25 HIGH PROTEIN COTTAGE CHEESE PASTA SALAD RECIPES

Looking for high protein cottage cheese pasta salad recipes?

These creamy pasta salads use blended cottage cheese as the dressing, with 24 to 42 grams of protein per serving and no heavy mayo.

Blended cottage cheese is the easiest way to turn pasta salad into a real high protein meal.

It turns silky smooth, takes on any flavor you add, and gives you far more protein than mayo.

Every recipe here makes 4 servings and keeps well for meal prep.

If you love cottage cheese as much as I do, try these cottage cheese toasts for breakfast too.

There’s a protein chart below so you can pick the one that fits your goals.

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HIGH PROTEIN COTTAGE CHEESE PASTA SALAD RECIPES

1. Creamy Cottage Cheese Ranch Pasta Salad (28g Protein)

Blended cottage cheese and ranch seasoning make a thick, tangy dressing that tastes just like the bottled kind.

This is the base recipe. Once you’ve made it, every other salad on this list is just a twist.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz rotini
• 2 cups cottage cheese
• 1 tbsp dry ranch seasoning
• 2 tbsp milk
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 cup diced cucumber
• 2 green onions, sliced

Instructions:

1. Cook the rotini, rinse under cold water and drain.
2. Blend the cottage cheese, ranch seasoning and milk until smooth.
3. Toss the pasta, cheddar and vegetables with the dressing.
4. Chill for 30 minutes before serving.

2. Cottage Cheese Tuna Pasta Salad (38g Protein)

Tuna and a creamy cottage cheese dressing with celery and dill. Two protein sources in one easy lunch.

Drain the tuna well and flake it with a fork so it spreads through every bite.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz small shells
• 2 cans (5 oz each) tuna, drained
• 1 1/2 cups cottage cheese
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp fresh dill
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 1/4 cup red onion, diced
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. Cook the shells, rinse and drain.
2. Blend the cottage cheese, lemon juice and dill.
3. Fold in the pasta, tuna, celery and onion.
4. Season and chill.

3. Cottage Cheese Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad (40g Protein)

All the flavor of a chicken Caesar with a high protein cottage cheese Caesar dressing. No anchovies needed.

Add the romaine just before serving so it stays crisp.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz penne
• 2 cups cooked chicken, diced
• 1 1/2 cups cottage cheese
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 clove garlic
• 2 cups chopped romaine
• 1 cup croutons

Instructions:

1. Cook the penne, rinse and drain.
2. Blend the cottage cheese, half the parmesan, lemon juice, Dijon and garlic.
3. Toss the pasta and chicken with the dressing.
4. Add the romaine, croutons and remaining parmesan before serving.

4. Lemon Dill Cottage Cheese Pasta Salad (24g Protein)

Bright lemon and fresh dill in a light, creamy dressing. It’s fresh enough for summer but filling enough for lunch.

Zest the lemon before juicing it. The zest carries most of the flavor.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz bow tie pasta
• 2 cups cottage cheese
• 1 lemon, zested and juiced
• 2 tbsp fresh dill
• 1/3 cup grated parmesan
• 1 cup peas, thawed
• 1 cup diced cucumber
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. Cook the pasta, rinse and drain.
2. Blend the cottage cheese, lemon zest, juice and dill.
3. Toss with the pasta, parmesan, peas and cucumber.
4. Season and chill.

5. Greek Cottage Cheese Pasta Salad with Feta and Olives (27g Protein)

Cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, olives and feta in a creamy oregano dressing. A Greek salad you can actually meal prep.

Add the olives and feta right before serving if you’re making it more than 2 days ahead.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz rotini
• 2 cups cottage cheese
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 cup diced cucumber
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1/4 cup red onion
• 1/3 cup kalamata olives
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta

Instructions:

1. Cook the pasta, rinse and drain.
2. Blend the cottage cheese, lemon juice and oregano.
3. Toss the pasta, vegetables and olives with the dressing.
4. Top with feta.

6. Cottage Cheese Pesto Pasta Salad (26g Protein)

Basil pesto blended into cottage cheese makes a bright green, extra creamy dressing.

