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Wholesome High-Protein Cottage Cheese Pasta Bake

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A quick and easy high-protein pasta bake featuring creamy cottage cheese and fresh spinach, perfect for cozy dinners and busy weeknights.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 ounces (225 grams) uncooked pasta (penne or rotini recommended)
  • Salt for boiling water
  • 1 ½ cups (340 grams) full-fat small-curd cottage cheese
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • ½ cup (50 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder (or 2 cloves fresh garlic, minced)
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 4 cups (120 grams) fresh spinach, roughly chopped
  • 1 cup (100 grams) shredded mozzarella cheese
  • Optional: ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 ounces (225 grams) of pasta and cook until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and set aside.
  3. In a mixing bowl, combine 1 ½ cups (340 grams) cottage cheese, 1 large room-temperature egg, ½ cup (50 grams) grated Parmesan cheese, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, and salt and pepper to taste. Blend until smooth and creamy.
  4. In a skillet over medium heat, sauté the chopped spinach until just wilted, about 2-3 minutes. Let cool slightly and squeeze out excess moisture.
  5. In a large bowl, mix the drained pasta with the wilted spinach and the cottage cheese mixture. Stir gently to coat evenly. Adjust seasoning if needed.
  6. Pour the mixture into a greased 9×13 inch (23×33 cm) baking dish and spread evenly.
  7. Sprinkle 1 cup (100 grams) shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top. Add ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes if desired.
  8. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, until cheese is melted and edges are golden brown.
  9. Let the pasta bake rest for about 5 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

[‘Blend the cottage cheese well to avoid chunky texture.’, ‘Cook pasta al dente to prevent mushy noodles after baking.’, ‘Wilt and drain spinach thoroughly to avoid watery bake.’, ‘Season generously with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.’, ‘Customize cheese types or add proteins like chicken or turkey sausage.’, ‘Use whole-wheat or gluten-free pasta as needed.’, ‘Optional: Add sautéed mushrooms or zucchini for extra veggies.’, ‘If top browns too quickly, tent loosely with foil during baking.’]

Nutrition

Keywords: cottage cheese pasta bake, high protein pasta, spinach pasta bake, healthy pasta bake, easy dinner recipe, comfort food, quick pasta bake

Find it online: https://eliplate.com/wholesome-high-protein-cottage-cheese-pasta-bake-easy-healthy-spinach-recipe/