Cottage cheese Alfredo stands out as a fantastic weeknight solution that delivers a luxurious feel with minimal effort required. This recipe captures the rich, comforting essence of traditional fettuccine Alfredo, but it relies on everyday pantry staples and comes together effortlessly. The sauce achieves a velvety texture in just moments, while the addition of shrimp and peas transforms it into a satisfying full meal, ready before you complete your social media feed. For those juggling busy schedules yet desiring a hearty dish at day’s end, this recipe proves to be an invaluable option.
Over the past ten years, I’ve assisted numerous women in preparing stress-free dinners, drawing from my background as a personal trainer, health coach, meal prep service owner, and recipe developer at Bites of Wellness. Despite this expertise, I’ve recently navigated my own period of exhaustion. This cottage cheese shrimp Alfredo played a key role in reigniting my passion for cooking. It’s fast to prepare, offers soothing flavors, and recreates that beloved Alfredo nostalgia with staples I always keep stocked, meeting my current needs perfectly.
If you’re in the mood for comparable dishes, consider a few other family-favorite quick recipes. For a luscious pasta sauce ready in roughly 20 minutes, explore white bean pasta sauce, which blends to a smooth consistency and boosts bean intake easily. Alternatively, for another speedy shrimp-pasta pairing, the 20-minute pesto shrimp orzo remains a consistent winner.
Key Ingredients
- Cottage cheese – Opt for 4% fat cottage cheese as the added fat enhances the sauce’s richness and creaminess. 2% works if available, but steer clear of fat-free versions to preserve the desired luxurious mouthfeel.
- Parmesan cheese – Essential for authentic Alfredo taste, a modest amount elevates the cottage cheese foundation into a flavorful, restaurant-quality sauce—don’t omit it.
- Arrowroot (or tapioca or cornstarch) – A small quantity of starch ensures the sauce thickens properly and adheres to the pasta. Testing showed that skipping it causes the sauce to slip off the noodles; a single spoonful ensures perfect cohesion.
- Shrimp – Select pre-peeled and deveined shrimp to save time. This simple choice preserves the recipe’s ease, especially during tired evenings when extra prep would drain motivation. Prepared shrimp maintains the stress-free, rapid preparation.
Tips for Success
- One-pot burnout shortcut. Save on cleanup by adding raw shrimp to the pasta water in the final 2 minutes of boiling. They cook thoroughly, though the pasta may absorb subtle shrimp notes. If opting for this, reserve pasta water prior to adding shrimp.
- If you forget the pasta water. No problem—dilute the sauce with a blend of additional milk and plain water. The result has a subtly altered texture but performs well.
- Not into shrimp? Omit it or swap with 10-minute Italian chicken. Prepare the chicken alongside boiling pasta for a straightforward variation.
- 16 oz. 4% cottage cheese
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ cup milk
- 12 oz gluten free brown rice pasta
- 1 pound shrimp
- 1 cup frozen peas
- Start by bringing water to a boil for the pasta, covering the pot to speed up the process.
- While waiting for the water to boil, prepare the sauce: combine cottage cheese, Parmesan cheese, arrowroot, salt, garlic powder, and milk in a food processor or blender. Process until completely smooth with no visible curds.
- 16 oz. 4% cottage cheese, ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ cup milk
- Cook pasta per package directions, reducing cooking time by 2 minutes.
- 12 oz gluten free brown rice pasta
- Meanwhile, cook shrimp in a large skillet over medium heat, 2-3 minutes per side. Remove from heat promptly once cooked.
- 1 pound shrimp
- Just before draining pasta, reserve ½ – 1 cup pasta water and add peas. Drain right away and return pasta to the pot.
- Incorporate the Alfredo sauce into the pasta and heat over medium, stirring until it begins to thicken.
- 1 cup frozen peas
- Incorporate reserved pasta water gradually, beginning with ¼ cup and adjusting in 1-2 tablespoon increments. Stir thoroughly after each addition to check consistency. Once ideal, mix in shrimp and serve immediately while hot.
Additional Cooking Tips
- Cook the pasta slightly under. Reduce boiling time by about 2 minutes from package instructions. It completes cooking in the sauce, enhancing flavor absorption while preventing mushiness. This technique significantly improves the final texture.
- Reserve pasta water: Secure at least ½ cup (preferably 1 cup) before draining. The starch content is crucial for emulsifying the sauce and ensuring it coats the pasta evenly.
- When using gluten free pasta: It clumps rapidly post-draining, so prepare sauce in advance and combine promptly.
- Add peas to the pasta water to defrost: Introduce frozen peas immediately before draining to avoid overcooking; they heat gently during sauce preparation.
- If using frozen pre-cooked shrimp: Thaw them first and fold into the heated pasta and sauce—no additional cooking required.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition Facts
Amount per Serving
Calories
Fat 9 g
Carbohydrates 79 g
Fiber 8 g
Sugar 7 g
Protein 46 g
Where does nutrition info come from? Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy, sourced from the USDA Food Database.
Course: dinner
Cuisine: American, Italian
Keyword: cottage cheese alfredo, cottage cheese shrimp alfredo, high protein shrimp alfredo, shrimp alfredo with cottage cheese
Common Questions
How do I defrost shrimp?
This dish assembles rapidly, but thawing shrimp beforehand streamlines the process. The simplest approach involves submerging frozen shrimp in a bowl of cold water for 45-60 minutes, refreshing the water periodically until fully thawed.
Can I make this dairy free?
Absolutely. Substitute the cottage cheese blend with a creamy cashew-based sauce for a dairy-free adaptation. A comparable option is creamy shrimp and broccoli pasta.
Can I use a different protein?
Certainly. Replace shrimp with rotisserie chicken for ultimate convenience, air fryer salmon bites, air fryer chicken bites, or chickpeas.
Can I use gluten free pasta?
Yes, Jovial fettuccine was used here and works excellently. Monitor closely during cooking and integrate with sauce right away to prevent sticking.
Can I add other veggies to this?
Yes. Beyond frozen peas, incorporate baby spinach, finely chopped broccoli florets, or mixed frozen vegetables by adding them to the pasta water just before draining. They warm perfectly during sauce heating.
Is this recipe good for meal prep?
Shrimp generally isn’t ideal for meal prep due to reheating risks, though leftovers held up decently. The cottage cheese Alfredo sauce alone excels for advance preparation.
How long are leftovers good for?
Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat via microwave or stovetop on low, adding a bit of milk or water to restore sauce consistency if necessary.
Does this recipe freeze well?
For freezing, exclude shrimp to prevent overcooking upon thawing. The cottage cheese Alfredo pasta freezes effectively on its own.
