Creamy Tomato Cottage Cheese Pasta (2024)

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Yumna Jawad
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4.95 from 208 votes

This high-protein cottage cheese tomato pasta sauce only requires 6 ingredients, a high-speed blender, and your favorite pasta!

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In just under 20 minutes, you can have a protein-packed, meat-free meal with this creamy Cottage Cheese Pasta! This recipe only requires 6 ingredients – pasta, tomato sauce, cottage cheese, parmesan cheese, a little butter, and a dash of red pepper flakes for a little kick. Pair it with a light side dish, and you’ve got a delicious meal that’s guaranteed to satisfy!

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Table of Contents

  • Why you’ll love this cottage cheese pasta sauce
  • Cottage cheese pasta sauce ingredients
  • How to make pasta sauce with cottage cheese
  • Tips for making the best creamy cottage cheese pasta
  • What to serve with cottage cheese tomato pasta
  • Frequently asked questions
  • More pasta sauce recipes:
  • Creamy Tomato Cottage Cheese Pasta Recipe

If you’re looking for an easy, weeknight meal, this creamy tomato pasta with cottage cheese is perfect. What’s great about this recipe is you just have to cook the pasta, followed by blending the cottage cheese and marinara sauce together, and then simply toss your cottage cheese sauce in with the warm pasta to heat up. That’s it!

Why you’ll love this cottage cheese pasta sauce

  • Packed with protein. Pasta sauces aren’t usually a go-to for protein, but each serving of this cottage cheese tomato pasta has about 17 grams of protein!
  • Great for lunch! Whether you make this recipe fresh or ahead of time for leftovers, you’ll love how quickly and easily it comes together. Pair with a house salad or toss in another protein that cooks quickly for a fully loaded lunch to keep you going throughout the day.
  • Customizable: You can tweak the recipe to your liking. Want to add more vegetables? Go ahead. Prefer a different type of pasta? No problem. This recipe is a great base to get creative with.

Cottage cheese pasta sauce ingredients

  • Cottage cheese: Whole milk cottage cheese is preferred as it makes a much more creamy and smooth sauce. You can use lower-fat cottage cheese, but the flavor won’t be as rich.
  • Marinara sauce: Any marinara sauce will work, whether homemade or store-bought.
  • Parmesan cheese: Use freshly grated Parmesan for a sharp, nutty taste that blends well into your cottage cheese tomato sauce.
  • Butter: A few tablespoons of butter adds richness and helps to create a smooth and creamy consistency for your sauce.
  • Red pepper flakes: For flavor. Add more for a little extra heat.
  • Pasta: I use fusillipasta, but any pasta will work!
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How to make pasta sauce with cottage cheese

  1. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions making sure to reserve some of the pasta water. Add the pasta water to a blender with tomato sauce, cottage cheese, parmesan cheese, melted butter, and crushed red pepper.
  2. Blend until the pasta sauce is smooth and creamy.
  3. Pour the sauce onto the cooked pasta in the pot.
  4. Toss until combined and the sauce has heated through.
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Tips for making the best creamy cottage cheese pasta

  1. Don’t skip adding the pasta water to your sauce. The starchy water can help thin your sauce if it gets too thick, and it can also help the sauce adhere better to the pasta.
  2. Choose your pasta wisely. Fusilli is fantastic in this recipe because its twists and turns hold onto the creamy sauce well, but other textured pasta like farfalle, penne, or rigatoni would work well too.
  3. Use any blending equipment you have. I use my favorite high-speed blender to blend my cottage cheese sauce, but you could also use a food processor or immersion blender.
  4. Have your pasta sauce ready to go. Make sure your pasta sauce is ready and waiting to be mixed into the hot pasta as soon as you drain it. The sauce is relying on the hot pasta to heat it through. If you find that your sauce did not get warm enough for your liking, you can heat it on medium-low for 5 minutes.

Popular substitutions & additions

  • Add veggies. Just like most pasta dishes, adding more vegetables can really bulk up your meal! Try adding sauteed spinach, zucchini, mushrooms, or any other veggies you like to your pasta.
  • Add protein! If you’re looking to make this a more complete meal and want to include a main ingredient, try adding baked tofu, chickpeas, or white beans for a vegetarian option. You can also add in ground beef, chicken, or turkey.
  • Switch up the cheese: While the recipe calls for cottage cheese, you could also experiment with ricotta for a slightly different flavor and texture. Or add in some cream cheese for an extra level of creaminess.

