8 Delicious Reasons to Love Cottage Cheese
Cottage cheese is more than just an easy protein hack; it’s a versatile, delicious ingredient in its own right. From lasagna and casseroles to pancakes and cheesecake, you might be surprised at just how versatile cottage cheese can be. Read on to learn our eight favorite ways to use this wonderful ingredient.
Cottage cheese is certainly having a moment. Thanks largely to TikTok food videos, its popularity has soared so high that outlets from Better Homes & Gardens to the New York Times have reported on the trend. But if you were alive in the 70s, 80s, and 90s, you’re probably already familiar with this iconic dairy product—and its reputation as “diet food.” So how did cottage cheese suddenly become not only popular, but cool?
Scrolling through Cottage Cheese TikTok, an obvious answer starts to take shape. Cottage cheese is remarkably high in protein, especially for a dairy product that’s also low in fat, calories, and sugar. With more and more people getting into weight training, it makes sense that this protein-rich, widely accessible ingredient is suddenly making a comeback.
But cottage cheese is more than just an easy protein hack; it’s a versatile, delicious ingredient in its own right. Of course, you can eat it on its own with just salt and pepper or scoop it up with veggies for a quick snack. It also makes an excellent spread for sweet or savory toast creations. And that’s not even getting into the many ways you can cook (and bake) with cottage cheese: From lasagna and casseroles to pancakes and cheesecake, you might be surprised at just how versatile cottage cheese can be. Here are our favorite ways to use this wonderful ingredient.
Grapefruit Bowl with Pineapple Cottage Cheese
If you like a sweet breakfast, give our pineapple cottage cheese a try! It’s the perfect base for a light, refreshing breakfast bowl.
Low-Carb Cottage Cheese Omelet Bake
This savory, skillet-baked omelet is perfect for anyone looking to start their day with lots of protein.
Greek Cottage Cheese Salad
Swap the usual feta for creamy cottage cheese and you’ve got an even healthier take on Greek salad. Serve with grilled, lemon-marinated chicken or shrimp for a high-protein dinner that the whole family will love.
Cottage Cheese Chicken Salad
If you’ve never added cottage cheese to your chicken salad, you’re missing out—it makes for a lighter, creamier, tangier dressing than mayo alone.
Creamy Roasted Veggie Pasta with Shrimp
Cottage cheese also makes a deliciously creamy pasta sauce, as this super-simple dish proves. Just roast up a pan of veggies, add some shrimp at the last minute, and toss it all together with pasta and cottage cheese.
Veggie White Pizza
Using cottage cheese as a base for white pizza just makes sense. The curds melt in the heat of the oven, mingling with creamy mozzarella and fresh veggies for an undeniably delicious slice.
Lazy Day Lasagna Soup
Everything there is to love about lasagna, with a fraction of the work: That’s our Lazy Day Lasagna Soup. The finishing touch—dollops of creamy, savory, Parmesan and herb-spiked cottage cheese—really makes the dish, so don’t skimp!
Cozy Apple & Cottage Cheese Pancakes
Believe it or not, these pancakes get their rich, cake-like texture from cottage cheese! The batter is easy to put together, and since you bake these pancakes in a sheet pan rather than pan-frying them individually, they’re also surprisingly hands-off.
