An easy weeknight dinner, this Cottage Cheese Pasta gets an extra boost of protein by adding in cottage cheese. This is a creamy, delicious pasta dinner that is ready in just 30 minutes!
For another better-for-you pasta dinner, try this Cajun Chicken Pasta!
I’m not one to change my whole way of eating every January, but I do try to get in lots of protein all year long.
I know cottage cheese has been taking over the internet for months now, and I’ve been on that train. Between my daughter and I, we go through our fair share. But one of my boys does not like it at all.
So whenever I make this Cottage Cheese Pasta, I have to not mention that it has cottage cheese in it. And really, you’d never know!
This simple trick of blending cottage cheese with pasta sauce is so good. It gives you a super easy, creamy pasta sauce, all while adding a good amount of protein.
If you are looking to up your protein intake, this recipe is for you!
Ingredients
- Pasta: A short cut pasta will work best here. I used rigatoni, but you can easily change this up.
- Marinara:You can use homemade or store bought marinara sauce. If using store bought, we like Rao’s Marinara. Just make sure you are using a marinara that you know you love, because the flavor will come through.
- Cottage Cheese: We usually keep 2% cottage cheese on hand, so that is what I used.
- Oil: This is just for cooking the onion, so you can use an oil of your choice. I used olive oil, but avocado oil is my second choice.
- Onion & Garlic: This will just add flavor.
- Ground Turkey & Sausage: You can use all ground turkey for less calories and fat, but the added Italian sausage really adds so much flavor. I used a sweet Italian sausage.
- Seasonings: You need some Italian seasoning, as well as red pepper flakes. And make sure you season to taste with salt and pepper!
- Spinach: This just adds in some extra flavor, color, and nutrients.
How to Make Cottage Cheese Pasta
STEP 1: Make the sauce by blending the marinara sauce with the cottage cheese. Set this aside.
STEP 2: In a large skillet, heat the oil and cook the onion until it is softened. Then stir in the garlic.
STEP 3: Add the turkey and the sausage and cook until both are browned and cooked through. Season with the Italian seasoning as well as the red pepper flakes.
STEP 4: Pour the pasta sauce into the meat mixture.
STEP 5: Stir this all together, and cook until it comes to a boil.
STEP 6: Add the spinach. It will look like a lot, but it will cook down.
STEP 7: Cook, stirring, until the spinach has wilted into the sauce.
STEP 8: Add the pasta, and stir to combine. Serve topped with parmesan cheese, if desired.
Tips and Tricks
I like to save some of the pasta water to loosen the sauce, if needed. Sometimes I need it, and sometimes I don’t.
This is best served right after making it, as the pasta will soak up the sauce, but it still makes really good leftovers.
If you want to up the protein even more, sub in a chickpea pasta for the regular pasta.
More High Protein Dinner Ideas
Protein Packed Cobb Salad Recipe
Buffalo Chicken Salad
Steak Stir Fry
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Cottage Cheese Pasta
Ingredients
- 12 oz short cut pasta
- 3 cups marinara sauce
- 2 cups cottage cheese
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup diced onion
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1/2 pound sweet Italian sausage
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 3 cups baby spinach
- Parmesan cheese for serving
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Salt generously, then add the pasta and cook according to the package directions. Drain, reserving about a cup of the pasta water.12 oz short cut pasta
- Meanwhile, combine the marinara and cottage cheese in a blender or food processor. Process until smooth.3 cups marinara sauce, 2 cups cottage cheese
- Heat the oil in a large skillet. Add the onion and cook until softened. Add the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 cup diced onion, 2 cloves garlic
- Add the ground turkey and the sausage to the skillet and cook, breaking it up as it cooks, until browned and cooked through.1 pound ground turkey, 1/2 pound sweet Italian sausage
- Season the meat with the Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes. Add salt and pepper, to taste.2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Stir in the marinara and cottage cheese mixture. Stir to combine and cook until the sauce is hot and bubbling.
- Add in the spinach and cook until the spinach is wilted.3 cups baby spinach
- Stir in the drained pasta. If the sauce is too thick, add some of the reserved pasta water to loosen it up.
- Serve topped with freshly grated parmesan cheese, if desired.Parmesan cheese
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