Quick & Easy Creamy Beet Pasta Recipe
Quick & Easy Creamy Beet Pasta is a vibrant, flavorful Italian-inspired dish combining tender pasta with a luscious, creamy beet sauce made from roasted beets, cottage cheese, and Parmesan. The sauce is enriched with toasted garlic for depth and finished with fresh parsley for a bright garnish. Perfect as a weeknight dinner, this recipe is easy to prepare and customizable with various pasta types and optional toppings.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Pasta
- 1 pound pasta (any kind, including whole wheat, gluten free, or bean-based)
Sauce
- 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced (or 1 teaspoon garlic powder as substitute)
- 6-8 ounces cooked and peeled beet (roasted recommended for vibrant color)
- 1 cup reduced-fat cottage cheese
- ⅔ cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Garnish
- Finely chopped parsley (optional)
- Toasted chopped walnuts (optional, for crunch)
Instructions
- Cook pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and return it to the pot.
- Toast garlic: While pasta cooks, heat a pan over medium-low heat. Add the olive oil once hot, then add the sliced garlic. Cook slowly until golden brown, about 1-2 minutes, being careful not to burn. Remove from heat and set aside. If using garlic powder, skip this step and add garlic powder with olive oil directly to the blender.
- Prepare beet sauce: In a blender, combine cooked beets, cottage cheese, Parmesan cheese, kosher salt, ground black pepper, and ½ cup of the reserved pasta water. Add the toasted garlic along with the olive oil used for toasting. Blend until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Pour the beet sauce over the cooked pasta in the pot. Stir thoroughly to coat the pasta evenly. If pasta has cooled, warm it over low heat on the stovetop, adding splashes of reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce to your desired consistency.
- Serve: Plate the warm creamy beet pasta. Top with additional Parmesan cheese and garnish with finely chopped parsley. Optionally, sprinkle toasted chopped walnuts for extra texture and flavor.
Notes
- Roasting beets is recommended for best flavor and vibrant color, but precooked or canned beets can be used to save time.
- Any type of pasta is suitable for this recipe, including whole wheat, gluten-free, or bean-based varieties.
- Toasting garlic in olive oil adds depth, but you can also roast garlic separately, blend raw garlic, or use garlic powder depending on your time and flavor preference.
- Ricotta cheese can be substituted for cottage cheese to modify the creaminess and flavor.
- Adding toasted chopped walnuts on top provides a delightful crunch and nutty flavor contrast.
