Ricotta Substitutes

Out of ricotta? These are the swaps that actually work, with conversion ratios for any recipe size and notes on how each one changes the result.

Need to convert ricotta between cups, grams, or ounces first? Open the ricotta converter.

What to use instead of ricotta

  • Cottage Cheese

    Ingredient swap

    1 cup ricotta = 1 cup cottage cheese blended smooth (1:1 by volume)

    Closest swap for sweet fillings: blend until smooth and drain off excess whey. Slightly wetter and tangier than ricotta (234 g vs 258 g per cup). Works straight in for lasagne and savoury bakes.

  • Cream Cheese

    Ingredient swap

    1 cup ricotta = 1 cup cream cheese (1:1 by volume)

    Cream cheese is denser and tangier (230 g vs 258 g per cup), with no curds. Best in baked cheesecakes where the smoother texture is welcome; loosen with a splash of milk for stuffed pasta.

    See cream cheese substitutes →

  • Mascarpone

    Ingredient swap

    1 cup ricotta = 1 cup mascarpone (1:1 by volume)

    Much richer than ricotta (40% fat vs 13%) and smoother. Use in tiramisu, cannoli cream, and sweet fillings when you want the upgrade; skip in savoury bakes where ricotta's lean curd is the point.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I substitute for ricotta?
There are 3 workable substitutes for ricotta, depending on what you have on hand and which property of ricotta matters most for your recipe. The closest swap is usually 1 cup ricotta = 1 cup cottage cheese blended smooth (1:1 by volume). Each option below lists the conversion ratio for any recipe size, plus notes on how the swap changes the texture, flavour, rise, or browning.
Will substituting ricotta change how my recipe turns out?
Yes, every swap trades one property for another: fat content, moisture, acidity, or protein. The notes on each substitute describe what changes in texture, flavour, rise, or browning, so you can choose the swap that matters least for your recipe. Open the ricotta converter
How do I measure ricotta accurately?
Weighing in grams is more reliable than scooping cups, especially when a substitute has a different density from what the recipe expects. The ricotta converter on this site converts between cups, grams, ounces, tablespoons, and teaspoons, so you can scale a recipe up or down without losing the ratio. Open the ricotta converter

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