Oh, you know those nights? The ones where everyone is starving, you need something fast, but you really want that warm, comforting hug in a bowl? I live for those moments! My goal is always to sneak in real nutrition without anyone noticing they’re eating something “healthy.” That’s exactly how this creamy, dreamy Chicken & Cottage Cheese Protein Pasta was born.
When I first cooked this up, I was trying to recapture the feeling of those big, hearty Texas family dinners my mom used to make, but boost the staying power for busy weeknights. I swapped out heavy cream for cottage cheese—trust me, it melts down into the silkiest sauce you’ve ever had! Combining the lean chicken mince with that cheese magic gives us a meal that satisfies every craving while packing fifty grams of protein per serving.
As a Family Cooking Specialist here at Sena Recipes, I find that balancing ease, flavor, and nutrition is everything. This recipe isn’t just dinner; it’s efficiency disguised as comfort food. It’s proof that truly delicious, filling meals can come together faster than you think!
Why This Chicken & Cottage Cheese Protein Pasta is a Family Favorite
Honestly, this dish is my weeknight superhero. It hits all the right notes without any fuss. We get that rich, cheesy quality everyone loves, but without feeling sluggish afterward. It’s the best of the modern and the classic, ready in under an hour!
Here’s why this easy family dinner gets requested again and again:
- It’s incredibly creamy, but we skip the heavy cream entirely!
- It uses simple pantry staples, making it budget-friendly.
- It’s a true one-pan wonder before the final bake—less cleanup!
The High-Protein Advantage of Chicken & Cottage Cheese Protein Pasta
Look at those macros! The secret sauce here is blending the chicken mince with a big dollop of cottage cheese. It doesn’t taste ‘cottage cheesy,’ I promise! This combination floods your bowl with high-quality protein, which keeps my whole family feeling satisfied until breakfast the next day. That’s the real magic of a great Chicken & Cottage Cheese Protein Pasta.
Quick Meal Prep Ideas for Busy Weeks
If you’re planning for the week, this recipe is a dream. You can easily double the batch, and it stores beautifully. Think about having ready-made portions for Lunch Meal Prep For The Week without anything tasting sad the next day. Bake it fully, let it cool, and portion it out. Your week just got instantly easier thanks to this Chicken & Cottage Cheese Protein Pasta.
Essential Ingredients for Your Chicken & Cottage Cheese Protein Pasta
When you’re relying on simple components to create maximum flavor, the quality of those ingredients really shines through. For this Chicken & Cottage Cheese Protein Pasta, I always try to find the leanest chicken mince available. It fries up nicely and doesn’t leave a ton of extra grease behind to drain later.
Here’s what you’ll need to gather for this amazing family meal. Everything goes into one big pot (until the final cheesy topping, of course!):
- 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
- 500 g chicken mince
- 1 onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced (don’t skimp here!)
- 300 g fusilli or rotini
- 400 g tinned crushed or chopped tomatoes
- 1 ltr hot water (this is important for speeding things up!)
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar (just a pinch to cut the tomato tang)
- 1 teaspoon dried mixed herbs
- 160 g cheddar grated (get the good stuff!)
- 600 g cottage cheese (the star of our creamy sauce!)
- 2-3 large handfuls spinach
- Salt & black pepper to taste
Ingredient Notes and Simple Substitutions
I highly recommend using fusilli or rotini because those spirals grab onto that rich sauce perfectly when you bake it. If you can only find ground turkey, that’s a fantastic swap for the chicken mince, just watch the fat content. And please, use at least 2% or 4% cottage cheese; the higher fat content helps it melt smoother into that velvety sauce. Low-fat options sometimes separate a little more when baked.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Perfect Chicken & Cottage Cheese Protein Pasta
Okay, this is where the magic happens! I love that this whole thing starts in just one big pan, which is definitely true to my style of keeping cleanup utterly painless. Your timeline here is about 15 minutes of active cooking before this amazing pasta goes into the oven. Remember, my kids are picky, so when seasoning, I always leave out the salt and pepper until the very end, adding back only a tiny pinch for their bowls before mixing in the final cheese layer.
