A warm bowl of Cottage Cheese Mac and Cheese topped with fresh chives.
| |

Cottage Cheese Mac and Cheese

Cottage cheese lovers, huddle up! We’ve just taken your favorite comfort food to the next level, and it’s all thanks to one secret ingredient – cottage cheese. 🙌 If you’ve never thought about adding cottage cheese to your mac and cheese, prepare to be wowed. This dish is creamy, cheesy, and packed with protein, making it perfect for everything from cozy weeknight dinners to big holiday spreads. And did we mention it’s super easy to make? 🎉

A warm bowl of Cottage Cheese Mac and Cheese topped with fresh chives.

Why Cottage Cheese in Mac and Cheese?

We know what you’re thinking: cottage cheese in mac and cheese? Have faith! Have we steered you wrong yet? Cottage cheese blends seamlessly into the sauce, giving it that creamy texture we all love, without needing loads of butter or cream. And the extra boost of protein? Yes, please! 💪 It’s the perfect way to elevate this classic dish and make it just a little bit healthier while keeping all the cheesy goodness intact. 🧀

Perfect for Cookouts, Holidays, or Any Day of the Week!

This cottage cheese mac and cheese is incredibly versatile. It fits right in at a family BBQ or works as a side for those special holiday dinners (Thanksgiving, we’re looking at you). 🎄🍽️ For summer cookouts, we’ve been serving this and/or our loaded potato salad since Memorial Day.

Whether it’s a cozy dinner at home or a big family gathering, this mac and cheese will be the star of the show.

A warm bowl of Cottage Cheese Mac and Cheese topped with fresh chives.

Here’s Why We Can’t Stop Making It

This is our go-to mac and cheese recipe, no contest. The cottage cheese adds just the right amount of creaminess while packing in some extra protein, so it’s still the indulgent comfort food we love, but it doesn’t leave us feeling too weighed down. 🍽️ It’s also super customizable – you can add a crunchy breadcrumb topping, throw in some roasted veggies, or spice it up with a dash of hot sauce. 🌶️ This recipe is yours to play with!

How to Make it Even Better

Feeling creative? Here are a few fun ways to take this mac and cheese to the next level:

  • Crispy Topping: Sprinkle some breadcrumbs on top before baking for that golden, crunchy finish. ✨
  • Veggie Boost: Toss in roasted broccoli, sautéed spinach, or even some caramelized onions for extra flavor. 🥦
  • Heat It Up: Add a pinch of cayenne or drizzle hot sauce on top if you like a little kick. 🌶️

And if you’re as obsessed with cottage cheese as we are, check out more cottage cheese recipe ideas to keep the cottage cheese love going!

A warm bowl of Cottage Cheese Mac and Cheese topped with fresh chives.

This Mac and Cheese Belongs on Your Menu

Seriously, this dish is a total winner. 🤩 It’s creamy, cheesy, and packed with flavor – and thanks to the cottage cheese, it’s got that little extra boost of nutrition. Whether you’re bringing it to a cookout or serving it up for a holiday dinner, it’s guaranteed to be a hit. Trust us, no one will ever guess it’s made with cottage cheese (unless you want to spill the secret 😉).

So, next time you’re craving a side dish that’s both satisfying and easy to make, give this cottage cheese mac and cheese a try. It’s the perfect combination of comfort food and smart cooking, and we promise it’ll become one of your favorites too.

Let us know when you take this mac and cheese for a test run – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Print

Cottage Cheese Mac and Cheese

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 1 review

This cottage cheese mac and cheese recipe is about to change the mac and cheese game forever. Creamy, cheesy, and silky smooth with 30 grams of protein per serving!

  • Author: Cottage Cheese Recipes
  • Prep Time: 10
  • Cook Time: 20
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 6 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 cups elbow protein pasta
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 24 oz. whipped cottage cheese
  • 1/2 t salt
  • 2 cups freshly grated cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup of grated parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Cook pasta according to package instructions.
  2. While pasta is cooking, in another pot, melt butter on medium heat. Add flour to melted butter and stir until incorporated and starts to thicken. 
  3. Slowly add in the whipped cottage cheese. Stirring constantly until it simmers.
  4. Remove from heat and stir in shredded cheddar and parmesan cheese. Stir until cheese is completely melted. 
  5. Add salt to taste.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1
  • Calories: 472
  • Fat: 27
  • Carbohydrates: 24
  • Protein: 29

Did you make this recipe?

Share a photo and tag us — we can’t wait to see what you’ve made!

A warm bowl of Cottage Cheese Mac and Cheese topped with fresh chives.

Similar Posts

2 Comments

  1. This was a fairly simple recipe and very tasty! Loved by my 12 yo and adult kids. The only downside is that I had to mix my cottage cheese to whip it since whipped cottage cheese is not available in my area. I will make this again. Thank you for the recipe!






    1. I’m so glad you and your family liked the recipe! So we don’t have whipped cottage cheese in stores either. The easiest way is to blend it in a food processor or a nutri-bullet type blender. That way it’s nice and creamy and you avoid most of the curds! 🙂

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star