Cottage Cheese Creamy Pasta (Printable)

Protein-packed pasta with a smooth cottage cheese sauce, spinach, and tomatoes for a hearty meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

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

→ 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 of 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

# How To Make It:

01 - Boil pasta in a large pot of salted water following package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain.
02 - Blend cottage cheese, milk, Parmesan, garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes until completely smooth.
03 - Return drained pasta to pot over low heat, add sauce, and toss to coat evenly. Gradually add reserved pasta water until desired consistency is achieved.
04 - Stir in spinach and cherry tomatoes if using; cook 1–2 minutes until spinach wilts and tomatoes soften slightly.
05 - Plate immediately and garnish with fresh basil and extra Parmesan cheese.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You get 24 grams of protein per serving without any fancy supplements or expensive ingredients
  • The sauce comes together in literally three minutes and tastes like something from a restaurant
  • It is secretly a vehicle for whatever vegetables need using up in your crisper drawer
02 -
  • Blend the sauce longer than you think you need to, because any tiny lumps will feel weird in the final dish
  • The pasta water is not optional, it is the bridge that makes the sauce actually stick to the pasta instead of pooling at the bottom
03 -
  • Serve this with something crisp and acidic, like a simple green salad with vinaigrette, to cut through the richness
  • The sauce works on absolutely anything, including roasted vegetables or as a dip for crudités if you have leftovers
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