Cottage Cheese Pasta Sauce Recipe
This Cottage Cheese Pasta Sauce recipe offers a creamy, healthy twist on traditional pasta sauces by blending smooth cottage cheese with marinara sauce and Italian seasonings. It is perfect for those looking for a protein-rich, comforting pasta dish that is easy to prepare and ready in under 30 minutes.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
For the Pasta
- 2 cups Penne Pasta (uncooked)
- Water (for boiling)
- 1/2 tsp Salt (to taste)
For the Sauce
- 1/2 cup Cottage Cheese
- 3/4 cup Marinara Sauce / Pasta Sauce (use up to 1 cup for more tomatoey flavor)
- 2 tsp Olive Oil
- 1/2 tsp Red Chilli Flakes (to taste)
- 1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning
- 3 to 4 tbsp Parmesan Cheese
- 3 to 4 fresh Basil Leaves (chopped)
Instructions
- Boil Pasta: Bring water to a boil in a deep pot and add 1/2 tsp salt. Cook the penne pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve about 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
- Prepare Cottage Cheese Sauce: In a blender, combine the cottage cheese, marinara sauce, and 3 tablespoons of the reserved pasta water. Blend until smooth, adding more pasta water as needed to reach a creamy consistency. Set aside the sauce.
- Sauté Seasonings: Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add red chili flakes and sauté for 15–20 seconds to release their flavor. Reduce the heat to low to gently warm the sauce without boiling.
- Combine Sauce: Pour the blended cottage cheese sauce into the pan with the sautéed chili flakes. Stir well and season with salt and Italian seasoning or crushed black pepper according to your taste.
- Mix Pasta and Serve: Add the cooked penne pasta and parmesan cheese to the sauce. Toss gently to coat the pasta evenly. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water to achieve desired consistency. Serve immediately garnished with freshly chopped basil leaves and extra grated parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of marinara sauce based on how tomatoey you like your pasta—up to 1 cup works well.
- Reserve pasta water helps to loosen the sauce and bind it to the pasta perfectly.
- Use fresh basil for the best flavor, but dried basil can be substituted in a pinch.
- For a spicier kick, increase the red chili flakes to taste.
- This recipe serves 2, but quantities can be scaled up for more servings.
Keywords: cottage cheese pasta sauce, easy pasta sauce, healthy pasta recipe, creamy pasta sauce, vegetarian pasta sauce
Find it online: https://foodiecara.com/cottage-cheese-pasta-sauce-recipe-2/