Simple Cottage Cheese Alfredo with Shrimp (20 Minutes)

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 basic fettuccine alfredo, but it comes along with easy substances and nearly no effort. The sauce blends up silky clean in minutes, the shrimp and peas make it a whole 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 among 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 at all times have readily available, which is strictly what I want proper now.

If you happen to’re craving one thing comparable, there are just a few 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 in order for you one other fast shrimp and pasta combo, the 20 minute pesto shrimp orzo is at all times 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 need to use 2% if that’s what you may have, however I don’t suggest fats free because it received’t provide you with 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 the whole lot come collectively.
• Shrimp – Purchase shrimp that’s already peeled and deveined. That is a type of small selections that makes an enormous distinction while 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.

Suggestions for achievement

• One-pot burnout shortcut. To keep away from an additional dish, you may add uncooked shrimp to the boiling pasta over the past 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 high quality. Skinny the sauce with a mixture of further 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. Cook dinner the hen whereas the pasta boils for a simple various.

Widespread questions

How do I defrost shrimp?

This recipe comes collectively rapidly, but it surely helps to have your shrimp thawed forward of time. The simplest 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 just a few instances till absolutely 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 based mostly sauce as a substitute of the cottage cheese combination. I’ve the same recipe for creamy shrimp and broccoli pasta that may be good.

Can I take advantage of a special protein?

Undoubtedly. If shrimp isn’t your factor, you should use rotisserie hen (for these true cooking burnout night time), air fryer salmon bites, air fryer hen 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 too 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 when cooking the sauce.

Is that this recipe good for meal prep?

I don’t normally suggest shrimp for meal prep since it might probably change into overcooked when reheated. That mentioned, I did have leftovers of this dish and it reheated nicely. 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 nicely?

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 nicely.