Cottage Cheese Creamy Pesto Pasta

By Maria Lichty

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Quick Summary

Creamy Pesto Pasta- you only need 3-ingredients and 20 minutes to make this protein-packed creamy pesto pasta. It is the perfect weeknight meal, kids and adults love it!

cottage cheese creamy pesto pasta in bowl with fork.

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Whenever I need an EASY weeknight dinner, I like to make this Creamy Pesto Pasta. It only takes 20 minutes to make and you only need 3 key ingredients. One of the ingredients is a SECRET ingredient…cottage cheese!

Cottage cheese pesto pasta is a lighter alternative to the classic creamy pesto pasta. The cottage cheese adds a creamy texture and a mild tangy flavor, making it a great substitute for heavy cream. It also adds a healthy dose of protein to the pasta.

Kids and adults love this protein packed pasta! They will never guess there is cottage cheese in the sauce. It’s creamy, cheesy, and bursting with basil flavor. I like to use my homemade basil pesto (I always keep some in the freezer), but store-bought works well too.

I like to top the pasta with a dash of crushed red pepper flakes, freshly grated parmesan cheese, and fresh basil leaves. Serve with garlic bread or a simple salad for an easy meal!

ingredients to make creamy pesto pasta.

Ingredients

  • Pasta– I like to use orecchiette pasta, but you can use any pasta.
  • Pesto– you can make homemade pesto or use store-bought.
  • Cottage cheese– the secret ingredient!  I recommend using 2% milkfat or 4% milkfat. Fat-free will work, it just won’t be as creamy.
  • Pasta water– don’t forget to reserve some pasta water! The starchy water helps bind the sauce to the noodles and thins out the sauce a little.
  • Garnish– top the pasta with crushed red pepper flakes, fresh basil, and Parmesan cheese!
cottage cheese and pesto in food processor bowl.

How to Make Creamy Pesto Pasta

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente, according to package instructions. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water.
  • Use a colander to drain the pasta. Return to pot or place in a large serving bowl.
  • In a blender or food processor, combine the pesto, cottage cheese, and ½ cup of reserved pasta water.
cottage cheese creamy pesto sauce in food processor.
  • Blend until smooth. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
creamy pesto pasta sauce poured over pasta in bowl.
  • Add the creamy pesto sauce to the pasta and stir until pasta is well coated.
  • Garnish with crushed red pepper flakes, fresh basil, and Parmesan cheese, if desired. Serve warm.
cottage cheese creamy pesto pasta with fresh basil, parmesan cheese, crushed red pepper flakes in bowl with fork.

Pasta Variations

This is a very simple pasta dish, but if you want to jazz it up, here are a few ingredients you can stir into the pasta.

  • You can add cherry tomatoes, sautéed mushrooms, steamed broccoli, sun-dried tomatoes, or cooked chicken or shrimp.
  • Stir in the ingredients after you add the creamy pesto sauce.
  • You can also top the pasta with garlic bread crumbs.

Serving Suggestions

How to Store & Reheat

  • Let the pasta cool completely and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  • Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop. If the pasta dries out a little, you can add a splash or water or a little extra pesto to freshen up the pasta.
creamy pesto pasta in bowl with fresh basil, parmesan cheese, and crushed red pepper flakes.

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Cottage Cheese Creamy Pesto Pasta

You only need 3-ingredients and 20 minutes to make this protein-packed creamy pesto pasta. It is the perfect weeknight meal, kids and adults love it!
5 from 6 votes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb orecchiette pasta, or pasta of your choice
  • 1 cup basil pesto
  • 1 cup cottage cheese, I recommend 2% or 4%
  • 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
  • Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
  • For garnish: crushed red pepper flakes, fresh basil, and Parmesan cheese

Instructions
 

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente, according to package instructions. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water. Use a colander to drain the pasta. Return to pot or place in a large serving bowl.
  • In a blender or food processor, combine the pesto, cottage cheese, and ½ cup of reserved pasta water. Blend until smooth. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
  • Add the creamy pesto sauce to the pasta and stir until pasta is well coated. Garnish with crushed red pepper flakes, fresh basil, and Parmesan cheese, if desired. Serve warm.

Notes

I use ½ cup reserved pasta water, but if the sauce is too thick for your liking, you can add a little extra pasta water and blend again. I always save 1 cup just to be safe!

Nutrition

Calories: 435kcal, Carbohydrates: 54g, Protein: 16g, Fat: 16g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.4g, Cholesterol: 9mg, Sodium: 501mg, Potassium: 205mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 882IU, Calcium: 111mg, Iron: 1mg
Keywords cottage cheese, pasta, pesto

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Maria

I'm Maria and my husband is Josh. We share a love of cooking, baking, and entertaining. We enjoy creating recipes that are simple, fresh, and family friendly. We love sitting around the table with good food, good conversation, and good friends and family! Our kitchen is always open!
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  1. 5 stars
    OMG another new favorite for me and my husband! I keep my home made pesto in the freezer in 1/4 cup containers, so this lunch came together in a FLASH. We use pasta made with lentils for the extra protein boost, and now we have a delicious and easy sauce with a protein boost too!! Thanks!

  2. 5 stars
    We really liked this! Next time, I will make 1.5x the sauce amount just to make it a little saucier, but it was super tasty!

  3. 5 stars
    This recipe was so good! Added steamed broccoli and topped w grilled salmon. Will definitely make this again!

  4. 5 stars
    So quick and delicious! Mixed in broccoli and used banza pasta for a delicious high protein dish- kids and adults loved. Thank you.