First things first: get a large non-stick saucepan hot! Add your olive oil, then toss in the chicken mince and the diced onions. You need to fry this constantly, stirring and smashing those mince pieces down with your spoon, for a good six minutes until everything looks nicely golden brown. Drain off any excess fat you might have—we want richness, not sogginess!
Next, toss in the garlic, the dry pasta (fusilli or rotini work best!), your crushed tomatoes, the hot water, smoked paprika, herbs, and sugar. Give it a really good stir to make sure nothing sticks on the bottom. Turn the heat up high until it hits a rolling boil. Once you see those bubbles, drop the heat to medium and let it cook vigorously for about 12 minutes, stirring often so the pasta doesn’t glue itself to the bottom. Seriously, stir it!
When the pasta is *almost* done, stir in those giant handfuls of spinach. They disappear so fast! Let that cook down for another couple of minutes until the sauce thickens up just enough to coat the pasta nicely.
Baking the Chicken & Cottage Cheese Protein Pasta to Golden Perfection
Now we transfer everything into a nice oven dish. Spread that mixture out evenly. This is the layering secret for the perfect Chicken & Cottage Cheese Protein Pasta: spread that big container of cottage cheese right on top, followed by your remaining grated cheddar. Pop it into a 200ºC oven for 25 to 30 minutes. You’re looking for that beautiful bubbly, golden crust around the edges!
Tips for Success When Making Chicken & Cottage Cheese Protein Pasta
Even though this Chicken & Cottage Cheese Protein Pasta is easy to whip up, mastering that baked texture takes just a tiny bit of know-how. My biggest piece of advice revolves around the liquid in the initial pot phase of cooking. You need that tomato and water mixture to reduce significantly before you bake, otherwise, your final dish will be too soupy.
Don’t be tempted to add extra liquid if it looks thick while cooking on the stove! Remember, that moisture has to absorb into the pasta before baking, and then the oven does the heavy lifting. Another thing I learned early on: make sure you stir that pasta vigorously during the 12-minute boiling stage. It prevents sticking and ensures even cooking. That heavy layer of cheese on top acts as a lid, trapping the steam perfectly for that amazing, bubbly finish on your Chicken & Cottage Cheese Protein Pasta.
Making Chicken & Cottage Cheese Protein Pasta Ahead of Time
This recipe is genuinely one of my favorites for Simple Meal Prep because it holds up so well to waiting! You can completely assemble the entire Chicken & Cottage Cheese Protein Pasta, right up to the final layer of cheese—but don’t bake it yet.
Cover the dish tightly with foil and pop it in the fridge for up to three days. When you’re ready for dinner, just add about 10 extra minutes to that baking time since it’s starting cold. If you want to freeze it, wrap that unbaked dish really well, maybe even add another layer of foil over the top. It’ll keep great for a month!
When you reheat leftovers, I always add a tiny splash of milk or water right on top before microwaving or baking it off again. That keeps the sauce from settling too much. This is perfect for those nights when you need ready-made Easy Healthy Meal Prep meals waiting!
Serving Suggestions for This Comforting Chicken & Cottage Cheese Protein Pasta
Because this Chicken & Cottage Cheese Protein Pasta is so wonderfully hearty and rich—especially with that baked cheese crust—you really don’t need much on the side. If you’re looking to keep things simple for a Cheap Dinners For A Family night, a simple, sharp salad is perfect! Just some torn lettuce with a squeeze of lemon juice and olive oil cuts right through the creaminess.
If you have an extra ten minutes, roasting some green veggies is fantastic. I often throw broccoli or green beans in the oven right after the pasta comes out while it rests for a few minutes. Or, if you’re feeling a little fancy, you absolutely must try my maple-glazed Brussels sprouts—they add a great sweetness that balances the smoked paprika.
Frequently Asked Questions About High Protein Pasta Dishes
I get so many questions about this recipe once people realize how many proteins sneak into one serving! Pasta dishes can intimidate people when they hear ‘high protein,’ but this Chicken & Cottage Cheese Protein Pasta really keeps things simple. If you have any other burning questions after you try it, just let me know!
