This cottage cheese pasta sauce is cozy, easy to make, and tastes great

This cottage cheese pasta sauce is cozy, easy to make, and tastes great. It has a lot of protein and fiber in it, so it will keep you full for a long time.

You just found a high-protein pasta sauce that doesn’t taste like diet food!

This pasta sauce with cottage cheese has all the flavors you would expect from an Italian pasta dish, and each serving has about 34 grams of protein.

This is the best recipe to try if you want a great dinner after the gym or just want to get more protein in your diet.

Why you’ll love this cottage cheese pasta sauce

• It only takes a few things to make, so it’s really simple.
• You won’t have to give up taste to eat better.
• The cottage cheese and turkey sausage are great sources of protein that will help your body recover after a workout.

What you need

• Cottage cheese—This high-protein pasta sauce works well with both regular and fat-free cottage cheese. You won’t be able to tell the difference because it gets mixed with the tomato sauce and basil. Just choose the one that fits your macros.
• Tomato sauce (passata): For the best taste, use a good tomato sauce. You could also use a can of San Marzano tomatoes.
• Basil that is still fresh—This is what makes this cottage cheese pasta sauce stand out from other fad, diet-type recipes. Put in as much as you want!
• You will need some fresh onion and garlic to make the sauce taste good.
• I chose lean turkey sausage, but chicken sausage, low-fat pork sausage, or beef sausage are all good options.
• Parmesan—For that salty, cheesy taste! Fresh is always better.
• Pasta — Boost the protein intake of this pasta dish even more by using high-protein pasta such as chickpea pasta or red lentil pasta. Anything with more than 10 g of protein per 2 oz is great.

Pro tip

Blend the sauce well for ultimate creaminess! You don’t want to feel any of the cottage cheese texture so go for perfect smoothness.

High Protein Cottage Cheese Pasta Sauce

This high-protein cottage cheese pasta sauce is cozy, easy to make and absolutely delicious. It’s loaded with protein and fiber and will keep you full for hours!

• Prep Time: 5minutes minutes
• Cook Time: 20minutes minutes
• Servings: 6
• Calories: 376kcal
• Author: Alice | Skinny Spatula

• ○ 10 oz (300 g) chickpea pasta, or your favorite high-protein pasta
• ○ 2 cups (400 g) cottage cheese
• ○ 1 cup (250 g) tomato sauce, passata
• ○ 6-8 fresh basil leaves
• ○ 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ○ 1 medium onion, finely diced
• ○ 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• ○ ¾ lb (350 g) turkey sausage, cut into bite-size pieces
• ○ ⅓ cup (30 g) Parmesan, grated
• ○ 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
• ○ Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

How to make this high protein pasta sauce

This is a quick overview with step-by-step photos. See the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions.

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt it and cook the pasta until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve 1-2 cups 10 oz chickpea pasta
2. Meanwhile, place the cottage cheese, tomato sauce and basil leaves in a blender and blitz until smooth. Set aside.
   • 2 cups cottage cheese
   • 1 cup tomato sauce
   • 6-8 fresh basil leaves
3. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet and saute the onion and garlic for 2-3 minutes over medium heat.
   • 1 tablespoon olive oil
   • 1 medium onion
   • 2 garlic cloves
4. Add the turkey sausage and cook for 5-6 minutes or until browned to your liking.

5. Stir in the cottage cheese sauce and allow to heat through.
6. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss well to combine. Add some of the reserved pasta water if it looks too dry.
7. Stir in the Parmesan and fresh parsley and adjust the seasoning to taste. Serve immediately with extra grated Parmesan on top if you like.
   • ⅓ cup Parmesan
   • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley
   • Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Substitutions and variations

• Make it spicy — Add red pepper flakes to the sauce while blending, or stir in a touch of your favorite hot sauce.
• Add extra veggies to the blended sauce, like roasted red bell peppers or zucchini. For a green boost, add some kale to the pasta pot for the last 1-2 minutes then toss everything with the sauce.
• Use a combination of cottage cheese and ricotta for an even creamier sauce.

Helpful tips for the best cottage cheese pasta sauce

• Cottage cheese may curdle slightly when overheated. Gently warm the sauce through, but avoid reaching a boiling point.
• Reserve a good amount of the starchy pasta water before draining. A splash or two in your sauce helps it bind to the pasta better and creates a silky consistency.
• Boost the flavor with a final sprinkle of fresh chopped herbs like basil or parsley.

Leftovers and storage

• You can keep leftovers in the fridge for up to three days if you put them in an airtight container.
• Put the pasta back on the stove and heat it up slowly. Add a little stock or water to make it easier to work with.
• You shouldn’t freeze this pasta dish because the cottage cheese sauce won’t have a nice texture when it’s thawed.