The Best Creamy High-Protein Pasta Alla Vodka (Cottage Cheese!)
A lighter, high-protein take on the classic Pasta alla Vodka, this recipe features cooked chicken and uses blended cottage cheese in place of heavy cream. The creamy vodka sauce is built on a base of sautéed onions and garlic with a rich tomato paste flavor, deglazed with vodka. The blended cottage cheese is whisked in to create a smooth sauce, which is then tossed with cooked pasta, cubed chicken, fresh spinach, and cherry tomatoes for a complete one-pan meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing, Simmering, Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
- 12 ounces Rotini or any type of pasta (Banza recommended for higher protein)
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/2 cup chopped onion or 2 medium shallots
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons minced garlic
- 1/2 cup tomato paste
- 1/4 cup vodka (or 2 Tbsp white wine vinegar)
- 2/3 cup blended cottage cheese (whisked with 1/4 cup warm water)
- 2/3 cup grated parmesan
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 2 cups cubed cooked chicken
- 1 cup loosely chopped spinach
- 1 cup halved grape tomatoes
- 1/4 cup chopped parsley or fresh basil, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Drain, rinse with cold water, and set aside.
- While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the chopped onion or shallots and sauté for 3-4 minutes.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 2-3 minutes, allowing its flavor to deepen.
- Pour in the vodka, whisk to combine, and let it simmer for 3-4 minutes until most of the liquid has cooked off.
- Lower the heat. In a small bowl, whisk the blended cottage cheese with 1/4 cup of warm water to thin it out, then slowly mix it into the pan.
- Add the parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Stir quickly to combine.
- Let the sauce simmer for a couple of minutes. For a completely smooth sauce, you can use an immersion blender at this stage.
- Stir in the cooked pasta, cooked chicken, chopped spinach, and halved tomatoes.
- Continue to cook over low heat for 1-2 minutes, until the spinach has wilted and everything is heated through.
- Remove from heat and serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley or basil and more red pepper flakes if desired.
Notes
- This recipe uses blended cottage cheese as a high-protein, lower-fat substitute for the heavy cream traditionally used in vodka sauce.
- Cooking the tomato paste for a few minutes before adding liquid is a key step to caramelize it and enhance its flavor.
- For an extra smooth sauce, an immersion blender can be used directly in the pan after the cottage cheese is added.
Find it online: https://cookupjoy.com/high-protein-pasta-alla-vodka/