Add a handful of spinach to the blender for even more color.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz fusilli
• 1 1/2 cups cottage cheese
• 1/3 cup basil pesto
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1 cup baby spinach

Instructions:

1. Cook the fusilli, rinse and drain.
2. Blend the cottage cheese and pesto.
3. Toss with the pasta, parmesan, tomatoes and spinach.
4. Chill before serving.

7. Buffalo Chicken Cottage Cheese Pasta Salad (39g Protein)

Buffalo chicken, celery and carrots in a cool cottage cheese ranch dressing. Spicy, creamy and very filling.

Toss the chicken in the buffalo sauce first so it soaks up all the flavor.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz rotini
• 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
• 1/4 cup buffalo sauce
• 1 1/2 cups cottage cheese
• 1 tsp dry ranch seasoning
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 1 carrot, grated
• 2 green onions

Instructions:

1. Cook the pasta, rinse and drain.
2. Toss the chicken with the buffalo sauce.
3. Blend the cottage cheese and ranch seasoning.
4. Toss everything together and chill.

8. Cottage Cheese Broccoli Cheddar Pasta Salad (29g Protein)

Crunchy broccoli and sharp cheddar in a creamy dressing, like the deli classic with extra protein.

Cut the broccoli into very small florets so they mix in evenly.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz rotini
• 2 cups cottage cheese
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp honey
• 2 cups small broccoli florets
• 1 cup sharp cheddar, cubed
• 1/4 cup red onion
• 2 tbsp sunflower seeds

Instructions:

1. Cook the pasta, rinse and drain.
2. Blend the cottage cheese, vinegar and honey.
3. Toss with the pasta, broccoli, cheddar and onion.
4. Top with sunflower seeds.

9. Southwest Cottage Cheese Pasta Salad with Black Beans (30g Protein)

Black beans, corn, peppers and a smoky lime cottage cheese dressing. Colorful and very filling.

A pinch of chipotle powder gives the dressing a nice smoky kick.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz rotini
• 1 1/2 cups cottage cheese
• 1 tbsp lime juice
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed
• 1 cup corn
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1/4 cup cilantro

Instructions:

1. Cook the pasta, rinse and drain.
2. Blend the cottage cheese, lime juice, chili powder and cumin.
3. Toss everything together.
4. Chill and serve.

10. Cottage Cheese Egg Pasta Salad (31g Protein)

Hard boiled eggs, mustard and paprika in a creamy dressing. It tastes like deviled eggs in pasta salad form.

Sprinkle extra paprika on top for color.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz elbow macaroni
• 1 1/2 cups cottage cheese
• 1 tbsp yellow mustard
• 5 hard boiled eggs, chopped
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 2 tbsp chopped chives
• 1/2 tsp paprika

Instructions:

1. Cook the macaroni, rinse and drain.
2. Blend the cottage cheese and mustard.
3. Fold in the pasta, eggs, celery and chives.
4. Sprinkle with paprika and chill.

11. Dill Pickle Cottage Cheese Pasta Salad (25g Protein)

Chopped pickles, pickle juice and dill give this one a big tangy crunch.

The pickle juice in the dressing keeps it zingy even after a day in the fridge.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz small shells
• 2 cups cottage cheese
• 2 tbsp pickle juice
• 2 tbsp fresh dill
• 1/2 cup chopped dill pickles
• 1/2 cup cheddar cubes
• 1/4 cup red onion

Instructions:

1. Cook the pasta, rinse and drain.
2. Blend the cottage cheese, pickle juice and dill.
3. Toss with the pasta, pickles, cheddar and onion.
4. Chill before serving.

12. Cottage Cheese Caprese Pasta Salad (27g Protein)

Mozzarella pearls, tomatoes and basil with a creamy balsamic cottage cheese dressing.

Add the basil at the end so it stays fresh and green.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz fusilli
• 1 1/2 cups cottage cheese
• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 8 oz mozzarella pearls
• 1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes
• Fresh basil

Instructions:

1. Cook the pasta, rinse and drain.
2. Blend the cottage cheese, balsamic and olive oil.
3. Toss with the pasta, mozzarella and tomatoes.
4. Top with basil.

13. Chicken Turkey Bacon Ranch Cottage Cheese Pasta Salad (42g Protein)

Chicken, crispy turkey bacon and cheddar in a creamy cottage cheese ranch. The highest protein chicken option on the list.

