Top Cottage Cheese Recipes for Health & Taste

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Cottage cheese is back in the spotlight after TikTok and fitness influencers highlighted its many benefits. This milk wonder is rich in protein and calcium and low in fat, making it the perfect ingredient for healthy and savory meals. Read further to learn about today’s star ingredient and get recipe ideas.

3 Best Platforms To Buy Cottage Cheese 

Before we dive into the recipes, let’s check out some of the top platforms where you can buy cottage cheese at affordable prices. 

Walmart 

Walmart has a wide variety of cottage cheese to choose from. Whether you want to carve cottage cheese with berries, pineapple, or just plain cottage cheese, you can shop at Walmart.

Get Your Cottage Cheese at Walmart.

Good Culture

If you are on the lookout for organic cottage cheese, Good Culture is the answer. Good Culture assures that their cottage cheese is made of simple and real ingredients. 

Shop Organic Cottage Cheese at Good Culture.

Old Home 

Old Home is a women-owned brand that has been serving quality food since 1925 and is one of the most trusted brands for dairy products, especially cottage cheese. 

Get Your Cottage Cheese at Old Home.

Healthy Cottage Cheese Recipes

Adding cottage cheese to your diet can prove beneficial. Cottage cheese is rich in proteins and calcium. Not just that, cottage cheese can be a substitute for mozzarella, goat cheese, and cream cheese since it is low in fat. Here are some high-protein recipes with cottage cheese.

Cottage Cheese Omelette

A cottage cheese omelet is a great way to start your day with a protein-rich breakfast. The steps are easy and hardly take much preparation time, while providing a double boost of protein and minerals. Just add grated paneer and form a layer of it on your omelet and you’re ready with a power-pack breakfast. Let’s see in details how to make it.

Ingredients

• Eggs
• Water 
• Butter
• Mint Leaves 
• Cottage Cheese

Method

• In a bowl, beat eggs, cold water, and mint leaves. While you are doing this, heat the pan. 
• Add butter to the pan and let it melt. 
• Pour the egg batter into the pan. Cook the egg and grate a layer of cottage cheese on while it’s still a bit sticky.
• Let the dish cook for two minutes before garnishing the omelet with cilantro or mint leaves and serve.

Chicken and Cottage Cheese Lasagna

Cottage cheese is a good substitute for ricotta owing to its light, creamy flavor that is similar to it. Also, cottage cheese retains its creamy consistency and doesn’t curdle when heated, which makes it a perfect cheese to use in your lasagna.

Ingredients

For the Meat Sauce:

• Olive oil
• 4 Cloves garlic (roughly chopped)
• 1 Small yellow onion (chopped)
• 1 lb. Chicken
• 1 tsp. Oregano
• 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp. Paprika
• ½ tsp. Chili powder
• 1 tsp. Salt
• ½ tsp. Black pepper 
• 32 oz. Jar of marinara sauce 

For the Filling:

• Cottage cheese 
• 2 Eggs
• ½ Cup parmesan cheese 
• ½ tsp. oregano
• ½ tsp. Italian seasoning
• Salt
• Black Pepper 
• 10 oz. Spinach 

For the Lasagna:

• 8 Oven-ready lasagna noodles 
• Mozzarella cheese 

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
2. Prepare the Meat Sauce:
   • Heat olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat.
   • Add chopped garlic and onions and cook until softened and browned.
   • Add 1 lb. of ground chicken and cook until browned.
   • Stir in oregano, Italian seasoning, paprika, chili powder, salt, pepper, and marinara sauce. Simmer for 10 minutes.’
3. Prepare the Cottage Cheese Filling:
   • In a bowl, mix cottage cheese, eggs, parmesan, oregano, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and spinach.
4. Assemble the Lasagna:
   • Spray cooking spray on a baking dish (correcting “backing dish”).
   • Layer 4 lasagna noodles at the bottom of the dish.
   • Add a layer of chicken sauce, followed by the cottage cheese filling, and sprinkle with mozzarella.
   • Repeat the layers, ending with a layer of mozzarella on top.
5. Bake the Lasagna:
   • Cover the dish with foil and bake for 50 minutes.
   • After 50 minutes, remove the foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
6. Serve:
   • Let the lasagna rest for 5–10 minutes before serving. Enjoy the chicken and cottage cheese lasagna with your loved ones!

