This creamy Italian pasta salad features cottage cheese for a protein boost, making it a satisfying main dish or side for any meal.

Creamy Italian Pasta Salad with Cottage Cheese 16

It’s a fantastic option for busy weeknights or a potluck gathering, offering a delightful blend of textures and flavors. Each serving provides about 22 grams of protein.

This recipe is designed to be straightforward and quick, ensuring you can get a delicious and wholesome meal on the table without fuss. The addition of cottage cheese not only enhances the creaminess but also makes this salad surprisingly filling and nutritious.

What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
Time Needed From Start To Finish
How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture

What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe

This creamy Italian pasta salad is a true crowd-pleaser, perfect for anyone looking for a simple yet flavorful meal. It’s especially great for families because it’s packed with familiar ingredients and offers a delightful combination of pasta, fresh vegetables, and a savory dressing. This recipe works wonderfully as a light lunch, a hearty side dish for grilled chicken or burgers, or even a main course on a warm evening. It’s also an excellent choice for meal prepping, as it tastes even better the next day once the flavors have had a chance to meld. If you’re tired of the same old salads, this one brings a fresh, creamy twist that’s both satisfying and easy to prepare.

Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress

Gathering your ingredients before you start cooking will make the entire process smoother and more enjoyable. This recipe uses common pantry staples and fresh produce that are readily available at any grocery store. The star ingredient, cottage cheese, provides a unique creaminess and a significant protein boost, transforming a simple pasta salad into a more substantial dish.

INGREDIENTS:

12 ounces rotini pasta (or other small pasta shape)
1 cup cottage cheese, full-fat recommended
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup Italian dressing (store-bought)
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup cucumber, diced
1/2 cup red onion, finely diced
1/4 cup black olives, sliced
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
Salt to taste

For simple substitutions, you can easily swap out the rotini for other small pasta shapes like penne, farfalle, or elbow macaroni. If you prefer a lighter dressing, you can use light mayonnaise or a vinaigrette-style Italian dressing. Feel free to use your favorite brand of store-bought Italian dressing; a zesty or creamy variety will both work well. For the vegetables, bell peppers, shredded carrots, or even some finely chopped broccoli florets would be delicious additions if you want to boost the veggie content.

Time Needed From Start To Finish

This recipe is designed for efficiency, making it perfect for busy schedules. The hands-on preparation is minimal, allowing you to focus on other tasks while the pasta cooks.

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 10-12 minutes (for pasta)
Total time: 25-27 minutes

How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues

Making this creamy Italian pasta salad is a breeze. Follow these simple steps to achieve a perfectly balanced and delicious dish.

Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the rotini pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente, usually 10-12 minutes. The pasta should be tender but still have a slight bite to it.
Drain and cool the pasta: Once cooked, drain the pasta thoroughly in a colander. Rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down quickly. This prevents the pasta from becoming mushy and helps the salad stay fresh. Let it drain well.
Prepare the creamy dressing: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cottage cheese, mayonnaise, Italian dressing, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Whisk everything together until the dressing is smooth and well combined. If your cottage cheese is particularly lumpy, you can briefly blend the dressing ingredients with an immersion blender for an even creamier texture, though it’s not strictly necessary.
Add the vegetables: To the bowl with the dressing, add the halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, finely diced red onion, and sliced black olives. Gently stir to coat the vegetables in the dressing.
Combine pasta and dressing: Add the cooled, drained pasta to the bowl with the dressing and vegetables. Toss everything together until the pasta and vegetables are evenly coated with the creamy dressing. Make sure no dry spots remain.
Stir in fresh parsley and season: Fold in the chopped fresh parsley. Taste the salad and add salt as needed. Remember that Italian dressing can vary in saltiness, so adjust to your preference.
Chill before serving: For the best flavor, cover the bowl and refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the salad to chill thoroughly. This also helps the dressing thicken slightly.

Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life

This creamy Italian pasta salad is incredibly versatile, making it easy to adapt to your family’s preferences or what you have on hand.

Kid-Friendly Tweaks: If your kids aren’t keen on certain vegetables, feel free to omit them or finely chop them so they blend in more easily. Small pasta shapes like tiny shells or alphabet pasta can also make it more appealing. You can also add a sprinkle of shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese for extra kid appeal.
Protein Boosters: Beyond the cottage cheese, consider adding cooked, diced chicken breast, canned tuna (drained), or chickpeas for an even heartier main dish.
Vegetable Swaps: Introduce other colorful vegetables like diced bell peppers (red, yellow, or orange), shredded carrots, or even some steamed broccoli florets. Sun-dried tomatoes (packed in oil, drained and chopped) can add a rich, concentrated tomato flavor.
Flavor Enhancements: A pinch of red pepper flakes can add a subtle kick if you like a bit of heat. A squeeze of fresh lemon juice just before serving can brighten all the flavors.
Serving Suggestions: This pasta salad is fantastic on its own as a light lunch or dinner. It also makes an excellent side dish for summer barbecues, potlucks, or picnics. Serve it alongside grilled chicken, burgers, hot dogs, or a simple green salad. For a buffet, present it in a large, decorative bowl, perhaps garnished with extra fresh parsley or a few whole cherry tomatoes.

Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them

Even simple recipes can have common pitfalls. Being aware of these can help you achieve perfect results every time.

Overcooking the pasta: Mushy pasta is the enemy of a good pasta salad. Always cook your pasta al dente, meaning it should still have a slight chew to it. Rinsing it immediately with cold water after draining also helps stop the cooking process.
Not cooling the pasta properly: Adding warm pasta to the dressing will cause the dressing to thin out and potentially separate, resulting in a watery salad. Ensure the pasta is completely cool before mixing it with the dressing and other ingredients.
Under-seasoning: Don’t be afraid to taste and adjust the seasoning. The flavors in a cold salad can be more subdued than in a hot dish, so a little extra salt and pepper (or even a dash more Italian dressing) might be needed.
Skipping the chilling time: While you can eat this salad right away, allowing it to chill for at least 30 minutes (or even a few hours) in the refrigerator makes a significant difference. This time allows the flavors to meld and deepen, resulting in a much more cohesive and delicious salad.
Using too much dressing: While a creamy salad is the goal, too much dressing can make the salad heavy and greasy. Start with the recommended amounts and add a little more if needed, ensuring the pasta and vegetables are coated but not swimming in dressing.

How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture

This creamy Italian pasta salad is a fantastic make-ahead option, often tasting even better the next day. Proper storage is key to maintaining its delicious texture and flavor.

Storing Leftovers: Store any leftover pasta salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep well for 3-4 days. The flavors will continue to develop, making it a great option for packed lunches throughout the week.
Making Ahead: You can prepare this salad up to 24 hours in advance. If making it a day ahead, you might find that the pasta absorbs some of the dressing, making it a bit drier. If this happens, simply stir in a tablespoon or two of extra mayonnaise or Italian dressing just before serving to restore its creamy consistency.
Freezing is Not Recommended: Due to the fresh vegetables, cottage cheese, and mayonnaise in the dressing, this pasta salad does not freeze well. The texture of the vegetables will become mushy, and the dressing may separate upon thawing. It’s best enjoyed fresh and within a few days of preparation.
**Serving

FAQs

Can I make these ahead? Yes—prep ahead, refrigerate, then serve when ready.
How long do leftovers last? Store covered in the fridge for 3–4 days for best texture.
Can I adjust sweetness? Yes—add more or less sweetener to taste.
Can I change the fruit? Yes—swap strawberries for blueberries, raspberries, or sliced banana.