14 High Protein Cottage Cheese Recipes You Need to Try (2024)

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These 14 healthy cottage cheese recipes are easy to make that are high in protein and are super good for you.

14 High Protein Cottage Cheese Recipes You Need to Try (1)

14 High Protein Cottage Cheese Recipes You Need to Try (2)

Cottage Cheese Recipes

Cottage cheese is an underrated ingredient. Most people don’t realize how delicious it is or how many ways you can use it in recipes. You can eat it plain, make cottage cheese eggs, cottage cheese dip for veggies and pita wedges, or serve it with sweet or savory toppings. Whipped cottage cheese can replace cream cheese or ricotta on cottage cheese toast. Or add some to your avocado toast for a high protein breakfast. Or you can use it as an ingredient to make sweet breakfasts or savory lunches. The opportunities are endless!And best of all, it’s an incredibly healthy ingredient.

Cottage cheese is an excellent source of protein and these simple recipes are sure to keep you satisfied. Here are 14 of my favorite healthy cottage cheese recipes to get you started. Each recipe is packed with flavor and good-for-you nutrients.

What is Cottage Cheese?

Cottage cheese is a scrumptious and super affordable dairy product. It’s technically a type of fresh cheese, with a creamy texture more similar to yogurt or sour cream. The process of making cottage cheese is simple. Like with most cheeses, acid is added to milk. This separates the milk solids, which are called curds, from the liquids, which are called whey. The curds are then cut into small pieces, rinsed, and lightly salted. This results in a moist, slightly lumpy texture that’s fairly similar to tapioca.

What Does it Taste Like?

Cottage cheese tastes a lot like cream, but it has a hint of sourness and saltiness. It’s really rich and tastes a lot like a mild cheese. If you’re a fan of other dairy products, the odds are good that you’ll be a fan of cottage cheese, too.

Is it Good For You?

It’s more than just good for you … it’s great for you. One of the main reasons that I eat so much cottage cheese is because it’s chock full of important nutrients and minerals, including calcium and B vitamins. Plus, it also is full of protein. And best of all? Cottage cheese is really low in calories. Would you believe me if I said that one cup of low-fat cottage cheese has a whopping 26 grams of protein with only 91 calories? Because it does!

Is Cottage Cheese Healthier than Yogurt?

I love cottage cheese and yogurt because they’re both so good for you. You can’t go wrong with either of these ingredients. The health benefits are pretty similar, but cottage cheese more protein than Greek yogurt.

Is Cottage Cheese Healthier than Regular Cheese?

Is certainly is. Cottage cheese is significantly healthier than regular cheese because it has so much less fat. In fact, full-fat cottage cheese only contains about 4% fat, compared to 30% for cheddar cheese. That’s not a fair fight!

Is Cottage Cheese Good for Weight Loss?

It’s great for weight loss. When friends tell me they’re trying to lose weight, I always suggest that they try eating cottage cheese. One of the best things you can do for weight loss is to eat a diet that’s high in protein while being low in calories. Cottage cheese is perfect for that goal.

Quick Healthy Snack Ideas

  • Whipped Cottage Cheese + Peanut Butter Powder + Apple Slices
  • Cottage Cheese + Fresh Fruit + Granola
  • Cottage Cheese + Diced Pears + Maple Syrup + Pecans

14 More Healthy Cottage Cheese Recipes You Need to Make

Some of these recipes are sweet, some of them are savory, and they’re all delicious!

14 High Protein Cottage Cheese Recipes You Need to Try (3)

Lasagna Roll Ups With Cottage Cheese

These easy, delicious, high-protein Cottage Cheese Lasagna Roll Ups are vegetarian and perfect weeknight dinners.

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14 High Protein Cottage Cheese Recipes You Need to Try (4)

Savory Cottage Cheese Bowl

Most people think of topping cottage cheese with fruit. But it’s excellent when mixed with vegetables and other savory ingredients. This dish is filled with cucumbers, bell peppers, tomatoes, and green onions. A sprinkle of pistachios adds crunch and takes this recipe to the next level.

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14 High Protein Cottage Cheese Recipes You Need to Try (5)

High Protein Scrambled Eggs with Cottage Cheese

Scrambled eggs are already a healthy breakfast. But they become a lot more healthy when you mix them with cottage cheese. Adding cottage cheese gives your scrambled eggs an extra hit of protein, while also making them creamier and more flavorful.

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14 High Protein Cottage Cheese Recipes You Need to Try (6)

Burst Tomato Cottage Cheese Caprese Bowl

A caprese salad is one of my favorite lunches. But this recipe makes caprese salad a lot healthier, by replacing the mozzarella cheese with cottage cheese. The tomatoes are cooked in an air fryer, which gives them a rich, sweet flavor. The flavors are dynamic!

