Green Chile Cottage Cheese Queso
This blender green chile cottage cheese queso is a creamy, high protein dip that is loaded with mild green chile flavor and pairs perfectly with lime tortilla chips!
Growing up in California, if you ordered a bowl of “queso” at a restaurant, you would likely end up with a bowl of shredded cheese or queso fresco placed in front of you. It simply wasn’t on the menu where I come from!
You can imagine my surprise when, shortly after moving to Texas for college, my roommates ordered a bowl of queso and chips and a creamy bowl of deliciously melted cheese appears in front of us. What is this?! While I’m not generally a Tex-Mex fan, it’s tough not to be a fan of queso.
When cottage cheese queso began trending online, naturally I had to take my own spin on it. Loaded with mild green chile flavors, this green chile cottage cheese queso is a delicious, high protein dip that mimics the classic queso we love but packs a tasty protein punch!
Why you’ll love this recipe:
You’ll absolutely love this hatch green chile cottage cheese queso because it’s:
Thick and creamy: You’ll want a strong chip for this one! One of the reasons why I love using blended cottage cheese in cream or cheese based recipes is because it preserves the creaminess but significantly alters the nutrition of your recipe.
Loaded with nutrition: Cottage cheese is high in protein, calcium, phosphorous, potassium, and vitamin B12 yet low in calorie. It’s also a vegetarian friendly protein source and easy to add to a variety of recipes.
A healthy twist on a classic: While I do love me a regular bowl of queso, I also like finding ways to give a healthy twist that still tastes good. Now, I won’t like to you and say that this is EXACTLY like queso, but its very similar and much more nutritious for when you want something lighter.
Family friendly: This dip is full of mild flavor and will be loved by all family members.
You’re going to love this easy recipe!
Other High Protein Dips & Dressings
If this cottage cheese queso isn’t jumping out at you, here are a few other high protein dips and dressings you can try out:
Blended Cottage Cheese Ranch Dip
This 2 ingredient blended cottage cheese ranch dip is rich and creamy and is the perfect high protein dip for chips and vegetables.
Cottage cheese jalepeno ranch
Cottage cheese ranch is fun, but have you every tried cottage cheese jalapeño ranch? This spicy dip pairs well with tortilla chips and tacos and is a nutritious and delicious way to add some protein to your plate.
Peanut Butter Greek Yogurt Dip
Cottage cheese isn’t the only way to add protein to a dip! This peanut butter and yogurt dip is perfect for apples or to add to breakfast charcuterie boards.
Ingredients:
One of the best parts about this easy cottage cheese queso recipe is that it is made with less than 5 ingredients! All you’ll need is:
Cottage cheese: I used low fat cottage cheese cheese and I find that the Daisy brand blends easier than other brands due to a higher moisture content. You can use whichever brand you like!
Shredded cheddar cheese: Freshly shredded! Do not use pre-shredded cheese as it won’t melt properly.
Mild diced green chiles: I used the entire 4 oz can of mild diced green chiles for this recipe. You could always add more if you want a stronger green Chile flavor or use half the can if you want a more subtle flavor.
Taco seasoning: To give it a flavor flare.
Optional milk to thin: Add milk until your queso reaches the consistency that you want. It will also thin slightly in the microwave as you slowly warm it up.
The process:
This cottage cheese queso will be ready to enjoy in just three simple steps:
Add all of your ingredients to a blender or food processor.
Blend until smooth.
Add to a bowl and SLOWLY microwave until slightly warmed. Serve with tortilla chips and enjoy!
LTN Tip: Microwave this dish slowly and DO NOT OVERHEAT. Cottage cheese is very temperature sensitive and can curdle if overheated. I recommend microwaving in 15 second increments and stirring often, then enjoying when slightly warmed.
Swaps and substitutions:
There are so many ways that you can make this cottage cheese queso your own. You can try:
Adding some spice: Blend in full jalapeños or even cayenne pepper to add some spice.
Change how you serve it: I paired my cottage cheese queso with chips and served it as a side dish for shrimp tacos but you could also use it as a dip for quesadillas, toppings for fajitas, or dip for vegetables like bell peppers.
Change your mix ins: This recipe is so simple and that makes it the perfect one to customize with different add ins! Change up the cheese you use, swap your seasonings, or blend in different ingredients like tomatoes to add new flavor to your queso.
Thin it out and make it a dressing: You can add extra milk to this cottage cheese queso to make it a cheesy dressing instead! Then, serve it with taco salads or another preferred salad for a high protein salad dressing that your family will love.
There really are so many different ways that you can serve this recipe!
Recipe FAQ:
Can I make this recipe lower in calorie?
Absolutely! While this recipe is already significantly lower in calorie and higher in protein than traditional queso recipes, you can make it an even lower calorie queso dip by choosing non-fat or 1% fat cottage cheese as your base.
Help, I think I overheated my cottage cheese queso!
Small white specks in your cottage cheese recipes are common and the recipe is still safe the eat. The key to warming cottage cheese is to make sure you warm it very slowly, either stirring often in the microwave of over low heat on the stove top.
How long will the leftovers stay good?
Per the USDA, you can refrigerate the leftovers for 3 to 4 days and enjoy throughout the week making this a great dip to store in the refrigerator. As always, you should also use your best judgment when assessing leftovers and give it a stir before you enjoy it again.
Hatch Green Chile Cottage Cheese Queso
Ingredients
Instructions
- Add all of your ingredients to a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth, adding milk as needed until it reaches the desired consistency.
- Add your cottage cheese queso to a microwave safe bowl and SLOWLY warm, stirring often, until slightly warmed through. Serve with chips and enjoy!
All nutrition information has been approximated.
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Hey! I’m Lauren
I’m a Registered Dietitian and busy toddler mom committed to bringing you delicious, nutritious, and easy-to-make recipes!