Description
Looking for a quick, creamy pasta dish that tastes like restaurant-quality comfort food? This Quick 10-Minute Lemon Ricotta Pasta with Spinach is perfect for busy weeknights, lazy weekends, or last-minute dinner guests. With simple ingredients like ricotta cheese, lemon zest, and fresh spinach, this dish brings together everything you love about light yet satisfying meals. Whether you’re hunting for easy dinner ideas, a healthy snack, or quick lunch inspiration, this recipe fits the bill. Plus, it’s vegetarian, customizable, and full of flavor.
Ingredients
8 oz pasta (linguine or spaghetti)
1 cup ricotta cheese
2 cups fresh spinach
1 lemon, zested and juiced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp olive oil
Salt and black pepper to taste
Grated Parmesan cheese (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water and drain the rest.
2. In a skillet over medium heat, add olive oil and sauté minced garlic for 1 minute until fragrant.
3. Add spinach and cook until wilted, about 2-3 minutes.
4. In a bowl, mix ricotta, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Add a bit of hot pasta water to loosen the sauce.
5. Add drained pasta to the skillet. Turn off the heat. Pour the ricotta mixture over and toss until creamy.
6. Adjust sauce with more pasta water if needed.
7. Plate and garnish with black pepper, lemon zest, and Parmesan if using. Serve warm.
Notes
Use whole-milk ricotta for a rich and creamy texture.
Always reserve pasta water—it helps the sauce come together.
Mix the ricotta sauce off heat to prevent curdling.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 290mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 17g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
Keywords: easy dinner, ricotta pasta, lemon pasta, quick pasta, creamy pasta, 10-minute recipe, healthy snack, vegetarian pasta, weeknight dinner, lunch ideas