This cottage cheese mac and cheese is a protein-packed, scrumptious twist on the basic consolation meals that’s surprisingly satisfying! It’s simple to whip up this creamy spin in a blender.
Cottage cheese has grow to be a classy ingredient currently, and by chance right here at A Couple Cooks Alex and I’ve all the time been tremendous followers of this protein-packed cheese. Right here’s our newest concept for what to make with it: cottage cheese mac and cheese!
The curds whip up right into a deliciously creamy sauce that’s protein-packed and makes a silky coating for noodles. It’s so easy to whiz up the sauce in a blender. I need to admit Alex wasn’t on board with my concept for this recipe at first, however as soon as he tasted it he grew to become a believer. We hope you’ll find it irresistible simply as a lot as we do!
Bounce to the recipe—now.
The 7 substances you want for cottage cheese mac and cheese
You could be considering, cottage cheese in pasta? Seems, these white curds mix up completely when mixed with cheddar cheese and some spices. I’ve discovered it’s finest so as to add a little bit of cornstarch to the combination to assist the sauce thicken up properly, in any other case it has much less physique and doesn’t coat the noodles as properly. It really works much like a roux in a typical cheese sauce. Listed here are a couple of notes on the substances:
- Brief pasta: Any sort of brief noodles work for mac and cheese, with the usual being macaroni. We used cavatappi right here. Different shapes that work properly are shells, penne, rigatoni, and spirals.
- Cottage cheese: We advocate 4% milkfat cottage cheese, which has the richest taste and most milkfat. The two% milkfat choice additionally works, however keep away from fats free cottage cheese because the taste will not be as strong.
- Milk of selection: Use no matter milk you’ve got available. We usually use 2% milk, however entire milk works too!
- Cornstarch: This helps to thicken the sauce and add a silky physique, much like the flour and butter-based roux in most conventional mac and cheese recipes (like this one).
- Shredded cheddar cheese: Shredded cheddar helps so as to add thickness and texture to the sauce, in addition to add that anticipated mac and cheese taste.
- Garlic powder and paprika: These spices spherical out the combination! The paprika is optionally available however helps to make a extra vibrant coloration.
What individuals are saying about this recipe
Readers are making and loving this recipe! Our Instagram reader Lisa reached out and mentioned this about this recipe:
“I made the cottage cheese mac n cheese recipe for dinner tonight and needed to let you already know that it was so yummy! I did find yourself baking it and added a bit cheese on prime together with crumbs and ended up loving how simple and scrumptious it was. Thanks!” -Lisa
Suggestions for mixing the sauce
Making mac and cheese with cottage cheese is so easy: all it’s important to do is cook dinner the pasta to al dente and mix the sauce whereas the pasta is cooking. You need to have loads of time to whip up the sauce whereas the pasta cooks. If the pasta occurs to take longer otherwise you pre-cook your pasta, make certain to toss it with a little bit of olive oil or it’s going to stick with the pan.
We use a high-speed blender for our blended recipes, which blends the sauce right into a creamy texture in a couple of seconds. A normal blender and meals processor can work right here as properly. A small blender can work relying on its dimension capability.
Bake it for much more taste!
This cottage cheese mac and cheese is prepared in simply 20 minutes if you happen to cook dinner the pasta, then toss it along with the blended sauce. We go for this selection for fast weeknight dinners.
You probably have barely extra time, baking the mac and cheese provides much more taste! It helps the sauce to permeate the noodles, making it style richer and extra savory. Pour the pasta right into a baking dish and bake at 350°F for quarter-hour.
Observe for serving a crowd
This recipe works properly doubled for serving a crowd. You should use the 2x button within the recipe beneath to shortly double the portions. Utilizing 1 pound of pasta, you’ll be able to pour it right into a 9 x 13″ baking dish and bake for quarter-hour at 350°F earlier than serving.
What are the advantages of cottage cheese?
Why put cottage cheese into your mac and cheese, anyway? In line with Healthline, this cheese is a wholesome choice when in comparison with different sorts of cheeses. Listed here are a few of the advantages of cottage cheese:
- It’s a decrease calorie cheese in comparison with many others. A 1-cup serving has simply 163 energy.
- It’s very excessive in protein. 1 cup has a whopping 28 grams of protein, over half your day by day want. Impressively, the protein accounts for over 70% of the energy.
- It’s additionally full of vitamins like B nutritional vitamins, calcium, phosphorus, and selenium.
Fast methods to make it a meal
Is mac and cheese a primary or a aspect? To us it’s often a primary dish: however this cottage cheese spin works both approach! I like this one both approach, as a fast weeknight meal or baked up in an enormous pan as a aspect for entertaining. If you happen to’re consuming it as a primary dish, listed below are a couple of fast methods to make it right into a meal:
- Inexperienced 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 final veggie sauté, broccoli, broccolini, peas, or kale
Storing leftovers
Cottage cheese mac and cheese lasts refrigerated for as much as 3 days. To reheat it, place it in a pan on the stovetop and gently reheat, including a splash of milk or pinch of salt if crucial.
A couple of extra cottage cheese recipes we love
We love cottage cheese! You can also make killer pancakes, scrumptious breakfast bowls, toast, scrambled eggs, and every part in between. Listed here are a couple of favourite recipes to get began:
01
Cottage Cheese Pancakes
This cottage cheese pancakes recipe is one of the best genius trick! It makes a protein packed pancake that tastes like French…
02
Cottage Cheese Dip
This cottage cheese dip tastes identical to ranch dip, nevertheless it’s made with a couple of spices and this wholesome cheese!…
03
Cottage Cheese Breakfast Bowls
These cottage cheese breakfast bowls are a wholesome and simple breakfast! High them with berries or apple, cinnamon and a…
Description
This cottage cheese mac and cheese is a protein-packed, scrumptious twist on the basic consolation meals that’s surprisingly satisfying! It’s simple to whip up this creamy spin in a blender.
- 8 ounces brief pasta*
- 1 cup 4% milkfat cottage cheese
- ¾ cup milk of selection (we used 2%)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon paprika (optionally available, for coloration)
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- Convey a giant pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and boil till al dente (test a couple of minutes earlier than the package deal directions point out). Drain the pasta.
- In the meantime, in a blender, mix the cottage cheese, milk, cornstarch, shredded cheddar cheese, garlic powder, paprika, and kosher salt. Pour the cheese combination right into a skillet and warmth for five minutes, till thickened. As soon as it’s thickened, take away from the warmth till the pasta finishes.
- When the sauce is completed, add the cooked and drained pasta. Stir to mix. Style and add a pinch of salt if crucial.
- Serve instantly, or permit it to sit down for a couple of minutes to soak up the sauce flavors (you can too switch to a baking dish and bake for quarter-hour at 350°F for much more taste). If desired, prime with seasoned panko or breadcrumbs for a crunchy topping. Leftovers last as long as 3 days refrigerated; reheat gently on the stovetop and add a splash of milk or pinch of salt if crucial.
Notes
*This recipe is simple to double for a crowd, then place in a 9 x 13 pan and bake for quarter-hour at 350°F .
- Class: Fundamental dish
- Technique: Stovetop
- Delicacies: Vegetarian
- Weight-reduction plan: Vegetarian
Key phrases: Cottage cheese mac and cheese, mac and cheese with cottage cheese
