Description
High Protein Cottage Cheese Pasta Salad is a delightful twist on the classic pasta dish, perfect for lunch, dinner, or picnics. This recipe combines the creaminess of cottage cheese with fresh vegetables and a zesty Italian dressing, creating a filling and nutritious meal that won’t leave you hungry. Packed with protein and vibrant flavors, it’s easy to prepare in just 30 minutes. Customize it with your favorite veggies or proteins like grilled chicken for an extra boost. Whether you’re meal prepping or hosting a gathering, this pasta salad is versatile and satisfying.
Ingredients
Scale
- 14 oz rotini pasta
- 1 large cucumber, diced
- 1.5 cups tomatoes, halved
- 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
- 1/4 cup finely diced red onion
- 1/2 cup spinach, chopped
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 1/2 cup Italian dressing
- 1 pinch oregano
- 1.5 cups cottage cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the rotini pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water.
- While the pasta cooks, prepare the vegetables by dicing the cucumber, halving the tomatoes, dicing the bell pepper, finely dicing the onion, and chopping the spinach.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked pasta and prepared vegetables. Squeeze in lemon juice.
- Pour in Italian dressing and add oregano, salt, and pepper; gently fold in cottage cheese until well mixed.
- Chill for about 10 minutes before serving for enhanced flavors.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240g)
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 390mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 15mg