pasta in the background with recipe title at top(This recipe for Baked Lemon Ricotta Pasta was originally published in May 2010, but was updated with new photos 2019).

    Winter, spring, summer, or fall... Sometimes you just really crave pasta. And by sometimes, I mean all the time. The other night I was cruising my favorite blogs and saw a tasty post for Spring Lemon Ricotta Pasta from Pam our longtime blogger friend behind Cave Cibum. Pam takes such great photos and creates wonderful recipes all the time so I was not surprised at all to see another delightful looking dish. Plus, I 110% trust anything that Pam makes, as she made the best candied bacon I've ever had in my life. Ever. Ever ever.

    This baked lemon ricotta pasta is labeled as a "spring" recipe thanks to the brightness from the lemon and basil... But since all the ingredients are available all year round, you can whip up this dish any time your heart desires. And trust me, your heart will likely desire it quite often!

    BAKED LEMON RICOTTA PASTA RECIPE

    The most beautiful thing about this baked pasta dish? It is incredibly easy to make, even at the end of a very long workday. The other best thing about it? It is so incredibly satisfying, packed with creamy ricotta, salty prosciutto and parmesan, and bright and fresh lemon flavor.

    Gemelli is the perfect pasta shape to use for this dish, but you can use any pasta with ridges that you choose (i.e. penne, rigatoni, and cavatappi). The ridges are important because all the delicious cheesy goodness gets stuck in them and makes each bite of this dish so amazing.

    To start, pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees and start cooking your pasta in a large pot of lightly salted water. I recommend cooking your pasta for just 5 minutes, not even letting it get to al dente (you'll be baking it later, so it will have some more opportunity to cook).

    While your pasta is cooking, in a large bowl mix together ricotta cheese, lemon zest, lemon juice, basil, parsley, prosciutto, and salt and pepper. Then add the pasta and mix until it's well coated.

    Doesn't this mixture just look so bright and happy??

    Collage showing process of making baked lemon ricotta pasta, including ricotta, basil, lemon, and prosciutto in a bowl; ricotta mixture all blended together; and pasta added to ricotta mixture in bowl

    Transfer the ricotta pasta mixture into a 8x8 or 9x9 baking dish and top with a heaping (!!!!) portion of Parmesan cheese.

    Overhead view of lemon ricotta pasta in casserole dish topped with parmesan cheese ready to go in the oven

    Bake for 20 minutes and then place under the broiler for another 2-4 minutes, until the top is nicely browned. I love a baked pasta dish with a nice crispy top!

    Landscape overhead view of baked lemon ricotta pasta in casserole dish right out of the oven

    There is so much to love about this lemon ricotta pasta. Absolutely any time of year.

    The basil adds a really nice spring-y touch that will have you seriously excited for the upcoming warm months. But the creamy cheesy pasta brings with it a level of comfort that is very much necessary in the middle of winter.

    Bird's eye view of serving of lemon ricotta pasta on white plate with fork on flowered towel with casserole dish of baked pasta and glass of white wine in the background

    Lemon and pasta are such a dream combination and baked pasta dishes are pretty much the easiest thing in the world. Cook pasta, mix together some ingredients in a bowl, pop into a casserole dish, and bake until golden.

    And then get your comfort food on.

    Landscape head-on view of baked lemon ricotta pasta on a white plate with a fork with a glass of white wine in the background

    This is the kind of dish that you serve yourself a modest portion of... And then keep going back for more. You might even find yourself standing at the kitchen counter eating right out of the casserole dish with a fork.

    Don't say I didn't warn you.

    Overhead view of a serving of lemon ricotta pasta on a white plate with a fork and the casserole dish of baked pasta in the background

    I should note that I happily eat this baked lemon ricotta pasta as an entree, but that it also makes a lovely side dish to chicken, pork, and many other things!

    Do you like eating comfort food year-round?

    If you're looking for more comfort food pasta dishes, check out my Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Pasta and my Pasta with Spicy Sausage, Basil, and Mustard. I also can't wait to try this Pumpkin Kale Lasagna from Spices in my DNA!

