Creamy Ricotta Zucchini Noodles | Zoodles Vegetarian Dinner Recipe (2024)

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Katerina

4.80 from 10 votes

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This Creamy Ricotta Zucchini Noodles recipe is made with delicious zucchini noodles (zoodles!) tossed in a creamy ricotta cheese sauce. An easy and delicious vegetarian dinner recipe that takes minutes to prepare!

Creamy Ricotta Zucchini Noodles | Zoodles Vegetarian Dinner Recipe (2)

    AN EASY VEGETARIAN DINNER RECIPE WITH ZOODLES

    Hello Hello, my lovelyMonday-ers! ‘Sup?! Happy start to the week – I hope we all have a great one!

    I have to get something off my chest. It’s a guilty pleasure thing.

    This weekend, I waited until everyone went to bed and I binge watched The People’s Couch! For 4 hours… What is wrong with me?!

    Here’s everyone else talking about Scandal or Blue Bloods, and I’m all like, “But, YOU GUYS, the people on the People’s Couchare hilarious!!”… I got the “weirdo” look from everyone around me, but do I care?! NOPE. Sometimes their recaps are 100times better than sitting through an hour of some network tv program. Who’s with me??

    Creamy Ricotta Zucchini Noodles | Zoodles Vegetarian Dinner Recipe (3)

    Also? I can’t sit through an hour of TV… it’s like I’ve got ants in my pants.
    Thank you, God, for DVRs and On Demand. And fast-forward.

    Creamy Ricotta Zucchini Noodles | Zoodles Vegetarian Dinner Recipe (4)

    Okay, time for food! Welcome to today’s episode of make believe noodles twirled in a very real ricotta sauce. Balance is life.wah wah waaaaah.

    I don’t mean to be super obvious here, but we all know that real fettuccine would probably make a better starring role, right?! HOWEVER, let’s get real here. BARE legs-arms-tummies(?)-season is just about upon us, and allI’m trying to do is help out thisunderarm jiggle businessfind its way back to where it came from.

    Creamy Ricotta Zucchini Noodles | Zoodles Vegetarian Dinner Recipe (5)

    MY FAVORITE WAY TO COOK ZOODLES

    Make no mistake, though, zoodles is where it’s at. I do a lot of zucchini noodles meals and there’s been plenty of times where this little family of mine thought they were real spaghetti. It’s all in the sauce, you know? AND in how they are prepared! I am not one to chill with raw zucchini. I like healthy, but not THAT healthy, ya know? Therefore, I always give my zoodles a swim in some hot olive oil for several minutes, or just until tender.

    Creamy Ricotta Zucchini Noodles | Zoodles Vegetarian Dinner Recipe (6)

    I’d also like to share with you that I have served this treat as a cold salad, I’ve served it as a side dish, and I have served it as a light main dish. However you decide to have it is all up to you – it’s good no matter how it’s served.

    NOTE that ricotta is a protein-rich cheese that’s actually good for you, so go make somezucchini noodleswith garlicky ricotta sauce, serve it with blistered cherry tomatoesbecause it’s incredible, and then go for seconds. That’s sounds about right for aMonday.

    Creamy Ricotta Zucchini Noodles | Zoodles Vegetarian Dinner Recipe (7)

    And now I eat.

    ENJOY!

    Creamy Ricotta Zucchini Noodles | Zoodles Vegetarian Dinner Recipe (8)

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    Creamy Ricotta Zucchini Noodles | Zoodles Vegetarian Dinner Recipe (9)

    Creamy Ricotta Zucchini Noodles

    Katerina | Diethood

    This Creamy Ricotta Zucchini Noodles recipe is made with delicious zucchini noodles (zoodles!) tossed in a creamy ricotta cheese sauce. An easy and delicious vegetarian dinner recipe that takes minutes to prepare!

    4.80 from 10 votes

    Rate this Recipe!

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    Prep Time 10 minutes mins

    Cook Time 25 minutes mins

    Total Time 35 minutes mins

    Ingredients

    FOR THE ZUCCHINI NOODLES

    • 6 zucchini , washed, dried and spiralized*
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil , divided
    • 1/4 teaspoon chopped fresh herbs (I either reach for rosemary or thyme, but use whatever you have on hand or use your favorite)
    • salt and fresh ground pepper , to taste

    FOR THE RICOTTA SAUCE

    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 4 cloves garlic , minced
    • 1 cup ricotta cheese
    • 1/2- cup skim milk
    • salt and fresh ground pepper , to taste (season it well)

    FOR THE TOMATOES

    • 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 pint cherry tomatoes , halved
    • salt , to taste
    • freshly grated parmesan cheese , optional

    Instructions

    • Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat in a nonstick skillet.

    • Add spiralized zucchini; season with herbs, salt and pepper and continue to cook for 7 minutes, or until tender, stirring frequently.

    • Remove zoodles from skillet and set aside.

    • Return skillet to stove and heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat.

    • Add garlic and cook for 1 minute or until fragrant, stirring frequently.

    • Stir in ricotta cheese and milk; season with salt and pepper and continue to stir until cheese is completely melted and everything is well combined.

    • Bring to a steady simmer and cook for 3 minutes, or until thickened.

