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This cottage cheese mac and cheese is a protein-packed, delicious twist on the classic comfort food that’s surprisingly satisfying! It’s easy to whip up this creamy spin in a blender.
Cottage cheese has become a trendy ingredient lately, and luckily here at A Couple Cooks Alex and I have always been super fans of this protein-packed cheese. Here’s our latest idea for what to make with it: cottage cheese mac and cheese!
Why we love this recipe: The curds whip up into a deliciously creamy sauce that’s protein-packed and makes a silky coating for noodles. It’s so simple to whiz up the sauce in a blender. I must admit Alex wasn’t on board with my idea for this recipe at first, but once he tasted it he became a believer. We hope you’ll love it just as much as we do!
Featured reader comment
“I made the mac n cheese recipe and had to let you know that it was so yummy!! I did end up baking it and added a little cheese on top along with crumbs and ended up loving how easy and delicious it was. Thank you!”
The 7 ingredients you need for cottage cheese mac and cheese
You might be thinking, cottage cheese in pasta? Turns out, these white curds blend up perfectly when combined with cheddar cheese and a few spices. I’ve found it’s best to add a bit of cornstarch to the mix to help the sauce thicken up nicely, otherwise it has less body and doesn’t coat the noodles as well. It works similar to a roux in a standard cheese sauce. Here are a few notes on the ingredients:
- Short pasta: Any type of short noodles work for mac and cheese, with the standard being macaroni. We used cavatappi here. Other shapes that work well are shells, penne, rigatoni, and spirals.
- Cottage cheese: We recommend 4% milkfat cottage cheese, which has the richest flavor and most milkfat. The 2% milkfat option also works, but avoid fat free cottage cheese since the flavor is not as robust.
- Milk of choice: Use whatever milk you have on hand. We typically use 2% milk, but whole milk works too!
- Cornstarch: This helps to thicken the sauce and add a silky body, similar to the flour and butter-based roux in most traditional mac and cheese recipes (like this one).
- Shredded cheddar cheese: Shredded cheddar helps to add thickness and texture to the sauce, as well as add that expected mac and cheese flavor.
- Garlic powder and paprika: These spices round out the mix! The paprika is optional but helps to make a more vibrant color.
Tips for blending the sauce
Making mac and cheese with cottage cheese is so simple: all you have to do is cook the pasta to al dente and blend the sauce while the pasta is cooking. You should have plenty of time to whip up the sauce while the pasta cooks. If the pasta happens to take longer or you pre-cook your pasta, make sure to toss it with a bit of olive oil or it will stick to the pan.
We use a high-speed blender for our blended recipes, which blends the sauce into a creamy texture in a few seconds. A standard blender and food processor can work here as well. A small blender can work depending on its size capacity.
Bake it for even more flavor!
This cottage cheese mac and cheese is ready in just 20 minutes if you cook the pasta, then toss it together with the blended sauce. We go for this option for quick weeknight dinners.
If you have slightly more time, baking the mac and cheese adds even more flavor! It helps the sauce to permeate the noodles, making it taste richer and more savory. Pour the pasta into a baking dish and bake at 350°F for 15 minutes.
Note for serving a crowd
This recipe works well doubled for serving a crowd. You can use the 2x button in the recipe below to quickly double the quantities. Using 1 pound of pasta, you can pour it into a 9 x 13″ baking dish and bake for 15 minutes at 350°F before serving.
What are the benefits of cottage cheese?
Why put cottage cheese into your mac and cheese, anyway? According to Healthline, this cheese is a healthy option when compared to other types of cheeses. Here are some of the benefits of cottage cheese:
- It’s a lower calorie cheese compared to many others. A 1-cup serving has just 163 calories.
- It’s very high in protein. 1 cup has a whopping 28 grams of protein, over half your daily need. Impressively, the protein accounts for over 70% of the calories.
- It’s also packed with nutrients like B vitamins, calcium, phosphorus, and selenium.
Quick ways to make it a meal
Is mac and cheese a main or a side? To us it’s usually a main dish: but this cottage cheese spin works either way! I love this one either way, as a quick weeknight meal or baked up in a big pan as a side for entertaining. If you’re eating it as a main dish, here are a few quick ways to make it into a meal:
- Green salads like arugula salad, kale salad, chopped salad, apple walnut salad, or Caesar salad
- Slaws like coleslaw, apple slaw, or kale slaw
- Sauteed veggies like ultimate veggie sauté, broccoli, broccolini, peas, or kale
Storing leftovers
Cottage cheese mac and cheese lasts refrigerated for up to 3 days. To reheat it, place it in a pan on the stovetop and gently reheat, adding a splash of milk or pinch of salt if necessary.
A few more cottage cheese recipes we love
We love cottage cheese! You can make killer pancakes, delicious breakfast bowls, toast, scrambled eggs, and everything in between. Here are a few favorite cottage cheese recipes to get started:
Dietary notes
This cottage cheese mac and cheese recipe is vegetarian.
Frequently asked questions
Not at all! Cottage cheese adds a creamy texture and a slight tang that complements the cheesy flavor beautifully. It’s also a lighter alternative to traditional mac and cheese recipes.
We recommend 4% milkfat cottage cheese here for best flavor. Since the sauce is made in a blender, you can use any type of cottage cheese: small or large curd.
Yes! While a blender creates the smoothest sauce, you can use a potato masher to break down the cottage cheese until it’s relatively smooth. Keep in mind the texture will be chunkier.
Cottage Cheese Mac and Cheese
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
This cottage cheese mac and cheese is a protein-packed, delicious twist on the classic comfort food that’s surprisingly satisfying! It’s easy to whip up this creamy spin in a blender.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces short pasta*
- 1 cup 4% milkfat cottage cheese
- ¾ cup milk of choice (we used 2%)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon paprika (optional, for color)
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and boil until al dente (check a few minutes before the package instructions indicate). Drain the pasta.
- Meanwhile, in a blender, blend the cottage cheese, milk, cornstarch, shredded cheddar cheese, garlic powder, paprika, and kosher salt. Pour the cheese mixture into a skillet and heat for 5 minutes, until thickened. Once it is thickened, remove from the heat until the pasta finishes.
- When the sauce is finished, add the cooked and drained pasta. Stir to combine. Taste and add a pinch of salt if necessary.
- Serve immediately, or allow it to sit for a few minutes to absorb the sauce flavors (you can also transfer to a baking dish and bake for 15 minutes at 350°F for even more flavor). If desired, top with seasoned panko or breadcrumbs for a crunchy topping. Leftovers last up to 3 days refrigerated; reheat gently on the stovetop and add a splash of milk or pinch of salt if necessary.
Notes
*This recipe is easy to double for a crowd, then place in a 9 x 13 pan and bake for 15 minutes at 350°F .
- Category: Main dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Vegetarian
- Diet: Vegetarian
I made the mac n cheese recipe and had to let you know that it was so yummy!! I did end up baking it and added a little cheese on top along with crumbs and ended up loving how easy and delicious it was. Thank you!
So glad you nejoyed!
Easy and delicious!
I don’t see the nutritional info. for this recipe? Did I miss it?
Just added!
What’s the nutrition info on the cottage cheese Mac and cheese?
Just added!