Description
A creamy, protein-rich pasta dish featuring cottage cheese, fresh spinach, and Parmesan cheese. This nutritious and satisfying meal comes together in just 25 minutes for a perfect weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz pasta (penne or fusilli)
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cups fresh spinach (or 1 cup frozen)
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Step 1: Cook Pasta – Boil salted water in a large pot, add pasta, and cook until al dente (8-10 minutes). Drain, reserving ½ cup cooking water.
- Step 2: Sauté Aromatics – In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant (about 1 minute).
- Step 3: Add Spinach – Add spinach to the skillet and cook until wilted, about 2-3 minutes for fresh or 1 minute for frozen.
- Step 4: Create Sauce – Lower heat and stir in cottage cheese until slightly melted but still chunky, about 2 minutes.
- Step 5: Combine – Add drained pasta to the skillet, tossing gently to coat. Use reserved cooking water for desired creaminess.
- Step 6: Finish – Mix in grated Parmesan cheese and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Reserve extra pasta water before draining – it’s your secret weapon for achieving the perfect sauce consistency
- Use full-fat cottage cheese for maximum creaminess, or mix half full-fat with half low-fat for lighter texture
- Don’t overheat the cottage cheese or it will become grainy; gentle warming preserves the smooth texture
- Add pasta water gradually while tossing – start with 2 tablespoons and add more as needed
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 420 calories
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Keywords: cottage cheese pasta, high protein pasta, healthy pasta recipe, spinach pasta, easy dinner, quick meals, protein rich