17 High Protein Cottage Cheese Recipes
Cottage cheese has been having a major moment lately, and as a personal trainer who is always looking for simple ways to hit my protein goals, I am completely here for it. I love how versatile cottage cheese is — you can eat it plain, mix it into eggs for breakfast or add it to pasta sauce for a protein-packed dinner. I’ve rounded up my favorite high-protein cottage cheese recipes for weight loss that I actually make on a regular basis.
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I do my best to keep nutrition simple by striving for protein and produce at every meal, and cottage cheese has been a great addition for an extra protein boost.
Half a cup of cottage cheese packs in 14 grams of protein, making it one of the most filling, low-calorie foods you can add to your weight loss journey. Whether you go full-fat or low-fat, it works in both sweet and savory recipes without ever sacrificing the creamy, rich texture that makes these recipes so good.
When it comes to how much cottage cheese you should eat for weight loss, I like to keep things simple. Rather than obsessing over every calorie, I focus on hitting my protein goals by spreading it across three meals throughout the day. For example, if my goal is 130 grams of protein per day, I aim for at least 30 grams per meal. I also highly recommend front-loading your day with a high-protein breakfast and incorporating healthy snacks to stay on track and avoid that afternoon slump.
Whether your goal is weight loss or building muscle, you’ll always see the best results when you pair a high-protein meal plan with a consistent workout plan.
If you’re not a fan of the texture of cottage cheese, I promise these recipes will change your mind. Blending cottage cheese in a blender or food processor transforms it into a smooth, creamy base that disappears right into your favorite dishes without you ever knowing it’s there.
Whether you’re looking to lose weight, build muscle or simply get more protein into your day, these easy cottage cheese recipes are the perfect place to start — and I think you’re going to love them just as much as my family does.
High Protein Cottage Cheese Recipes
A list of high-protein, low-calorie cottage cheese recipes to keep you energized, including recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
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Cottage Cheese Breakfast Recipes
1. Egg Bites with Cottage Cheese
I make these egg bites weekly as an easy high-protein breakfast recipe. They are perfect for busy mornings and easy to pack for an on-the-go breakfast.
Grams of Protein per Serving: 12 grams
Ingredients
- Eggs
- Cottage cheese
- Shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- Salt and black pepper
2. Cottage Cheese Protein Overnight Oats
These blended cottage cheese overnight oats are my favorite way to pack more protein into my morning routine. They’re creamy, filling and perfect for a make-ahead breakfast I can prepare the night before.
Grams of Protein per Serving: 23 grams
Ingredients
- Quick-cooking oats, rolled oats work too
- Chia seeds
- Plain Skyr yogurt, Greek yogurt works too
- Blended 2% cottage cheese
- Unsweetened almond milk, any kind
- Vanilla extract
- Maple syrup or honey
3. Cottage Cheese Pancakes
These cottage cheese pancakes are soft, fluffy and packed with over 20 grams of protein per serving. Plus, they are easy to make with only 7 simple ingredients and are a family favorite in my house.
Grams of Protein per Serving: 24 grams
Ingredients
- All-purpose flour, or whole wheat pastry flour
- Baking powder
- Cinnamon
- Cottage cheese
- Eggs
- Maple syrup
- Vanilla extract
- Almond milk
4. High Protein Cottage Cheese Oatmeal
Adding cottage cheese to my oats is my favorite protein hack; it makes the oats so much creamier and adds a boost of protein that keeps me full all morning.
Grams of Protein per Serving: 12 grams
Ingredients
- Old fashioned oats
- Banana, sliced
- Sea salt
- Water, milk or a blend of both
- Cinnamon
- Vanilla
- Cottage cheese
5. Cottage Cheese Scrambled Eggs
This cottage cheese egg scramble is my favorite way to switch up my morning breakfast. They’re super easy to make and result in fluffy, creamy eggs that are high in protein.
Grams of Protein per Serving: 20 grams
Ingredients
- Eggs
- Cottage cheese
- Sea salt and pepper
- Olive oil or avocado oil
- Fresh chives, for serving
6. Roasted Red Pepper Egg White Bites
I love making these roasted red pepper egg white bites on Sunday to set my week up for success. They’re kid-approved, packed with clean ingredients and make busy mornings so much easier.
