High-Protein Creamy Gochujang Pasta Recipe

This creamy, spicy high-protein gochujang pasta is the Korean-inspired comfort food you didn’t know you needed! It’s rich, savory, just a little sweet, with the perfect kick of heat. And the best part? We’re making this deliciously creamy pasta with a few simple swaps to boost the protein and keep the calories in check.

If you’ve been around here for a while, you know I LOVE Asian food. Korean food in particular has my heart, especially after our spring break trip to Korea. My whole family loves the sweet heat flavor of gochujang chili so we always have it on hand.

And you know what else I love? PASTA.
So naturally, combining the two seemed like a pretty brilliant idea.

If you’ve never had gochujang pasta before, think of it as a spicy, creamy pasta with all those wonderful Korean flavors. Sweet, salty, spicy, savory, and absolutely delicious. My version uses a few of my favorite high-protein cooking hacks to lighten up the traditional creamy sauce without sacrificing any of that decadent flavor.

This is the perfect Asian fusion comfort food ESPECIALLY for weeknight dinners when you’re craving something with a kick. This high-protein, 30-minute meal delivers bold flavors that will have you wondering why you haven’t been adding spicy Korean chili paste to all your pasta dishes all along.

Why You’ll Love my High-Protein Creamy Gochujang Pasta

Look, we all need comfort food in our life. You know, those creamy and hearty dishes that make a tough day or cold weather a bit more manageable? This is it.

• It’s high in protein: By pairing my favorite high-protein pasta cream sauce with a generous scoop of Gochujang paste and a few other aromatics, you’ll have a dish that’s not only comforting, but also nourishing and packed with protein.
• Fast and easy: This whole dinner comes together in under 30 minutes!
• Vegetarian-friendly: It can sometimes be challenging to find vegetarian recipes with higher protein.
• It’s completely customizable. Add chicken, shrimp, tofu, or whatever veggies you have hanging out in your refrigerator.
• It’s perfect for meal prep. Make a batch for dinner and enjoy the leftovers for lunch!

What makes this Korean-fusion pasta recipe high-protein?

The magic is in the creamy gochujang pasta sauce. By blending together cottage cheese and milk, we end up with a delicious cream sauce that’s packed with lean protein.

Another way I use cottage cheese in pasta is my protein lasagna recipe. Check it out if you love this one, it uses a similar technique.

Pro tip: to kick up the protein EVEN MORE, I recommend using high-protein pasta. I often grab a box of Barilla protein pasta – it comes in lots of different shapes, and I actually prefer the texture of this over regular noodles.

Creamy Gochujang Pasta Ingredients

You don’t need a ton of ingredients to make this easy high-protein gochujang pasta. Just a few pantry staples, some protein pasta, and a couple of ingredients to make our deliciously creamy sauce.

Aromatics: We’ll be using garlic and scallions, both of which pair beautifully with the flavor of gochujang chili

Cottage Cheese Cream Sauce: We’ll be whipping up a simple, high-protein cream sauce with cottage cheese and milk. Trust me, you can’t taste the cottage cheese at all in this.

Sesame oil & Soy Sauce

Parmesan Flakes & Red Pepper: Totally optional, but I love topping my pasta with both.

Gochujang Chili: If you’ve never cooked with gochujang before, you’re in for a treat! Gochujang is a Korean fermented red chili paste made with red pepper flakes, glutinous rice, fermented soybeans, and salt. It has a wonderful combination of spicy, sweet, and savory flavors, with a rich umami depth that you just don’t get from regular hot sauce.

You can find gochujang at most Asian grocery stores, but I’ve also seen it at regular grocery stores.

How to Make High-Protein Gochujang Pasta

This whole meal comes together in the time it takes you to boil your pasta. While your pasta is boiling, we can prep the delicious creamy gochujang sauce.

Step 1:

Start by mincing your garlic and slicing your scallions. Separate the white part of the scallion from the green part.

Add sesame oil to your heated pan and sauté the garlic and white parts of the scallion.

Step 2:

Add in the gochujang paste and soy sauce and give everything a good stir. Meanwhile, take your cottage cheese and milk and give it a blend in a blender cup or blender.

Step 3:

Add your blended cheese sauce to your pan and mix to combine. Let it simmer for a minute to heat through. Add your cooked pasta and toss to combine.

Step 4:

Top with the green parts of the scallion, and red pepper flakes or parmesan cheese if desired.

What to Serve with My Korean-Fusion Pasta

This spicy gochujang pasta is delicious all on its own, but I love serving it with something green on the side. Roasted broccoli, sautéed Bok choy, or a simple cucumber salad would all be wonderful options.

You can also top your pasta with sesame seeds or a sprinkle of gochugaru for a little extra heat.

And if you want to make this an even higher protein meal, top with some crispy tofu, chicken or shrimp.

That’s the beauty of macro-friendly cooking. A few easy substitutions and additions can turn your favorite comfort foods into delicious, satisfying meals that fit your nutrition goals.