High Protein Chicken Alfredo with Cottage Cheese
Golden seared chicken in a silky blended cottage cheese Parmesan Alfredo sauce — 40 grams of protein per serving and ready in 30 minutes.
Equipment
- Large skillet
- Blender or food processor
- Cutting board and knife
Ingredients
- 2 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch cubes
- 0.5 tsp sea salt for seasoning the chicken
- 0.25 tsp black pepper for seasoning the chicken
- 1 tbsp olive oil for searing the chicken
- 1 cup full-fat cottage cheese 4% fat — do not substitute lower-fat versions
- 0.75 cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated from a block
- 3 tbsp chicken broth plus more as needed for thinning the sauce
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter melted
- 2 garlic cloves minced; use 1 clove for milder flavor
- 0.25 tsp onion powder
- 0.125 tsp black pepper for the sauce, plus more to taste
- salt to taste, for the sauce
Instructions
- Season the chicken cubes evenly with sea salt and black pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the chicken in a single layer and cook for about 3 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Work in batches if needed to avoid crowding the pan.
- Turn off the heat and set the chicken aside in the skillet.
- While the chicken cooks, add cottage cheese, Parmesan cheese, chicken broth, melted butter, garlic, onion powder, salt, and pepper to a blender or food processor.
- Blend until completely smooth and creamy. Scrape down the sides and blend again to ensure no lumps remain.
- Add extra broth one tablespoon at a time if needed until the sauce reaches a pourable consistency. Taste and adjust seasoning before heating.
- Reduce the burner to medium-low heat. Let the skillet cool briefly, then pour the blended Alfredo sauce in with the chicken.
- Stir gently until the sauce is heated through, about 2 to 3 minutes. Do not allow the sauce to boil — cottage cheese can separate at high temperatures.
- Garnish with fresh parsley or herbs if desired and serve immediately over pasta, high-protein pasta, zoodles, spaghetti squash, or cauliflower rice.