    Baked Lemon Ricotta Pasta -- This Lemon Ricotta Pasta is packed with bright spring flavors, but also makes the perfect winter comfort food. Bonus points for the fact this baked pasta is SO easy to make! | wearenotmartha.com

    Spring Lemon Ricotta Pasta

    This Lemon Ricotta Pasta is packed with bright spring flavors, but also makes the perfect winter comfort food. Bonus points for the fact this baked pasta is SO easy to make!
    No ratings yet
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Entree
    Cuisine: American, Eclectic, Italian
    Keyword: Baked Pasta, Pasta Recipes, Ricotta Pasta
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes
    Makes: 6 servings

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb. gemelli pasta (or similar shape with ridges)
    • 16 oz. part-skim ricotta cheese
    • 1 lemon, zested and juiced
    • ΒΌ cup chopped basil
    • ΒΌ cup chopped parsley
    • 2 oz. prosciutto, torn into small pieces
    • ΒΌ tsp salt
    • ΒΌ tsp pepper
    • Β½ cup grated parmesan cheese

    Instructions

    • Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
    • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil and cook pasta for about 5 minutes. For best results, don't let pasta even reach point of al dente.
    • While pasta is cooking, in a large bowl, mix together ricotta cheese, lemon zest, lemon juice, basil, parsley, prosciutto, and salt and pepper.
    • Drain pasta and add it to the ricotta mixture, stirring to combine well. Transfer the ricotta and pasta mix into an 8x8 or 9x9 baking dish.
    • Top with parmesan cheese.
    • Bake for 20 minutes. Then place under broiler for 2-4 more minutes until top is golden brown.

    Notes

    • Recipe adapted from Cave Cibum.
    Share a Photo of Your Finished Recipe!Mention @wearenotmartha and share a photo if you've made the recipe!
    Baked Lemon Ricotta Pasta
    Tweet
    Share
    Pin18
    Yum
    Share
    18 Shares
    « Homemade Pop Tarts
    Flank Steak Sandwiches »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Erica says

      May 28, 2010 at 6:54 am

      I'm totally making this! I'm going to make it in my ramekins so I can make one with meat for the man and without for me! Thank you πŸ™‚ I crave big salads and baked beans when it gets hot! ow- and corn on the cob πŸ™‚

    2. Wicked Domestic says

      May 28, 2010 at 8:16 am

      This recipe looks great. I'm wondering if you could just skip out on cooking it and serve it cold as a salad? Maybe add some arugula? Looks delicious either way, because seriously, who doesn't like cheesy hot pasta?!

    3. Fun and Fearless in Beantown says

      May 28, 2010 at 8:43 am

      This looks really great and like you, I'm a big fan of Pam's blog! And my go-to summer comfort food is...ice cream πŸ™‚

    4. Pam says

      May 28, 2010 at 10:18 am

      I'm so glad you liked it! I love that it's easy and yet so flavorful.

    5. Shannon says

      May 28, 2010 at 3:47 pm

      wow, this sounds awesome! mmm, i've been craving fro yo like it's my job now that it's warm... i need someone to fund my habit πŸ˜‰

    6. Sharlene says

      May 28, 2010 at 5:12 pm

      I always always start eating a LOT more lemon when the weather starts warming up. Lemon + pasta is one of my favorites. Also, pizza for some reason, piled high with tons of veggies!

    7. Pam says

      May 28, 2010 at 9:15 pm

      This looks delicious to say the least! I've never used this pasta and will be looking for it. Warm weather go to, ice cream, hands down!

    8. 5 Star Foodie says

      May 29, 2010 at 7:01 pm

      Yummy pasta! Sounds terrific with the lemony flavor!

    9. Simply Life says

      May 31, 2010 at 6:28 am

      YUM! What a great pasta dish!

    10. Katie says

      June 01, 2010 at 8:53 am

      this sounds so delicious! can't wait to try this on a nice summer night!

    11. Emily says

      June 03, 2010 at 4:51 pm

      I always always start eating a LOT more lemon when the weather starts warming up. Lemon + pasta is one of my favorites. Also, pizza for some reason, piled high with tons of veggies!

    12. Anji says

      December 05, 2011 at 9:34 am

      I make this without the proccuitti & parmesan & serve it cold as a sid salad!!

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Meet Sues

    Hi and thanks for visiting! I started We are not Martha to show you how to make recipes that impress without stress, including easy weeknight dinners, delightful desserts, + lots of cocktails.

    Learn More...

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • Popular Now

    • Basil Chicken in Coconut Curry Sauce
    • Momofuku Milk Bar's Cornflake Chocolate Chip Marshmallow Cookies
    • Blueberry Vodka Lemonade
    • Chicken Dog Treats

    Footer

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • About Sues
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosures
    • Web Stories

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work with Me

    BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY AMAZON SHOP TO DISCOVER SOME OF MY FAVORITE COOKING AND BAKING ITEMS THAT I USE IN MY OWN KITCHEN. WE ARE NOT MARTHA IS A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON SERVICES LLC ASSOCIATES PROGRAM, AN AFFILIATE ADVERTISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR SITES TO EARN ADVERTISING FEES BY ADVERTISING AND LINKING TO AMAZON.COM. ORDERING ANY PRODUCTS MENTIONED HERE ARE AT NO EXTRA COST TO YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

    Copyright Β© 2022 WE ARE NOT MARTHA