Description
Healthy Cottage Cheese Pasta is a creamy high protein pasta dinner made with cottage cheese, parmesan, garlic, and tender pasta for an easy healthy weeknight meal with a smooth homemade sauce.
Ingredients
8 ounces pasta
1 cup cottage cheese
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup reserved pasta water, plus more as needed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
2 cups baby spinach
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or parsley
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
2. While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
3. Add the cottage cheese, parmesan, cooked garlic with the oil, salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and 1/2 cup reserved pasta water to a blender or food processor. Blend until completely smooth.
4. Return the drained pasta to the pot or a large skillet and pour in the blended sauce. Toss over low heat until the pasta is evenly coated.
5. Add more reserved pasta water a little at a time until the sauce is silky and reaches your preferred consistency.
6. Stir in the baby spinach and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until wilted.
7. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed, then finish with red pepper flakes and fresh basil or parsley before serving.
Notes
Use full-fat cottage cheese for the creamiest texture and richest flavor.
Blend the sauce thoroughly so it turns silky and smooth with no curds left behind.
Save extra pasta water because it helps loosen the sauce after mixing and again when reheating leftovers.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 540mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 47g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 20mg