Description
Cottage Cheese Alfredo is a creamy, high-protein twist on classic Alfredo sauce made with blended cottage cheese, garlic, Parmesan, and milk. This lighter pasta sauce delivers the same rich and silky texture as traditional Alfredo while using simple ingredients and less heavy cream, making it perfect for a quick and satisfying weeknight pasta dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz fettuccine pasta
- 1 cup cottage cheese (full-fat or low-fat)
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/4 cup reserved pasta water (as needed for thinning the sauce)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the fettuccine pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/4 cup of pasta water before draining.
- In a blender or food processor, combine cottage cheese, milk, Parmesan cheese, salt, and black pepper. Blend until completely smooth and creamy.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and melt the butter. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Reduce the heat to low and pour the blended cottage cheese Alfredo sauce into the skillet. Stir continuously while gently warming the sauce.
- If the sauce appears too thick, gradually add reserved pasta water or extra milk until it reaches a creamy consistency.
- Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss well until the noodles are evenly coated with the Cottage Cheese Alfredo sauce.
- Sprinkle Italian seasoning and mix well. Taste and adjust salt or pepper if needed.
- Serve immediately topped with chopped parsley and additional Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
- Blend the cottage cheese thoroughly to ensure the sauce becomes smooth and creamy without visible curds.
- Keep the heat low when warming the sauce to prevent the cottage cheese from separating.
- Freshly grated Parmesan melts better and improves the flavor compared to pre-shredded cheese.
- Add grilled chicken, shrimp, or roasted vegetables for extra protein and texture.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 380 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg