This savory Easy Cottage Cheese Pasta is the solution for what to make for dinner. On the table in about 20 minutes, your family will love it. Easily customizable, this dish features dry pasta mixed with a cheesy sauce that is made with jarred pasta sauce plus a hearty infusion of protein from creamy cottage cheese.

Featuring only a handful of ingredients, it’s sure to become a weeknight favorite. Even the pickiest eaters will love this pasta, which is easily customizable to fit the tastes of your family.

Made with only a handful of pantry staple ingredients, you’ll make this pasta again and again. It’s super easy to make with only a few minutes of hands-on prep, making it perfect for busy weeknights. The cottage cheese adds a rich creaminess to the sauce. Did you know that adding cottage cheese instead of cream to your pasta sauce gives you 250% more protein, 91% less fat and 73% less calories per serving, making it a healthier choice on top of being delicious!

• Dry Small Pasta (1 pound): Any bite-sized pasta will work for this recipe. Select pasta with ridges to allow the sauce to coat the pasta. Dried pasta allows for the perfect al dente, chewy bite that is ideal for hearty sauces.
• Daisy Cottage Cheese (1 1/2 cups): The cottage cheese is creamy and slightly salty, adding cheesy goodness to the pasta with a big boost of protein in every bite.
• Jarred Pasta Sauce (1 cup): A good quality jarred sauce is perfect for quick weeknight dinners. Pick your favorite flavor and enjoy.
• Parmesan Cheese (1/2 cup): Best when freshly shredded, it adds a nutty saltiness as a finishing touch to the pasta.
• Crushed Red Pepper Flakes (1/4 teaspoon): You can control the level of this familiar Italian spice from none to mild to spicy. Add additional pepper flakes in small amounts. A tiny pinch packs quite a punch.
• Dried Italian Herbs and Spices (1/2 teaspoon): Dried herbs are readily available in most spice cabinets and pack bold flavor.
• Reserved Pasta Water (1 cup): For thinning the sauce and carrying the flavors to coat the pasta.
• Optional Fresh Basil: It adds a touch of freshness with the classic flavor for which Italian food is known.

• The crushed red pepper flakes may be increased or omitted, depending on your taste.
• You can make your own Italian Herb blend if you don’t have the blend on hand. Mix ½ teaspoon dried basil, ½ teaspoon dried oregano, ¼ teaspoon dried thyme, and ¼ teaspoon dried rosemary. Use ½ teaspoon of the mixture in the sauce, storing any remaining blend in an airtight container for future use.
• Pecorino, Romano, or Asiago cheese may be substituted for Parmesan.
• Freshly shredded Parmesan is best. It’s more cost-effective, tastes better, and melts better than pre-shredded cheese.
• Try adding your favorite protein for a heartier meal. This pasta is delicious with the addition of grilled chicken, ground beef, or Italian sausage.
• Add some veggies. Throw in any pre-cooked veggies that you like. Squash, mushrooms, and spinach add nutrients and taste great!
• Try topping with basil leaves for a burst of freshness.

1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup pasta water when draining.
2. In a high-speed blender or food processor, blend the cottage cheese until smooth.
3. Add the pasta sauce, ¼ parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, and reserved pasta water. Carefully blend until smooth.
4. Add sauce to the pasta in the pot and stir to coat. Heat until warm.
5. Sprinkle with remaining parmesan cheese.
6. Garnish with fresh basil and/or additional red pepper flakes if desired before serving.