These recipes and others can help you learn all about what it is to be an Italian chef as you look for ways to craft the perfect dish. At the same time, these recipes can keep you from restricting yourself to basic spaghetti and other pasta meals without ramping up the difficulty.

While our many authentic Italian recipes use some base suggestions, feel free to mix and match fresh ingredients to create a flavor profile that’s all your own with every meal. At Nicola’s Marketplace, we can fill your kitchen with some of the best high-quality ingredients out there, from unique pasta shapes to a large selection of meats, cheeses, and garnishes.

Regardless of what you want for your next meal, we’ll help you put it together with our vast inventory.

Quick and Easy Italian Ravioli Recipes

Fast ravioli meals offer several benefits, making them a go-to option for busy days or when you need a quick, satisfying dish. Here are some of the key benefits:

1. Time-Saving

• Quick preparation: Ravioli cooks in about 8-10 minutes, and most sauces can be made in the same amount of time, making the entire meal ready in under 20 minutes.
• Minimal prep work: Since ravioli is usually pre-filled with cheese, meat, or vegetables, there's no need to spend time preparing complicated ingredients.

2. Convenience

• Ready-made options: Our ravioli offers the same homemade, restaurant-quality experience without the hassle of making it from scratch. Each ravioli is crafted with care, filled with gourmet ingredients to deliver exceptional flavor and authenticity.
• Few ingredients: Most fast ravioli recipes require minimal ingredients, such as a simple sauce, some seasoning, and perhaps a few toppings like cheese or herbs.

3. Versatility

• Customizable: You can easily customize ravioli meals with different sauces (marinara, pesto, brown butter, Alfredo), vegetables, and proteins, offering variety while still keeping the process fast.
• Dietary options: Ravioli comes in various forms, including dairy free, vegetarian, or even vegan, catering to a range of dietary preferences.

4. Portion Control

• Pre-portioned: Most packages of ravioli come in a defined portion size, making it easier to manage servings and avoid overeating.
• Easy to scale: You can quickly adjust the amount you cook based on the number of people you’re serving, whether it’s a single portion or family-sized.

5. Nutritious and Balanced

• Rich in nutrients: Ravioli can be stuffed with nutrient-rich ingredients like spinach, ricotta, or butternut squash, providing a balanced meal with carbs, proteins, and vegetables.
• Pairing with vegetables: Ravioli pairs well with side salads or sautéed vegetables, which can enhance the nutritional value of the meal.
• Versatile side dish: Roasted corn ravioli pairs wonderfully with a pan-seared steak, while spinach ravioli complements roasted chicken for a gourmet touch.

6. Cost-Effective

• Affordable ingredients: Store-bought ravioli is often inexpensive, and paired with simple pantry items like olive oil, garlic, or canned tomatoes, you can create a budget-friendly meal.
• Leftover-friendly: Ravioli dishes are easy to reheat, making them perfect for meal prepping or repurposing leftovers.

Overall, fast ravioli meals are a convenient, nutritious, and versatile option that can fit into a busy lifestyle without sacrificing flavor or variety. Here are three quick and easy ravioli recipes you can try:

1. Sweet and Savory Pea Shoot Ravioli with Zucchini and Mushroom Sauce

• 1 Box of Pea Shoot Ravioli
• 2 Zucchini
• 6 ounces Cremini Mushrooms
• ½ sweet onion
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• ¼ cup finely grated Pecorino Romano

Instructions:

1. Dice the onion, Sauté the onion on medium heat in olive oil until translucent
2. Slice the mushrooms and Zucchini
3. Add mushrooms and zucchini to sauté pan and cook until caramelized and tender. 
4. Meanwhile, put a pot of salted water on to boil. When the water boils, place ravioli in pot and reduce heat to medium, cook the ravioli for 8 – 10 minutes at a simmer.
5. While the ravioli are cooking, add 3/4 cup of the pasta cooking water to the sauté pan, turn the heat to high and reduce by about half.
6. Take off the heat add the pecorino and stir the sauce until all the cheese has combined with the sauce.
7. When the ravioli are ready, transfer it to a large bowl or individual plates and spoon the sauce over the ravioli.