Mini Lemon Cottage Cheesecake

Mini lemon cottage cheesecake is a great option when you are on a diet but are craving something sweet. Cottage cheesecake will be high on protein and low on sugar and carbs making it a great option for a cheat day dessert.

Ingredients

• 300g cottage cheese
• 125g reduced-fat high-protein natural yogurt 
• 1 small lemon
• 3 eggs
• 1 ½ tbsp maple syrup

Methods

• Preheat the oven to 160°C. Grease 6 holes in a muffin tin (each hole should hold about 80ml). Then, cut small circles of baking paper to put at the bottom of each muffin hole.
• Cut 12 strips of baking paper, each about 2 cm wide and 8 cm long. Put 2 strips in each muffin hole, letting them hang over the sides like handles.
• Place cheese, yogurt, lemon, eggs, and maple syrup in a food processor. Mix until smooth.
• Pour the mixture into the prepared muffin holes. Bake for 20 minutes or until the cheesecakes are set. 
• Set aside for 15 minutes to cool slightly before carefully transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Place in the fridge to chill.

Savory Cottage Cheese Recipes

Are you on a diet but craving something delicious and savory? We have listed out our top savory cottage cheese recipes that will satisfy your taste buds without compromising your goals. 

Cottage Cheese Toast

Cottage cheese toast great option for your on-the-go healthy snack for your weight loss journey. One small cottage cheese toast has only up to 110 calories and keeps you feeling full to help you avoid eating unnecessarily. 

Ingredients

• Bread 
• Tomato sauce
• Zucchini
• Chopped spinach
• Cottage cheese
• Cherry tomatoes
• Fresh basil

Method

• In a small bowl, mix tomato sauce and zucchini.
• Spread mixture onto both bread slices.
• Top the bread with spinach. 
• Add your desired amount of cottage cheese to the bread. 
• Chop cherry tomatoes and air fry the toast at 390F for about 8 minutes.

Big Mac Pizza

Big Mac cottage cheese pizza is low in carbs and high in protein than traditional pizza. Cottage cheese adds a creamy texture to your pizza and will complement the other ingredients. 

Ingredients

For Dough 

• 2 ¼ Cups of self-rising flour 270g (Combination of all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt)
• 2 Cups cottage cheese 16 oz.
• ¼ tsp. Basil
• ¼ tsp. Oregano
• Chopped lettuce

Meat (For Non-Vegetrainians)

• 1 lb. Ground beef/chicken
• 1 tsp. Yellow mustard
• 1 tsp. Garlic powder
• 1 tsp. Onion powder
• ½ tsp. Salt
• Fresh black pepper 

Vegetables (For Vegetrainians)

• Mushrooms 
• Bell peppers 
• Onions 
• Zucchini
• Spinach

Sauce 

• ¼ Cup mayonnaise 
• ¼ Cup ketchup 
• ¼ Cup finely chopped dill pickles
• 1 tbsp. pickle juice

Topping

• Lots and lots of cheese

Method

• Preheat the oven to 200^o
• In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, cottage cheese, salt, basil, and oregano. Use your hands to mix the ingredients until they form into a large doughball. 
• The dough will be sticky. Sprinkle all-purpose flour on a clean counter. 
• Place the dough on the counter and roll it. Once the dough is rolled to the desired size, transfer it to a baking disk. 
• Place the dough evenly.
  

For the filling: 

• In a skillet pan, add the meat (optional) and cook it thoroughly. 
• Next add garlic powder, onion powder, mustard, and salt and pepper. 
• You can substitute meat for vegetables. Instead of meat sauté mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, zucchini, spinach, or artichokes. These will bring rich flavors to your pizza.
  

