• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Our Salty Kitchen
  • Browse All Recipes
  • Season
    • Fall Recipes
    • Spring Recipes
    • Summer Recipes
    • Winter Recipes
    • Holiday Recipes
  • Diet
    • Gluten Free
    • Grain Free
    • Keto
    • Paleo
    • Vegan
    • Vegetarian
    • Whole30 Recipes
  • Course
    • 30 Minute Meals
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Condiments and Sauces
    • Desserts
    • Cocktails
    • Main Dishes
    • Pasta
    • Salads
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups and Stews
  • Method
    • Instant Pot Recipes
    • Air Fryer
    • Slow Cooker
    • Grilling Recipes
    • Stir Fry
  • About
    • Let’s Collaborate!
    • Recipe Photography for Food Bloggers
    • Photography Portfolio
    • License Images
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Bloglovin
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • All Recipes
  • Main Dishes
  • Side Dishes
  • Salads
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    You are here: Home » Meal Type » Main Dishes » Ricotta Toast

    Ricotta Toast

    5 from 3 votes
    August 4, 2022 (updated March 12, 2023) by Danielle Esposti

    May contain affiliate links. See our Privacy Policy and disclosure.

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe
    Pinterest image for a ricotta toast recipe with five variations.
    Pinterest image for a ricotta toast recipe with five variations.

    Each and every one of these ricotta toast recipes is easy and quick to make, and packed with flavor! Find both sweet and savory ricotta toast recipe ideas, from burst tomatoes with basil, to fig jam with pistachios and rosemary. This is a 15 minute recipe, so it’s the perfect snack, appetizer, or quick lunch!

    Three slices of ricotta toast topped with tomatoes, basil, and balsamic on a white plate.
    Jump to:
    • Is Ricotta Toast the New Avocado Toast?
    • Homemade Ricotta – Worth the Hype!
    • How to Make Ricotta Toast
    • Chef’s Tips!
    • What’s the Best Bread for Ricotta Toast?
    • How Do You Make Savory Ricotta Toast?
    • Sweet Ricotta Toast Toppings
    • Is Ricotta Toast Healthy?
    • Recipe

    We’ve all had suppertime snack attacks before. You want to nosh, but not really dine. Can’t make up your mind. And definitely don’t want to cook anything substantial.

    Whether or not you’ve got a whole family depending on you, or you’re ashamed to once again eat 6 grapes, a bag of microwave popcorn, and lick peanut butter off a very large spoon for dinner, ricotta on toast is a total life saver for so many reasons:

    • No oven required. (Can I get a summer cooking amen?!?)
    • Endless topping variations. One recipe, eleventy billion meals.
    • It’s a breakfast. It’s a lunch. It’s a dinner. It’s a snack. It’s a party appetizer. Hello flexible.
    • It’s ready in 20 minutes, start to finish. 15 if you’re not lazy. When even easy 30 minute meals feel overwhelming, ricotta toast is totally doable.

    This currently-trending treat has been on my radar for years – ever since I started (and stopped) my would-be career as a cheesemaker with homemade ricotta cheese. It was so easy and it came out so good that I stopped to experiment with the seemingly endless ways to eat it that, well, I never bothered going back to try making a different cheese. And I still haven’t reached a limit!

    Sure, I baked it into bread-based dishes like Focaccia with Leek and Sausage and Heirloom Tomato Galette. However, ricotta on toast with seasonal standbys like mushrooms in the winter or strawberries in the summer brought a whole new level of simple satisfaction.

    Five variations of ricotta cheese toast on a speckled cream plate with a bowl of ricotta cheese to the side.

    Is Ricotta Toast the New Avocado Toast?

    For eating? According to TikTok, yes. Yes, it is. In terms of ruining Millennials lives and tanking the housing market? Well, that remains to be seen. If you Google “ricotta toast,” you still get recipes and not-cringe-worthy think pieces on the economy, so for now, I think it’s safe to say it’s still in internet popularity infancy.

    Despite functioning in a similar fashion (as a creamy, delicious spread), avocado and ricotta have enough differences (fruit vs. cheese, green vs. white, unsaturated vs. saturated fats) to keep them both in rotation as a toast topper – key being their flavor.

    Both pair beautifully with countless other foods, including each other. And surprisingly enough, they both pair really well with some of the same foods (like honey, corn, and even eggs), but you’ll probably find some combinations more to your taste than others.

    Homemade Ricotta – Worth the Hype!

    Ricotta cheese in a blue bowl with a spoon.
    Ricotta cheese in a blue bowl with a close up of a spoon full of ricotta.

    Homemade Ricotta Cheese…it’s creamy, it’s dreamy and OMG, it’s so easy to make! You know the rule – everything tastes better when it’s homemade. But as a busy lady and an even busier mom, you know I never steer you wrong when it comes to time management. In this case, let me steer you right.

