Cottage cheese alfredo is a type of weeknight miracles that feels indulgent with out asking a lot of you. This model offers you all of the creamy, cozy consolation of traditional fettuccine alfredo, but it comes along with easy substances 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 ladies discover methods to get dinner on the desk with out the overwhelm, from my years as a private coach and well being coach to operating a meal prep service and now creating 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 without doubt one of the meals that helped me fall again in love with cooking once more. It’s fast, it’s comforting, and it offers me that nostalgic alfredo expertise utilizing substances I all the time have readily available, which is strictly what I want proper now.
If you happen to’re craving one thing related, there are a couple of different simple choices my household loves. For an additional creamy, wealthy pasta recipe that’s prepared in about 20 minutes, attempt my white bean pasta sauce. It blends up silky clean and is such a easy method 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 substances
- 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 use 2% if that’s what you could have, however I don’t advocate 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 traditional, 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 part 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 an extended day takes all of the “fast dinner” vitality proper out of the meal. Prepped shrimp retains this recipe quick and stress free.
Ideas for fulfillment
- One-pot burnout shortcut. To keep away from an additional dish, you’ll be able to add uncooked shrimp to the boiling pasta over the last 2 minutes of cooking. It cooks completely, however the pasta can tackle a light shrimp taste. If you happen to do that, bear 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 further milk and plain water. The feel is barely totally different, nevertheless it works.
- Not into shrimp? Skip it or substitute with my 10-minute Italian rooster. Prepare dinner the rooster whereas the pasta boils for a simple different.
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Carry water to a boil for the pasta. Make sure to cowl the pot to make sure it involves a boil faster.
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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 effectively till the entire cottage cheese curds are 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
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Prepare dinner pasta in response to package deal directions, minus 2 minutes.
12 ozgluten free brown rice pasta
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Prepare dinner shrimp over medium warmth 2-3 minutes per facet in a big skillet whereas pasta is cooking. Take off warmth instantly as soon as finished.
1 pound shrimp
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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
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Add the reserved pasta water, beginning with 1/4 cup and including extra as wanted (1-2 tablespoons at a time). Stir effectively after including to guage the sauce consistency. As soon as the correct consistency is discovered, add within the shrimp and serve sizzling.
- Prepare dinner the pasta just below. Boil the pasta about 2 minutes lower than the package deal recommends. It finishes cooking within the sauce, which helps it take up taste with out getting mushy. This step makes an enormous distinction in texture.
- Reserve pasta water: Seize no less than ½ cup (I often 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’ll be able to toss every part 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 way of 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 Details
Quantity per Serving
The place does diet data come from? Diet info are supplied as a courtesy, sourced from the USDA Meals Database.
Frequent questions
How do I defrost shrimp?
This recipe comes collectively shortly, nevertheless it helps to have your shrimp thawed forward of time. The best methodology is to put the frozen shrimp in a bowl of chilly water and allow them to sit for 45 to 60 minutes, altering the water a couple of occasions till totally defrosted.
If you happen to want dinner proper now, make my air fryer frozen shrimp as an alternative. 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 based mostly sauce as an alternative of the cottage cheese combination. I’ve the same recipe for creamy shrimp and broccoli pasta that will be excellent.
Can I take advantage of a special protein?
Positively. If shrimp isn’t your factor, you should use rotisserie rooster (for these true cooking burnout night time), air fryer salmon bites, air fryer rooster bites and even chickpeas.
Can I take advantage of gluten free pasta?
Sure, I used Jovial fettucine pasta for this recipe and it’s my favourite gluten free pasta selection for this. Simply control 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 even add frozen or child spinach, broccoli florets (chopped very small), or frozen combined veggies. Add them to the pasta water proper earlier than draining and they’re going to heat by way of when cooking the sauce.
Is that this recipe good for meal prep?
I don’t often advocate shrimp for meal prep since it may change into overcooked when reheated. That stated, I did have leftovers of this dish and it reheated effectively. 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 effectively?
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 effectively.
