Introduction

This High Protein Cottage Cheese Pasta Salad is a fresh and satisfying dish perfect for lunch or a light dinner. Packed with colorful vegetables and creamy cottage cheese, it offers a delicious, healthy twist on classic pasta salad. Easy to prepare and full of flavor, it’s ideal for meal prep or picnics.

A round wooden bowl filled with a creamy pasta salad made of bowtie pasta. The pasta is mixed with bright red halved cherry tomatoes, thin semi-circles of green cucumber, and small pieces of yellow bell pepper. There are bits of green herbs scattered throughout the salad and the pasta is covered with a creamy white sauce sprinkled with black pepper. The bowl sits on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

14 oz pasta (Barilla rotini recommended for best texture)
1 large cucumber (diced into 1/2-inch pieces)
1.5 cups tomatoes (halved or quartered)
1 yellow bell pepper (diced into 1/2-inch pieces)
1/4 cup finely diced red onion
1/2 cup spinach (chopped into 1/2-inch ribbons)
1 lemon
1/2 cup Italian dressing (Ken’s Steak House preferred for a zesty flavor)
1 pinch oregano
1.5 cups cottage cheese (Good Culture recommended for creaminess)
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste

Instructions

Step 1: While the pasta water begins to boil, prepare all the vegetables. Dice the cucumber and yellow bell pepper into 1/2-inch pieces, halve or quarter the tomatoes, finely dice the red onion, and chop the spinach into 1/2-inch ribbons. Arrange them in separate piles on your cutting board for easy combining later.
Step 2: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain thoroughly, then rinse with cold water while gently tossing to stop cooking and remove excess starch. This keeps the pasta from clumping and prevents overcooking.
Step 3: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta with all the prepped vegetables. Toss gently to evenly distribute the ingredients without crushing them.
Step 4: Cut the lemon in half and squeeze the juice directly into the bowl. Add the Italian dressing and a pinch of oregano. Toss everything thoroughly to coat the pasta and vegetables with the dressing and brighten the flavors.
Step 5: Gently fold the cottage cheese into the salad with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, being careful to keep the curds intact for a creamy texture. Season with salt and pepper to taste, folding gently to combine.

Tips & Variations

For extra protein, add cooked chicken or chickpeas.
Swap Italian dressing for a balsamic vinaigrette for a different flavor profile.
Use fresh herbs like basil or parsley instead of oregano for added freshness.
Make sure to rinse pasta well after cooking to prevent it from sticking together in the salad.

Storage

Store the pasta salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Stir gently before serving. This salad is best enjoyed chilled but can be brought to room temperature if preferred. Avoid freezing as the cottage cheese texture may change.

How to Serve

The dish is a wooden bowl filled with a colorful pasta salad made with four layers. The bottom layer shows white bowtie pasta spread evenly. The second layer has green cucumber slices and bright yellow bell pepper chunks mixed in. The third layer includes halved red cherry tomatoes and small pieces of green spinach leaves scattered throughout. The top layer is a creamy white dressing with specks of black pepper sprinkled on it, giving a textured look. The bowl sits on a white marbled surface. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use other types of pasta for this salad?

Yes, any short pasta like penne, fusilli, or farfalle will work well. Rotini is preferred for its ability to hold dressing and ingredients.

Is it necessary to rinse the pasta with cold water?

Rinsing pasta with cold water is important for this salad to stop the cooking process, cool the pasta, and remove excess starch. This prevents clumping and keeps the salad fresh.