Meet the easiest, quickest appetizer you'll want to serve at all your parties -- this whipped ricotta dip with lemon and fresh herbs! Every creamy bite is delicate and airy with bright citrus notes for a perfectly light dip, and you can whip it up in just under five minutes. This whipped ricotta dip is sure to be a new favorite party snack.

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Why You Need to Make This Recipe
I’m officially calling this whipped ricotta dip the appetizer of the summer. Honestly, I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve made a batch — it’s the perfect go-to dip.
- Tastes like a citrusy, herby dream. With whole milk ricotta as the base, it’s a decadent dip, but the fresh lemon and herbs give it almost a light touch.
- Makes entertaining a breeze. I truly can’t think of a quicker or easier appetizer to prepare. Even a kitchen newbie can make a gourmet-tasting dip.
- Versatile for any occasion. Keep this recipe in your back pocket because you’ll come back to it over and over again. Need an appetizer for a fancy holiday or dinner party? Or maybe you’re just hosting a casual backyard gathering. This ricotta dip is perfect for both.
- Budget friendly. With just three ingredients plus salt, this whipped cheese dip is easy on the wallet.
Bonus: If you're interested in more easy dip recipes, try my baked green chile dip!
Ingredients
As you can see, I wasn't joking about the easy ingredient list. These are straightforward ingredients.
That said, my biggest recommendation is to make sure you use whole milk ricotta of the highest quality you can find. Whole milk ricotta is much more flavorful and less watery than part skim or fat free. Considering that we only rely on a few ingredients, we want to make sure they're the best we can find.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Now let's show you how truly simple this dip is to prepare. I like to serve this dip with grilled bread, so we'll first walk through that process and then get to our herbed whipped ricotta dip.
Step 1: To prepare our bread, we cut a baguette into ½-inch slices and brush each side with olive oil (photo 1). Now we place the bread on a hot grill and cook until the slices are nice and toasty (photo 2).
Step 2: Just like that, we're ready for our whipped ricotta dip. We add our whole milk ricotta, herbs, lemon juice and zest, and a touch of salt to a food processor (photo 3).
Step 3: Now we give the food processor a whirl until the ricotta is smooth and creamy like so (photo 4). I find a good minute takes care of the job, but you can go longer for an even airier texture. This comes down to personal preference.
And that's it! Told you it was easy. Now grab that grilled bread and treat yourself to a big scoop of the best whipped ricotta dip you'll ever try.
Recipe FAQs
I love to spoon this ricotta dip in a bowl and lightly drizzle olive oil on top. Spread the grilled bread on a platter around the bowl, and you're set.
If you'd like to get fancy, you garnish with more herbs and a lemon twist. For a little crunch, you could also add toasted pistachios or macadamia nuts.
Great news! You can prepare this whipped ricotta ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to three days in advance of serving. Before setting out, you may want to give the ricotta a quick whisk to fluff it back up. Talk about easy entertaining.
While I typically serve this as a dip, it also has plenty of other great uses. Use as a sandwich or burger spread or thin out with some cooked pasta water to make a creamy sauce. Spoon onto pizza or crostini. You have so many options!
Expert Tips
- Don’t have a food processor? No problem. You can use a hand mixer to whip the ricotta or even manually whisk the ricotta. If you go the manual route, it may take a little more time to get that whipped consistency, but keep whisking and you’ll get there.
- To grate the lemon zest, I recommend using a microplane grater. It’s quicker and easier than a zester while also producing a finer peel.
- I used just basil for the herbs because it's going wild in our garden, but you are more than welcome to get creative here. Start with the basil and then add a tablespoon or two to taste of mint, parsley, chives, tarragon, dill, thyme, cilantro or even a combination of your favorite herbs.
- You can make this dip even more decadent with a splash of heavy cream. It's not necessary, but it does add an even more luscious touch.
- Want to add additional flavors? Feel free to toss in some freshly grated or roasted garlic. Or blend the ricotta with sun-dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers or even Hatch green chiles for a spicy kick. This whipped ricotta dip is delicious as is, but it also works as a blank canvas if you’d like to create your own unique recipe.
