There’s a running joke in my family that we declare some weeknight dinners as “clean-out-the-kitchen-night”, meaning we make meals using leftover ingredients or foods near expiration. It’s an effective way to clean up, and to also get creative! I had some leftover ricotta cheese from a lasagna recipe last month, and so I thought I’d make ricotta pasta using one pot. I love ricotta cheese mixed in pasta sauce! It makes the dish so creamy, and the color is quite luxurious.
To my general staples of elbow macaroni, tomato sauce, and shredded cheese, I also found some pork sausage in my freezer. I’m accustomed to incorporating hamburger meat to spaghetti and lasagna, but sausage makes a good substitute and adds extra flavor.
2026 UPDATE: You’ll notice in the photo above, I used a box of Barilla Pronto elbow macaroni. Barilla Pronto was an amazing pasta product that absorbed the water while it cooked and didn’t require a strainer. It’s been years since I’ve seen this in stores, though. With that being said, you can use any other boxed elbow macaroni and cook according to the package, which means you’ll have to use a strainer.
Since you’ll need to drain the pasta now that Barilla Pronto is harder to find, this handy silicone clip-on strainer is a lifesaver. It’s much easier than lugging out a giant colander and fits right on the side of your pot!
Also check out Barilla’s classic Elbow Macaroni!
Once the noodles and the sausage cook (separately), you can begin combining. For this recipe, I recommend using a deep skillet or a large cooking pot so you have room to mix! From the sauce to the cheese to the sausage, the grand finale resulted in a mighty macaroni dish that my family could dig into.
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This one pot ricotta pasta tasted just as scrumptious when reheated the following day. I had a lot of fun putting this together, and it just goes to show you how versatile pasta is. This dish can be used with any type of noodle, pasta sauce, cheese, and meat. Add vegetables too if you want! You never know what kind of amazing dish awaits you when you take inventory of your fridge and pantry!
Need a sweet and salty dessert to follow this easy weeknight dinner? Check out my 6-Ingredient Chocolate Bacon Saltine Bark – it uses simple pantry staples!
One Pot Ricotta Pasta
Ingredients
- 12 oz dry pasta
- 8 oz ricotta cheese (1 cup)
- 24 oz pasta sauce
- 1 pound pork sausage or ground beef
- 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- In a skillet, cook meat on low-medium heat until browned and crumbled and drain fat. Set aside.
- In a deep skillet or large pot, prepare pasta according to package directions.
- Turn heat on low, and stir in entire jar of pasta sauce over noodles. (Tip: Add 1/2 cup to 1 cup water to jar to remove all sauce and add extra moisture to pasta.)
- Stir in ricotta cheese and shredded cheese, followed by crumbled meat.
- Turn off heat, and serve. Top with extra shredded cheese if desired.
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