Cottage Cheese Creamy Pasta (Print View)

A high-protein pasta featuring a smooth cottage cheese sauce with spinach and tomatoes in under 30 minutes.

# Components:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz whole wheat or regular pasta (penne, fusilli, or choice)

→ Creamy Cottage Cheese Sauce

02 - 1 1/2 cups low-fat cottage cheese
03 - 1/2 cup milk (dairy or unsweetened plant-based)
04 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
05 - 2 cloves garlic
06 - 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
07 - 1/2 tsp salt
08 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
09 - Pinch red pepper flakes (optional)

→ Vegetables (optional)

10 - 2 cups baby spinach, roughly chopped
11 - 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

→ Garnish

12 - Fresh basil leaves
13 - Extra grated Parmesan cheese

# Directions:

01 - Boil pasta in salted water until al dente, reserving 1/2 cup pasta cooking water before draining.
02 - Blend cottage cheese, milk, Parmesan, garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes until smooth and creamy.
03 - Return pasta to pot over low heat, add sauce, and toss gently, gradually incorporating reserved pasta water to adjust consistency.
04 - Stir in spinach and cherry tomatoes if desired; cook 1–2 minutes until spinach wilts and tomatoes soften.
05 - Plate immediately; garnish with fresh basil and extra Parmesan cheese.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It delivers restaurant-quality creaminess without the heavy cream or guilt, and your muscles will actually thank you for the protein boost.
  • The whole thing comes together in under 25 minutes, making it perfect for those nights when you're hungry but not interested in complicated cooking.
02 -
  • Blend that cottage cheese until it's truly smooth—any grainy texture will remind you that you're eating cottage cheese, and that's not the vibe we're going for here.
  • The reserved pasta water is not optional; it's the difference between a sauce that coats and one that clings, so always hang onto it before draining.
03 -
  • If your blender is small or struggling, you can make the sauce in batches or even use a potato masher and fine-mesh strainer to get cottage cheese smooth and creamy.
  • Taste the sauce before you add the pasta—this is your only chance to adjust seasoning, because once it coats the noodles, you're locked in.
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