Easy Lighter Cottage Cheese Alfredo Sauce
This Cottage Cheese Alfredo Sauce Recipe is a lighter take on classic alfredo, made with cottage cheese, parmesan, butter, garlic, and Italian seasoning. It’s a quick, creamy sauce that pairs perfectly with fettuccine or zucchini noodles, and it’s ready in under 10 minutes for an easy weeknight dinner.
This Cottage Cheese Alfredo Sauce Recipe brings a fresh, nutritious twist to classic alfredo, made with simple ingredients like parmesan cheese, butter, sautéed garlic, and Italian seasoning. The addition of cottage cheese gives it a creamy, rich texture without being too heavy. Whether you’re making traditional fettuccine alfredo or serving it over zucchini noodles, this sauce is a hit with the whole family.
It’s one of those go-to recipes I make all the time because it’s ready in under 10 minutes, perfect for those busy weeknights when you need a quick but comforting meal. And if you need a gluten-free option, just thicken it with tapioca flour or corn starch—easy and delicious!
Why You’ll Love This Healthy, Creamy Cottage Cheese Alfredo Sauce Recipe
- Creamy and Rich: The cottage cheese creates a smooth, creamy sauce without being overly heavy.
- Quick and Easy: Ready in under 10 minutes, perfect for weeknight dinners.
- Versatile: Enjoy it with pasta, zucchini noodles, grilled chicken, or vegetables.
- Gluten-Free Option: Easily thicken it with tapioca flour or corn starch for a gluten-free meal.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here is everything you need to make the best-tasting healthy cottage cheese alfredo sauce:
Butter: You can substitute butter with an equal amount of olive oil, ghee, or margarine for a dairy-free option.
Garlic: If you don’t have fresh garlic, you can use 1-2 teaspoons of garlic powder or 1/2 teaspoon of garlic paste.
Italian Seasoning: If you don’t have Italian seasoning, you can use a combination of dried basil, oregano, thyme, and rosemary.
Tapioca Flour: You could also use arrowroot flour, corn starch or potato starch.
Chicken Stock: Vegetable stock or broth can be used as a substitute for chicken stock to make the sauce vegetarian.
Almond Milk: You can use any other milk substitute like soy milk, oat milk, or coconut milk. If you prefer a richer sauce, you can substitute heavy cream or half-and-half for the almond milk.
Cottage Cheese: For a dairy-free option, you can use tofu blended with a little lemon juice or nutritional yeast for a similar texture and flavor.
Parmesan Cheese: Grated parmesan cheese is a great option because it melts down quickly. You can use nutritional yeast as a dairy-free substitute for a cheesy flavor or a vegan Parmesan cheese alternative.
Salt: Use any other salt you have on hand, such as sea salt or kosher salt.
Pepper: You can omit the pepper if you prefer or use white pepper for a milder flavor. You can also add red pepper flakes to add a little heat.
How to Make Creamy Healthy Alfredo Sauce with Cottage Cheese
Step 1: Blend the Cottage Cheese
In a blender, food processor, or chopper cup with an immersion blender, add the cottage cheese and milk and blend until smooth. Then, set aside.
Step 2: Make the Roux
Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
Add 4 cloves of minced garlic and 1/2 teaspoon of Italian seasoning to the melted butter. Cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly, until the garlic is fragrant.
Sprinkle tapioca flour (or corn starch) over the garlic and butter mixture. Stir well to combine and cook for another minute to remove the raw flavor of the flour.
Step 3: Add the Remaining Ingredients
Gradually whisk in 3/4 cup of chicken stock, making sure to break up any lumps of flour. Cook the mixture, stirring constantly, until it begins to thicken, about 3-5 minutes.
Slowly pour in 1/2 cup of almond milk, whisking continuously to combine. Cook the sauce for an additional 2-3 minutes, or until it thickens to your desired consistency.
Reduce the heat to low and add the cottage cheese and milk mixture. Stir until the cheeses are melted. Add the salt and pepper and season to taste.
Remove the sauce from the heat and use it immediately as a creamy Alfredo sauce for your favorite pasta, vegetables, with a big green salad, or any other dish of your choice.
Gluten-Free Alfredo Sauce with Cottage Cheese Recipe
Consistency: The sauce will thicken as it cools, so you may need to add more chicken stock or milk to thin it out if necessary.
Cheese: Feel free to adjust the amount of Parmesan cheese to suit your taste. You can also use other cheeses like Romano or Asiago for a different flavor.
Seasoning: Taste the sauce before serving and adjust the seasoning as needed. You can add more salt, pepper, or Italian seasoning to enhance the flavor.
Serving Suggestions:
You can add cooked chicken breast for chicken alfredo, shrimp, or vegetables to the sauce to make it a complete meal. Fresh spinach, mushrooms, and peas are great additions.
Do you love chicken main dishes? Check out more of my easy and nutritious chicken recipes:
Easy Lighter Cottage Cheese Alfredo Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon tapioca flour (or corn starch)
- 3/4 cup chicken stock
- 1/2 cup almond milk
- 1/2 cup cottage cheese
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- dash pepper
Instructions
- In a blender, food processor, or chopper cup with an immersion blender, add the cottage cheese and milk and blend until smooth. Then, set aside.
- Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan over medium heat.Add 4 cloves of minced garlic and 1/2 teaspoon of Italian seasoning to the melted butter. Cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly, until the garlic is fragrant.Sprinkle tapioca flour (or corn starch) over the garlic and butter mixture. Stir well to combine and cook for another minute to remove the raw flavor of the flour.
- Gradually whisk in 3/4 cup of chicken stock, making sure to break up any lumps of flour. Cook the mixture, stirring constantly, until it begins to thicken, about 3-5 minutes.Slowly pour in 1/2 cup of almond milk, whisking continuously to combine. Cook the sauce for an additional 2-3 minutes, or until it thickens to your desired consistency.Reduce the heat to low and add the cottage cheese and milk mixture. Stir until the cheeses are melted. Add the salt and pepper and season to taste.Remove the sauce from the heat and use it immediately as a creamy Alfredo sauce for your favorite pasta, vegetables, with a big green salad, or any other dish of your choice.
Video
This tastes soooo much better than the sauce in a jar!!! My kids had no idea it had cottage cheese. Five stars for that alone!
That’s awesome, Veronica! Thank you for sharing this with me 🙂
Delicious… the sauce is so creamy and full of flavor. highly recommend!!!
Hi Stewart, thank you so much! I’m so glad you love the recipe 🙂
This sauce was so easy to make! We loved the cottage cheese and will definitely be making this again!!
That’s awesome, Linda! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe 🙂