Can I use different types of pasta for this recipe?
You absolutely can! The recipe calls for fusilli or rotini because those shapes are sturdy and they really hold onto the sauce when you start boiling everything together in the pot. If you go with something delicate like angel hair, it’ll just turn to mush during that 12-minute cooking time. Stick to spirals, penne, or rotini for the best structure here. Short, sturdy pasta is your friend for one-pot bakes like this one!
Is this recipe suitable for ‘Simple Meal Prep’?
Oh, yes! It’s perfect for Simple Meal Prep. As I mentioned before, you can assemble the whole thing, cover it, and keep it chilled uncooked for a few days, or bake it first and then portion it out. It reheats beautifully. Honestly, it tastes even better the second day once all those seasonings have really melded together. It makes for fantastic Easy Healthy Meal Prep!
Why is cottage cheese required instead of just using more cheddar?
Great question! If you just used more cheddar, you’d need a lot more butter or cream to get that creamy sauce texture, and it would be super heavy on the saturated fat. The cottage cheese melts down when baked, giving you that incredible, light creaminess and a massive protein boost without adding globs of extra oil. It’s a total game-changer for boosting nutrition in comfort food!
Nutritional Snapshot of Chicken & Cottage Cheese Protein Pasta
I love knowing exactly what fills up my family, and this Chicken & Cottage Cheese Protein Pasta is a nutritional powerhouse! Each generous serving clocks in around 650 calories, with an amazing 50 grams of protein. We also get about 55 grams of carbs and 25 grams of fat. Now, keep in mind these numbers are estimates, honey. If you use leaner mince or a different cheese, those numbers wiggle a bit!
Share Your Experience with This Chicken & Cottage Cheese Protein Pasta
Now that you’ve whipped up this creamy, high-protein dinner, I truly want to hear about it! Did your kids love that cheesy top layer? Did you manage to save some for lunch the next day? Please leave a rating below and share your favorite moment eating this Chicken & Cottage Cheese Protein Pasta!
Happy cooking, everyone! —Sophia Reed, Family Cooking Specialist
Print
Chicken and Cottage Cheese Protein Pasta
- Total Time: 50 min
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Make this creamy, high-protein pasta dish using chicken mince and cottage cheese for a comforting family meal that is simple to prepare.
Ingredients
- 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
- 500 g chicken mince
- 1 onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic
- 300 g fusilli or rotini
- 400 g tinned crushed or chopped tomatoes
- 1 ltr hot water
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon dried mixed herbs
- 160 g cheddar grated
- 600 g cottage cheese
- 2–3 large handfuls spinach
- Salt & black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large non-stick saucepan over a high heat. Add the chicken mince and the onions and fry, stirring often for about 6 minutes, or until the meat starts to go golden. Break the meat into small chunks as you stir. Drain off excess fat if present.
- Add the garlic, pasta, hot water, tinned tomatoes, sugar, paprika, herbs, salt and black pepper to the pan and stir well. Turn heat to high. Once boiling, turn heat to medium and cook over a rolling boil, stirring often for 12 minutes.
- Add the spinach and continue to cook for a further 2-4 minutes, until the pasta is cooked through and the sauce coats the pasta.
- Remove from the heat and stir in about 1/4 of the cheese until melted. Transfer the mixture to a large oven dish and level it out.
- Top with a layer of the cottage cheese, followed by the rest of the grated cheese.
- Bake at 200ºc/180ºc fan/400ºf/gas 6 for 25-30 minutes, until the cheese starts to go golden around the edges.
Notes
- For baby and toddler versions, adjust seasoning and ensure chicken and pasta pieces are small enough for safe eating.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 35 min
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 10
- Sodium: 500
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Unsaturated Fat: 13
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 50
- Cholesterol: 100
Keywords: Chicken Pasta, Cottage Cheese Pasta, High Protein Pasta, Family Dinner, Easy Dinner, Meal Prep, Healthy Pasta, Chicken Mince Recipe