Making fresh ravioli pasta at home is an indulgence that takes some time and patience, so you may as well choose from some of the best ravioli filling recipes out there!
If you’re thinking of indulging in a bowl or two of fresh ravioli but are unsure what filling to put in your creation, here are 19 ravioli filling recipes you can try!
Nothing beats fresh pasta!
And for pasta lovers, ravioli is one of the best fresh pasta options out there.
It’s so popular and well-loved, there’s even a National Ravioli Day celebrated every 20th of March here in the US!
This filled pasta can be made in a variety of shapes and sizes, although the most common is the square, bite-sized variant.
This Italian favorite is just one of a few kinds of filled pasta, with the others being tortellini, tortelloni, mezellune, and cappelletti.
Other pasta types that also belong to this category include agnolotti, fagottini, and pansotti.
There is also a rather sizable version of ravioli, which is the ravioli gigante, that is as big as an empanada.
Ravioli is frequently served in a sauce or broth and usually has grated parmesan cheese or herbs sprinkled on top.
In some cases, when the filling is truly spectacular, the ravioli is served with a simple drizzle of good olive oil or a brown butter sauce.
This lets the pasta and what’s inside it shine through.
Examples of these fabulous pasta bites that are only dressed with olive oil or brown butter include Triple Mushroom With Cheese and Crabmeat Ravioli.
Still, some are better with some type of sauce or broth on them, like the Spinach & Cheese Ravioli that’s served with marinara sauce.
Some even have additional crunch added on top with pine nuts, crushed walnuts, and crispy garlic bits, like the Feta & Pine Nuts ravioli filling recipe listed below.
Is your mouth watering already?
If it is, let’s not waste any more time and start trying out these 19 ravioli filling recipes.
One of the most sought-after ravioli fillings is lobster, and for good reason.
This filling recipe however, doesn’t just use lobster but also has some shrimp in it, upping the ante, so to speak!
With ricotta cheese, some parsley for freshness, and some lemon, you get a rich and slightly tangy filling for your ravioli.
Here’s a good list of sides for lobster ravioli, too!
Why settle for one type of cheese in your ravioli when you can have four?
This ravioli filling is one of the cheesiest in this list and features some of the more commonly used cheeses in Italian cooking.
To help balance out the cheese flavor of these small pockets of yum, some marinara sauce is poured on top.
Mushrooms are also favored when it comes to ravioli fillings, and this uses three types in it.
This is earthiness at its best!
This filling recipe uses cremini, portobello, and shiitake, which are mixed in with two types of cheese – parmesan and ricotta.
You can serve this with some olive oil or your favorite pasta sauce.
If you’re looking for a ravioli filling recipe that isn’t too complicated, this is what you need.
Using only two ingredients for the filling, this is as simple as it gets!
Just make sure to get pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling when you make this.
If you want, you can also make your own pureed pumpkin just to be sure.
If you’re looking for some other way to enjoy smoked salmon, creating a tasty ravioli filling with it is a good option.
The filling in this recipe uses chopped up smoked salmon mixed with some spices and some creamy gruyere cheese.
For a more robust flavor, go with aged gruyere for this recipe instead of the younger, milder variety.
If you can’t find good quality gruyere near you, raclette or Jarlsberg will work here too.
6. Crabmeat
Did I mention that seafood is a good filling for ravioli?
Well, it is, as you can see with this third recipe that uses meat from the sea in it.
This recipe uses canned crab, but if you can get fresh crab meat for it, all the better!
This is one ravioli filling that doesn’t have any cheese in it, putting the crab meat front and center for you to enjoy!
Here’s a ravioli filling that doesn’t require too many ingredients but does need extra care when assembling.
If you’re a fan of poached eggs, this is the perfect recipe for you.
To ensure that the egg yolk in each pillow of pasta is creamy and runny when you cut into it, don’t overcook it.
Want a recipe that has a rich filling and an equally rich sauce on top of it?
Look no further than this one!
The filling is made with Italian sausage, spinach, and parmesan cheese.
The sauce, which has a kick to it, is a creamy tomato-based concoction.
Top with some fresh herbs and grated cheese, and you have one rich pasta dish to enjoy!
If you love marsala wine, then this ravioli dish is for you!
This dish is made even better with the addition of prosciutto, fresh parsley, and heavy cream to the filling.
You can serve this with some brown butter sauce or with the accompanying marsala mushroom sauce in this recipe.
This recipe is an example of a ravioli dish that has added crunch with each bite!
