High Protein Cottage Cheese Alfredo Sauce Recipe

What Makes This Recipe Great

Growing up, I would order fettuccine alfredo every time we went to a restaurant. It’s one of my favorite pasta dishes, however it would sometimes leave me feeling bloated and awful thanks to the heavy cream and butter. Not to mention, usually it’s made with flour, which is not gluten free. This Cottage Cheese Alfredo sauce is a lightened up version that tastes just like traditional Alfredo sauce with just a few simple substitutions. It is the perfect comfort food and comes together quickly right in your blender! This healthy alfredo sauce recipe is creamy, cheesy, and simply delightful tossed with your favorite pasta! It’s also packed with protein from the cottage cheese. I feel like cottage cheese recipes are all the rage right now, and for good reason. Make sure to check out my Cottage Cheese Ranch Dip and Tik Tok Alfredo Bake, too!

Recipe Highlights

• Gluten free
• Easy to make
• Minimal prep and cook time
• Versatile – works with any pasta or veggie noodle
• Made with simple ingredients
• Protein-packed
• The perfect sauce for chicken and shrimp, too!
• The best creamy pasta sauce for the whole family
• Made right in your blender

Ingredient Notes

Cottage cheese: This is the star of the show! Even if you are not a cottage cheese fan, I bet you will love this cottage cheese alfredo. The curds get blended up and the sauce is smooth and creamy, so you will not even be able to tell it’s cottage cheese. My favorite brand is Good Culture. It’s made with great ingredients and the texture is incredible.

Milk: You can use any milk for this recipe. I like to use the Fairlife milk for added protein, but almond milk, coconut milk, oat milk, or regular milk work, too.

Parmesan cheese: I like to use grated parmesan for the best texture. It melts easily into the sauce.

Arrowroot powder: This is kind of like cornstarch and helps to thicken up the alfredo sauce.

Gluten Free Pasta: Jovial Foods is my favorite brand. Their tagliatelle works great with this recipe. You can also use a low carb option like hearts of palm pasta or zucchini noodles, instead. Feel free to use chickpea pasta or another protein pasta substitute for additional protein.

Italian seasoning: This is optional, but I like the flavor it adds to the sauce.

Step 1

Cook the pasta according to package directions, drain, and set aside. Add all ingredients (except pasta) into your blender.

Step 2

Blend on high for 30-60 seconds or until you have a smooth and creamy sauce. You can also use a food processor if you do not have a blender.

Step 3

Pour the cottage cheese pasta sauce into a skillet. Add the cooked pasta on top of the cold sauce.

Step 4

Turn the stove to medium-low heat and toss the pasta with the sauce. It will thicken as it warms up over the course of 2-3 minutes!

Serve topped with fresh parsley and more parmesan cheese.

Tips, Tricks & Variations

Storage: I do not recommend making the sauce on its own and storing. The texture may change when you reheat it. For best results, toss with the pasta as it warms up. You can store leftover cottage cheese alfredo pasta mixed with the sauce in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Freezing: I do not recommend freezing this creamy alfredo sauce.

Sauce texture: It is important to follow the steps mentioned and add the cooked pasta on top of the cold sauce, then toss together over medium low heat. Otherwise, the sauce could curdle if you heat it first before adding the hot pasta. If you want to make the sauce on its own, simply whisk over medium low heat until you have a slightly thickened, smooth sauce.

Spicy: If you want to add a little heat, add 1 tsp red pepper flakes to the sauce before blending!

Chicken alfredo: To add more protein, follow the method for making the chicken (and broccoli) in this recipe, and add them in once you’ve made the cottage cheese Alfredo. Adding in fresh spinach and tossing with the pasta and sauce until wilted is also a great option!

Alternative to cottage cheese: I haven’t tested it, but Kite Hill cream cheese could potentially work in place of the cottage cheese, and nutritional yeast in place of the parmesan.

More Gluten Free Pasta Recipes

Sausage and Fennel Pasta

Penne Alla Vodka with Chicken

Instant Pot Taco Pasta

Tik Tok French Onion Pasta

Pesto Tuna Pasta