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High Protein Cottage Cheese Pasta Salad

High Protein Cottage Cheese Pasta Salad for a Fresh Boost

Enjoy a flavorful and nutritious High Protein Cottage Cheese Pasta Salad that's perfect for meal prep or a light lunch.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Chilling Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Calories: 250

Ingredients
  

For the Pasta Salad
  • 2 cups rotini pasta Use rotini for the best texture
  • 1 medium cucumber Salt and drain to prevent excess moisture
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes Halve or quarter for sweetness
  • 1 medium yellow bell pepper Any bell pepper variety works
  • 1/2 medium red onion Swap for green onions for a milder taste
  • 2 cups fresh spinach Stir in just before serving
  • 1 medium lemon Squeezed for acidity
  • 1/2 cup Italian dressing Ken's Steak House is a favorite
  • 1 teaspoon oregano Adjust according to taste
  • 1 cup cottage cheese Low-fat or full-fat as preferred
  • to taste salt Essential seasoning to enhance flavors
  • to taste pepper Essential seasoning to enhance flavors
For the Topping
  • 1/4 cup fresh herbs Basil or parsley recommended
  • 1/2 cup cheese crumbles Feta or goat cheese for tanginess
  • 1/4 cup nuts or seeds Sunflower seeds or walnuts for crunch

Equipment

  • Large Bowl
  • pot
  • colander
  • spatula

Method
 

Step-by-Step Instructions
  1. Wash and prep your vegetables: dice the cucumber, halve or quarter the tomatoes, and dice the yellow bell pepper. Finely chop the red onion and slice the spinach into ribbons. Place all in a large bowl.
  2. In a large pot, boil salted water and cook rotini pasta until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water.
  3. Transfer the cooled pasta into the bowl with prepped vegetables. Toss gently to mix everything well.
  4. Squeeze the juice of one lemon into the bowl. Add Italian dressing and oregano, mixing thoroughly.
  5. Fold in the cottage cheese carefully to preserve texture. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
  6. Cover with plastic wrap or transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for at least one hour to meld flavors.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 250kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 15gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 400mgPotassium: 300mgFiber: 4gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 20IUVitamin C: 30mgCalcium: 15mgIron: 10mg

Notes

For best results, ensure pasta is completely cooled before mixing with cottage cheese to avoid a watery end result.

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