Giada De Laurentiis’s Protein-Packed Pasta Recipe

We all know that when Giada De Laurentiis introduces her followers to a simple new pasta recipe, it’s time to listen. But when it’s packed with protein, we’re tempted to leave our previous dinner plans in the dust and get cooking. And to make things even more alluring, the most recent recipe from Giada’s team clocks in with just six ingredients, making it a weeknight hero.

The recipe in question comes from De Laurentiis’s Giadzy, her longtime recipe blog (and now food and cooking brand). Her new Whipped Cottage Cheese Pasta features some ingredients from Giadzy, but we’ve cracked the code to crafting the meal with just what many of us already have in our pantries and refrigerators.

The pasta dish, created by Giadzy’s culinary lead, Lizzy Newman, calls for a can of Giadzy Corbara tomatoes, but you don’t have to place an order just to try this recipe yourself. This breed of cherry tomatoes is known for being exceptionally sweet and low in acidity. That means that replacing them with larger canned tomatoes won’t bring you an optimal result, but finding other canned or fresh cherry tomatoes might. Giadzy’s cans are 14.1 ounces, so look for a similar amount.

The recipe also requires 1 1/2 teaspoons of Giadzy spicy seasoned salt. But the blend sounds so delicious that we’re committed to mixing our own version for this and other recipes. The Italian-made mixture includes sea salt from Sicily’s Trapani salt flats, but any high-quality sea salt will do. Mix it with crushed chili flakes, lemon zest, oregano and rosemary for a bright, herbaceous combo. Equal parts of each should mean lots of flavor that doesn’t overwhelm with saltiness. 

The rest of the ingredients involve far less effort. All you need is a cup of cottage cheese, a tablespoon of olive oil, some fresh basil leaves, a pound of pasta and ¾ cup of freshly grated Parmesan. Mix the tomatoes, cottage cheese, seasoned salt, basil leaves and olive oil together in a blender for the sauce. Add the freshly cooked pasta to the sauce along with half a cup of pasta water and the cheese, toss and you’re ready for dinner. The result is a creamy dream.

If the recipe sounds slightly familiar, it may be because of the TikTok trend a few years back of baked feta and cherry tomato pasta. Giadzy’s update on the beloved noodle dish is more salty and less tangy than the original, so it’s a fun update on a recipe you may have tried before. And as a bonus, the cottage cheese brings lots of delicious creamy texture to each bite.

Another advantage of the cottage cheese is that it’s a veritable protein bomb. The one cup that’s used in the Giadzy recipe offers about 25 grams of protein, which isn’t bad for a meatless pasta dish. Assuming you opt for whole wheat pasta and split this recipe into about eight servings, that means you’ll end up with about 13 grams of protein on your plate. If you want to add to the protein in this dish, you could always opt for a protein pasta made with legumes. (For instance, opting for something like Barilla’s Protein+ pasta in this recipe would offer you 15 grams of protein per serving, making it a high-protein option.)

You might also consider rounding things out with an easy veggie, like this too-easy Grilled Asparagus or classic Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower. And if cottage cheese isn’t for you, cherry tomatoes and pasta are a great combination even if you decide to do without the creamy element. Our Cherry Tomato & Garlic Pasta is a winner that uses fresh cherry tomatoes rather than canned ones. It’s nearly impossible to pick a favorite when we have so many simple recipes that benefit from those tender, sweet tomatoes. 

Whether you’re in the market for a simple sheet pan dinner or a fun appetizer to share, cherry tomatoes have you covered. Combine them with protein-packed cottage cheese, and it’s no wonder this Giadzy recipe is such a winner. However you dish it up, it’s likely to be in your dinner rotation from now on.