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14 High Protein Cottage Cheese Recipes You Need to Try (7)

Protein Bagels with Cottage Cheese

Whip up a batch of these quick and easy High Protein Bagels with Cottage Cheese for breakfast or lunch in less than 30 minutes – they come out perfect!

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14 High Protein Cottage Cheese Recipes You Need to Try (8)

Egg White Muffins with Turkey Bacon, Cottage Cheese, and Veggies

Meal prep these delicious, high-protein Egg White Muffins with turkey bacon, cottage cheese, and veggies for a quick breakfast on the go!

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14 High Protein Cottage Cheese Recipes You Need to Try (9)

High-Protein Cottage Cheese Veggie Dip withZa’atar

High Protein Cottage Cheese Veggie Dip with Za'atar is a delicious and healthy snack that's easy to make and perfect for any time of day. A great way to get those veggies in!

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14 High Protein Cottage Cheese Recipes You Need to Try (10)

Berry Cottage Cheese Breakfast Bowl

This dish is like your favorite parfait, but with cottage cheese! The cottage cheese is placed in a bowl and topped with fresh berries, slivered almonds, and a drizzle of honey. It’s about as simple of a breakfast recipe as you could make. But it’s so healthy and delicious.

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14 High Protein Cottage Cheese Recipes You Need to Try (11)

High Protein Oat Waffles

This is one of my favorite waffle recipes, and it has so much flavor and protein. The cottage cheese helps keep these gluten-free waffles tender and moist, while also adding a tart flavor. Top them with fresh fruit and maple syrup for a perfect breakfast.

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14 High Protein Cottage Cheese Recipes You Need to Try (12)

Pineapple Chia with Cottage Cheese

This chia seed pudding is a great meal to start your day with. Chia seeds are soaked in pineapple juice overnight until they’re soft and sweet. Then they’re topped with cottage cheese and fresh pineapple. It’s refreshing, healthy, and incredibly easy to make.

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14 High Protein Cottage Cheese Recipes You Need to Try (13)

Peach Pie Cottage Cheese Bowls

Peaches are one of my favorite foods to eat with cottage cheese. The sweet fruit and the creamy, sour dairy just go so well together. This recipe takes peaches to the next level by cooking them with brown sugar and cinnamon. Some pistachios are added for crunch, with a little bit of honey for extra sweetness. It’s fantastic!

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14 High Protein Cottage Cheese Recipes You Need to Try (14)

Cottage Cheese Egg and Sausage Frittata

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a breakfast with more protein than this one. The base of this frittata is eggs, chicken sausage, and cottage cheese. That’s three ingredients that are super high in protein! Spinach adds a fresh veggie to the dish, while parmesan cheese makes the flavors pop.

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14 High Protein Cottage Cheese Recipes You Need to Try (15)

Roasted Strawberry Cottage Cheese Smoothie

Not everybody is a big fan of the texture of cottage cheese. This is a great recipe if you don’t like the lumps in cottage cheese. It’s blended with roasted strawberries, milk, chia seeds, and ice until smooth. The flavor of the roasted strawberries is so rich and sweet. You’ll love this smoothie!

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14 High Protein Cottage Cheese Recipes You Need to Try (16)

High Protein Bread

You probably wouldn’t think to put cottage cheese in bread. But it helps make these gluten-free dinner rolls moist and extra healthy. These 5-ingredient rolls are super easy to make, but they have so much flavor.

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Need More High Protein Recipes?

All of these recipes are high in protein thanks to cottage cheese. If you’re looking for more easy high protein meals, be sure to check out my recipe finder. You can find tons of healthy recipes there.

14 High Protein Cottage Cheese Recipes You Need to Try (2024)

FAQs

What foods are high in protein like cottage cheese? ›

Lean animal proteins include white-fleshed fish, skinless poultry, and cuts of red meat such as loin and round. Low fat dairy products, like cottage cheese, yogurt, and milk are also good sources of protein. Plant proteins like beans, tofu, and powdered peanut butter offer ample protein too.

Will I lose weight if I eat cottage cheese everyday? ›

Aids in weight loss

Low in fat: Full-fat cottage cheese contains less fat than some other cheeses (4% fat versus 30% fat in cheddar), and its high protein makes it an excellent low-fat option. Provides calcium: Studies show that increasing calcium can help you lose weight when combined with a calorie-restricted diet.

