Description
This Cottage Cheese Pasta Salad is creamy, refreshing, and packed with protein and vegetables—perfect for meal prep, picnics, or a light and healthy lunch. Featuring bowtie pasta, juicy cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and a lemony herbed cottage cheese dressing, it’s a satisfying dish that delivers on taste and texture. Great for quick lunch ideas, picnic sides, healthy snack bowls, or no-fuss dinner ideas!
Ingredients
12 oz bowtie pasta
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup cucumber, thinly sliced
Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
1.5 cups cottage cheese
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 garlic clove, minced
0.5 teaspoon salt
0.5 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add bowtie pasta and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Drain and rinse under cold water.
2. In a food processor or blender, combine cottage cheese, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, black pepper, and chopped basil. Blend until mostly smooth.
3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, sliced cucumbers, and halved cherry tomatoes.
4. Pour the dressing over the pasta and veggies. Toss until well coated.
5. Garnish with fresh basil leaves and cracked black pepper. Serve immediately or chill for 1–4 hours before serving.
Notes
For best results, blend the dressing until creamy but slightly textured for a rustic feel.
Chill the salad before serving to enhance flavor and texture.
Use fresh basil and lemon juice for the most vibrant taste.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Bake / Chill
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 295
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 310 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 37 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg