Creamy, rich, and surprisingly light. Made with just six ingredients, this protein-packed cottage cheese Alfredo is the ultimate healthy comfort food. Even better? It’s got a whopping 26 grams of protein per serving to actually keep you full and satisfied.
Want more tasty cottage cheese recipes? Try my cottage cheese Buffalo chicken dip, healthy spinach artichoke dip, and bacon gruyere egg bites.
Recipe Highlights
- Super easy to make. Dinner couldn’t be easier with this 6-ingredient recipe that’s ready in less than 20 minutes.
- Simple ingredients. No specialty ingredients needed — everything you need to make this tasty pasta is easy to find in any grocery store.
- Creamy and satisfying. This creamy pasta is just as satisfying as the real deal, with way less fat and calories.
- 26 grams of protein. Every serving packs protein to keep you full longer and prevent the usual post-Alfredo nap.
- Vegetarian. Need a filling and comforting dinner without meat? This easy recipe will become a weeknight staple.
Key Ingredient Notes
- Whole milk cottage cheese: The fat in whole milk cottage cheese makes this pasta more creamy and rich, while low- or no-fat will make it more watery. I recommend sticking with whole milk for the right balance of nutrition and satisfaction.
- Parmesan: Use finely grated parmesan from the deli counter to keep things easy, or upgrade to freshly grated for maximum flavor. Both work great!
- Pasta: You can use any pasta shape you love. Spaghetti, fettuccine, and linguine are my favorites, but short pasta shapes work great too.
Scroll down to the recipe card for the full ingredients list and detailed recipe.
How To Make High Protein Cottage Cheese Alfredo
1) Blend your sauce until smooth.
2) Cook pasta in salted water and reserve some pasta water.
3) Cook garlic in a pan with butter, and stir in Alfredo sauce.
4) Stir in pasta and add pasta water as needed to make a silky sauce.
Add Extra Nutrition
Want to increase the nutrient-density of this simple dinner? Try these simple dietitian tricks:
- Boil your pasta with broccoli or cauliflower florets to add some easy veggies. Use up to two cups.
- Stir in chopped baby spinach with your pasta for some greens.
- Choose a protein pasta, lentil pasta, or chickpea pasta for more protein and fiber.
- Add protein on top with chopped rotisserie chicken or air fried salmon.
- Serve with a simple side salad for extra color.
Looking for more healthy pasta recipes? Try my spinach artichoke chicken pasta, one-pot sausage orzo, healthy hamburger helper, or philly cheesesteak pasta.
How To Store And Re-Heat Leftovers
Store extra cottage cheese Alfredo pasta in the fridge for up to three days. When you’re ready to re-heat, sprinkle your pasta with a few tablespoons of water first. You can re-heat on the stove or in the microwave, but you’ll need that extra moisture to prevent the sauce from drying out.
You can also store the sauce separately and combine with freshly cooked pasta each night.
More Easy Dinner Recipes
Need more simple and healthy dinners? Here are my favorites:
- Marry Me Chicken Soup
- Easy Chicken Enchiladas
- Ground Beef Fried Rice
- Sweet Potato Burger Bowls
- Lazy Lasagna Recipe
If you tried this cottage cheese Alfredo, leave a star rating and comment below! And don’t forget to share a pic on Instagram.
Cottage Cheese Alfredo
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups whole milk cottage cheese
- ½ cup finely grated parmesan cheese
- ½ cup milk, I use 2%
- ¼ tsp salt, adjust to taste
- freshly cracked black pepper, adjust to taste
- 1 box (12-oz) pasta
- 1 Tbsp butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Instructions
- Add cottage cheese, parmesan, milk, salt, and pepper to your blender. Blend until completely smooth and set aside.
- Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water right before draining your pasta.
- Put the pot back on the stove and lower the heat to medium-low. Melt the butter, and add minced garlic. Cook for about 1-minute or until just fragrant.
- Pour blended cottage cheese sauce into the pot and stir. Gently warm the sauce until it's steaming and just beginning to bubble. Don't over-heat the sauce or it could separate or curdle.
- Turn off the heat and stir in cooked pasta. If needed, gradually stir in small splashes of pasta water to thin the sauce. You're aiming for a creamy, silky consistency when everything is mixed together. Taste, and adjust salt and pepper if desired.
- Serve immediately with extra parm and freshly cracked black pepper. Enjoy!
Notes
- I prefer whole milk cottage cheese for the creamy texture. You can use low-fat but your pasta will be more watery and less silky, but I do not recommend non-fat.
- Feel free to use any pasta shape you love. Use gluten-free noodles if needed.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
