Interest in high-protein diets is at an all-time high, so protein-packed foods like cottage cheese are more popular than ever.
Cottage cheese provides 23.5 grams of filling protein per cup and an abundance of vitamins and minerals, like B12, calcium, and selenium. Its tangy taste and creamy texture make it a perfect ingredient for both sweet and savory dishes.
From a high-protein toast topping to a nutritious take on ice cream, here are 8 smart ways to use cottage cheese, according to dietitians.
To bump up the protein content and creaminess of your favorite smoothie, add some cottage cheese.
“Cottage cheese is one of my favorite cheeses because of how versatile it is,” Amanda Sauceda, MS, RD, told Health. She likes to add a few dollops of cottage cheese to her smoothies, instead of protein powder.
Steph Greunke, MS, RD, CPT, PMH-C likes to use cottage cheese in addition to other sources of protein for an extra filling smoothie. “You can use cottage cheese as your main source of protein, or stack it on top of a protein powder to reach around 30-40 grams of protein per serving,” she said.
Try combining cottage cheese with a blend of frozen fruits, like raspberries and bananas, along with a milk of your choice for a simple yet delicious smoothie.
If you crave the creaminess of mayo but want to add more protein into your diet, try using cottage cheese instead.
Greunke loves to use cottage cheese in dishes like egg salad and chicken salad. But first, you’ll need to spice it up a bit.
You can also use it in potato salad. “This will reduce the fat and calorie content of your dish, while upping the protein,” explained Greunke.
“One of my favorite ways to enjoy cottage cheese is in a savory Mediterranean-style bowl with tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, kalamata olives, and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar,” Michelle Routhenstein, MS RD CDCES CDN, told Health.
Adding cottage cheese to veggie dishes also helps increase levels of nutrients that are typically low in vegetables, like zinc and B12.
B12 is necessary for neurological function, red blood cell production, and metabolism, while zinc plays important roles in immune health, cell division, and protein and DNA synthesis.
Popular toast toppings, like butter and jam, are lacking key nutrients, like protein. To increase the satiety factor of your toast, try using cottage cheese as a creamy, flavorful topping. Protein slows digestion and stimulates the release of satiety hormones, which helps you feel full after eating.
If you crave a sweeter option, Cornell recommends layering your toast with berries, like sliced strawberries, then finishing your dish with a drizzle of agave and balsamic glaze.
For a lower-calorie, higher-protein take on ice cream, try making cottage cheese ice cream. Cornell recommends using an ice cream maker to make a creamy and satisfying, high-protein dessert with cottage cheese.
Cornell likes to make a strawberry and balsamic ice cream using cottage cheese, fresh strawberries, balsamic glaze, and agave.
No ice cream maker? No problem! Blend cottage cheese until smooth, then stir in chopped fresh fruit and a touch of honey or your favorite sweetener. Pop it in the freezer until firm for a healthy take on homemade ice cream.
Eggs are a solid protein source, packing 6.3 grams per large egg. They also provide other essential nutrients like vitamin A, B12, choline, and selenium.
Cottage cheese is a good source of probiotics, which are microorganisms that can benefit health when ingested in specific amounts. Consuming probiotic-rich foods may help support gut health by encouraging the growth of beneficial bacteria in your large intestine.
To ensure your cottage cheese is a good source of probiotics, choose products made with live and active cultures. This means that the product contains significant levels of live and active probiotics.
Sauceda likes using cottage cheese as a base for alfredo or marinara sauces.
Cottage cheese can easily replace pasta sauce ingredients like heavy cream, cheese, or butter, offering fewer calories and fat with the added bonus of more protein
And don’t forget to add high-fiber ingredients to your pasta, like roasted vegetables, to round out the nutritional value of your dish.
Though baked goods like muffins and breads are delicious, they’re typically low in protein. To fix this issue, Greunke likes to add cottage cheese to her go-to recipes.
Greunke also likes to blend cottage cheese and add it to pancake and waffle batter for a high-protein spin on these breakfast favorites.
With its creamy flavor and high protein content, cottage cheese is a versatile staple worth stocking in your fridge.
Not only can it be added to both sweet and savory dishes, but it can help improve the texture, taste, and nutritional value of your favorite recipes.