    • Remove from heat and stir in the previously prepared zucchini; taste for seasonings and adjust accordingly. Set aside.

    • In a small skillet, heat 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil over medium high heat.

    • Add the cherry tomatoes, sprinkle with salt, and let sit for 2 minutes, or until they start to blister.

    • Stir and continue to cook for 2 more minutes.

    • Remove from heat.

    • Serve tomatoes over the prepared zucchini and sprinkle with freshly grated parmesan cheese.

    Notes

    *Remove as much excess water as possible from the spiralized zucchini before cooking.

    NUTRITIONAL INFO PER SERVINGS

    Nutrition

    Calories: 303 kcal | Carbohydrates: 18 g | Protein: 12 g | Fat: 21 g | Saturated Fat: 7 g | Cholesterol: 31 mg | Sodium: 101 mg | Potassium: 1149 mg | Fiber: 3 g | Sugar: 12 g | Vitamin A: 1505 IU | Vitamin C: 80.5 mg | Calcium: 230 mg | Iron: 2.2 mg

    Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.

    Course: Dinner, Main

    Cuisine: American

    Keyword: best zucchini recipes, easy zucchini pasta recipe, how to cook zoodles, zoodles recipe

    Did you make this recipe?Leave a Rating!

    Categories:

    • Dinner Recipes
    • One Pot Meals
    • Vegetarian

    SIMILAR RECIPES

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    Creamy Ricotta Zucchini Noodles | Zoodles Vegetarian Dinner Recipe (2024)

    FAQs

    How do you cook zucchini noodles so they don t get soggy? ›

    You don't boil them that would make them soggy. To co*k zucchini noodles you toss them in a frying pan, with a little butter, oil or cooking spray, just long enough to heat. Add your sauce and it's done.

    How do you get sauce to stick to zoodles? ›

    Tip 1: Noodles first, sauce second

    If you're serving the noodles with a hot sauce, such as my Creamy Chicken Vodka Sauce, don't cook the noodles in the sauce. Instead, cook the noodles first, then add the sauce. This way, the zucchini water can evaporate before you add more liquid with the sauce.

    What are 3 advantages of having zucchini noodles over regular pasta? ›

    Zucchini is low in fat, sugar, and calories, and high in vitamin C and fiber, making it a great substitute for traditional pasta noodles. Fiber helps to regulate bowels and maintain good digestive health, and vitamin C acts as an antioxidant to protect cells.

    Should you salt zucchini noodles before cooking? ›

    Remove from heat and add to sauce or add some salt and eat as is. Note: Don't salt the zucchini before you saute it; the noodles will release more water and they'll end up limp.

    Why is my zucchini so slimy when I cook it? ›

    This, the outlet asserts, is due to zucchini's high water content: If it cooks too slowly, it will release its moisture before it sears, becoming soggy and sodden. Over high heat, on the other hand, zucchini becomes caramelized on the outside but retains a meaty, firm texture within.

    What helps sauce stick to noodles? ›

    Once the pasta is in the sauce, add pasta water. This is the most vital step in the process. Starchy pasta water doesn't just help thin the sauce to the right consistency; it also helps it cling to the pasta better and emulsify with the fat and cheese you're going to be adding.

    How to add spaghetti sauce to noodles? ›

    First, in authentic Italian cuisine, the sauce is always tossed with the pasta before it ever hits the plate. Just before the sauce is done cooking, the hot pasta is added to the saucepan. Generally speaking, we recommend cooking the pasta in the sauce together for about 1-2 minutes.

    What's the difference between zucchini noodles and zoodles? ›

    Zucchini noodles can be made into different shapes, much like regular pasta. The most common way to make zoodles is to run the zucchini through a spiralizer, which makes a spaghetti-sized zoodle.

    What is healthier spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles? ›

    A look into essential Vitamins & Minerals, shows that Zucchini Pasta outdoes Spaghetti Squash on every one, except for Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, Calcium and Selenium. Information found from SELF's Nutrition Data calculator.

    How do you know if zucchini noodles have gone bad? ›

    Zucchini will feel mushy, the skin will be wrinkled, brown or damaged spots may appear on the outside. If you cut into the zucchini the flesh will be stringy and seeds will be much larger than average.

    How long do zoodles last in the fridge? ›

    My Verdict – This is the best (and really only) way to store zoodles. They'll last about 4-5 days in the fridge.

    Are you supposed to boil zucchini noodles? ›

    Don't! We like our regular pasta with a nice al dente bite, and the same goes for cooking zoodles! If you serve a warm sauce over the noodles, it will gently heat them through, so no actual cooking is necessary.

    How long to salt zucchini to remove moisture? ›

    If you do not have kosher salt on hand, use a teaspoon or so of regular table salt. 1. Place zucchini slices in colander and sprinkle with 2 teaspoons salt. Set colander over bowl until about 1/3 cup water drains from zucchini, about 30 minutes.

    Are zucchini noodles supposed to be crunchy? ›

    Here's how to do it perfectly:

    Don't let the noodles cook for longer or they'll wilt. Embrace the crunch! If you're cooking more than 1 spiralized zucchini, it may take up to 5-7 minutes to cook the zucchini thoroughly.

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