A Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta…With Cottage Cheese?
Hello friends!
I’ve been on the lookout for recipes that are higher in protein while also staying gluten-free. The superstar ingredient I’ve been seeing across the board has been…cottage cheese. Yes. Seriously.
Cottage cheese certainly has its versatility because it can be used in both sweet and savory dishes. If you add it to scrambled eggs, you’re setting yourself up for some deliciously creamy eggs. Now…what happens when you use cottage cheese in a…pasta sauce.
Ding-ding-ding! You guessed it… that will be our main topic of discussion for this week’s recipe review.
I’m checking out a Tiktok recipe by Nikita Fair for Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta. You can find the video right-> here!
It’s All In The Creamy Tuscan Sauce!
I’ll cut right to the chase. I watched this video over and over to see how it came together and it’s so freaking SIMPLE. This is going to be a sauce recipe that I will be using and likely modifying for different flavor combinations all while keeping the base very similar.
This sauce uses minimal ingredients but all that can easily be found at your local grocery store.
- Cottage Cheese
- Reduced Fat Milk
- Tomato Paste
- Garlic
- Parmesan
- Garlic Salt
I was surprised that this wasn’t going to be blended up and then warmed up on the stovetop. I must admit that this sauce does not require that once it’s mixed in with pasta that just came out of a pot of boiling water.
As always, taste along the way because often times with Tiktok recipe videos you may not see the exact measurements, especially when it comes to spices. “Measure with your heart” many will say. In this case, do like you would with any other recipe. Taste along the way and add that makes your heart content.
The flavor of this pasta sauce definitely satisfies the creamy and cheesy requirement. However, we’re working with cottage cheese and the main complaint I hear from people about this cheese is “Oh my god–the texture!” Rest assured that while the taste of cottage cheese is not masked entirely, it does not take away from the well-seasoned flavor of this creamy sauce. Once blended, this sauce is so smooth that by texture alone you wouldn’t be able to pick out any cottage cheese bits. If you can, then that means you didn’t blend it enough!
If you truly despise the taste of cottage cheese, then perhaps this Creamy Tuscan Sauce may not be for you. If you are searching for homemade sauces that help increase the amount of protein you’re consuming, then I do recommend you give this one a try.
Chicken Breast or Chicken Thighs With My Creamy Tuscan Pasta?
I am all for cooking food that is leaner in nature, so we will have our fair share of chicken breast in this house. But if we’re talking about what would make this recipe even more delicious, then I would say…swap out the breast for the thighs.
It’s a no-brainer, honestly. The pasta is creamy, delicious, and so delightful with the inclusion of spinach and sun-dried tomatoes. The chicken was good in terms of being well-seasoned, but it just doesn’t always turn out as juicy as you’d like it to. You cook two chicken breasts of different sizes and there’s always going to be some part of it that ends up being…not as good as you hoped.
But chicken thighs? Well, that’s a different story. Sure, they are not as lean, but they are most certainly delicious. The seasoning used on the breasts will work wonderfully on the thighs.
When it comes to remaking this with any adjustments–that’s the only major change I would make if I wanted to UP the flavor of this dish.
How To Keep This Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta Gluten-Free?
Everything that is included in the recipe for this Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta is indeed gluten-free with the exception of the pasta, of course. I used Barilla Gluten-Free Pasta that you can find at many local grocery stores these days, or you can check out Amazon as well to have it shipped directly to you.
Grey’s Grade: 4.5/5
I absolutely enjoyed making this recipe because of all the cottage cheese trends I’ve been seeing–this one works fabulously. I think the texture and consistency of the creamy pasta are exactly what I’ve been looking for. It’s creamy, savory, and complemented well by the other ingredients. The fact that this comes together without making too much of a mess is a very nice added bonus as well.
But Grey? Why the 4.5/5? Well, if everything about this recipe worked for me, then I wouldn’t think twice about giving this a 5/5. For my personal preference, however, I am deducting the .5 merely due to the chicken breasts. For something so delicious and creamy, I still would have preferred chicken thighs over chicken breasts. But that’s simply a matter of opinion. Like chicken breasts? Trying to keep it extra lean? Keep the breast–it’s still delicious.
Have you stumbled across some viral recipes you’re unsure of? Let me know in the comments below because I’d love to give them a try!
Check Out My Reviews!
If you enjoyed my review, don’t forget to like the post and leave a comment. Want more content, check out my socials!
And if you’d like to support my reviews and future subscription box reviews, consider checking out my Ko-Fi page!
Want to work together? Contact me!