Cottage Cheese Chicken Pasta

Cottage cheese can make a surprisingly smooth pasta sauce once it is blended. Pair it with Parmesan, garlic, and a little milk, then toss it with cooked chicken and pasta for an easy weeknight meal.

How to get a smooth cottage cheese sauce

Blend the cottage cheese with milk and Parmesan until there are no visible curds. Warm the sauce gently rather than boiling it aggressively.

Use cooked chicken to save time

Rotisserie chicken or another safely stored cooked chicken works well. Add it near the end so it only needs to heat through.

Cottage Cheese Chicken Pasta

A creamy chicken pasta with a smooth cottage cheese sauce, Parmesan, garlic, and spinach.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Dinner

Ingredients Method

Ingredients

  

• 300 g short pasta 10.5 oz
• 2 cups chopped cooked chicken about 280 g
• 1 cup cottage cheese about 225 g
• 1/2 cup milk 120 ml
• 1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan about 45 g
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 tablespoon olive oil 15 ml
• 1 cup baby spinach about 30 g
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning 5 ml
• Black pepper to taste
• Salt as needed

Method

 

1. Cook the pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain.
2. Blend the cottage cheese, milk, Parmesan, garlic, Italian seasoning, and black pepper until smooth.
3. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the blended sauce and warm it gently without rapidly boiling.
4. Add the cooked chicken and spinach. Stir until the chicken is hot and the spinach wilts.
5. Add the pasta and toss to coat. Use reserved pasta water a little at a time until the sauce is creamy and glossy.
6. Taste and add salt only if needed. Serve with extra Parmesan or black pepper.

Vegetable options

Spinach is quick and easy, but peas, broccoli, mushrooms, or roasted zucchini can also work. Keep extra vegetables fairly dry so they do not water down the sauce.

Reheating tip

The sauce thickens in the refrigerator. Reheat gently with a splash of milk or water and stir until creamy again.

Best pasta shapes for this sauce

Short shapes such as penne, rigatoni, rotini, and shells work especially well because the blended sauce settles into their ridges and curves. Long pasta can also work, but you may need a little more reserved pasta water to help the sauce coat the strands evenly.

How to keep the sauce creamy

• Blend the cottage cheese completely before it reaches the pan.
• Warm the sauce over gentle heat rather than bringing it to a hard boil.
• Reserve some pasta water before draining.
• Add Parmesan gradually and stir so it melts into the sauce.
• Add cooked chicken near the end so it only reheats.

Easy ways to change the flavor

Add lemon zest for brightness, red pepper flakes for heat, or Italian herbs for a more savory finish. If you add sun-dried tomatoes or another salty ingredient, taste the sauce before adding extra salt because Parmesan and cooked chicken already contribute seasoning.

What to serve with cottage cheese chicken pasta

A simple salad, roasted broccoli, green beans, or another lightly seasoned vegetable balances the creamy pasta. The meal is already substantial, so there is no need for a complicated side dish.

Chicken spaghetti with cottage cheese

You can turn this same recipe into chicken spaghetti with cottage cheese by using cooked spaghetti in place of short pasta. Blend the cottage cheese sauce exactly the same way, then toss it with hot spaghetti and cooked chicken. Add reserved pasta water gradually so the sauce coats the strands instead of becoming too thick.

Frequently asked questions

Does cottage cheese stay lumpy in pasta sauce?

Not if it is blended thoroughly. A blender or food processor can turn the curds into a much smoother base before the sauce is warmed.

Can I use leftover chicken?

Yes. Rotisserie chicken or another safely stored cooked chicken is ideal for this recipe because it saves time. Cut or shred it into small pieces and add it only long enough to heat through.

Can I use spaghetti with cottage cheese chicken sauce?

Yes. Spaghetti works with the same blended cottage cheese sauce and cooked chicken. Toss the hot spaghetti with the sauce gradually and add reserved pasta water a little at a time so the sauce coats the strands instead of becoming too thick.

More quick meal ideas

For more protein-focused meals made without powder, see our 7 high-protein meal ideas without protein powder.

For another simple pasta dinner, try 5-ingredient pesto chicken pasta or 5-ingredient chicken pasta. If you want more ways to use cooked chicken with pasta, compare our 4 leftover chicken pasta recipes.