Perfect Pairing
For a beer, we want something light and bubbly, like a wheat ale. Given the light texture of this dip, we don’t want a beer that’s too heavy bodied, and you’ll love how the wheat ale’s citrus notes complement the dip.
With the fresh herbs, I’m a big fan of a sauvignon blanc, which comes with its own herbal quality as well as citrusy notes with a crisp, acidic finish to cut through the ricotta’s whole milk. That said, this dip is versatile with other white wines — Chablis, Champagne and pinot grigio all pair nicely.
Love a cocktail? You won’t mind sipping on this strawberry-basil limoncello martini. The cocktail’s flavors match perfectly to our lemony whipped ricotta dip. You'll also love my garden gin and tonic with its medley of freshly muddled herbs.
For an easy, crowd-please appetizer, I hope you try this easy whipped ricotta dip with lemon and fresh herbs. It’s sure to be a new party favorite.
Cheers!
Looking for More Party Appetizers?
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Whipped Ricotta Dip With Lemon and Herbs
Equipment
- Food processor, mixer or hand whisk
Ingredients
- 1 (15-ounce) container of whole milk ricotta
- ½ cup roughly chopped fresh basil see note
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Juice and zest of one lemon
- Olive oil for garnish, optional
- Additional basil for garnish, optional
- Grilled bread for serving
Instructions
- Add the ricotta, basil, salt, lemon juice and lemon zest to a food processor. Blend until smooth and creamy to your liking. About one minute should do it, though you could go up to two minutes for an even airier dip. Check periodically to see when it transforms into your desired consistency.
- Alternatively, you can whip the ricotta using a hand mixer or whisk until it's light, smooth and creamy.
- Spoon into a bowl for serving. If desired, garnish it a drizzle of olive oil and additional herbs. Serve with grilled bread or your favorite dipper. Enjoy!
Notes
- To grate the lemon zest, I recommend using a microplane grater. It’s quicker and easier than a zester while also producing a finer peel.
- I used just basil for the herbs, but you are more than welcome to get creative here. Start with the basil and then add a tablespoon or two to taste of mint, parsley, chives, tarragon, dill, thyme, cilantro or even a combination of your favorite herbs.
- Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Farrukh Aziz says
Great dip for parties! Grilled bread makes a great dipper to go with it! Thanks for sharing Amanda!
Heidy says
This whipped ricotta dip with lemon and fresh herbs was off the chain yummy! Great appetizer!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
Thank you, Heidi!
silvia says
This dip is perfect for parties and family gatherings. It is so delish and unbelievably easy to make. Love it!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
Thank you! I'm happy to hear it was a hit.
LaKita says
This ricotta dip is so perfect! It is so fresh, creamy, and loaded with flavor.
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
Thanks, LaKita! Happy to hear you loved it!
Nicole says
I love ricotta. Don't judge me, but I find myself just eating it with a spoon! So I'm definitely loving this recipe for ricotta dip. It's so fresh and bright! To heck with just for summer - I'd eat this all year round!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
No judging here! I'm right there with you.
Marie says
Such an irresistible dip! I love the addition of lemon and herbs--both ingredients surely make this appetizer more delicious and festive! I can see this served on any and all occasions.
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
It will certainly come in handy!
Chenée says
This ricotta dip is amazing! So many delicious flavors -- I can't wait to make it again.
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
Thank you! Happy to hear you loved it.
Aya says
I did this ricotta dip for a game night that I was hosting, and everyone loved it. I served it with some veggies, and it was great!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
That's awesome! So glad it was a hit!
veenaazmanov says
Perfect Dip for a party planning. Cheesy options are my favorite.
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
Me too! I can't get enough.
Heather says
Oh my YUM! I want to eat the entire bowl of this ricotta dip by myself. Guess I'll have to make 2 batches for my next party 🙂
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
I don't blame you! It's hard to stop.
Allyssa says
Thanks a bunch for this whipped ricotta dip recipe! So tasty and easy to make! Loved it! Well done!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
You're so welcome and thank you!