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    Home » Chicken

    Lemon Ricotta Pasta

    Published: Apr 5, 2017 by Kristin Leave a Comment

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    Lemon Ricotta Pasta– simple, fresh ingredients, delicious flavor, and minimal effort! The perfect meal for busy nights!

    tender pasta with lemon juice and ricotta cheese

    Last week, I went through my fridge and found a container of Ricotta. It had been on sale at my grocery store, and my original plan was to make lasagna. That day however, I wasn’t in the mood for something so “heavy” and opted to make this pasta dish instead.

    The lemon is so flavorful in this dish and my family loved it. I decided to add a bit of cooked chicken to mine, but you can omit that if wanting to keep this vegetarian. The creaminess of the cheese, lemon zest, and spinach, really come together to create a meal that everyone will enjoy!!

    Be sure to add this to your meal plan if you are pasta fans like my family!!

    Why this Lemon Ricotta Pasta is the BEST

    *Incredibly fast to prepare

    *Light and refreshing, making it perfect for warm summer evenings or when you don’t want a heavy meal

    *A one pan, full meal that includes meat, veggies, and pasta!

    *Can be enjoyed as a lunch OR dinner option! Plus, leftovers are just as tasty as when it was just made!

    Ingredients Needed:

    Pasta- I use Linguine or Fettucine

    Ricotta Cheese- if you don’t like Ricotta, Cottage Cheese works too

    Lemon Juice- fresh is best

    Lemon Zest- fresh is best

    Salt/Pepper

    Red Pepper Flakes- adds just a slight kick

    Olive Oil

    Garlic- minced

    Bell Pepper- any color desired, chopped

    Spinach- fresh is best, but if using frozen, be sure to thaw and drain

    Chicken- cooked and shredded/diced, can be omitted if you want a vegetarian meal option

    How to prepare this easy Lemon Ricotta Pasta

    Cook pasta according to directions. Reserve 1 cup pasta water to use later.
    In a small bowl, combine the Ricotta cheese, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt/pepper, and red pepper flakes. Set aside.
    In a medium skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat.

    Add in the garlic and bell pepper and sauté for about 3-4 minutes.

    Add in the cooked pasta, Ricotta cheese mixture, and about 3/4 cup of reserved pasta water.

    Stir until all is incorporated.

    Add spinach and cooked chicken (if using) and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.

    Check out these other great lemon recipes

    Lemon Spaghetti

    Easy Lemon Garlic Salmon

    Lemon Garlic Asparagus

    Incredible Chicken Piccata Pasta

    Basil Lemon Pasta

    Print Recipe
    4.75 from 4 votes

    Lemon Ricotta Pasta

    The creaminess of the cheese, lemon zest, and spinach, really come together to create a meal that everyone will enjoy!!
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time10 mins
    Total Time20 mins
    Course: lunch, Main Course, Side Dish
    Keyword: lemon pasta, lemon ricotta pasta, ricotta cheese
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 357kcal
    Author: The Cookin' Chicks

    Ingredients

    • 12 oz linguine or fettucine pasta, cooked
    • 1 cup ricotta cheese
    • 3 tablespoon lemon juice, fresh is best
    • 2 teaspoon lemon zest
    • salt/pepper to taste
    • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 6 garlic cloves, minced
    • 1 bell pepper, diced (any color works)
    • 2 cups spinach, fresh is best
    • 1 cup diced, cooked chicken (optional)

    Instructions

    • Cook pasta according to directions. Reserve 1 cup pasta water to use later.
    • In a small bowl, combine the Ricotta cheese, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt/pepper, and red pepper flakes. Set aside.
    • In a medium skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat.
    • Add in the garlic and bell pepper and sauté for about 3-4 minutes.
    • Add in the cooked pasta, Ricotta cheese mixture, and about 3/4 cup of reserved pasta water.
    • Stir until all is incorporated.
    • Add spinach and cooked chicken (if using), and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.
    • Serve!!

    Notes

    Recipe adapted from: Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom

    Nutrition

    Calories: 357kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 62mg | Potassium: 325mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1793IU | Vitamin C: 33mg | Calcium: 117mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @TheCookinChicks or tag #TheCookinChicks!

     

     

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    Welcome to The Cookin' Chicks…I am so glad you've stopped by! I am Kristin, a busy mom of 3, a wife, and a family chef! There are three things that motivate me each day - Family, Faith, and FOOD! I, along with the occasional help of friends and family, want to share my food creations with you! So, I invite you to join me around my dinner table through the recipes that I will share with you here. I hope you will enjoy the journey as much as I do!

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