What to serve with cottage cheese tomato pasta

  • Crisp Cauliflower Bites
  • Cheesy Garlic Bread
  • Air Fryer Tofu
  • Roasted Brussel Sprouts
  • Lemony Peppered Salmon
  • Garlic Butter Steak Tips
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How to store & reheat cottage cheese pasta

Allow the pasta to cool and store in an airtight container in the fridge. This pasta is perfect for leftovers! Reheat on the stove with a splash of water or broth until heated through.

How long will creamy tomato sauce last in the fridge?

Cottage cheese pasta will last in the fridge up to 4 days.

Can I freeze tomato sauce with cottage cheese?

Freezing is not recommended, as the texture and quality may be negatively affected. Cottage cheese tends to become watery and grainy when frozen and thawed, resulting in an undesirable consistency. Enjoying your pasta fresh or refrigerating any leftovers for a few days is best.

Frequently asked questions

My noodles came out soggy; what did I do wrong?

Make sure to cook the pasta just to al dente, to avoid mushy noodles. The pasta will continue to cook when you add the sauce.

Do I have to blend the sauce?

You don’t have to, but you’re going to want to. The cottage cheese needs to be blended in order to smoothly incorporate into the sauce. Otherwise it will be chunky.

Does cottage cheese melt when cooked?

Cottage cheese does not melt like some other types of cheese when cooked. It has a high moisture content and a curd-like texture, which prevents it from melting into a smooth, gooey consistency. This recipe blends the cottage cheese into the tomato sauce for a smoother consistency.

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Cottage cheese tomato pasta is a delicious and wholesome dish that brings together the creamy goodness of cottage cheese with the robust flavors of marinara sauce. It is a comforting and satisfying meal that can be prepared quickly, making it perfect for a satisfying and protein-rich option.

More pasta sauce recipes:

  • Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Pasta
  • Cajun Pasta with Chicken
  • Chicken with Pesto Pasta
  • Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes
  • Yogurt Sauce Pasta with Pine Nuts
  • Vegan Cashew Tomato Pasta
  • Chicken Alfredo with Broccoli
  • Arrabiata Pasta with Shrimp
  • Green Pea Pasta Sauce

If you try this feel good Cottage Cheese Tomato Pasta recipe or any other recipe on Feel Good Foodie, then don’t forget torate the recipeand leave a comment below! It helps others who are thinking of making the recipe. We would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots, share it onInstagramso we can repost on Stories!

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PrintReview

Creamy Tomato Cottage Cheese Pasta

This high-protein cottage cheese tomato pasta sauce only requires 6 ingredients, a high-speed blender, and your favorite pasta!

5 from 208 votes

Author Yumna Jawad

Servings 6 servings

Course Dinner, Lunch, Pastas

Calories 393

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Video

Ingredients

  • 16 ounces fusilli pasta or pasta of choice
  • 1 cup marinara sauce
  • 1 cup whole-milk cottage cheese
  • ½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons butter melted
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • Chopped parsley for serving

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta until al dente according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup pasta water, drain and return the pasta to the pot, covered.

  • Place marinara sauce, cottage cheese, parmesan cheese, melted butter, crushed red pepper and pasta water in a high speed blender and blend until smooth and creamy, 1-2 minutes.

  • Transfer the sauce on top of the cooked pasta and toss until combined and heated through. Serve immediately with more red pepper flakes and chopped parsley, if desired.

Notes

Storage: Allow the pasta to cook and store in an airtight container in the fridge up to 4 days. Reheat on the stove with a splash of water or broth until heated through.

Tips:

Add pasta water to your sauce. The starches in the pasta water when blended with cottage cheese creates a smooth sauce that is less likely to break down.

Use any cottage cheese. Whole milk cottage cheese will be much more flavorful and add richness to your pasta. If you’re making blended cottage cheese pasta sauce for the protein punch, you’re in luck because both low fat and full fat cottage cheese has about the same amount in each serving.

Add veggies. Just like most pasta dishes, adding more vegetables can really bulk up your meal! Try adding spinach, zucchini, mushrooms, or any other veggies to your protein pasta sauce!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 393kcal, Carbohydrates: 61g, Protein: 17g, Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 23mg, Sodium: 486mg, Potassium: 344mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 439IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 126mg, Iron: 1mg

    Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.

    Diet: Vegetarian

    Cuisine American

    Course: Dinner, Lunch, Pastas

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    1. Absolutely AMAZING🙌🏻

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      1. Thank you, Laura!

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    Creamy Tomato Cottage Cheese Pasta (2024)
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