“Little Cottage on the Mac” | Pasta & Beef with a Pesto Cottage Cheese Sauce 🏠🧀

I’ve made quite a few meals by combining pasta, beef/any meat, and my secret cheese sauce 🤫 and I always call them “Little Cottage on the Mac” since the main ingredient in the pesto cheese sauce is… cottage cheese!

Watch the video on my Instagram to see this “Little Cottage on the Mac” | Pasta & Beef with a Pesto Cottage Cheese Sauce come to life!

Ingredients:

• For the main dish:

  • 2 lbs ground beef

  • 300g dry macaroni pasta

  • 5 cups spinach

• For the cheese sauce:

  • 75g basil pesto

  • 250g cottage cheese

  • 100g mozzarella cheese

  • 60g milk

• For beef seasoning:

  • 1 tsp rosemary

  • 1 tsp thyme

  • 1 tsp oregano

  • 1 tsp garlic powder

  • 1/4 tsp salt

  • 1/4 tsp pepper

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Cheese Sauce: Combine basil pesto, cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese, and milk in a blender cup. Blend until smooth and set aside.

2. Cook the Beef: Brown the ground beef in a pan with the rosemary, thyme, oregano, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir in the spinach until it wilts.

3. Cook the Pasta: Cook the macaroni pasta to al dente according to package instructions. Drain and return to the pot.

4. Combine Everything: Add the beef and spinach mixture to the pot with the cooked pasta. Mix well.

5. Add the Cheese Sauce: Pour the cheese sauce into the pot and stir to combine all ingredients evenly.

6. Serve: Top with a little extra pepper if desired and enjoy your comforting, creamy "Little Cottage on the Mac."

   
   

Why You'll Love This Dish:

• Creamy and Flavorful: The combination of cottage cheese and mozzarella in the sauce creates a rich, creamy texture that's hard to resist.

• Nutritious: Packed with protein from the beef and cottage cheese, plus a good dose of greens from the spinach, this dish is both hearty and nutritious.

• Quick and Easy: With simple ingredients and straightforward steps, this meal can be on your table in no time.

• Versatile: Perfect for a family dinner, a potluck, or even meal prep for the week ahead.

"Little Cottage on the Mac" has become a staple in my kitchen, and I'm sure it will become a favorite in yours too.