Description
This Ultimate Creamy Cottage Cheese Pasta is a high-protein, quick, and comforting pasta dish made with whipped cottage cheese, garlic, lemon, and parmesan. Perfect for weeknight dinners, this creamy pasta recipe is healthy, delicious, and easy to make with pantry staples.
Ingredients
1 pound pasta
1 ½ cups full-fat cottage cheese
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 tablespoon lemon juice
¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
½ cup reserved pasta water (as needed)
Instructions
1. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package directions. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining.
2. In a blender or food processor, blend cottage cheese with lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and pepper until completely smooth.
3. In a large skillet over medium heat, warm olive oil and sauté the minced garlic until fragrant, about 1 minute. Do not brown.
4. Add the drained pasta to the skillet and toss with the garlic and olive oil.
5. Remove the pan from heat and mix in the whipped cottage cheese mixture, adding some reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce if necessary.
6. Stir in the parmesan cheese and toss until evenly coated. Serve immediately with extra lemon zest or black pepper if desired.
Notes
Use full-fat or 2% cottage cheese for the best creamy texture.
You can add spinach, mushrooms, or grilled chicken for more flavor and nutrition.
Whipping the cottage cheese ahead of time ensures a smooth, velvety sauce.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (approx. 1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 25mg