Pumpkin Cottage Cheese Alfredo
Hello cottage cheese besties! We’re back with another recipe for our Pumpkin Recipe Series, and this one is guaranteed to be a new cozy favorite: Pumpkin Cottage Cheese Alfredo. 🎃🍝 If you’re looking for something creamy and comforting, but with a lighter, seasonal twist, this dish has your name written all over it.
Unless you’ve already tried the pumpkin sausage pasta from a couple of posts ago, you might be a little skeptical about pumpkin in pasta. We were too. But it works so well. The pumpkin adds a subtle sweetness, and when combined with the creaminess of cottage cheese, you’ve got a velvety sauce that feels indulgent but is secretly lighter and packed with protein. Whether you’re making it for a quick weeknight meal or a cozy fall dinner, this dish delivers big time in the flavor department. 🍂
Why Pumpkin and Cottage Cheese?
Alright, let’s talk about why this combo works. You already know we’re big fans of sneaking cottage cheese into sauces because it gives them that rich, creamy texture without having to rely on tons of heavy cream. Cottage cheese is our secret weapon for creamy dishes that still feel light.
Then comes the pumpkin. It doesn’t overpower the dish – we promise it’s not going to taste like dessert. The pumpkin puree adds a subtle sweetness and depth, balancing out the savory elements like garlic and parmesan. The result is a sauce that’s smooth, creamy, and feels like fall wrapped up in a bowl of pasta. 🎃🧀
And let’s not forget the most important bonus: cottage cheese adds protein, making this meal more filling and satisfying without being too heavy. It’s like comfort food, but with a little healthy twist that you can feel good about.
Your New Favorite 30-Minute Dinner
The best part? This Pumpkin Cottage Cheese Alfredo comes together in just 30 minutes. No complicated steps, no fancy techniques. You just need a handful of ingredients: pumpkin puree, cottage cheese, garlic, parmesan, and a few basic spices. 🧄🧀
The sauce simmers together beautifully, turning into this creamy, dreamy texture that coats your favorite pasta like a charm. You can use fettuccine, penne, or honestly whatever pasta you’ve got in the pantry. It’s one of those meals that feels indulgent but is secretly so easy to throw together – perfect for busy weeknights.
Customizing Your Pumpkin Cottage Cheese Alfredo
What we love about this dish (besides how delicious it is) is how easy it is to customize. Here are a few ways you can make it your own:
- Add Protein: We love tossing in some grilled chicken or shrimp for a heartier meal. Even crispy bacon works well for that extra savory kick. 🍗🍤
- Veggie Boost: If you’re in the mood for some veg, stir in some sautéed spinach, mushrooms, or even roasted broccoli. The richness of the sauce balances out the veggies perfectly. 🥬
- Spice It Up: If you’re feeling adventurous, sprinkle in a pinch of red pepper flakes for a little kick of heat, or a dash of smoked paprika for a deeper, smoky flavor. 🌶️
This recipe is super versatile, so don’t be afraid to get creative with it based on what you’re craving or what you have on hand.
How We Serve It
This Pumpkin Cottage Cheese Alfredo is so good on its own, but it’s also great paired with some classic sides. We love serving it with a simple side salad or even some garlic bread for dipping into that luscious sauce. 🥖
If you’re feeling extra fancy, you can top it with some freshly grated parmesan, chopped parsley, or a drizzle of olive oil just before serving.
The Pumpkin Series Continues…
This Pumpkin Cottage Cheese Alfredo is the fourth recipe in our Pumpkin Recipe Series, and we couldn’t be more excited to share it with you! If you’ve been following along, you probably just saw the latest – pumpkin spice cottage cheese pancakes. So we knew it was time to put out another savory recipe! We’re on a mission to bring pumpkin into more than just your lattes this season, and this Alfredo is just one more way to enjoy it.
Stay tuned because there’s more pumpkin goodness coming your way – we’ve got a couple more ideas coming your way. 🍂
PrintPumpkin Cottage Cheese Alfredo
This cottage cheese pumpkin alfredo is loaded with protein and fall flavor. It comes together in under 30 minutes!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 2 1x
- Category: Dinner
Ingredients
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1/2 box of fettuccine or pasta of choice
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1/3 cup reserved pasta water
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2 1/2 cups cottage cheese
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
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3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
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2-3 cloves garlic
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1 Tbsp. olive oil
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1 tsp. salt
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1/2 tsp. black pepper
Instructions
- Bring water to boil in a large pot for your pasta. Be sure to salt the water and add a about ½ teaspoon of olive oil to keep the pasta from sticking. Cook pasta according to package instructions. After the pasta is al dente, save ⅓ cup of pasta water for the sauce and drain the rest.
- Add cottage cheese, pumpkin puree, parmesan, garlic, olive oil, salt, and pepper to a food processor. Blend until the sauce is smooth.
- Pour the sauce into a large sauce pan and heat to low-medium. Add the pasta water that you saved earlier and mix it in. Stir constantly to warm the sauce, being careful not to scorch it or let it boil.
- Add your cooked pasta to the sauce and toss gently to make sure it’s all completely coated in the sauce.
- Serve and enjoy!