Description

This Ultimate Creamy Cottage Cheese Pasta is a quick and nutritious dish combining the tangy richness of cottage cheese with the hearty texture of rotini pasta. Enhanced with garlic, Parmesan, and a hint of lemon, this creamy sauce offers a healthy alternative to traditional cream-based pasta sauces. Perfect for an easy weeknight dinner, it comes together in under 30 minutes with simple ingredients and a velvety finish.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta

12 oz rotini pasta

Sauce

1 1/2 cups full-fat cottage cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Zest of 1 lemon
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup reserved pasta water (as needed)

Garnish

Fresh parsley, chopped
Additional Parmesan cheese (for serving)
Cracked black pepper (for serving)

Instructions

Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rotini pasta and cook until al dente according to package instructions, usually about 8-10 minutes. Reserve 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
Prepare the sauce: In a blender, combine the full-fat cottage cheese, grated Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Blend until the mixture is smooth and creamy, ensuring a velvety sauce texture.
Warm the sauce: Heat olive oil over medium-low heat in a medium skillet. Add the crushed red pepper flakes if using, and let them infuse the oil for about 1 minute. Pour in the blended cottage cheese sauce and gently warm it on the stove, stirring frequently for 2 to 3 minutes, taking care not to overheat or curdle the cheese.
Toss pasta in sauce: Add the cooked rotini pasta to the skillet with the warm sauce. Toss well to evenly coat the pasta. Gradually add the reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce and achieve desired creaminess. Taste and adjust salt and pepper seasoning accordingly.
Serve and garnish: Divide the creamy cottage cheese pasta into serving bowls. Garnish each portion with additional grated Parmesan, freshly cracked black pepper, and chopped fresh parsley for a fresh, flavorful finish. Serve immediately.

Notes

For a lighter option, you can use low-fat or part-skim cottage cheese, but the sauce may be less creamy.
If you prefer a spicier dish, increase the crushed red pepper flakes to 1/2 teaspoon.
Be careful warming the sauce on the stovetop; overheating may cause the cottage cheese to separate.
Reserved pasta water is key to adjusting the sauce consistency and helping it cling to the pasta.
This dish can be enhanced by adding sautéed vegetables like spinach or mushrooms for extra nutrition.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Main Dish
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Italian

Keywords: cottage cheese pasta, creamy pasta recipe, quick vegetarian pasta, healthy pasta sauce, lemon pasta, easy weeknight dinner