    First, you’re making your own ricotta. I mean, (a) it’s cheese and (b) it’s cheese you made. With your own two hands and some readily available instruments and ingredients. In 30 minutes, you can call yourself a cheesemaker. How cool is that?!

    Second, ricotta cheese is something you might want to have handy, but don’t always want to have to be responsible for keeping on hand. It works in pasta dishes, pizza, desserts, sweet and savory breakfasts (we LOVE it in a frittata), and, of course, endless variations of ricotta on toast.

    Knowing that you can easily make your own ricotta cheese opens up a world of possibilities when it comes to throwing together a meal on the fly.

    How to Make Ricotta Toast

    Ricotta Toast is the perfect lazy meal because it always taste like tons of effort. Sweet afternoon pick-me-up? No probably. Quick savory lunch? Easy! Choose super fresh produce and herbs to make the flavors pop! Not feeling so lazy? Definitely try making your own ricotta cheese.

    A slice of bread with a bowl of oil and an oil brush.
    Four slices of bread toasting in a pan.
    Side view, three pieces of ricotta toast on a white plate topped with tomatoes, basil, and balsamic glaze.
    1. Slice some good quality crusty bread into ½” thick slices and brush each side with olive oil.
    2. To grill: Heat a grill or grill pan over medium. Place the bread directly onto the grates and grill 1-2 minutes until lightly charred. Flip and grill the other side for 1-2 minutes more.
    3. To toast: Heat skillet over medium high heat. Place the oiled bread in the hot skillet and cook 2-3 minutes, until golden brown. Flip and cook 1-2 minutes more.
    4. Spread 2 tablespoons of ricotta cheese on the toasted bread.
    5. Add toppings as directed below. (See ingredients in recipe card.)

    Chef’s Tips!

    • Make your own ricotta cheese – I promise the 30 minutes it takes will be worth it!
    • Use a good crusty bread like sourdough. I cut it a bit on the thick side so that it can stand up to a substantial schmear of ricotta and a healthy dose of toppings.
    • I serve and eat it ricotta toast open faced, but don’t be shy if you prefer to make and eat it as a variation on a grilled cheese sandwich. Just watch for spillage!
    • Want whipped ricotta? All you need to do it whisk for 2 minutes. You can do it by hand or in a stand mixer with whisk attachment to get it even fluffier!

    What’s the Best Bread for Ricotta Toast?

    You want a hearty, savory toast or crostini that can stand up to lots of cheese and toppings. For a meal, go with a bakery loaf like sourdough. For appetizer or snack-sized ricotta toasts, choose a baguette. For either, slice into thick slices of at least half an inch.

    How Do You Make Savory Ricotta Toast?

    There are so many ways to put your own spin on this classic recipe, from sweet to savory, snack to meal, and everything in-between. Start with these ricotta cheese toast toppings and see where they lead you.

    Ricotta Tomato Toast with Basil: Heat skillet on medium high. Add 1 tbsp olive oil, heat until it shimmers. Add cherry tomatoes and toss to coat in oil. Saute 5-6 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally, until tomatoes blister and start to burst. Divide tomatoes between each piece of ricotta toast, then top with 1 tbsp fresh basil, 1 tsp balsamic reduction, and pinch of salt and pepper.

    A slice of savory ricotta toast topped with burst tomatoes, fresh basil, and balsamic glaze on a speckled tan plate.

    Ricotta Cheese Toast with Corn Salsa: Slice corn from cobs and transfer to a bowl. Add red onion, oregano, lime juice, and lime zest. Toss until well combined, then divide evenly between each piece of toast. Season with salt and pepper.

    A slice of savory ricotta toast topped with fresh corn salsa on a speckled tan plate.

    Avocado Ricotta Toast with Egg: Divide sliced avocado between four pieces of toast with a slather of ricotta cheese. Top each with 1 poached egg. Season with red pepper flakes and kosher salt.

    A slice of savory ricotta toast topped with avocado, a poached egg, and red pepper flakes on a speckled tan plate.

    Sweet Ricotta Toast Toppings

    Don’t stop at savory! Ricotta is so flexible, and can easily accommodate sweet toppings (cannoli dip, anyone?). We love serving it appetizer-style (strawberry bruschetta with ricotta is a favorite!) but these sweet toppings are just as tasty.

    Ricotta Honey Toast with Blackberries: Place 4-6 blackberries on each piece of ricotta toast. Drizzle each toast with 1 tsp honey, then sprinkle with fresh mint.

    A slice of sweet ricotta toast topped with blackberries, mint, and honey on a speckled tan plate.

