Cottage Cheese Pasta with Chicken and Marinara Recipe
This Cottage Cheese Pasta is a creamy, satisfying meal combining tender rigatoni, seasoned chicken mince, and a smooth blend of marinara sauce with cottage cheese. Ready in just 30 minutes, it's a perfect weeknight dinner that's flavorful and comforting, garnished with Parmesan and fresh basil.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Pasta
- 3 cups uncooked rigatoni pasta
- Salt (for pasta water, to taste)
Sauce and Meat
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 lb chicken mince
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- A pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 24 oz jar marinara sauce
- ½ cup cottage cheese
Garnish
- Parmesan cheese, grated
- Fresh basil leaves
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rigatoni pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and set aside.
- Sauté Aromatics: Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil followed by the chopped onion. Sauté for 4-5 minutes until the onion becomes translucent. Add the minced garlic and sauté for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Cook Chicken: Add the chicken mince to the skillet along with Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and black pepper. Break the chicken apart with a spatula and cook for 6-8 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked through and no longer pink.
- Prepare Sauce Blend: While the chicken is cooking, combine the marinara sauce and cottage cheese in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Combine and Heat: Pour the blended sauce into the skillet with the cooked chicken. Add the drained rigatoni pasta and stir well to combine all ingredients evenly. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes to warm everything through.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from heat and garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves. Serve hot and enjoy your creamy cottage cheese pasta.
Notes
- You can substitute chicken mince with ground turkey or vegetarian mince for a different twist.
- Adjust red pepper flakes according to your preferred spice level.
- For extra creaminess, add a splash of pasta cooking water when mixing the sauce with the pasta.
- Fresh basil can be swapped with dried basil if fresh is not available, adding it earlier during cooking.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
