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    Home » Recipes » Pasta Recipes

    Cottage Cheese Pasta with Tomatoes

    Published: Jan 17, 2023 by Emily · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Cottage cheese is IN and trendy now, so this Cottage Cheese Pasta with Tomatoes is so creamy, high-protein, and flavorful! Try this out for a hearty weeknight dinner!

    pasta in a bowl with cottage cheese.

    If you haven't heard, cottage cheese is the new burrata! Kind of. Gone are the days of cottage cheese eliciting eye-rolls. It is delicious and high-protein and goes GREAT in dishes like pasta!

    This recipe uses cherry tomatoes, garlic, pasta, and whole milk cottage cheese to create a caprese-style pasta dish.

    Table of Contents:
    • 📖 Recipe Origins
    • 🎥 Watch the video of this recipe
    • Why you'll love this Cottage Cheese Pasta
    • 🥘 What you need for this recipe
    • 📋 How to make Cottage Cheese Pasta
    • 💭 Expert Tips & Tricks
    • Storage & Reheating Tips:
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Related Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe

    📖 Recipe Origins

    Cottage cheese pasta doesn't necessarily have an origin, per se, but cottage cheese certainly does! Cottage cheese is a very very old type of cheese, dating back to ancient times, as some say. However, some say it has more recent history, with its first known use in 1831. Believed to have originated because the simple cheese was usually produced in cottages from any left-over milk after making butter.

    🎥 Watch the video of this recipe

    Why you'll love this Cottage Cheese Pasta

    • It is unique and different! Using cottage cheese in pasta is not super common, but it is super delish!
    • Flavorful and creamy and delicious. Creamy and fresh and full of flavor!
    • Fresh ingredients and customizable! You can add or subtract just about any ingredient, just don't subtract the cottage cheese!

    🥘 What you need for this recipe

    Ingredients and Substitutions:

    ingredients with labels.
    • Pasta - I chose to use rigatoni pasta, but any pasta shape works!
    • Cherry Tomatoes - Cherry or grape tomatoes are best, but even a diced regular tomato is fine.
    • Garlic - Fresh garlic only, don't use pre-minced!
    • Olive Oil - Opt for a high quality olive oil since it is an important ingredient in this recipe.
    • Whole Milk Cottage Cheese - I encourage using whole milk for a creamier, softer texture, but any kind of cottage cheese can work.

    Tools and Equipment:

    • Sharp Knife
    • Cutting Board
    • Pot for Pasta
    • Pan for Sauce

    📋 How to make Cottage Cheese Pasta

    Step 1: Prepare Ingredients

    Bring a pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Cook pasta al dente according to package instructions, drain and set aside.

    While the pasta is cooking, slice all of the cherry tomatoes in half lengthwise, and thinly slice or mince the garlic cloves.

    Step 2: Make the Dish

    In a pan, add olive oil and heat over medium high heat. Add the sliced garlic and stir, being careful not to burn the slices.

    Cook garlic until soft, then add the sliced tomatoes. Toss in the hot oil until the tomatoes start to burst, using the back of your spatula to help smash them.

    garlic and oil in pan.
    tomatoes added to pan.

    Stir to combine until it becomes "sauce-y." Add the cooked pasta and combine until well coated.

    Add salt and pepper, a piece of cold butter, and a splash of pasta water (optional). Stir until butter is emulsified into the sauce. Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary.

    cooked tomatoes and garlic in pan.
    pasta added to sauce.

    Step 3: Finishing Touches

    Add the cooked pasta dish to a bowl or plate, then create a small "well" in the center.

    Sprinkle chopped chives or fresh sliced basil over the top.

    Add the cottage cheese right to the center and top it with flaky salt and a drizzle of olive oil (optional).

    Leave it as is for presentation or mix it all together to eat!

    cottage cheese pasta in a bowl.

    💭 Expert Tips & Tricks

    • I encourage using whole milk cottage cheese for a creamier, softer texture, but any kind of cottage cheese can work.
    • Any pasta shape is fine, but I prefer rigatoni. I think orecchiette would be very nice too!
    • Be careful with the heat to ensure that you don't burn the garlic slices, but also allow the tomatoes to burst and become 'jammy.'