Grams of Protein per Serving: 16 grams
Ingredients
- Chopped kale
- Drained and finely chopped roasted red bell pepper from the jar
- Cottage cheese
- Egg whites
- Shredded Monterey jack cheese divided
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Dash of cayenne
7. Cottage Cheese Breakfast Bowls
These cottage cheese breakfast bowls are packed with protein, making them a quick and nutritious breakfast option. I love to top them with fresh raspberries, blueberries, cinnamon and a drizzle of honey for extra flavor.
Grams of Protein per Serving: 21.7 grams
Ingredients
- Cottage cheese
- Fresh berries or chopped apple
- Chopped pistachios or pecans
- Cinnamon
- Honey
8. Breakfast Burrito
I keep a batch of these breakfast burritos stocked in my freezer for those busy weeks when I don’t have time to prep on the weekends. All I have to do is pull them out of the freezer, heat them up and breakfast is ready.
Grams of Protein per Serving: 17 grams
Ingredients
- Yukon gold potatoes
- Bell peppers
- Yellow onion
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Italian seasoning
- Salt
- Precooked chicken sausage links
- Cottage cheese
- Eggs
- Shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- Tortillas
Cottage Cheese Lunch and Dinner Recipes
9. High-Protein Cottage Cheese Wraps
These cottage cheese protein wraps have become my favorite summer lunch. They’re low-carb, protein-rich and the best part is I can load them up with all my favorite sandwich fixings.
Grams of Protein per Serving: 30 grams
Ingredients
- Cottage cheese
- Eggs
- Dried chives
- Garlic powder
- Sea salt
- Plain Greek yogurt
- Mayo
- Ketchup
- Deli turkey
- Havarti cheese
- Red bell pepper
- Dill pickle
- Red onion
- Arugula
10. Zucchini Lasagna
This zucchini lasagna mixes seasoned ground beef, veggies, greens and 3 kinds of cheese for a noodle-less, quick, one-pan weeknight dinner that my whole family loves.
Grams of Protein per Serving: 32 grams
Ingredients
- Ground beef or ground turkey
- Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper
- Extra-virgin olive oil or avocado oil
- Zucchini
- Diced mushrooms
- Diced yellow onion
- Garlic cloves, minced
- Fresh spinach
- Fresh basil leaves
- Marinara sauce
- Balsamic vinegar
- Shredded mozzarella cheese
- Cottage cheese
- Shredded Parmesan cheese
- Fine salt and pepper to taste
11. Cottage Cheese Alfredo
I love this cottage cheese Alfredo because it’s just as creamy as the real thing, but it packs in 15g of protein per serving thanks to the blended cottage cheese sauce.
Grams of Protein per Serving: 15 grams
Ingredients
- Fettucini pasta
- Olive oil or butter
- White onion
- Sea salt
- Garlic
- Cottage cheese
- Heavy cream
- Fresh chopped parsley
- Grated parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
12. Whipped Cottage Cheese Mac and Cheese
My family loves this whipped cottage cheese mac and cheese. It’s my favorite way to sneak in 17g of protein per serving without sacrificing any of the creaminess.
Grams of Protein per Serving: 17 grams
Ingredients
- Pasta, any kind works
- Cottage cheese
- Shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- Sea salt
- Panko breadcrumbs
- Italian seasoning
- Salt
- Avocado oil
13. No Lettuce Salad
I love how refreshing this No Lettuce Salad is during the summer. Topped with creamy cottage cheese, it’s a delightful twist on traditional salads, perfect for a quick and healthy meal.
Grams of Protein per Serving: 24 grams
Ingredients
- Garbanzo beans
- Cherry tomatoes
- Red onion
- Mini cucumbers
- Balsamic vinegar
- Olive oil
- Fresh lemon juice
- Sea salt
- Ground pepper
- Everything bagel seasoning
- Cottage cheese
14. Creamy Cottage Cheese Pasta
If you’re a pasta lover looking to hit your protein goals, this cottage cheese pasta is a must-try. It combines ground turkey and pasta with a creamy cottage cheese marinara sauce that you’ll want to make on repeat.
