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This cottage cheese alfredo comes together in 15 minutes or less and has the same rich and creamy texture as regular alfredo sauce. Skip the heavy cream and butter because this high protein sauce goes well with any pasta dish!
Use the sauce for this creamy spaghetti chicken or chicken alfredo gnocchi bake!
Add this creamy sauce to your favorite pasta for a cozy, comforting dish the whole family will love.
Cooking with cottage cheese is a staple in our house. We make cottage cheese bagels, cottage cheese queso, and cottage cheese flatbread regularly.
And just like butternut squash ravioli sauce, this recipe couldn’t be easier. You only need a few simple ingredients and 15 minutes or less!
Love creamy alfredo sauce? Try a classic alfredo recipe like chicken alfredo gnocchi bake or spaghetti squash chicken alfredo.
Ingredients You Need
Here are the simple ingredients for this cottage cheese alfredo sauce. Jump to the recipe card for exact measurements.
- Milk: Use any kind of milk like whole milk, almond milk, or cashew milk.
- Cottage cheese: The secret ingredient that makes it thick and creamy instead of using heavy cream. You can use any brand with any fat percentage.
- Olive oil and fresh garlic: For rich flavor.
- Grated parmesan cheese: Grate a fresh block for optimum melting.
- Italian seasoning: A staple for Italian recipes like this one and Italian meatball soup.
- Pasta: Use any kind of pasta of your choice. I used fettucini noodles, but use gluten-free if needed or zucchini noodles as a low-carb substitute.
Recipe Variations
- Broccoli and chicken alfredo: Bake them beforehand on a sheet pan and add them to the pasta and alfredo sauce.
- Turn up the heat: Add red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- Low carb: Toss the alfredo cottage cheese with zucchini noodles for a low calorie pasta.
- Gluten-free: Use chickpea pasta or Jovial is my favorite gluten-free pasta. I love it in all pasta recipes, especially creamy steak pasta.
How to Make Cottage Cheese Alfredo Sauce
Here are the basic steps, with images, for this cottage cheese pasta sauce. Skip down to the recipe card below for the full printable recipe.
Step 1. Blend Cottage Cheese. Blend the milk and cottage cheese in a high speed blender until smooth.
Step 2. Saute Garlic. Cook minced garlic in oil until fragrant.
Step 3. Finish the Sauce. Add the cottage cheese mixture then the parmesan cheese and stir until smooth over low heat.
Step 4. Toss with Pasta. Toss with cooked pasta and other ingredients like chicken and broccoli.
Expert Tip
Cook the sauce over low heat and be patient. The parmesan cheese will melt and the sauce will thicken. The sauce can curdle if the heat is too high.
Recipe FAQs
Cottage cheese melts some, but it becomes more runny and still has some lumps. Blending the cottage cheese ensures it’s really creamy.
If your alfredo sauce is looking a little thin, you can mix 1 teaspoon with water and add it to the sauce. Bring it to a simmer and let it thicken.
I haven’t tested this, but you’d likely have similar results with a plant based cream cheese like Kite Hill. It likely won’t have the same taste and texture.
This is likely due to cooking the sauce over too high a heat, resulting in it curdling. Add the entire batch of sauce back to a blender with a splash of milk and blend it on high until smooth.
How to Store
Store leftover cottage cheese alfredo pasta in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Reheat the sauce alone or mixed with noodles over medium-low heat in a sauce pan so that the sauce does not curdle. Add a splash of milk as needed to thin it out.
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Cottage Cheese Alfredo
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Ingredients
- 1/2 cup milk any kind
- 1 1/4 cups cottage cheese I use Good Culture whole milk, but any percentage works
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 cup pasta cooking water as needed
- Kosher salt and fresh cracked black pepper to taste
- 12 ounces pasta of choice
Instructions
- Blend the milk and cottage cheese in a high speed blender until smooth.1/2 cup milk, 1 1/4 cups cottage cheese
- Heat the olive oil a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant, 1-2 minutes. Turn the heat down to low and pour the cottage cheese mixture into the pan with the parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning.1 Tablespoon olive oil, 2 cloves garlic, 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese, 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Stir to melt the parmesan cheese and cook gently on very low heat to melt the parmesan cheese. Be careful not to overheat or the sauce can curdle.
- While it’s simmering, make the pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water and drain the rest from the pasta.12 ounces pasta of choice
- To serve with pasta, add the cooked pasta to the pan with the cottage cheese alfredo sauce and use tongs to gently toss. Let it simmer for 1-2 minutes and add any reserved pasta water to thin the sauce as needed. Transfer to bowls and top with meat or vegetables of choice.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
The whole family loved this recipe. We have not loved any sauces we have tried in bottles and this is healthier so it’s a major win.
Wow—such a win! Thanks so much for taking the time to share.
Amazing recipe!! Never realized how easy and healthy Alfredo could be but I will only use this from now on!
Love that!! Thanks Mary!