    Storage & Reheating Tips:

    • Store in the Fridge: Wait until the pasta comes to room temperature and store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 4-5 days.
    • Store in the Freezer: Store in a freezer-safe airtight container for up to about 3 months.
    • How to Reheat: Always inspect leftovers for impurities or mold by using your eyes and nose. Reheat by adding to a nonstick pan with a dash of olive oil over medium heat until heated through. Garnish with fresh parmesan.

    Recipe FAQs

    Does cottage cheese melt when cooked?

    Similar to mozzarella and ricotta, cottage cheese does not fully melt. This is why we chose to add it to the top of the hot pasta, intended to be mixed in!

    Can you melt cheese into pasta?

    It is not recommended to try to melt the cottage cheese into this pasta, as it won't melt properly and will result in a lumpy sauce! We like to add room-temp cottage cheese to the pasta after it is cooked.

    Is cottage cheese good in pasta?

    Cottage cheese is DELICIOUS in pasta! Just don't try to mask the cottage cheese or 'hide' it in the pasta. Let it shine for best results!

    Related Recipes

    • Pink Paloma Recipe (Grapefruit Cocktail)
    • Healthy Fish Tacos (With Cod)
    • Scallop Crudo with Mango Sauce
    • Risotto al Limone (Lemony Risotto)

    Love a recipe you've tried? Please leave a 5-star🌟 rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. Don't forget to tag me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook when you try one of my recipes!

    📖 Recipe

    Cottage Cheese Pasta

    Cottage cheese is IN and trendy now, so this Cottage Cheese Pasta with Tomatoes is so creamy, high-protein, and flavorful! Try this out for a hearty weeknight dinner!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course, Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Servings: 2 People
    Calories: 493kcal
    Author: Emily

    Equipment

    • Sharp Knife
    • Cutting Board
    • Pot for Pasta
    • Pan for Sauce

    Ingredients

    • 6 oz Rigatoni or other pasta shape
    • 10-12 Cherry tomatoes sliced in half
    • 2 cloves Garlic sliced or minced
    • 2 tablespoon Olive oil
    • 1 teaspoon Salt
    • ⅓ cup Whole milk cottage cheese
    • Black pepper fresh cracked
    • Chives or basil

    Instructions

    • Bring a pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Cook pasta al dente according to package instructions, drain and set aside.
    • While the pasta is cooking, slice all of the cherry tomatoes in half lengthwise, and thinly slice or mince the garlic cloves.
    • In a pan, add olive oil and heat over medium high heat. Add the sliced garlic and stir, being careful not to burn the slices.
    • Cook garlic until soft, then add the sliced tomatoes. Toss in the hot oil until the tomatoes start to burst, using the back of your spatula to help smash them.
    • Stir to combine until it becomes "sauce-y." Add the cooked pasta and combine until well coated.
    • Add salt and pepper, a piece of cold butter, and a splash of pasta water (optional). Stir until butter is emulsified into the sauce. Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary.
    • Add the cooked pasta dish to a bowl or plate, then create a small "well" in the center.
    • Sprinkle chopped chives or fresh sliced basil over the top.
    • Add the cottage cheese right to the center and top it with flaky salt and a drizzle of olive oil (optional).
    • Leave it as is for presentation or mix it all together to eat!

    Video

    Notes

    • I encourage using whole milk cottage cheese for a creamier, softer texture, but any kind of cottage cheese can work.
    • Any pasta shape is fine, but I prefer rigatoni. I think orecchiette would be very nice too!
    • Be careful with the heat to ensure that you don't burn the garlic slices, but also allow the tomatoes to burst and become 'jammy.'

    Nutrition

    Calories: 493kcal | Carbohydrates: 69g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 1288mg | Potassium: 424mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 465IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 63mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @LegallyHealthyBlonde or tag #LegallyHealthyBlonde!

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    Hi, I'm Emily! I am the classically trained chef-recipe creator behind Legally Healthy Blonde. I love fancy pasta, a good martini, and cooking impressive meals for myself and friends! I created LHB to share my passion of cooking and entertaining with everyone! If you love feel-good food that looks & tastes impressive, you're in the right spot!

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