    Fig and Ricotta Toast with Rosemary: Spread 1 tbsp fig jam over the ricotta. Sprinkle with fresh rosemary and pinch of kosher salt.

    A slice of sweet ricotta toast topped with fig jam and fresh rosemary on a speckled tan plate.

    Other easy ricotta toast ideas…

    • Scale up our mushroom bruschetta or strawberry crostini into full-slice versions.
    • In the fall we like roasted butternut squash with fresh oregano and toasted pistachios
    • A summer classic? Grilled peaches with fresh mint, slivered almonds, and a drizzle of honey.
    • Keep it simple and slather ricotta toast with jam – any flavor will do!
    Half a dozen mushroom crostini on a speckled platter.
    Strawberry ricotta toasts on a white plate.

    Is Ricotta Toast Healthy?

    Fresh bread, fresh cheese, fresh toppings? You betcha ricotta on toast is healthy! Always check your ingredients on prepackaged items (namely the bread) for additives or preservatives you’re not comfortable with.

    Now, if you wanna talk compliant, well, that’s between you and your diet god… All of these ideas are vegetarian. Substitute gluten-free bread as needed – just remember it needs to be hearty enough hold up to the toppings.

    Side view, two slices of ricotta cheese on toast topped with burst tomatoes, basil, and balsamic glaze.

    Do you like ricotta toast? What’s your favorite topping combo? Tell us all about it in the comments section below.

    While you’re at it, let’s be friends – follow me on Pinterest and Instagram for the latest and greatest.

    Recipe

    Ricotta toast with different toppings on a brown speckled plate.

    Ricotta Toast Recipe

    5 from 3 votes
    Author: Danielle Esposti
    Print Recipe Rate this Recipe Pin Recipe
    Ricotta Toast is the perfect lazy meal because it always taste like tons of effort. Sweet afternoon pick-me-up? No probably. Quick savory lunch? Easy! Choose super fresh produce and herbs to make the flavors pop! Not feeling so lazy? Definitely try making your own ricotta cheese.
    Prep Time: 5 mins
    Cook Time: 10 mins
    Total Time: 15 mins
    Servings : 4
    Calories: 243

    Recommended Equipment

    • Grill pan
    • Saute pan

    Ingredients

    Base Recipe

    • 4 slices thick-cut rustic bread, such as sourdough
    • 4 tsp olive oil
    • ½ c. ricotta cheese

    Tomato Basil

    • 1 pint cherry tomatoes
    • 1 tbsp olive oil
    • ¼ c fresh basil
    • 4 tsp balsamic reduction
    • ½ tsp kosher salt
    • ½ tsp ground pepper

    Corn Salsa

    • 2 ears leftover grilled corn
    • ¼ red onion, thinly sliced
    • 1 tbsp oregano, chopped
    • 1 lime, zested and juiced
    • ½ tsp kosher salt
    • ½ tsp ground pepper

    Blackberry Honey

    • ½ cup fresh blackberries
    • 4 tsp honey
    • 2 tsp fresh chopped mint

    Avocado Egg

    • 1 ripe avocado, sliced
    • 4 eggs, poached
    • ½ tsp red pepper flakes
    • ½ tsp kosher salt

    Fig Jam

    • 4 tbsp fig jam
    • 4 tbsp roasted salted pistachios, chopped
    • 4 tsp fresh chopped rosemary

    Instructions

    • Slice the bread into ½” thick slices.
    • Brush each side of the bread with ½ teaspoon olive oil.
    • To grill the bread: heat a grill or grill-pan over medium heat. Place the bread directly onto the grill grates and cook until lightly charred, 1-2 minutes. Flip the bread and grill 1-2 minutes more on the other side.
    • To toast the bread: Heat a skillet over medium high heat. Place the bread into the hot skillet and cook until golden brown, 2-3 minutes. Flip the bread and cook until browned on the other side, 1-2 minutes more.
    • Place the bread onto a plate or platter, then slather 2 tablespoons of ricotta cheese over one side of the bread.
    • Add toppings, as directed below.
    • Tomato Basil. Heat a 10” skillet over medium high heat. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and heat until it shimmers. Add the cherry tomatoes and toss to coat in the oil. Saute, shaking the pan occasionally, until the tomatoes blister and start to burst, 5-6 minutes. Divide the burst tomatoes between each piece of ricotta toast, then top each with 1 tablespoon fresh basil, 1 tsp balsamic reduction, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
    • Corn Salsa. Slice the corn from the cobs and transfer to a medium bowl. Add the red onion, oregano, lime juice, and lime zest. Toss until well combined, then divide evenly between each piece of ricotta toast. Season with salt and pepper and serve right away.
    • Blackberry Honey. Place 4-6 blackberries, depending on size, on each piece of ricotta toast. Drizzle each toast with 1 teaspoon honey, then sprinkle with fresh mint.
    • Avocado Egg. Divide the avocado slices between the four pieces of ricotta toast, then top each with a poached egg. Season with red pepper flakes and kosher salt.
    • Fig and Pistachio. Spread 1 tablespoon fig jam over each toast. Sprinkle with fresh rosemary and a pinch of kosher salt.

    Nutrition Information

    Calories: 243kcal (12%), Carbohydrates: 26g (9%), Protein: 7g (14%), Fat: 12g (18%), Saturated Fat: 3g (15%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6g, Trans Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 16mg (5%), Sodium: 231mg (10%), Potassium: 281mg (8%), Fiber: 2g (8%), Sugar: 4g (4%), Vitamin A: 1000% (1000%), Vitamin C: 17.3% (17%), Calcium: 70% (70%), Iron: 0.9% (1%)
    Did you make this recipe?Mention @oursaltykitchen or tag #oursaltykitchen!
    « Grilled Sweet Potatoes with Avocado Aioli
    Refreshing Strawberry Cucumber Salad »

    Disclaimer: This post and the recipe card may contain affiliate links, which means we receive a small commission (at no cost to you!) if you make a purchase using these links. Rest assured, we only endorse products we own and truly love!

    11 Comments
    Filed Under: 30 Minute Meals, Appetizers, Breakfast, Main Dishes, Vegetarian Tagged With: corn, ricotta

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kristina

      July 15, 2017 at 2:13 am

      I saw a a photo of yours on Foodgawker and stopped by your site and wanted to tell you that your blog and photography are beautiful! Love your focus on seasonal, whole foods. I myself have become a “minimalist foodie” – or I try to be.

      Good luck with the blog!

      Reply
      • Danielle

        July 15, 2017 at 12:16 pm

        5 stars
        Thank you so much Kristina! It’s hard to step into a minimalist mindset in the kitchen, isn’t it?

        Reply
    2. Melissa Griffiths

      July 15, 2017 at 11:09 am

      I think ricotta toast may have to be my new thing! It looks delicious, and I love how versatile it is! Yum!

      Reply
      • Danielle

        July 15, 2017 at 12:18 pm

        And it’s so EASY. I think that’s what I love about it most.

        Reply
    3. Courtney

      July 18, 2017 at 2:00 pm

      I’m so adding this to the grocery list!

      Reply
      • Danielle

        July 18, 2017 at 10:26 pm

        Guarantee you won’t regret that choice! 🙂

        Reply
    4. Lorraine

      September 07, 2017 at 7:56 pm

      5 stars
      Who knew I could make my own ricotta? Well we did and it was fabulous! We made the ricotta and then did the toast with the toppings in the recipe. Then we had some for breakfast the next day. And then again for lunch. lol. 🙂

      Reply
      • Danielle

        September 07, 2017 at 8:07 pm

        I’m so glad you enjoyed this! I eat it for breakfast all the time 🙂

        Reply

    Trackbacks

    1. How to Make Ricotta Cheese (15 Minutes!) | Our Salty Kitchen says:
      May 30, 2019 at 10:54 am

      […] is great for spreading on toast or flatbread, or garnishing fresh pasta – I’m a ricotta toast addict, and you will be […]

      Reply
    2. 51 High Protein Ricotta Toast Recipes for Weight Loss says:
      February 24, 2022 at 5:02 am

      […] Ricotta and Mushroom Tartine | Eating Well 2. Tomato Basil Ricotta Toast | Our Zesty Life 3. Ricotta Toast Two Ways (Tomato Basil and Corn Salsa)| Our Salty Kitchen 4. Bruschetta with Ricotta, Cherry Tomatoes and Chimichurri | Cooking for Keeps […]

      Reply
    3. 51 proteinreiche Ricotta-Toast-Rezepte zur Gewichtsreduktion - Style & Recepie says:
      February 24, 2022 at 5:42 am

      […] Ricotta und Pilz-Tartine | Gut essen2. Tomaten-Basilikum-Ricotta-Toast | Unser pikantes Leben3. Ricotta-Toast auf zwei Arten (Tomaten-Basilikum und Mais-Salsa)| Unsere Salzküche4. Bruschetta mit Ricotta, Kirschtomaten und Chimichurri | Kochen für Keeps5. […]

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Welcome to Our Salty Kitchen! We create real food for real people. Our whole foods recipes are seasonal, locally sourced, and simply prepared. Learn More! 

    Footer

    ABOUT US      CONTACT US      PRIVACY POLICY 

    A collage of publication logos that have featured recipes and photography from Our Salty Kitchen.

    Footer

    Privacy

    Privacy Policy

    Let's ConnecT

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    About Us

    Contact

    Copyright © 2023 Our Salty Kitchen

    1.1K shares