Why did it take me this long to blend cottage cheese into a creamy, cheesy, pasta sauce?
Cottage cheese is having a moment and as a dietitian, I’d say it’s well deserved.
Why I love this cottage cheese macaroni recipe
Toddlers are notorious for not being crazy about meat, or pieces of veggies in their food. But we still want to get those nutrient-packed foods into their meals!
If your little one is into macaroni and cheese, then this cottage cheese creamy pasta sauce recipe will be right up their alley.
Adults love pasta, kids love pasta (even many picky eaters!), and this sauce is packed with nutrition thanks to the addition of cottage cheese and carrots. Not to mention, it’s hearty, delicious, and takes no longer than pretty much boiling some noodles!
Cottage Cheese Pasta Sauce with Carrots
This recipe combines vegetables with an awesome protein source to make a savory sauce that you can feel great about serving to your family- babies, toddlers, kids, and adults alike!
But I particularly created this recipe for toddlers and picky eaters who wouldn’t normally welcome the sight of carrots on their plate. They add a touch of sweetness and a lot of vitamins and minerals. I love how well they blend into this sauce!
1 lb rotini or elbow pasta (you can use whole wheat pasta)
1 cup whole milk cottage cheese (small or large curd)
1 to 1.5 cups steamed carrots (I used baby carrots and steamed them for about 10-15 mins until fork tender. I used 1 cup but you could easily add more)
3 tbsp unsalted butter
Up to 1 cup pasta water
1/2 tsp salt (omit for baby under 1)
1/4 tsp pepper
1 cup Cheddar or Colby jack cheese, shredded
If you want to make this for just your baby/toddler, you could trim this recipe down and just make a quarter of it! The amounts would look like this:
0.25 lb rotini or elbow pasta
¼ cup whole milk cottage cheese (small or large curd)
¼-½ cups steamed carrots
1.5 tbsp unsalted butter
¼ cup pasta water
⅛ tsp salt (omit for baby under 1)
¼ cup (or even less) Cheddar or Colby jack cheese, shredded
How to make this recipe
For the carrots:
Add 1.5 inches of water to a saucepan and bring the water to a boil over high heat.
Place baby carrots in steamer basket in saucepan (or peel and chop regular carrots)
When the water boils, carefully place the steamer basket in the saucepan, cover, and steam the carrots until just tender – check with a fork, and start checking after 10 minutes. Also, keep an eye on the water to make sure it doesn’t completely evaporate. Add more water if it gets too low.
For the pasta:
Cook the pasta in salted boiling water in a large pot, according to package instructions. Drain when cooked, reserving some of the pasta water to add to the sauce (depending on the quantity you’re making).
While the pasta is cooking, add cottage cheese, steamed carrots, salt and pepper to the blender. Blend until completely smooth.
After removing cooked pasta from the pot, add butter to the pot over low heat. Pour pasta back in, and stir in all of the cottage cheese sauce, adding a little pasta water at a time to the pot to thin the sauce to your desired consistency. Then stir in shredded cheese until fully melted.
Recipe FAQs
Can I use a different type of pasta?
Yes! I used whole wheat for the added benefit of some whole grains and fiber, but you could use a gluten-free pasta (if you need to!), or an alternative flour pasta with even more protein like Banza, which is made from chickpeas. The recipe doesn’t *need* more protein, but it’s ok to use!
Should I add anything else to the pasta?
Sure! You could serve it with ground meat, chicken breast, or mushrooms/other veggies that you have. But one of my favorite things about recipes like this one is its ability to stand on its own when you just need to get something on the table! With both the pasta and the sauce, you have a good mix of protein, fat, and carbohydrates.
Expert Tips
Pre-shredded cheese works in a pinch, but if you have it in you, shredding it from a block with provide a better melting experience.
I love this recipe for a toddler lunch that you can meal prep and serve a few more times throughout the week. I would add a side of roasted broccoli spears, canned pears packed in 100% juice, kiwi slices, or sautéed spinach, depending on what your toddler likes!
For the carrots, add 1.5 inches of water to a saucepan and bring the water to a boil over high heat.
Place baby carrots in steamer basket in saucepan (you can used peeled and chopped regular carrots, too).
When the water boils, carefully place the steamer basket in the saucepan, cover, and steam the carrots until just tender – check with a fork, and start checking after 10 minutes. Also, keep an eye on the water to make sure it doesn’t completely evaporate. Add more water if it gets too low.
For the pasta, cook noodles in salted boiling water in a large pot, according to package instructions. Drain when cooked, reserving some of the pasta water to add to the sauce (depending on the quantity you’re making).
While the pasta is cooking, add cottage cheese, steamed carrots, salt and pepper to the blender. Blend until completely smooth.
After removing cooked pasta from the pot, add butter to the pot over low heat. Pour pasta back in, and stir in all of the cottage cheese sauce, adding a little pasta water at a time to the pot to thin the sauce to your desired consistency. Then stir in shredded cheese until fully melted.
Notes
The original recipe yields 6 servings, so this nutritional information is based on one of those 6 servings from the original quantities listed. You can quarter the recipe if you are only making for a toddler, and it would yield 3 toddler servings.
If you’re looking for more easy, healthy ways to feed your family, I highly recommend grabbing my Meal and Snack Survival Guide. It takes all the legwork out of planning meals and grocery shopping, and helps you put simple, nutritious meals together without the headache!
I’m a mom of two and a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. I offer e-guides and e-books (go to my Shop page), workshops, brand partnerships, and nutrition counseling. Check out my blog for nutrition and feeding tips for your little ones.
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