Cottage Cheese Creamy Pasta (Printable Version)

Velvety cottage cheese sauce coats whole wheat pasta with spinach and basil for a nourishing meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ 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 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

# Steps to Follow:

01 - Boil pasta in salted water until al dente as per package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water, then drain.
02 - Blend cottage cheese, milk, Parmesan, garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using) until smooth and creamy.
03 - Return drained pasta to pot over low heat. Add sauce and toss to coat, adjusting texture with reserved pasta water as needed.
04 - Incorporate spinach and cherry tomatoes if desired; cook 1–2 minutes until spinach is wilted and tomatoes soften.
05 - Plate immediately, garnishing with fresh basil and additional Parmesan cheese.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • You get that creamy, indulgent pasta experience without cream or butter weighing you down.
  • It comes together in about 25 minutes, which means you can have dinner on the table before you've finished thinking about how hungry you are.
  • Each serving packs nearly 25 grams of protein, so you actually feel satisfied instead of hunting for snacks an hour later.
02 -
  • Don't skip reserving that pasta cooking water—it's the difference between a sauce that clings to the noodles and one that sits separately in a sad puddle.
  • Cottage cheese texture matters; smaller curds blend more smoothly than large ones, so check the label if you want the silkiest possible result.
  • Season the sauce generously before you mix it with the pasta, because once everything combines, it's harder to adjust.
03 -
  • Use full-fat cottage cheese if you want maximum creaminess, though low-fat works beautifully too.
  • A tiny pinch of nutmeg whispered into the sauce adds a warmth that nobody can quite identify but everyone notices.
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