For the sauce: 

• While the filling cooks in another mixing bowl, add ketchup, pickles, mayonnaise, and pickle juice.
• Mix the sauce thoroughly. 
• Pour the sauce on the raw dough and spread it evenly. Keep aside half of the sauce to drizzle on the pizza to add more flavor. 
• Now take your filling and cover the pizza with it. Top the pizza with the desired amount of cheese (there’s no such thing as too much cheese) 
• Now place your cheese-covered pizza in the oven for 25-30 minutes.
• Enjoy your cheesy cottage cheese pizza!

Cottage Cheese Queso

Queso in Spanish is “cheese” and referred to cheese dips. Cottage cheese queso can be an ideal substitute for a melted cheese dip that can be enjoyed with nachos, tacos, or your favorite chips. 

Ingredients

• Cottage cheese 
• Taco seasoning 
• ¾ Cup shredded Colby Jack cheese 
• ¾ Cup freshly shredded cheddar cheese 84g
• Sliced black olives 
• Chopped cilantro 
• ¼ Cup red bell pepper finely chopped
• 2 tbsp. Pickled jalapeños minced
  

Method 

• In a large mixing bowl add cottage cheese with all the ingredients.
• Mix thoroughly and let the mixture set in the fridge for around an hour.
• Enjoy the dip with chips.

Cottage Cheese Desert Recipes

Cottage cheese as a desert makes for a guilt-free sweet experience. With its creamy texture and mild tangy flavor, cottage cheese makes a great base for sweet treats. 

Chocolate Cottage Cheese Pudding

A healthy alternative to a chocolate pudding you would purchase in a store which would be high in sugar and low in protein. In addition to that cottage cheese is good for your gut and the creamy consistency will add a great texture to your pudding. 

Ingredients

• 200g Cottage cheese
• 2 Scoops protein powder (chocolate flavor) 
• 1 tbsp Cocoa powder
• 2 tbsp Peanut butter
• 50g Oats
• 80ml Milk of choice

Method 

• Add all the ingredients in the blender and blend. 
• Pour the mixture into small bowls and top it with chocolate for added flavor. 
• Let the pudding set in the fridge overnight or 5 hours. 

Cottage Cheese and Raspberry Muffins

The combination of cottage cheese and raspberry in a muffin is a healthy and delicious snack. Cottage cheese will add a great texture to your muffin and raspberry antioxidants, vitamin C, and fiber that will keep you full for a longer period. 

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cup self-raising flour
• 200g cottage cheese
• Honey 
• ⅓ Cup coconut oil
• 2 Eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 ⅓ Cups frozen raspberries

Method

• Preheat the oven to 190^o. 
• Grease 12 holes in a muffin tin and cut small circles of baking paper to put at the bottom of each muffin hole.
• Combine the flour, cottage cheese, honey (depending on your taste), oil, eggs, and vanilla extract. 
• Mix it thoroughly till the batter thickens and drizzle raspberries then fold the mixture. 
• Pour the mixture into the muffin pan evenly.
• Let the muffins bake for 10 minutes till they turn a lovely golden brown.
• Enjoy your raspberry and cottage cheese muffins.

Cottage Cheese Chocolate Mousse

Cottage cheese chocolate mousse satisfies your sweet tooth cravings along with increasing your protein intake. 

Ingredients

• Cottage cheese
• Maple syrup 
• Cocoa powder

Method 

• Add all the ingredients in a blender and blend the mixture until smooth. 
• Once the mixture is smooth pour your mousse in a small bowl or glass and leave it in the fridge for around 1 hour to set. 
• Before consuming the mousse you can add whipped cream and sprinkle chocolate chips or any other sprinkler to garnish your mousse. 

Cottage Cheese Breakfast Ideas 

Cottage cheese is a versatile and healthy option for breakfast. Cottage cheese is a great way to kickstart your day filled with of proteins and vitamins. Try out some of these quick and easy cottage cheese breakfast recipes that can be prepared in minutes.

Mixed Fruits and Cottage Cheese Smoothie Bowl

Smoothie bowl is loved by all and adding cottage cheese to this would just make it better. The smooth texture of cottage cheese balances the crunchiness of the fruits making it the ultimate smoothie bowl combination. 

Ingredients

• 1 cup frozen fruit (mixed berries, mango, strawberry, banana, apples, etc.)
• ½ cup cottage cheese 
• Milk

Method

• Add the frozen fruits and the cottage cheese in a blender and blend.
• Once you have blended the cottage cheese and frozen fruits add a splash of milk to give your smoothie bowl a smooth consistency. 
• Transfer the smoothie to a bowl and sprinkle with desired toppings. 

Cottage Cheese With Scrambled Eggs

Mix cottage cheese with scrambled egg for double flavor and power. Adding cottage cheese to your scrambled eggs enhances the flavors and makes the scrambled eggs fluffy.

Ingredients

• Butter
• Cottage cheese
• 2 Eggs 

Method

• In a large mixing bowl, add the eggs and cottage cheese. Whisk the ingredients well. 
• Heat the frying pan at medium heat with butter or oil 
• Slowly pour the egg mix into the pan.
• Using a spatula stir the eggs for about 5-6 minutes.
• Take the scrambled eggs off the pan and serve. 

Indian Cottage Cheese Recipes 

Everyone is a fan of Indian cuisine because of its rich, flavorful dishes. One of the most loved ingredients in these recipes is American cottage cheese (or paneer, as it’s known in India). So if you want to try Indian, you can try out one of these Indian recipes with American cottage cheese that are flavorful, and also not over-the-top complex.

Palak Panner

Palak paneer is an Indian dish traditionally eaten with naan (Indian bread) or rice. It is a meal dish, so the preparation time could be a little more, but it sure is going to be worth it. Ground spinach gravy with tender paneer marinated in Indian spices (see ingredients) makes this dish not only tasty but also a rich source of iron and protein. If you’re ready to cook this delicacy at your home tonight, let’s see how you make it.

Ingredients

• 400 grams palak (spinach)
• 1 Tomato
• 5 Finely chopped garlic 
• Ginger
• 1 Green chili
• 1 tbsp. Oil
• Finely chopped onion 
• 1 tsp. Garam Masala
• ¼ tsp. Turmeric powder
• ¼ tsp. Red chili powder
• Salt 
• 2 tbsp. Heavy cream 
• 225 grams paneer (cottatge cheese)
• ½ tbsp. Kasuri methi (crushed)
• Lemon juice (to taste)

Method 

• In a pot boil water and add a pinch of salt. Once the water is boiling add spinach leaves and let it boil for 2-3 minutes. 
• After that in a bowl add ice-cold water and transfer the spinach to the cold water bowl.
• In a blender add the blanched spinach along with chopped garlic, ginger, green chilli, and tomato.
• Blend the ingredients till it becomes a puree.
• On a pan add 2 tbsp oil on medium heat. Once the oil is heated add the remaining chopped garlic. Sauté for a few minutes until it turns light brown. 
• Then add the chopped onions. Cook the onion for 2 to 3 minutes until soft and translucent.
• Now add the spinach puree that you had prepared. 
• Mix it all together thoroughly and add ½ water. 
• Now add the cottage cheese to the curry. 
• Cover the pan and let it cook for 10 minutes on medium heat. Stir at regular intervals to avoid sticking at the bottom.
• Once it is cooked add garam masala, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, and salt.
• Then add the heavy cream for extra flavor.
• Let the curry simmer for 3 to 4 minutes.
• Switch off the flame, add lemon juice and kasuri methi, and mix.
• Let it sit without flame for two minutes. Serve!

Matar Paneer

Matar paneer is another meal-style dish with a rich tangy and spicy base of gravy. The marinated paneer dipped into the tomato and onion puree and with the right spices, the dish forms a delicious course for an afternoon meal.

