Cottage cheese alfredo is a type of weeknight miracles that feels indulgent with out asking a lot of you. This model provides you all of the creamy, cozy consolation of basic fettuccine alfredo, but it comes along with easy components and virtually no effort. The sauce blends up silky clean in minutes, the shrimp and peas make it an entire meal, and the entire thing is on the desk earlier than you even end scrolling Instagram. For anybody feeling stretched skinny however nonetheless craving one thing satisfying on the finish of the day, this dish is such a present.
I’ve spent greater than a decade serving to girls discover methods to get dinner on the desk with out the overwhelm, from my years as a private coach and well being coach to working a meal prep service and now growing recipes right here on Bites of Wellness. And even with all that have, I’ve been in a season of burnout myself. This cottage cheese shrimp alfredo is likely one of the meals that helped me fall again in love with cooking once more. It’s fast, it’s comforting, and it provides me that nostalgic alfredo expertise utilizing components I all the time have readily available, which is strictly what I would like proper now.
If you happen to’re craving one thing comparable, there are a number of different straightforward choices my household loves. For one more creamy, wealthy pasta recipe that’s prepared in about 20 minutes, strive my white bean pasta sauce. It blends up silky clean and is such a easy technique to work extra beans into your meals. And if you need one other fast shrimp and pasta combo, the 20 minute pesto shrimp orzo is all the time successful.
Key components
- Cottage cheese – I like utilizing 4% cottage cheese as a result of the little bit of additional fats makes the sauce really feel richer and creamier. You should utilize 2% if that’s what you’ve got, however I don’t suggest fats free because it gained’t offer you that very same wealthy texture.
- Parmesan cheese – That is what actually brings the alfredo taste to life. A small handful transforms the cottage cheese base right into a basic, savory, restaurant-style sauce, so don’t skip it.
- Arrowroot (or tapioca or cornstarch) – A contact of starch helps the sauce thicken and cling to the pasta. After I examined this recipe with out it, the sauce slid proper off the noodles. Including a spoonful makes all of the distinction in serving to every thing come collectively.
- Shrimp – Purchase shrimp that’s already peeled and deveined. That is a type of small decisions that makes an enormous distinction once you’re feeling burnt out. Having to peel or devein shrimp on the finish of a protracted day takes all of the “fast dinner” vitality proper out of the meal. Prepped shrimp retains this recipe quick and stress free.
Ideas for achievement
- One-pot burnout shortcut. To keep away from an additional dish, you possibly can add uncooked shrimp to the boiling pasta over the last 2 minutes of cooking. It cooks completely, however the pasta can tackle a gentle shrimp taste. If you happen to do that, keep in mind to scoop your pasta water earlier than including the shrimp.
- If you happen to overlook the pasta water. It’s positive. Skinny the sauce with a mixture of additional milk and plain water. The feel is barely completely different, but it surely works.
- Not into shrimp? Skip it or substitute with my 10-minute Italian hen. Prepare dinner the hen whereas the pasta boils for a straightforward different.
★ Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star score under!
-
Convey water to a boil for the pasta. You’ll want to cowl the pot to make sure it involves a boil faster.
-
Whereas water is coming as much as a boil, make the sauce by combining cottage cheese, parmesan cheese, arrowroot, salt, garlic powder and milk in a meals processor or blender. Mix properly till all the cottage cheese curds are now not seen.
16 oz. 4% cottage cheese, ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ cup milk
-
Prepare dinner pasta in response to package deal directions, minus 2 minutes.
12 ozgluten free brown rice pasta
-
Prepare dinner shrimp over medium warmth 2-3 minutes per aspect in a big skillet whereas pasta is cooking. Take off warmth instantly as soon as completed.
1 pound shrimp
-
Proper earlier than draining pasta, reserve ½ – 1 cup of pasta water and pour in peas. Drain instantly and return pasta to the pot. Pour within the alfredo sauce to the pasta and cook dinner over medium warmth till the sauce begins to thicken.
1 cup frozen peas
-
Add the reserved pasta water, beginning with 1/4 cup and including extra as wanted (1-2 tablespoons at a time). Stir properly after including to judge the sauce consistency. As soon as the proper consistency is discovered, add within the shrimp and serve sizzling.
- Prepare dinner the pasta slightly below. Boil the pasta about 2 minutes lower than the package deal recommends. It finishes cooking within the sauce, which helps it soak up taste with out getting mushy. This step makes an enormous distinction in texture.
- Reserve pasta water: Seize not less than ½ cup (I normally get 1 cup) of the pasta water earlier than draining. This starchy water is important for loosening the sauce and serving to it cling to the noodles.
- When utilizing gluten free pasta: Gluten free pasta sticks collectively shortly as soon as drained. Have the sauce prepared so you possibly can toss every thing collectively instantly.
- Add peas to the pasta water to defrost: Add the frozen peas proper earlier than draining the pasta or they will get overcooked. They heat by as you cook dinner the sauce.
- If utilizing frozen pre-cooked shrimp: Merely defrost the shrimp and stir it into the nice and cozy pasta and sauce. No skillet wanted.
Diet Data
Diet Information
Quantity per Serving
The place does vitamin data come from? Diet information are offered as a courtesy, sourced from the USDA Meals Database.
Widespread questions
How do I defrost shrimp?
This recipe comes collectively shortly, but it surely helps to have your shrimp thawed forward of time. The simplest technique is to position the frozen shrimp in a bowl of chilly water and allow them to sit for 45 to 60 minutes, altering the water a number of instances till totally defrosted.
If you happen to want dinner proper now, make my air fryer frozen shrimp as a substitute. Simply season the shrimp with salt and garlic powder and also you’re good to go.
Can I make this dairy free?
Sure. For a dairy free model, I like to recommend utilizing a creamy cashew primarily based sauce as a substitute of the cottage cheese combination. I’ve an analogous recipe for creamy shrimp and broccoli pasta that might be excellent.
Can I exploit a unique protein?
Undoubtedly. If shrimp isn’t your factor, you should use rotisserie hen (for these true cooking burnout evening), air fryer salmon bites, air fryer hen bites and even chickpeas.
Can I exploit gluten free pasta?
Sure, I used Jovial fettucine pasta for this recipe and it’s my favourite gluten free pasta selection for this. Simply keep watch over it whereas cooking and toss it with the sauce instantly so it doesn’t stick collectively.
Can I add different veggies to this?
Sure. Frozen peas are included, however you can too add frozen or child spinach, broccoli florets (chopped very small), or frozen blended veggies. Add them to the pasta water proper earlier than draining and they’ll heat by when cooking the sauce.
Is that this recipe good for meal prep?
I don’t normally suggest shrimp for meal prep since it will probably grow to be overcooked when reheated. That stated, I did have leftovers of this dish and it reheated properly. I nonetheless wouldn’t label it meal prep pleasant, however the cottage cheese alfredo sauce by itself is nice for prepping forward.
How lengthy are leftovers good for?
Retailer leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days. Reheat within the microwave or on the stovetop over medium low warmth and add a splash of milk or water to loosen the sauce if wanted.
Does this recipe freeze properly?
If you happen to plan to freeze it, pass over the shrimp because it tends to overcook when reheated. The cottage cheese alfredo pasta by itself freezes properly.