Crumble the turkey bacon right before serving so it stays crisp.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz rotini
• 2 cups cooked chicken, diced
• 6 slices turkey bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1 1/2 cups cottage cheese
• 1 tbsp dry ranch seasoning
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar
• 2 green onions

Instructions:

1. Cook the pasta, rinse and drain.
2. Blend the cottage cheese and ranch seasoning.
3. Toss with the pasta, chicken and cheddar.
4. Top with turkey bacon and green onion.

14. Sun-Dried Tomato Cottage Cheese Pasta Salad (25g Protein)

Sun-dried tomatoes, spinach and feta in a garlicky cottage cheese dressing. Rich in flavor and easy to make.

Blend a few sun-dried tomatoes into the dressing for a pretty pink color.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz penne
• 2 cups cottage cheese
• 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
• 1 clove garlic
• 2 cups baby spinach
• 1/3 cup crumbled feta
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. Cook the pasta, rinse and drain.
2. Blend the cottage cheese, garlic and 2 tbsp sun-dried tomatoes.
3. Toss with the pasta, remaining tomatoes, spinach and feta.
4. Season and chill.

15. Cottage Cheese Macaroni Salad (26g Protein)

The classic picnic macaroni salad, made with cottage cheese instead of most of the mayo. Same creamy taste, way more protein.

A little sugar and vinegar gives it that classic deli flavor.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz elbow macaroni
• 2 cups cottage cheese
• 2 tbsp mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp yellow mustard
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 1/4 cup red onion
• 1/2 red bell pepper, diced

Instructions:

1. Cook the macaroni, rinse and drain.
2. Blend the cottage cheese, mayo, vinegar, sugar and mustard.
3. Fold in the pasta and vegetables.
4. Chill for at least an hour.

16. Avocado Lime Cottage Cheese Pasta Salad (24g Protein)

Avocado and lime blended with cottage cheese for a silky green dressing. Fresh, creamy and bright.

Eat this one within a day or two, as avocado slowly browns.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz rotini
• 1 1/2 cups cottage cheese
• 1 ripe avocado
• 2 tbsp lime juice
• 1/4 cup cilantro
• 1 cup corn
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes

Instructions:

1. Cook the pasta, rinse and drain.
2. Blend the cottage cheese, avocado, lime juice and cilantro.
3. Toss with the pasta, corn and tomatoes.
4. Serve chilled.

17. Cottage Cheese Chickpea Pasta Salad (33g Protein)

Chickpeas add plant protein and fiber to a Mediterranean-style pasta salad with a creamy dressing.

Pat the chickpeas dry so the dressing sticks to them.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz penne
• 1 1/2 cups cottage cheese
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, rinsed
• 1 cup diced cucumber
• 1/2 cup roasted red peppers
• 1/4 cup red onion

Instructions:

1. Cook the pasta, rinse and drain.
2. Blend the cottage cheese, lemon juice and oregano.
3. Toss everything together.
4. Chill before serving.

18. Cottage Cheese Salmon Pasta Salad (35g Protein)

Flaky salmon, peas and lemon in a creamy dill dressing. It’s a great way to use leftover salmon.

Canned salmon works too. Just remove any skin and bones first.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz small shells
• 8 oz cooked salmon, flaked
• 1 1/2 cups cottage cheese
• 1 lemon, zested and juiced
• 2 tbsp fresh dill
• 1 cup peas, thawed
• 2 green onions

Instructions:

1. Cook the pasta, rinse and drain.
2. Blend the cottage cheese, lemon and dill.
3. Gently fold in the pasta, salmon, peas and green onion.
4. Chill and serve.

19. Garlic Herb Cottage Cheese Orzo Salad (25g Protein)

Tiny orzo in a garlic and herb cottage cheese dressing with spinach and feta. Light but satisfying.

Orzo soaks up dressing fast, so keep a little extra dressing to stir in before eating.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups dry orzo
• 2 cups cottage cheese
• 1 clove garlic
• 2 tbsp parsley
• 1 tbsp basil
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 cups baby spinach, chopped
• 1/3 cup crumbled feta

Instructions:

1. Cook the orzo, rinse and drain.
2. Blend the cottage cheese, garlic, herbs and lemon juice.
3. Toss with the orzo, spinach and feta.
4. Chill before serving.