Ingredients

• 100 g Matar (green peas)
• 1 Onion 
• 1 ½ tsp. Ginger garlic paste
• 200ml Tomato paste
• 1 tsp. Turmeric powder
• ½ tsp. Chili powder
• ½  tsp. Coriander powder
• ½  tsp. Cumin powder
• 1 ½  tsp. Garam masala
• Fenugreek (pinch-dried, leaves, Kasoori Methi)
• Salt
• Pepper powder 
• Vegetable stock 
• 200 g Paneer (cottage cheese)
• 3 tbsp. cream
• Cilantro 

Method 

• Blend an onion into a smooth paste.
• Heat 2 tbsp oil in a pan over medium flame.
• Add onion paste and 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste; sauté until light brown.
• Add chili powder, garam masala, cumin powder, pepper powder, and crushed fenugreek leaves.
• Stir in tomato paste and cook for 5 minutes.
• Add ¼ cup cream to the pan and mix well.
• Pour in ½–1 cup vegetable stock or water and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add paneer cubes and boiled green peas to the gravy.
• Simmer for 5–8 minutes to blend flavors.
• Add a drop of red food coloring if desired.
• Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves.
• Serve hot with naan, roti, or rice.

Paneer Bhurji (Scramble Cottage Cheese)

Panner Paneer bhaji is a great substitute for scrambled eggs for vegetarian people. It’s easier to cook than scrambled eggs, if you like your eggs with base vegetables. However, you’re not bound to add the hefty material to your scrambled paneer. You can just as well add some chili flakes and oregano to your paneer with a dash of salt and pepper.

Ingredients 

• 2- 3 Bowls of Paneer crumbled 
• Oil
• 1 tsp Cumin seeds
• 2 Green chillies
• 1 Chopped onion
• 1 Tomato cut into slices
• ¾ tsp Turmeric
• ½ Coriander powder
• Cilantro 

Method

• On a pan add oil and heat it at medium heat. Add cumin seeds, once the cumin starts sputtering add the chopped green chilies and onion. 
• Saute it for 3-4 minutes till the onions turn translucent. 
• Next add tomatoes, cumin seeds, coriander powder, and salt. You can even add turmeric powder for the authentic yellow color Indian Panner Bhurji. 
• Once the tomatoes are cooked well add the crumbled paneer and mix well. 
• Cook it for a couple of minutes and serve hot with a garnish of cilantro. 
• Enjoy the bhurji with chapati (Indian bread) or bread. 

Conclusion

Now that you have reached the end of this blog you must have understood the versatility of cottage cheese. This healthy yet delicious dairy product is a star owing to its property of being rich in proteins and calcium along with being low in fat. 

With cottage cheese, you can have a wide variety delicacy to choose from. From savory recipes to sweet recipes to help your sweet cravings and cottage cheese diet recipes to keep your diet balanced. Cottage cheese’s ability to blend with every recipe makes it the perfect ingredient for almost all your meals whether you are looking for your diet meal or simply craving something for your sweet tooth.

FAQ’s

How cottage cheese is made?

Cottage cheese is made by heating milk and adding acid (like vinegar or lemon juice) to curdle it. This reaction causes the milk to separate into curds and separates the whey). The curds are then cooked at a low temperature to firm up and drain to remove the whey. After rinsing the curds with cold water to cool them, salt is added for flavor. 

How long is cottage cheese good after opening? 

Cottage cheese has a short shelf life and should be consumed within 5-7 days after it has been opened. 

How much cottage cheese should I eat a day?

To maintain a balanced diet you can consume 100- 200. If you consume too much it can increase the risk of high blood pressure.

Will cottage cheese help you lose weight?

Yes, cottage cheese helps you lose weight. Cottage cheese is low in fat and calories while being high in protein, which makes it a great ingredient to be incorporated into your diet recipes. Additionally, cottage cheese is a good source of calcium, which can play a role in fat metabolism. 

Can cottage cheese cause constipation? 

Yes, cottage cheese can cause constipation in some people because it’s high in fat and low in fiber.