Grams of Protein per Serving: 38 grams
Ingredients
- Dry pasta of choice
- Olive oil
- Yellow onion
- Garlic cloves
- Ground turkey
- Marinara sauce
- Whole milk cottage cheese
- Salt and pepper
- Fresh basil
- Fresh parmesan
15. No-Rise Protein Pizza Dough
This no-rise protein pizza dough has become a staple in my house for family pizza night. The kids get to load it up with all their favorite toppings, while I feel good knowing the blended cottage cheese crispy crust is packing in 20g of protein per serving.
Grams of Protein per Serving: 20 grams
Ingredients
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Sea salt
- Cottage cheese
- Pizza sauce
- Shredded mozzarella cheese
- Grated parmesan cheese
- Sliced pepperoni
16. High Protein Marry Me Chicken Pasta
This marry-me chicken pasta is one of those dinners that the whole family requests on repeat. I love that it’s made with deliciously seasoned chicken, a homemade creamy cottage cheese sauce, sun-dried tomatoes and perfectly coated noodles.
Grams of Protein per Serving: 58 grams
Ingredients
- Banza chickpea pasta shells
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Italian seasoning
- Salt
- Fresh cracked pepper
- Oil from sun-dried tomatoes
- Cottage cheese
- Chicken broth
- Garlic powder
- Parmesan cheese, shredded
- Sun-dried tomatoes
- Spinach
17. Whipped Cottage Cheese Taco Lasagna
I love making this taco lasagna on busy weeknights because it’s packed with hearty veggies, beans, flavorful ground beef and a secret ingredient of cottage cheese that takes the creaminess to a whole new level.
Grams of Protein per Serving: 27 grams
Ingredients
- Lasagna noodles
- Ground beef
- Sea salt
- White onion
- Bell peppers
- Garlic
- Taco seasoning
- Salsa
- Pinto beans
- Corn
- Cottage cheese
- Shredded Mexican-style cheese
FAQs
How do you store blended cottage cheese?
I store my blended cottage cheese in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Blending a big batch at the start of the week is one of my favorite meal prep hacks – it makes it so easy to throw into recipes throughout the week without any extra effort.
Can you freeze cottage cheese?
Yes, you can freeze cottage cheese, and it’s actually one of my favorite ways to use up cottage cheese before it expires. I recommend using it in cooked or blended cottage cheese recipes after thawing, since the texture can change slightly. Frozen cottage cheese is a great make-ahead option for soups, sauces, smoothies and casseroles where the texture difference won’t be noticeable.
What are the nutritional benefits of cottage cheese?
Cottage cheese is one of my favorite ingredients because it’s incredibly high in protein, low in calories and packed with calcium, B vitamins and essential amino acids. It’s one of those foods that genuinely keeps you full and satisfied, which is exactly why I love to include it in my breakfast recipes so I can stay full throughout the morning and avoid that afternoon slump.
Is cottage cheese good for lowering A1C?
Cottage cheese is a great addition to a blood sugar-friendly diet thanks to its high protein content and low carbohydrate count, which can help support more stable blood sugar levels. That said, everyone’s body is different, so I always recommend talking with your doctor or a registered dietitian to find what works best for you personally.
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7 comments
Oops! I meant Lindsay! Sorry!!
Hi Brittany! I would love to know if you have any suggestions on a good protein shake? Or a recipe for one? Thank you!
Hi Gita! I personally prefer to add a little protein powder to a smoothie. My go-to protein is from NOW – I like the egg white protein (vanilla flavor). I have a couple of smoothie recipes here, but love that they’re really versatile – you can really do anything you like: https://www.nourishmovelove.com/recipes/?_sft_category=smoothies – Lindsey
There is. never a day this is not some on my fridge. .. Dissolve 1 packet Jello in a cup of boiled water.
In a blender combine with 1 cup cottage cheese and blend very well. Pour into a container with a lid with a lid and refridgerate for a few hours until set.
Thanks for the recipe, Lora! -Lindsey
Hi, tks for recipes. What brand cottage cheese do you use? Seems hard to find organic. What are your thoughts on non organic dairym
Hi there! I personally use the Good Culture 4% fat cottage cheese. Some other great organic brands include Organic Valley and Nancy’s. -Lindsey