The 10 Best Swaps for Ricotta Cheese Are In Your Fridge Right Now

Ricotta has its fluffy fingers in all sorts of delicious dishes; the creamy dollops in lasagna, the lightness in a cheesecake, and as an airy addition to pancakes. Sweet or savory distinctions mean nothing to this Italian specialty, making it a no-brainer to keep around the kitchen.

But if you realize you don't have any when it's time to get dinner on the table, or you open the tub to find it nearly empty much too late to switch the recipe, what do you do?

Firstly, you can make it yourself. It's truly easy. But if you don't have the time or desire to get down and dirty with some homemade cheese, there are a lot of options available to you.

What Is Ricotta Cheese?

Ricotta – 'recooked' in Italian – is a soft, fresh, mild and milky Italian cheese with a pillowy texture and a ton of moisture. Traditionally, this cheese is made from waste – specifically, the whey byproduct left over from making other cheese. That whey is reheated, utilizing the smallest amount of remaining curd to create a new cheese, hence the name.

Commercially, here in the US at least, ricotta is made simply from milk and cream – cow's milk, to be exact, although it can be made from goat, sheep, or even water buffalo. Ricotta is widely available in any standard grocery store, but it's also simple to make at home.

Best Ricotta Substitutes

Nothing will truly replicate the taste and texture of ricotta cheese, but any of these suggestions will get you close. Almost all of them can be used in equal amounts to whatever ricotta is called for, making the decision to send in an alternate as easy as possible.

Cottage Cheese

This chunky, wet cheese tends to be considered bland and pigeon-holed as a health food. But as more and more internet videos are demonstrating, cottage cheese is darn near as versatile a food as ricotta. Its similar moisture content and mild taste make it a fine addition to anything you'd look to ricotta to accomplish – lasagna, pancakes, quick bread, muffins, etc. Plus, it adds a good amount of protein to boot.

Cottage cheese is chunkier than ricotta, but a quick trip in the blender or food processor (on a low setting or pulsed respectively) will fix that. It's also a bit saltier, so saving this substitution for savory applications is best.

Greek Yogurt

This is certainly a tangier option, but its creamy nature makes it the perfect choice in place of ricotta for a dip or a baked good like a pancakes or sheet cake. What sets Greek yogurt apart from standard yogurt is that it's strained after it's cultured, which creates a thicker result and makes it a better substitution for ricotta than regular yogurt. Use Greek yogurt in recipes where ricotta is imparting a creamy texture, like being stirred into a sauce.

If you need 1 cup of ricotta and only have 1/2 cup, adding 1/2 cup of Greek yogurt to it would be perfect. But if you're truly out of ricotta, start with 3/4 cup Greek yogurt for every 1 cup ricotta needed.

Cream Cheese

This cheese is thicker and smoother than ricotta, but it would work well in something like a warm pasta dish, where it can melt into the sauce, or anything that would benefit from a richer flavor. It's probably not the best choice for a big dollop in a lasagna, however, being more tart in flavor. If the dish has an addition of something tart or acidic already, like lemon juice or lemon zest, consider dialing that ingredient back slightly with this substitution.

Sour Cream

Sour cream might be the tangiest choice for substitution, so use it in moderation. Rock this out in a dip or a baked good, like you would if swapping yogurt, but maybe don't layer it in that lasagna - it might be the dish your whole family never lets you live down. (Unless it's a fun riff like a Mexican lasagna).

Créme Fraiche

This creamy, spreadable product is essentially the French version of sour cream. It's richer than our sour cream, with a higher fat content, and not quite as sour. You can swap it in equal measure when you need a luxurious texture and consistency in what you're cooking, thickening a sauce or a soup or baking a pie or cake.

Tofu

If this suggestion surprises you, it's understandable. But tofu is high in protein and a literal sponge for whatever flavors it's exposed to. Silken tofu is the best choice for a ricotta replacement, drained and run through a food processor. There are even vegan-friendly ricotta recipes online that use tofu to make it. That mixture would drop in fine to lasagna or another pasta dish.

Goat Cheese

A nice chevre, which is a bit more subtle compared to a soft-ripened or aged goat cheese, could work in a pinch. But due to the salt content, stick to savory dishes for this one (like these meatballs), and cut down the salt in the rest of the dish to compensate.

Get the recipe: American Lasagna

Mascarpone

For any sweet recipe, this is a great substitution – cannoli, tiramisu, cheesecake — the sky's the limit. Mascarpone's mild, sweet notes will elevate any dessert. You may need to thin it out a bit, but that's no big deal — just drizzle in some cream and whisk until you get it where you want it to be.

Other Italian Cheeses

Ricotta is Italian and used in all sorts of Italian dishes, so using another Italian cheese isn't exactly a stretch, especially in something like a ravioli filling. You may need to play with the proportion and how to use it, especially if swapping out a harder cheese like Parmesan, but with something like mozzarella or burrata, other pretty soft, milky cheeses, you should be good.

Keep in mind, that the stringier nature of mozzarella or the firmer texture of shaved hard cheese may call for an adjustment in ratios. Don't be scared – it's cooking, not baking, so feel free to flex your creativity.

Queso Fresco

This is another mild and tangy cheese. It would be great for any creamy, warm fillings and toppings, but stick to savory applications. It's especially a good choice if it's a spicier dish. Adjust the seasoning in the recipe, since queso is saltier than ricotta, and add a bit of water for extra moisture if need be.

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