The filling is a combination of three cheeses – two Italian and one Greek.
This fusion-type pasta dish is topped with loads of pine nuts, further cementing the unique Greek and Italian marriage.
11. Bacon & Ricotta
I said it once, and I’ll say it again, everything tastes better with bacon!
This ravioli recipe further cements that statement, with crispy bacon mixed into a creamy ricotta and cheddar filling.
This ravioli dish, however, is very different from what you’re used to since these are cooked twice – once to soften and the other to crisp up!
You can choose to forgo the baking step though and serve the pasta in its soft form with your favorite sauce.
12. Ham & Cheese
Another classic combination that people turn to when it comes to ravioli is this one.
You can never go wrong with ham and cheese, and this is proved again with this dish.
There are two kinds of mild cheeses in this dish, helping to balance out the saltiness of the prosciutto or cured ham that’s in it.
13. Taco
Tacos in ravioli form!
This Mexican-Italian fusion is something out of a dream, with its beefy taco filling and creamy enchilada sauce on top.
For a totally confusing, but utterly tasty dish, serve with some salsa and guacamole on the side.
If you want to try a vegan ravioli, this is a good recipe to make.
It combines roasted bell peppers and sun-dried tomatoes in soft pillows of pasta.
The addition of pesto and avocado in sauce form gives you a dish that’s out-of-this world!
Here’s a ravioli dish with earthy, cheesy, and nutty flavors that you’re sure to love!
The combination of pureed asparagus, cheese, and pine nuts may not come to mind immediately when thinking of ravioli filling recipes, but hey, it works!
Serve with a simple brown butter sauce and complement each serving with fresh asparagus spears.
16. Meat & Cheese
When you’re craving a meaty dish and a pasta dish at the same time, here’s what you can make.
This meaty ravioli recipe uses ground chuck and pork sausage with ricotta cheese for a filling.
Since this ravioli is so flavorful and oh-so-meaty, you don’t need a sauce with it!
Extra virgin olive oil plus some chopped parsley on top completes this meal.
Slightly sweet, creamy, and cheesy are the flavors you can expect from this dish!
The buttery and somewhat sweet flavor of mascarpone goes perfectly with the sweetness of roasted carrots in the filling.
Add to the mix the thick and creamy texture of ricotta, and you have an uber-creamy filling for your ravioli!
For a pop of color in each bite, this recipe is the one you should try.
Combining mashed beets with goat cheese gives you a filling that’s sweet, slightly flora, and slightly tart.
Dress with brown butter sauce and sprinkle with pine nuts or crushed walnuts for added texture.
Another vegetable that you can enjoy having inside ravioli is the artichoke.
To make cooking easier, use cooked and frozen artichoke hearts for your filling.
The addition of fresh tomatoes in the creamy artichoke sauce on top of this dish gives it a welcome acidity.
The bottom line
When you’re craving ravioli, you don’t have to gravitate towards canned or frozen options.
Try your hand at creating fresh ravioli from scratch and see just how amazing these pillows of goodness can be!
If you’re being adventurous, you can try to experiment with your own ravioli filling recipes!
Mix together some of your favorite meats, vegetables, and cheeses to create a unique ravioli filling that’s all your own!
Take your cue from some of these recipes and you’re bound to produce a mouthwatering treat.
When you come up with a wonderful combination that you can’t wait to share with the world, don’t hesitate to hit me up with your creation.
For more sides that go great with ravioli, check out this list.
19 BEST Ravioli Filling Recipe Inspiration
Making fresh ravioli pasta at home is an indulgence that takes some time and patience, so choose from this list of best ravioli filling recipes out there!
Ingredients
- Lobster Ravioli
- Spinach & 4-Cheese
- Triple Mushroom With Cheese
- Pumpkin With Parmesan
- Smoked Salmon
- Crabmeat
- Egg Yolk & Ricotta
- Sausage & Spinach
- Chicken Marsala
- Feta & Ricotta With Pine Nuts
- Bacon & Ricotta
- Ham & Cheese
- Taco
- Roasted Bell Pepper & Sun-Dried Tomato
- Asparagus & Cheese
- Meat & Cheese
- Carrot, Mascarpone, & Ricotta
- Beet & Goat Cheese
- Artichoke & Parmesan
Instructions
- Skim through our Ravioli Filling Recipes list.
- Select the recipe you’re looking for.
- Prep the ingredients as instructed.
- Spill your thoughts on our Facebook page!