10 Cottage Cheese Recipes for Protein-Rich Meals
If you’ve spent any time searching for how to increase your protein intake lately, odds are some (many) cottage cheese recipes have popped up. A single serving can boast around 12 grams of protein (that’s equivalent to two eggs). But this ingredient is more than a high-protein snack or Greek yogurt alternative. The fresh, soft cheese is rich and tangy and is just as enjoyable alongside fresh fruit and honey as it is folded into sauce for a bubbling baked pasta.
I’ll be honest: It took me a while to get into cottage cheese. For years I associated it with those sad “health plates” at diners and an unpleasantly lumpy texture. But there are lots of ways to be creative with this ingredient and I’ve officially become a convert. Especially now that there are so many high-quality full-fat options available. (Low-fat cottage cheese is inherently less flavorful.)
In recipes for dips, pastas, and fritters, cottage cheese acts quite similarly to other fresh cheeses like ricotta. And if the curds hold you back, you’ve got to start blending cottage cheese, which totally transforms its texture. Start there (with a cottage cheese-thickened smoothie), then keep going by adding a scoop to other dishes. You might just find the next day you’re eating it straight from the container.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton, Prop Styling by Alexandra Massillon1/10Berry Protein Smoothie
Fresh from my Good for You column. When cottage cheese is blended into a smoothie, you get all the easy-to-love rich creaminess and subtle tang (and of course the protein and fat!), but none of the lumpy texture. Who could ask for a better start to the morning? No protein powder needed here.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht2/10Cottage Cheese Lasagna
A cottage cheese pasta we can get behind. Fontina and cottage cheese work wonders in this riff on the beloved baked pasta. Lovers of classic lasagna might raise their eyebrows that ricotta and mozzarella are missing from the ingredients list, but after a bite, you’ll get it.
Photo by Chelsie Craig, food styling by Pearl Jones3/10For the Love of Cottage Cheese Salad
We’ve all seen some version of a “health plate” at diners, with cottage cheese and raw vegetables, right? This is the well-seasoned, full-fat version. To make it an easy-breezy summer meal, add a can of chickpeas or serve alongside some rotisserie chicken.
Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr. Prop Styling by Sean Dooley, Food Styling Emilie Fosnocht5/10Cottage Cheese Caramelized Onion Dip
When my colleague Hana Asbrink first mentioned she’d be riffing on everyone’s favorite sour cream and onion dip with whipped cottage cheese, some people in the Test Kitchen were nervous. But cottage cheese is, in fact, an ideal alternative. Serve with potato chips or tortilla chips and crunchy veg (like cucumber or bell pepper) and call it dinner.
Photo by Alex Lau6/10Homemade Cottage Cheese
These days, sometimes cottage cheese is so in demand that grocery stores can’t keep it in stock. For moments like that, it’s good to have a DIY option. Keep it mind it’ll take several hours to actually make cottage cheese, start to finish. Use this to make a cottage cheese breakfast bowl with some fresh fruit and maple syrup on top; or a boiled egg, sliced veggies, and a drizzle of olive oil.
Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Gerri Williams7/10Roasted Honeynut Squash With Cottage Cheese and Chili Crisp
Cottage cheese and chili crisp may not be the most obvious flavor pairing (it’s no chocolate and peanut butter, if you get what I mean), but it’s a match made in heaven. I’d dollop the creamy dairy and drizzle the spicy condiment to wake up any roasted veg, from beets to Brussels sprouts to carrots.
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boytsova9/10Easy Noodle Kugel
When it comes to kugel, are you on Team Sweet or Team Savory? Regardless of preferred flavors (or mix-ins or toppings), one thing is for sure: Cottage cheese belongs in noodle kugel. Paired with sour cream, the casserole bakes off with a delightfully bouncy texture, and hits just the right balance of tangy and rich.