2. Pumpkin Ravioli with Brown Butter, Sage, Apple and Walnuts

Ingredients:

• 1 box (24 Count) Nicola's Pasta Fresca Pumpkin Ravioli
• 1/2 cup Walnuts
• 2 Red Apples (diced)
• 2 Teaspoons Apple Cider Vinegar
• 1 cup Unsalted Butter
• Fresh Sage leaves, chopped
  
  

Instructions:

1. Toast the chopped Walnuts in a medium saute pan, then remove the walnuts from heat to a plate
2. Cook Ravioli: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, once boiling gently add in Ravioli and lower the heat to a simmer for 8-10 minutes
3. While ravioli are cooking use the saute pan and melt butter over medium-high heat, when butter is melted put the diced apples and apple cider vinegar in the pan (Tip: if the butter is getting dark turn down the heat, you want the butter to be light brown *not burnt*)
4. Add in Sage leaves to the pan with the Apples let them get nice and crispy
5. When Ravioli are done add them to the pan and gently toss them with the butter, apples, apple cider vinegar and sage. (tip add some pasta water to thicken the sauce if desired)
6. Sprinkle the roasted walnuts over the top for garnish and enjoy!

3. Beet Ravoli in a Lemon Chive Cream Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1 box of Nicola's Pasta Fresca Roasted Beet Ravioli (24 count)
• 1/3 cup chicken stock
• 2/3 cup heavy cream
• 5 chives, minced (plus a little more for garnish)
• Juice of 1/2 lemon
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest (plus more for garnish)
• 1 tablespoon grated pecorino Romano cheese
• Salt to taste

Instructions:

1. Cook a dozen *half a box* of Nicola's Pasta Fresca Beet Ravioli (see box for cooking instructions)
2.   In a medium sauté pan, heat the chicken stock (or veggie stock) and heavy cream until just simmering.
3. Add in the chives, lemon juice, and zest, and continue to simmer until the sauce starts to thicken a bit.
4. Add the zest and the cheese, continuing to simmer. Taste and add a little more lemon juice if desired.
5. Add a dozen cooked ravioli to the pan and simmer for another minute, then serve.

​Paires nicely with a 2019 Broglia “il Doge” Gavi. Nice, dry wine with a balanced acidity, lots of grapefruit, peach and green apple on the nose and palate, along with a slight lemon flavor, with crisp minerality. A very nice gavi for a hot summer day!

4. Short Rib Ravioli in a Brown Butter Mushroom Sauce

Ingredients:

• Box of Nicola's Pasta Fresca short rib ravioli (24 count)
• 1/2 lb of Wild Mushrooms from The Foraged Feast
• 1 stick salted butter
• Salt, pepper to taste
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 2 large cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 Cup chicken stock
• Parmigiano Reggiano
• 1/3 cup breadcrumbs + parm + olive oil and garlic clove + garlic powder for toasted breadcrumbs
• Parsley, chives + parmigiano to top

Instructions:

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Gently put ravioli in and lower to medium heat (cook 8-10 minutes)
2. In a separate pan, melt and brown 1 stick of butter, once browned. Add in your mushrooms, salt, pepper and thyme. Let that cook down for 6-7 minutes, then add in your garlic. Cook for another minute, then add in your chicken stock.
3. In a small pan, add 1/3 cup of breadcrumbs (I used a mixture of panko and regular) and olive oil. Add some dried thyme and parmigiano reggiano and cook on medium low heat until toasted (about 5 minutes). Taste your sauce and add salt if needed.
4. Once pasta is al dente, add it into the butter mushroom mixture, along with 1/3 cup pasta water.
5. Add some parmigiano reggiano to the pan, turn off heat and toss to combine for one minute. Plate the pasta and sauce mixture, and top with fresh parsley, chives and toasted garlic breadcrumbs.

These recipes are perfect for a quick meal and can be prepared in under 20 minutes!