20. Cottage Cheese Pea and Mint Pasta Salad (26g Protein)

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/712413234804809864

Sweet peas and fresh mint in a lemony cottage cheese dressing. It’s fresh, green and perfect for spring.

Frozen peas thaw quickly in the cold pasta, so there’s no need to cook them.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz orecchiette or shells
• 2 cups cottage cheese
• 1 lemon, zested and juiced
• 2 tbsp fresh mint
• 1 1/2 cups frozen peas
• 1/3 cup grated parmesan

Instructions:

1. Cook the pasta, rinse and drain.
2. Blend the cottage cheese, lemon and mint.
3. Toss with the pasta, peas and parmesan.
4. Chill until the peas are cold.

21. Everything Bagel Cottage Cheese Pasta Salad (27g Protein)

Cucumber, red onion and capers in a creamy dressing, topped with everything bagel seasoning. Bagel and schmear flavor in a bowl.

Add the seasoning right before serving so it stays crunchy.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz rotini
• 2 cups cottage cheese
• 2 oz cream cheese
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 cup diced cucumber
• 1/4 cup red onion
• 1 tbsp capers
• 2 tbsp everything bagel seasoning

Instructions:

1. Cook the pasta, rinse and drain.
2. Blend the cottage cheese, cream cheese and lemon juice.
3. Toss with the pasta, cucumber, onion and capers.
4. Top with everything bagel seasoning.

22. Cottage Cheese Taco Pasta Salad (36g Protein)

Taco seasoned ground turkey, beans, corn and cheese in a creamy salsa cottage cheese dressing.

Crush a few tortilla chips on top for crunch.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz rotini
• 1 lb ground turkey, cooked with taco seasoning
• 1 1/2 cups cottage cheese
• 1/3 cup salsa
• 1 cup corn
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar
• 2 green onions

Instructions:

1. Cook the pasta, rinse and drain.
2. Blend the cottage cheese and salsa.
3. Toss with the pasta, cooled turkey, corn, tomatoes and cheddar.
4. Top with green onion.

23. Spinach Artichoke Cottage Cheese Pasta Salad (26g Protein)

All the flavor of spinach artichoke dip as a cold pasta salad. Creamy, garlicky and loaded with parmesan.

Chop the artichokes small so you get a piece in every bite.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz penne
• 2 cups cottage cheese
• 1/3 cup grated parmesan
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 can (14 oz) artichoke hearts, chopped
• 2 cups baby spinach, chopped
• 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella

Instructions:

1. Cook the pasta, rinse and drain.
2. Blend the cottage cheese, parmesan and garlic.
3. Toss with the pasta, artichokes, spinach and mozzarella.
4. Chill before serving.

24. Cottage Cheese Edamame Pasta Salad (32g Protein)

Bright green edamame, crunchy veggies and a sesame ginger cottage cheese dressing.

Buy shelled frozen edamame and thaw it under warm water.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz rotini
• 1 1/2 cups cottage cheese
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1 tsp grated ginger
• 1 1/2 cups shelled edamame
• 1 carrot, grated
• 1 cup shredded red cabbage
• 1 tbsp sesame seeds

Instructions:

1. Cook the pasta, rinse and drain.
2. Blend the cottage cheese, soy sauce, sesame oil and ginger.
3. Toss with the pasta, edamame, carrot and cabbage.
4. Top with sesame seeds.

25. Protein Pasta Cottage Cheese Salad (40g Protein)

Chickpea pasta plus a cottage cheese dressing makes this the highest protein meatless pick on the list.

Cook chickpea pasta 1 minute less than the package says and rinse well so it doesn’t go soft.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz chickpea pasta
• 2 cups cottage cheese
• 1/3 cup grated parmesan
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1 cup diced cucumber
• 1/4 cup fresh basil

Instructions:

1. Cook the pasta 1 minute less than directed, rinse and drain.
2. Blend the cottage cheese, parmesan and lemon juice.
3. Toss with the pasta, tomatoes and cucumber.
4. Top with basil.

Start with the ranch version, then work your way through the list. Once you try a cottage cheese dressing, it’s hard to go back to plain mayo.