Cottage cheese has a ton of benefits. It is relatively low in calories and is a solid source of essential nutrients like calcium and protein. That makes it great for anyone counting calories or tracking their macros.
Please note that not all products are the same. It is advisable to eat the low-fat varieties of cottage cheese, stay away from any additives, especially additional sugars, and buy organic products when possible.
You should also be careful to check the nutrition label for sodium content. Cottage cheese tends to be high in sodium , a cup can contain up to 900 milligrams, or more than a third of the daily amount recommended by the American Heart Association. So choose the one with the least salt.
We guarantee that these recipes, which contain as much protein as a chicken breast. They will be to your liking and will make you change your mind about this underrated product.
5 recipes with cottage cheese
Although it tastes great with fruit for breakfast or to dip your snacks, cottage cheese is much more versatile than you might think. From frittatas to oatmeal cakes to spinach artichoke sauces, there are countless ways to incorporate this creamy cheese, you can even completely hide the flavor and texture among other ingredients if that suits your tastes better.
1. Chocolate peanut butter and cottage cheese
The combination of chocolate and peanut butter is possibly one of the best flavors out there. This recipe has 327 calories and 35 grams of protein.
1.1 Ingredients:
- 2/3 cup cottage cheese
- 1 tablespoon of natural peanut butter
- 1/2 tablespoon chocolate flavored protein powder
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened organic cocoa powder
1.2 Instructions:
- In a bowl, combine the cottage cheese, natural peanut butter, chocolate protein powder, and unsweetened cocoa powder.
- Mix well until all components are consistently combined.
This is a quick and convenient post-gym snack for muscle building, especially on strength training days.
2. Double baked sweet potato with cheese
You’ll get tons of flavor in every bite of this sweet potato. The recipe uses two types of cheese, cheddar and cottage cheese, and a double cooking method. Look for low-sodium cottage cheese to limit your salt intake and support good cardiovascular health.
This recipe has 220 calories and 27 grams of protein
2.1 Ingredients
- 1 raw sweet potato
- 1/2 cup fat-free cottage cheese and 1/2 cup low-fat cheddar cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius.
- Prick the skin of the sweet potato with a fork, 6 or 7 times. Bake on a baking sheet for 45 to 60 minutes, until the meat is tender.
- Cut the sweet potato in half lengthwise and use a spoon to scoop out the meat.
- Combine the sweet potato meat, cottage cheese, half the cheddar cheese, and black pepper in a mixing bowl.
- Move the sweet potato skins to a greased saucepan.
- Return the filling to the sweet potato skins and sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese over each half.
- Bake for another 15 to 20 minutes, until hot. Serve immediately.
If you’re looking for a sweet and flavorful side dish, look no further than this twice-baked sweet potato. This one has twice the cheese, low-fat cheddar, and cottage cheese, for twice the flavor.
3. Cheese and vegetables spread on crackers
3.1 Ingredients:
- 2 stalks of celery
- 1 carrot
- 1/2 red bell pepper and 1/2 yellow bell pepper
- 7 walnut halves
- 1 cup low-fat cottage cheese
- 1 pinch of ground black pepper
- 6 gluten-free cookies
Instructions:
- Mix the vegetables and nuts with the cottage cheese and add pepper to taste.
- Serve with cookies for dipping.
This 500 calorie snack puts a twist on your traditional cheese and crackers, replacing cheddar and gouda with cottage cheese. It also offers 24 grams of fiber thanks to fresh vegetables and an impressive 51 grams of protein.
The best part is that you don’t need to cook. Simply chop up the bell peppers, carrot, and celery sticks and toss them into a bowl of cottage cheese. For more fiber filling, use whole grain crackers for dipping.
This veggie-packed breakfast omelette is loaded with fiber, protein, and other nutrients to give you energy throughout the day.
4. Mushroom and tomato omelette
Loaded with meaty mushrooms and juicy tomatoes, this low calorie omelette is the perfect way to start your day. Between eggs and cottage cheese, it has a powerful protein boost (36 grams per serving).
4.1 Ingredients
- 4 egg whites
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup low-fat cottage cheese
- 1/2 cup of sliced mushrooms
- 1/2 tomato
4.2 Instructions:
- Combine the eggs and beat lightly.
- Using cooking spray, cook the eggs in a nonstick skillet.
- Add the cottage cheese, mushrooms, and tomatoes to the center of the tortilla.
- Cook until the eggs are done and fold the omelette.
5. Protein pancakes with cottage cheese
Not a fan of cottage cheese texture? This high protein pancake recipe is for you . Cottage cheese is camouflaged when mixed with rolled oats, eggs, and vanilla extract to make a smooth pancake batter. So you get all the protein and calcium without the curd clumps.
These protein-packed pancakes will give you the energy you need to start your day and the protein to keep your appetite in check.
5.1 Ingredients
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup fresh cottage cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 pinch of sea salt
5.2 Instructions:
- Combine all the ingredients in a bowl.
- Lightly coat a nonstick skillet with extra light olive oil or vegetable oil and heat over medium-high heat.
- Once the skillet is hot, add the batter to make small or large pancakes, as desired.
- Once the batter starts to bubble (after a few minutes), flip it over and cook until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes.
If you don’t like the texture as is, you can mix the ingredients before cooking to make it more like pancake batter.
Conclution
This dairy delicacy may be the most versatile food in your fridge. The recipes above prove that cottage cheese can give everything from oatmeal to ice cream a protein-packed punch.
Whether you love cottage cheese or hate it, there are recipes here that I guarantee you will love them.
References
- Osnato, J. (2020). 7 Cottage-Cheese Recipes That Have as Much Protein as Chicken Breast. For. Livestrong. [Revised March 2020].