What's good to mix with cottage cheese? ›

SWEET
  • Fresh fruit. Try chopped peaches, plums or pineapple (or add your favorites). Berries. Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, etc!
  • Jam and toasted nuts.
  • Granola and honey. Or Granola and maple syrup.
  • Dried fruit. Try apricots or cranberries.
  • Chocolate. Chips, chunks or shavings!

Which cottage cheese is best for weight loss? ›

Best: Friendship Dairies 1% Low-Fat Whipped Cottage Cheese

The Friendship brand of cottage cheese is a great bet, according to registered dietitian Lauren Harris-Pincus, specifically the 1%, low-fat whipped version, which contains 110 calories, 1.5 grams of fat and 19 grams of protein per 5-ounce serving.

What's healthier eggs or cottage cheese? ›

In terms of macronutrient ratios, cottage cheese is higher in protein, lower in carbohydrates, and lower in fat per calorie than egg.

Which home food has highest protein? ›

The Best High Protein Foods
  • Chicken. ...
  • Lentils. ...
  • Lean Pork. ...
  • Garbanzo Beans. ...
  • Eggs. ...
  • Tempeh. ...
  • Quinoa. ...
  • Cottage Cheese. With nearly 12 grams of protein per half-cup serving, cottage cheese can be an excellent, high protein addition to your diet.
Mar 28, 2024

What is the 3 day cottage cheese diet? ›

It's simply an eating plan where you eat only cottage cheese at each meal for at least three days.

What is the 30 30 30 rule? ›

The 30-30-30 rule is simple. It involves eating 30 grams of protein within the first 30 minutes after you wake up, which is then followed by 30 minutes of exercise. You can eat whatever else you want with your breakfast, but the 30 grams of protein is key.

How does cottage cheese burn belly fat? ›

What is in cottage cheese that burns fat? Cottage cheese itself does not burn fat. But it is high in protein, with 25 grams per one cup serving. Fat is burned through exercise and moving your body.

How do you jazz up cottage cheese? ›

When you combine it with veggies, nuts or fruit, you get a satisfying yet healthy twist to an old favorite.
  1. Avocados with Cilantro & Tomatoes. ...
  2. Bananas & Pecans. ...
  3. Beets & Baby Romaine. ...
  4. Blackberries & Walnuts. ...
  5. Blueberries & Almonds. ...
  6. Figs with Pistachios & Cardamom. ...
  7. Granny Smith Apples & Cinnamon. ...
  8. Grapefruit with Mint & Honey.
Dec 22, 2014

What is good and bad about cottage cheese? ›

Cottage cheese is low in carbohydrates. In addition, the protein in cottage cheese slows digestion, which promotes satiety and can prevent blood sugar spikes. It can be a filling snack alongside fruit. Although it is good for you, cottage cheese is high in sodium.

What's the healthiest brand of cottage cheese? ›

Best overall: Good Culture's Low-Fat Classic Cottage Cheese. Best lactose-free: Lactaid's Lactose-Free Cottage Cheese. Best budget: Trader Joe's Small Curd Cottage Cheese. Best texture and minimal ingredients: Daisy's Low-Fat Cottage Cheese.

Is cottage cheese anti inflammatory? ›

A 2021 study of 35,352 postmenopausal women published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics reported a connection between higher intakes of dairy foods (including cottage cheese) and lower levels of CRP and IL-6.

How do you make cottage cheese taste better? ›

A: Peaches and a drizzle of honey! Or try adding some chocolate protein powder, mini chocolate chips, and some bananas. Cottage cheese as a snack is so tasty!

What has more protein an egg or cottage cheese? ›

And that's just the protein in a personal-size cup of the stuff (5.3 oz)—in that size, those wannabe trendy cottage cheeses are weighing in at 16 to 19 grams of protein; eggs have about 6 g each.

Is cottage cheese the best protein? ›

Research suggests that people who eat protein-rich bedtime snacks like cottage cheese enjoy better muscle quality and higher metabolism. The high protein content in cottage cheese comes mostly from casein, which — because it's slowly absorbed — can build muscle just as well as whey protein.

Is cottage cheese a good protein substitute? ›

Cottage cheese is versatile and can be enjoyed in many recipes. Its popularity has grown in the last few decades, and it's often recommended as part of a healthy diet. It's not only high in protein but also essential nutrients. For these reasons, it's widely used by athletes and featured in many weight loss plans.

What is healthier than cottage cheese? ›

Huneke gives an analysis, “nu*tritionally speaking, plain Greek yogurt is the closest comparison (to cottage cheese) – they're both lower in calories (the 0-2% fat versions), high in protein, a good source of calcium, contain no added sugars, and have lower levels of lactose (so they're among the more easily-tolerated ...

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