Creamy Tomato Protein Pasta
on Sep 21, 2024
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Looking for a quick, nutritious meal your toddler will love? This High Protein Creamy Tomato Pasta Sauce is a great way to add extra protein into your little one’s diet while serving up a delicious, comforting meal. The combination of crushed tomatoes, cottage cheese, and Parmesan creates a creamy, flavorful sauce that pairs perfectly with pasta. It’s a wonderful twist on traditional tomato sauce, loaded with calcium and protein to support your toddler’s growing needs.
Ingredients:
- 16 oz crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- 1 lb pasta (your choice)
Instructions:
- Blend the Sauce:
- In a blender, combine the crushed tomatoes, cottage cheese, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and oregano. Blend until smooth and creamy. The cottage cheese will add a rich, creamy texture without overpowering the tomato flavor.
- Cook the Pasta:
- While your sauce is blending, cook 1 lb of pasta according to the package instructions. Any type of pasta will work—penne, fusilli, or even small toddler-friendly shapes like ditalini or mini shells.
- Combine and Serve:
- Once the pasta is cooked and drained, pour the creamy tomato sauce over the pasta and mix well until the pasta is fully coated. Serve warm, and watch your toddler dig in!
Why This Recipe is Great for Toddlers and Families:
- High in Protein: One of the biggest benefits of this recipe is the high protein content, thanks to the cottage cheese and Parmesan. Protein is essential for your toddler’s growth and development, and this sauce is an easy way to incorporate more of it into their diet without relying on meat.
- Creamy Texture, No Cream: The cottage cheese adds a creamy, velvety texture to the sauce, but without the heavy cream or butter typically used in creamy pasta sauces. It’s a lighter yet filling alternative, perfect for toddlers who enjoy smooth textures.
- Toddler-Friendly Flavor: The mild tomato and cheese flavors are familiar to most toddlers, making this a great option for picky eaters. You can even add in finely chopped vegetables like spinach or zucchini for an extra nutrient boost without altering the flavor too much.
- Quick and Easy: With just five ingredients and minimal prep time, this recipe is a lifesaver on busy weeknights. Simply blend, cook, and serve in under 20 minutes!
- Versatile: This sauce works with any type of pasta, and you can easily customize it by adding cooked chicken, ground turkey, or more veggies for extra variety.
Storage Instructions:
- Refrigerator: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop with a splash of milk or water to thin out the sauce as needed.
- Freezer: You can also freeze the sauce on its own for up to 2 months. To freeze, pour the sauce into a freezer-safe container, leaving a little room at the top for expansion. When you’re ready to use it, thaw the sauce in the fridge overnight and warm it up on the stove before mixing it with freshly cooked pasta.
Creamy Tomato Protein Pasta
Ingredients
- 16 Oz can crushed tomatoes
- 1 Cup cottage cheese
- 1/2 cup Parmesan
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- 1 lb pasta
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according the package.
- While pasta cooks, add tomatoes, cottage cheese, Parmesan, garlic powder, and oregano to a blender. Blend until smooth.
- Once the pasta is done, drain. Add creamy tomato sauce to the pasta and serve.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I have a 5 year old who is very picky but is slowly coming around to sauce on noodles. I decided to try this and it was a HIT. All three of my kids loved it as well as my husband and me.