Creamy Cottage Cheese Pasta Salad

This creamy cottage cheese pasta salad packs a vivid, lemon-y flavors due to the blended cottage cheese lemon poppyseed dressing. I like that it’s protein-packed, and ideal for summer season meals — you’ll discover me serving this at just about each yard BBQ.

A glass bowl of pasta salad with spinach, pine nuts, red onion, and chopped vegetables, garnished with basil leaves and served with dressing on the side.

My gosh do I like pasta salad season! And Match Foodie has been on a critical ROLL with the yummy, nutrient-dense pasta salad recipes not too long ago 👀👀. A couple of of my private faves? This bow tie pasta salad with a creamy hummus dressing, this pesto tortellini pasta salad, and who may neglect this epic cottage cheese roasted purple pepper pasta salad.

And that’s why I’m so dang excited to lastly get this lemon poppyseed pasta salad recipe up on the positioning! You guess I made certain blended cottage cheese was the bottom of the superb lemon poppyseed dressing 😋 And since Linley can’t cease gained’t cease with butter beans, in fact these are in right here, too.

Protein-packed! Because of the blended cottage cheese dressing and butter beans.
Gentle, vivid and oh so recent tasting. Aka excellent for summer season BBQs.
Able to serve in half-hour flat, so you will get again exterior and benefit from the summer season.
So creamy and yummy 😋

Six-step collage showing pasta salad preparation: cooked pasta, chopped vegetables with beans, ingredients for dressing, mixed dressing, dressing poured onto salad, and finished salad with pine nuts and basil.

Highlight-Worthy Elements

Blended cottage cheese: the bottom of this superb lemon poppyseed dressing! Be happy to substitute 1:1 for plain Greek yogurt if want be.
Mafada pasta: any small pasta will work! I like the squiggly look of mafada pasta (what this recipe was photographed with!), however elbow macaroni, penne or bow tie would even be enjoyable!
Balsamic glaze: you’ll end off the pasta salad with a drizzle of balsamic glaze, which is completely different than balsamic vinegar — it’s mainly a balsamic discount, which is sweeter and extra syrup-y than balsamic vinegar.
Butter beans: these big, flat beans add nice buttery taste and creamy texture to this pasta salad. They’re obtainable canned at most grocers.
Contemporary basil: you’ll rip an entire cup of recent basil leaves for this recipe. Ripping the basil helps draw out the superb taste with out wilting the leaves an excessive amount of.
Pine nuts: toasted pine nuts get added proper on the finish with the balsamic glaze. Yum!

Discover the record of full substances within the recipe card beneath.

Tips on how to Make Cottage Cheese Pasta Salad

Making this pasta salad is simple peasy. Like able to serve in half-hour flat straightforward. All it’s essential to do is boil the pasta to al dente, mix up the substances for the lemon poppyseed dressing, chop the purple pepper and onions, after which assemble the pasta salad in a single bowl. High with pine nuts and balsamic glaze, and also you’re able to take pleasure in 🥰.

Tip! Skinny Out the Dressing

Dressing a bit too thick to your liking? Be happy to skinny it out with 1 tablespoon of olive oil at at time after which combine once more till it’s skinny sufficient.

Excellent Pairings

Pair this creamy pasta salad with Grilled California Rooster for the same taste profile, or step up your burger sport with tasty choices like my hearty Mushroom Swiss Burger or Quinoa Candy Potato Burgers. The sunshine and creamy salad is the right match for these savory, wealthy flavors!

In case you’re firing up the grill, Juicy Grilled Pork Chops are delish alongside this pasta salad, or No-Fail Child Again Ribs (made within the oven or on the grill) are at all times a go-to for BBQs at my home.

Storing Leftover Pasta Salad

You probably have any leftovers, retailer them in an hermetic container and refrigerate for as much as 3 days. Toss with further recent basil and balsamic glaze to freshen issues up earlier than serving 🥰.

A plate of pasta salad with spinach, cannellini beans, red onion, diced red peppers, pine nuts, and a balsamic glaze, served with a fork.

Extra Pasta Salad Recipes I Love

Deliver a big pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook dinner till the pasta is cooked to al dente. Pressure the water and rinse with chilly water. Put aside.
Add the purple pepper, onion, and butter beans to a big salad bowl and toss with vinegar and ¼ teaspoon of salt. Put aside.
Put together the dressing. Add the blended cottage cheese, garlic, poppy seeds, lemon zest, and the remaining salt to a bowl and blend to mix.
Add the cooked pasta and recent basil to the bowl with the peppers, onions, and beans. Combine to mix. Add the dressing and stir once more.
High with pine nuts and balsamic glaze.
Serve instantly or refrigerate and let the salad relaxation to soak up the entire scrumptious flavors.