Feel Good Foodie's Cottage Cheese Pasta Is My New Favorite Way of Sneaking More Protein Into Family Dinners

Cottage Cheese Tomato Pasta

Cottage cheese has typically been overlooked, and definitely underused due to its long-standing reputation as a "health food." However, that the soft cheese has started to garner positive accolades in recent years and I for one am happy about that! With over 200 million views for #cottagecheese  on TikTok and over 500K on Instagram, this mild-flavored curdled milk product is finally having its moment in the spotlight. The best pancakes, breads, and strawberry ice cream these days all harness the power of cottage cheese.

Thanks to its very mild flavor, you can't even notice the taste of cottage cheese when you sneak it into savory sauces. This is why we asked Yumna Jawad, the brains behind Feel Good Foodie (and one of our 2024 Food People to Watch!) to share her delicious and easy dinner full of flavor from the homemade marinara sauce and packed with protein from cottage cheese.

Related: The Viral Eggs, Cottage Cheese & Mustard Combo Just Won't Quit. I Tried It to See Why

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Why Make Pasta with Cottage Cheese

Cottage cheese is an easy way to make rich, creamy, and surprisingly satisfying sauces for pasta and beyond. It packs in nearly 30 grams of protein per cup, which is even more than Greek yogurt, and when blended with other ingredients is an efficient vehicle for delivering lots of protein with little fat.

Why You Will Love This High Protein Cottage Cheese Pasta

It has all the qualities of a delicious cream-based pasta sauce plus tons of protein to keep you full and nourished. While you can easily use ricotta cheese to achieve the same creamy texture; what you won't get is the lower calorie and fat content.

How To Make This Recipe Your Own

While this is the official recipe shared by @feelgoodfoodie, it is by no means the only way to cook this comforting pasta dish. For an extra boost of protein, you can add shredded chicken or white beans to the mix. You can also add spinach or sautéed mushrooms to sneak some extra veggies into family dinner. I am planning to try this next time with some added basil next time.

Ingredients Needed for Cottage Cheese Pasta

• 1 lb pasta (any shape will work here but short is best)

• 1 cup Rao's Homemade Marinara Sauce

• 1 cup cottage cheese

• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano

• 2 Tablespoons of butter

• Crushed red pepper flakes

• Chopped parsley for serving

How To Make High Protein Cottage Cheese Pasta

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta till al dente reserving one cup of the pasta water to add to the sauce. Measure your ingredients.

2. Place all ingredients into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth, about 2 minutes.

3. Strain pasta and leave it in the pot. Transfer the sauce on top of the cooked pasta and toss to coat.

4. Served immediately topped with parsley and additional cheese.

What To Serve With Cottage Cheese Pasta

A leafy green salad and a bottle of red wine is the perfect way to round out this hearty pasta dinner.

Feel Good Foodie's Cottage Cheese Pasta Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 lb pasta

• 1  cup Rao's Homemade Marinara

• 1 cup whole milk cottage cheese

• 1/2 cup grated parmigiano reggiano

• 2 tablespoons butter

• crushed red pepper flakes, optional

• chopped parsley for serving

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta till al dente reserving one cup of the pasta water to add to the sauce. Measure your ingredients.

2. Place all ingredients into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth, about 2 minutes.

3. Strain pasta and leave in pot. Transfer the sauce on top of the cooked pasta and toss to coat.

4. Serve immediately topped with parsley and additional cheese.