16 Best Cottage Cheese Recipes That Are Easy to Make (2024)

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Published by Izzy

on Oct 03, 2023, Updated Nov 21, 2023

5 from 1 vote

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Cottage cheese is healthy, delicious, and versatile. We’ve collected 16 of the Best Cottage Cheese Recipes that are easy to make at home. From dips to desserts to creamy pastas, This dairy product is the secret ingredient your recipes have been missing.

16 Best Cottage Cheese Recipes That Are Easy to Make (2)

Besides having a creamy, savory taste, cottage cheese is also pretty healthy for you. Not only is it low in calories and high in protein, it’s also packed with B vitamins and calcium.

What Can I Do with Cottage Cheese?

The simplest way to enjoy cottage cheese is to spread it on crackers or toast, but there are so many other things you can do with it. Adding cottage cheese to scrambled eggs or omelettes makes them extra fluffy and cheesy, while a dollop of cottage cheese with fruit makes a healthy and tasty snack. Cottage cheese can be substituted for cream cheese when making desserts or used to make creamy dips for vegetables.

Is Cottage Cheese Good for You?

Cottage cheese is high in vitamins and minerals like calcium, selenium, vitamin A and vitamin B. It’s also low in calories, with a low-fat cup one cottage cheese coming out at only 183 calories. Cottage cheese is also very high in protein, making it an excellent muscle recovery aid for athletes and people who go to the gym. Many nutritionists consider cottage cheese to be a healthy, nutrient-rich food.

Can You Eat Cottage Cheese By Itself?

Many people enjoy cottage cheese on its own straight out of the container. Just use a spoon to scoop some out and enjoy!

Savory Recipes with Cottage Cheese

16 Best Cottage Cheese Recipes That Are Easy to Make (3)
16 Best Cottage Cheese Recipes That Are Easy to Make (4)

Lasagna Recipe with Cottage Cheese

Want an extra creamy lasagna? The secret ingredient is cottage cheese! This lasagna recipe is rich, delicious, and great for special occasions and holidays such as Christmas.

Easy Stuffed Shells with Cottage Cheese

In this recipe, cottage cheese is used to make a creamy, flavorful filling that’s stuffed into jumbo pasta shells. Top it all off with marinara sauce and mozzarella and bake.

Cottage Cheese Spinach Pasta

For a simple, healthy lunch with a generous serving of veggies, try this spinach pasta. A dollop of cottage cheese makes this meal irresistible.

Baked Spaghetti with Cottage Cheese

Cottage cheese makes this baked spaghetti rich, decadent and sooo creamy. Pair with garlic bread for a delicious weekend dinner.

The Best Baked Ziti with Cottage Cheese

This is comfort food at its very best. Baked ziti is cheesy, meaty and packed with flavor. Best of all, you can freeze the leftovers so nothing goes to waste.

Dessert Recipes Using Cottage Cheese

16 Best Cottage Cheese Recipes That Are Easy to Make (5)
16 Best Cottage Cheese Recipes That Are Easy to Make (6)

Cottage Cheese Pancakes

What’s so special about cottage cheese pancakes? Delightfully crispy edges and a super soft, melty center.

Healthy Cottage Cheese Cheesecake

Do yourself a favor and swap cream cheese for cottage cheese for your next cheesecake. Cottage cheese cheesecake is just as delicious, but so much better for you.

Cottage Cheese Jello Salad

Cottage cheese Jello is light, creamy and full of tasty fruit flavor. It’s perfect for your next potluck, family gathering or backyard barbeque

Pineapple and Cottage Cheese Salad

This quick snack is easy to make and packed with healthy protein. You can even make it the night before for a grab and go breakfast in the morning.

Cottage Cheese with Peaches

This dessert is simple, fruity and low in calories. It’s the perfect guilt-free sweet treat!

Cottage Cheese Recipes for Weight Watchers

16 Best Cottage Cheese Recipes That Are Easy to Make (7)
16 Best Cottage Cheese Recipes That Are Easy to Make (8)

Vegetarian Lasagna with Cottage Cheese

This meatless baked pasta is loaded with savory veggies and a creamy sauce. Even meat lovers will enjoy this vegetarian lasagna.

