Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9x13-inch casserole dish with non-stick spray.

Place a large pot of salted water over high heat on the stovetop. When water comes to a boil, add pasta and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain water from pasta.

To a large mixing bowl, add cooked pasta, cottage cheese, sour cream, cheddar cheese, salt, and pepper. Using a large mixing spoon, stir well to combine.

Pour the pasta into the prepared casserole dish. Use the back of your mixing spoon to spread it in an even layer.

Place the crackers into a gallon sized zip top bag. Seal the bag, then use your hands to smash the crackers into crumbs. Sprinkle them over the top of the pasta. *Alternatively, you can make the cracker crumbs using a food processor.

Place mac and cheese casserole into the preheated oven. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until it's hot and bubbling around the edges.