Hey there, pasta lovers!
Looking for a fun twist on your usual pasta salad? I’ve got something special for you.
Today, I’m sharing my delicious cottage cheese pasta salad!
It’s creamy, packed with flavor, and oh-so-easy to whip up.
Perfect for a picnic, potluck, or just a tasty dinner at home.
You’ll want to dive in—let’s get started!
| Preparation Time | 10-15 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 10-15 minutes |
| Total Time | 20-30 minutes |
| Level of Difficulty | Easy |
Ingredients
- 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
- juice of 1 lemon (freshly squeezed for best flavor)
- black pepper to taste (freshly ground preferred)
- 1/2 cup fresh spinach leaves (roughly chopped)
- 1 yellow bell pepper (finely diced)
- 1/3 cup Italian dressing (I use Newman’s Own Family Recipe Italian)
- 12 oz pasta (I like Barilla rotini for this recipe)
- 1 cup cottage cheese (full-fat for creaminess)
- 1 medium cucumber (diced into 1/2-inch pieces)
- sea salt to taste
- pinch of oregano
Step 1: Prepare the Pasta
Boil a large pot of salted water and cook the pasta according to the package instructions.
Once cooked, drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process.
Set the pasta aside in a large bowl to cool.
Step 2: Prepare and Add Vegetables
Dice the cucumber and tomatoes.
Slice the bell pepper into fine bite-sized ribbons.
Chop the spinach finely.
Add all these prepared vegetables into the bowl with the cooled pasta.
Step 3: Dress the Salad
Pour the Italian dressing and lemon juice over the pasta and vegetables in the bowl.
Sprinkle the mixture with oregano to add a burst of flavor.
Step 4: Add Cottage Cheese and Season
Stir in the cottage cheese to add creaminess and high protein to the salad.
Taste the salad and adjust the seasoning by adding salt and pepper, or more Italian dressing if you prefer a stronger flavor.
Step 5: Combine and Refrigerate
Toss the salad well to ensure all ingredients are fully combined and coated in the dressing.
Place the salad in the refrigerator to cool further.
Serve and enjoy the pasta salad cold.
