Creamy Cottage Cheese Pasta Salad

This creamy cottage cheese pasta salad packs a vivid, lemon-y flavors because of the blended cottage cheese lemon poppyseed dressing. I like that it’s protein-packed, and excellent 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 overlook 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 wager I made positive blended cottage cheese was the bottom of the wonderful lemon poppyseed dressing 😋 And since Linley can’t cease gained’t cease with butter beans, after all these are in right here, too.

Protein-packed! Due to the blended cottage cheese dressing and butter beans.
Gentle, vivid and oh so contemporary tasting. Aka good for summer season BBQs.
Able to serve in half-hour flat, so you will get again outdoors 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 Components

Blended cottage cheese: the bottom of this wonderful 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 totally different than balsamic vinegar — it’s principally a balsamic discount, which is sweeter and extra syrup-y than balsamic vinegar.
Butter beans: these large, 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 contemporary basil leaves for this recipe. Ripping the basil helps draw out the wonderful 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 listing of full components within the recipe card under.

How one can Make Cottage Cheese Pasta Salad

Making this pasta salad is straightforward peasy. Like able to serve in half-hour flat simple. All you could do is boil the pasta to al dente, mix up the components 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 get pleasure from 🥰.

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.

Good Pairings

Pair this creamy pasta salad with Grilled California Hen for the same taste profile, or step up your burger recreation with tasty choices like my hearty Mushroom Swiss Burger or Quinoa Candy Potato Burgers. The sunshine and creamy salad is the proper 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 all the time a go-to for BBQs at my home.

Storing Leftover Pasta Salad

When you’ve got any leftovers, retailer them in an hermetic container and refrigerate for as much as 3 days. Toss with extra contemporary 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

Convey 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 contemporary 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 all the scrumptious flavors.