Cottage Cheese Scrambled Eggs

Supercharge your breakfast by adding protein-packed cottage cheese! You’ll love how fluffy and cheesy these scrambled eggs are.

Cottage Cheese Omelette

This cheesy, low-calorie omelette is loaded with spinach for a healthy start to the day. Add some cottage cheese for extra protein to keep you full until lunchtime.

Cottage Cheese and Fruit Breakfast Bowl

This simple, fruity breakfast bowl is a healthy and quick breakfast for those mornings when you need extra energy. You can use whichever fruit you have at home.

Skinny Quick and Easy Cottage Cheese Dip

This creamy dip is seasoned with herbs so it’s full of flavor. With cream cheese as its base, it’s packed with protein and low in calories.

Keto Salsa Chicken

With just a few ingredients and an Instant Pot, you can have a healthy and flavorful Mexican-inspired dinner. No instant pot? This keto-friendly recipe works on the stovetop, too.

Can You Freeze Cottage Cheese?

Soft cheeses like cream cheese, ricotta and cottage cheese don’t freeze very well. In the freezer, cottage cheese loses much of its flavor and texture. However, it is possible to freeze and re-use cottage cheese if you are okay with the change in texture. Portion the product into a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to six months. After thawing, the cottage cheese would have separated and you’ll need to stir.

Frozen and thawed cottage cheese may not be great on its own or spread on toast, but can definitely be used as an ingredient in pasta dishes or cheesecake.

Is Cottage Cheese Keto?

Regular cottage cheese is not ideal for those following the keto diet. It’s relatively high in carbohydrates, which you should minimize as much as possible if you’ve gone keto. However, there are keto-friendly cottage cheeses on the market that have a lower carb content.

Can Cottage Cheese Make You Fat?

Low-fat cottage cheese is low in both fat and calories, making it an attractive option for those who are watching their waistline.

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16 Best Cottage Cheese Recipes That Are Easy to Make (9)

5 from 1 vote

Cottage Cheese Stuffed Shells Recipe

By: Izzy

Cottage cheese stuffed shells are cheesy, smooth, and backed with flavors. Pasta shells are stuffed with a delicious cheese mixture and baked to perfections. This is one of our favorite cottage cheese recipes.

Total: 30 minutes mins

Servings: 8

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Ingredients

  • 12 ounces jumbo pasta shells
  • 30 ounces cottage cheese
  • 6 ounces grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tablespoons minced garlic
  • 1 tablespoon minced parsley
  • 10 fresh basil leaves, chopped
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 28 ounces marinara sauce
  • 8 ounces grated mozzarella cheese, plus more for sprinkling

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13 baking dish and add half of the marinara sauce. Spread evenly and set aside.

  • Add water to a large pot and bring it to a boil. Add a pinch of salt, then add the jumbo pasta shells. Cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse with cold water. Set aside.

  • In a large mixing bowl, add cottage cheese, parmesan cheese, egg, garlic, parsley, basil, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined.

  • Spoon out mixture into the jumbo pasta shells and place them into the baking dish.

  • Cover the shells with the remaining marinara sauce. Sprinkle more mozzarella cheese on top of the shells.

  • Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the cheese is golden and bubbly. Serve and enjoy!

Nutrition information provided is an estimate only and will vary based on ingredient brands and cooking methods used.

Like this recipe? Rate and comment below!

About Izzy

I'm Izzy, a food lover and photographer. Here you’ll find a collection of simple recipes that are perfect for busy people. My blog aims to help you make and enjoy delicious and healthy food at home.

Read More About Me

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16 Best Cottage Cheese Recipes That Are Easy to Make (2024)

FAQs

What to add to cottage cheese to make it good? ›

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

What to eat with cottage cheese for weight loss? ›

You can cut calories and fat from your diet and promote healthy weight loss by substituting cottage cheese for other foods. Here are some suggestions: Add cottage cheese to your morning smoothie. Top cottage cheese with fresh berries, mango, or pineapple for a healthy snack.

What is the cottage cheese diet on Tik Tok? ›

The mustard and cottage diet has gone viral on TikTok with more than 380m views on the #veggieswithmustard hashtag. It includes meals made up of mustard, cottage cheese, raw veggies, and sausage. The diet is high in calcium, protein, and fiber and may lead to weight loss.

