10 Ways To Eat Cottage Cheese
It’s safe to say that cottage cheese is having its “it girl” moment and to be honest, I’m here for it! Y’all know I love the dairy section of the grocery store but cottage cheese holds a special plate in my heart because love it or hate it, you cannot deny its nutrient density. With a fairly low calorie content, a fairly high protein content (most brands featuring 10 grams +), and the micronutrients we know and love of milk-based products, cottage cheese is a great addition to your plate! Not sure where to start? Here are 10 of my favorite ways to incorporate cottage cheese into your diet:
In a Savory Bowl
This is for all my people who don’t mind the texture of cottage cheese because let’s be honest, it’s not for everyone. Personally, I love to build up a savory snack bowl with cottage cheese as the base. Here are a few of my favorites:
Cottage cheese + basil + chopped tomatoes + cucumber + balsamic glaze
Cottage cheese + EBTB seasoning with crushed plantain chips
Cottage cheese + Crunchy onion from trader joes + a fried egg
Paired with Fruit
This is a snack staple that I have every week and is a great example of my base + protein approach to snacking. Snacks are a fantastic opportunity to include more color (fruits and vegetables) into your diet but you want to be sure to pair them with a protein source to ensure you are building up a balanced and satisfying snack. Cottage cheese is a fantastic protein option to choose because it not only features 10+ grams of protein per snack but it also features fat which is the other macronutrient that digests slowly and keeps you fuller for longer. My favorite fruits to eat with cottage cheese are nectarines, pineapple, and berries with cinnamon pecans.
Stirred Into Oatmeal
Trust me when I tell you to trust the process. Unlike the tangy flavor of Greek yogurt, cottage cheese has an incredibly mild flavor which makes it easy to incorporate into just about anything. I am a big oatmeal fan, but I am always searching for ways to up the protein content of my morning oats, and adding a dollop of cottage cheese is one easy hack! For 1/2 cup of cooked oats, I will add about 1/3 to 1/2 cup of low-fat cottage cheese which bumps up the protein content by about 8 to 15 grams of protein depending on brand.
Blended Into Smoothies
If yogurt can go into smoothies, cottage cheese can also go into smoothies. Smoothies are a colorful and easy snack or meal on the go but, just like with the oatmeal, we want to be sure we add in enough protein to keep us full! While protein powder, greek yogurt, fairlife chocolate milk, and peanut butter are popular options for protein sources in smoothies, let’s not forget about cottage cheese. Its mild yet creamy flavor makes it the perfect addition to different smoothies a Peaches and cream smoothie!
Pasta Base
My baby loves mac and cheese, I mean, what’s not to like about noodles and cheese? As a dietitian mom, I am constantly trying new ways to bump up the nutrition. I will add shredded cheese, I’ll add steamed veggies, I’ll sprinkle in nutritional yeast, and lately, I have been stirring in cottage cheese as well. I like to add ½ cup to 1 full cup of cottage cheese into the prepped mac and cheese which makes the pasta a bit creamier and a whole lot more nutritious. Don’t stop at mac and cheese though, cottage cheese is also a great addition to alfredo, creamy mushroom, or many of your other favorite pasta sauces.
Added To Eggs
Protein can be tough to come by during breakfast time, especially when you are in a hurry to get out the door for work or get your kids to the bus stop on time. Eggs come together really quickly and if you are wanting to up the protein content, cottage cheese can be easily stirred into scrambled eggs to increase protein, increase volume, and change the texture of the scrambled eggs.
On a Rice Cake
This is my go-to healthy snack with cottage cheese because it’s easy, delicious, and nutritious. I love to break up the texture of cottage cheese with the crunch of a savory rice cake. My personal favorite flavors are the tomato basil or white cheddar rice cakes with cottage cheese.
Salad Dressing
You heard me right, cottage cheese can actually be used to make a salad dressing. Now if I am honest, I have only ever used it as the base of my ranch dressing… blog post coming soon on this but don’t let me limit your creativity in the meantime! If a creamy dressing can be made with Greek yogurt, a creamy dressing can also be made with cottage cheese. I would suggest blending this in a blender to achieve that creamy consistency but ranch dressing, creamy salsa verde, or a delicious creamy herb dressing are all fantastic options.
As a Fruit or Vegetable Dip
Piggybacking off the salad dressing idea, you can also use cottage cheese to make a delicious fruit or vegetable dop. For fruit, stir a little bit of 1 tbsp peanut butter, 1/2 tsp of vanilla, and a few chocolate chips into 1/2 cup of blended cottage cheese. For your vegetables, add a sprinkle of ranch seasoning to 1/2 cup of cottage cheese (you can blend it or leave it as it is).
As a Filling
Finally, you can use cottage cheese in a variety of filling options from sweet, savory, or sweet & savory. One of my all-time favorite recipes combines cottage cheese, cream cheese, and rosemary into a delicious blended filling. Then, use that filling to stuff Medjool dates, wrap them in bacon, and bake them to create a delicious, higher-protein appetizer!
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Hey! I’m Lauren
I’m a registered dietitian and my goal is to give you tips and tricks to make healthy eating fun, easy, and even delicious!