High Protein Creamy Cottage Cheese Pesto Pasta
Make a quick, satisfying dinner using high-protein pasta boosted with a creamy cottage cheese sauce and bright pesto flavor.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 15 min
- Total Time: 20 min
- Yield: 2 servings
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces high protein pasta (like chickpea or lentil pasta)
- 1 cup low-fat cottage cheese
- 1/4 cup prepared basil pesto
- 2 tablespoons reserved pasta water
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Optional: 1 cup cooked chicken breast, diced
Instructions
- Cook the high protein pasta according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1/2 cup of the starchy pasta water.
- While the pasta cooks, prepare the sauce. Combine the cottage cheese, pesto, minced garlic, and Parmesan cheese in a food processor or blender.
- Blend the mixture until completely smooth and creamy. If the sauce is too thick, add the reserved pasta water, one tablespoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency.
- Drain the cooked pasta and return it to the pot.
- Pour the creamy pesto sauce over the hot pasta. Toss well to coat everything evenly. If using, stir in the diced chicken now.
- Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.
Notes
- For a thinner sauce, add more reserved pasta water until the consistency is right for you.
- You can substitute spinach or sun-dried tomato pesto for basil pesto.
- This recipe works well for meal prepping; store sauce and pasta separately if you plan to reheat later.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (without chicken)
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Unsaturated Fat: 11
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 65
- Fiber: 10
- Protein: 38
- Cholesterol: 25