How long does cottage cheese last in the fridge? ›

In fact, the Department of Health and Human Services says cottage cheese that's kept refrigerated at the safe temperature of 40º F or lower should be consumed within two weeks, if unopened, and a mere one week once opened.

How to doctor up cottage cheese? ›

Savory Cottage Cheese Toppings

Give cottage cheese a drizzle of your best olive oil, flaky sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Caprese: Dice fresh tomatoes and chop basil, drizzle with olive oil and balsamic reduction, and add a dash of salt and pepper to make a "caprese" cottage cheese salad.

What is the most popular way to eat cottage cheese? ›

One of the most common ways to eat cottage cheese is by topping it with fresh fruit, like strawberries, blueberries, or kiwi. Topped with salt and pepper. If you're a cottage cheese purist, a bit of salt and pepper is all you need to add a savory touch. Mixed with honey.

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.

Does eating cottage cheese before bed burn belly fat? ›

Here's where metabolic magic happens: The amount of muscle our body has is one of the primary drivers in determining how many calories we burn each day. "Other research supports that cottage cheese before bed actually does increase metabolism the next morning," Reaver says.

What does cottage cheese do for your stomach? ›

Besides the reasons outlined above, cottage cheese may help with gut health. Since it is often fermented, (a process that helps remove the cheese curds from the liquid) cottage cheese may contain “good” bacteria called probiotics. Snodgrass says probiotics are “crucial” to good digestion.

What is the mustard girl diet? ›

What is the Mustard Diet on TikTok? The mustard diet originated from “Mustard Girl”, Tiffany Magee, and involves eating a highly restricted diet of cottage cheese, chicken apple sausages, eggs, and raw vegetables – all with mustard included on the plate, or even mixed into the food itself.

Is it OK to eat low-fat cottage cheese every day? ›

This fad diet provides quick weight loss by using cottage cheese as the basis for your meals. While it is safe for most people to eat cottage cheese every day, it should not be consumed to the extent that you exclude other food groups. Also, some types of cottage cheese contain high amounts of sodium and/or sugar.

Is cottage cheese with pineapple good for weight loss? ›

But there's one fruit that keeps coming up as being especially good for weight loss: pineapple. Pineapple has been a so-called weight loss fruit since, well, practically forever. Some people swear by mixing it with cottage cheese for fat-burning benefits, while others say that the fruit on its own is pretty magical.

Can dogs eat cottage cheese? ›

Can dogs eat cottage cheese? Yes, dogs can eat cottage cheese. This type is actually low in fat and sodium so it is actually one of the better options to give your dog as an occasional treat.

How can I tell if cottage cheese has gone bad? ›

It's easy to tell if your opened cottage cheese has turned bad before you eat it. If the cottage cheese appears watery or has a grainy-like texture, then it's probably no longer safe to eat. More obvious signs of bad cottage cheese include black, gray, or green mold.

What can you eat with cottage cheese? ›

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.

What spices taste good on cottage cheese? ›

Combine the cottage cheese, dill, tarragon, chives, salt and white pepper in a small bowl. Spread about 1/4 cup of the cottage cheese mixture on each slice of warm toast.

Is cottage cheese healthy to eat? ›

Cottage cheese is high in protein and is an excellent source of calcium. Choosing a low-fat cottage cheese can reduce saturated fat intake when substituting it for other higher fat foods, such as cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise or ricotta cheese. It's also full of vitamins and minerals that support a healthy diet.

What to add to cottage cheese before bed? ›

Cottage Cheese With Natural Peanut Butter

Considered a classic night-time nosh by many health enthusiasts, cottage cheese with natural peanut butter is a snacking no-brainer. Cottage cheese is ideal before bed because it includes lots of casein protein, which releases slowly into the body.

Why do people put fruit in cottage cheese? ›

Cottage cheese and fruit are both nutritious and taste delicious together. Here are some benefits of cottage cheese and fruit: High Protein: Cottage cheese is high in protein. It makes for a high-protein healthy breakfast when you add fruit and assemble a bowl.

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