I’ve gathered some of my favorite easy healthy cottage cheese recipes here all in one place.
I have been a cottage cheese fan since the 1970s. You might think of it as “diet food” but it is so much more. In addition to being nutritious, with about 15 grams of protein in a half cup serving, it can be enjoyed in so many ways – on its own, with fruit or salad, on toast.
Cottage Cheese on Whole Grain Bread with Fresh Blueberries
In addition to these simple ways to eat cottage cheese, there are all kinds of recipes, both sweet and savory, that contain cottage cheese. Here is a collection of favorites
Cottage Cheese Recipes – Breakfast
Apple Cottage Cheese Pancakes Recipe
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
These great easy cottage cheese pancakes are a great tasty way to eat more protein for breakfast. They’re perfect for fall when apples are in season and would be delicious topped with warm applesauce or sauteed apples.
Ingredients
4 eggs
1 tablespoon sugar
1 apple, grated
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups cottage cheese
Vegetable cooking spray
Recipe Instructions
In a large bowl, beat eggs and sugar. Add apple, cinnamon, and vanilla extract, and mix until combined. Stir in flour and cottage cheese and combine well.
Coat a medium skillet or a griddle with vegetable cooking spray and heat over medium heat. Using a 1/2 cup measure, pour the batter onto the hot pan. Cook until nearly set, then flip and cook until golden brown. Keep warm on an oven safe plate in a 200F oven until you have enough to serve. Dust pancakes with powdered sugar and cinnamon or drizzle with your favorite syrup.
Homemade Cottage Cheese Muffins
Cottage Cheese Muffins Recipe
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 12 muffins
Simple satisfying muffins, perfect for breakfast or as an accompaniment to soup or salad for lunch.
Ingredients
1-1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, melted
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1 cup cottage cheese
1/4 cup milk
Recipe Instructions
Preheat oven to 375 F. Line muffin pan with paper liners or grease with non-stick cooking spray.
In medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside. In large bowl, stir together the butter and sugar until well blended. Beat in the egg. Add cottage cheese and milk and beat until smooth. Add dry ingredients and stir just until moistened.
Spread the batter evenly among the muffin cups. Bake 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out with only a few clinging crumbs. Remove from the oven and cool for several minutes on a wire rack. Then remove from the muffin tins and cool or enjoy warm.
Zucchini Frittata Recipe
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
A frittata is essentially an open-faced omelette. This healthy one is especially delicious during the summer when zucchini and tomatoes are in season. Although great for breakfast or brunch frittatas are also great when you need a quick and easy lunch or supper.
Ingredients
5 eggs
Salt and ground black pepper, to taste
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 cup cottage cheese
5 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium tomato, seeded and chopped
1 medium zucchini, washed, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced into half moons
Recipe Instructions
In a medium bowl, beat eggs with salt, pepper, basil, and oregano. Stir in cottage cheese and half of the Parmesan cheese.
Heat oil over medium heat in a medium nonstick skillet. Add tomatoes and zucchini and cook until zucchini is lightly browned. Pour in egg mixture to fully coat the pan. Sprinkle egg mixture with remaining Parmesan cheese. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook eggs until they are well set, about 15 to 20 minutes. (To brown the top, place under a pre-heated broiler for a minute or two.) Cut into wedges and serve hot.
Cottage Cheese Recipes – Appetizers
Cottage Cheese Dip Recipe
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: N/A
Yield: 1 cup
Ingredients
1 cup cottage cheese
1/2 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
1 cup baby spinach leaves or watercress leaves, finely chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Recipe Instructions
If the cottage cheese is really moist, drain it in a sieve lined with a coffee filter for about 1 hour. By hand or in a food processor, mix the cottage cheese, sour cream, and spinach. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Cottage Cheese with Olive Oil and Black Pepper
Food doesn’t get much faster than this. This is best with large-curd cottage cheese, preferably organic. Put some on a plate, season with sea salt and coarse freshly ground black pepper, then drizzle a little extra virgin olive oil over the top. Enjoy with whole grain bread or crackers.
Cottage Cheese Recipes – Main Dishes
Cottage Cheese Sour Cream Noodles Recipe
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Bake Time: 45 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
This is a great comfort food dish. A bit rich for everyday, but a delicious occasional treat. It is a great main course served with a side salad or sauteed spinach or chard.
It has infinite variations too. Use the butter to saute any one or more of the following that you then add to the noodles – 1/4 cup chopped onion, 1/4 cup chopped bell pepper, 1/2 cup chopped celery, 1 cup sliced mushrooms, 1 cup well-drained flaked canned tuna or 1 1/2 – 2 cups diced cooked poultry. One of my favorite combinations is sauteed onions, mushrooms and diced cooked leftover turkey.
Ingredients
4 ounces noodles, cooked
1 cup cottage cheese
1 cup sour cream
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
4 tablespoons butter, melted
Recipe Instructions
Preheat oven to 375F. Butter a medium sized casserole dish. In a large bowl stir together the noodles and remaining ingredients. Put into the casserole, spreading it out evenly. Bake 45 to 55 minutes, or until bubbling and set.
Orzo with Cottage Cheese and Peas Recipe
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Another delicious comfort food dish, but a little fancier.
Ingredients
2 cups cottage cheese, at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup minced scallions or chives
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
Black pepper to taste
1/2 pound orzo (rice shaped pasta)
1 cup frozen peas
Grated parmesan cheese
Recipe Instructions
In a medium-sized bowl, combine the cottage cheese, salt, scallions, lemon zest, and black pepper. Mix until well combined.
Cook the orzo in plenty of boiling salted water until tender. While the orzo is cooking, place the peas in a colander in a the sink.
When the orzo is done, drain into the colander right onto the peas. Shake off the excess water and dump into the bowl with the cottage cheese mixture. Stir gently and sprinkle with grated parmesan. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Baked Cottage Cheese and Spinach Recipe
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 45 minutes
Yield: one 9-inch square pan
An easy nourishing dish perfect when you want a hearty yet meatless meal. Serve with a simple green salad or platter of sliced tomatoes when they’re in season.
Ingredients
10 ounces of baby spinach leaves
5 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup chopped parsley
1/2 teaspoon dill weed or dill seeds
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
2 cups small-curd cottage cheese
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Recipe Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 F. Generously grease an 9-inch square baking pan.
Cook the spinach in a wide skillet over medium-high heat until wilted. Press out the liquid, reserving it. Finely chop the spinach.
In a medium bowl, beat the eggs. Add the herbs and cheese along with 1/2 teaspoon salt and a little pepper. Stir in the chopped spinach and reserved cooking liquid. Pour into the prepared baking pan. Bake until set, about 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool for about 5 minutes. Cut into diamonds or squares.
Easy Baked Ziti
Baked Ziti Recipe
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Bake Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
This is another versatile recipe. You can boost its nutrition and make it more filling by adding extra vegetables. I like to saute cup of chopped mushrooms and zucchini along with the onions. Spinach would be good too.
Ingredients
8 ounces ziti, uncooked
1/2 pound extra lean ground beef or ground turkey
2 medium onions, chopped
3 cups spaghetti sauce
2 cups cottage cheese
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Recipe Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Cook ziti according to package directions. Drain, and set aside.
Meanwhile, crumble meat in a large skillet coated with nonstick cooking spray. Add onions and cook, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until meat is fully cooked, about 10 minutes. Add the spaghetti spaghetti sauce.
In large bowl, combine cottage cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg, parsley, and garlic powder. Mix thoroughly. Add cooked ziti and mix well. Spread about 1/3 of the meat, onion, and spaghetti sauce mixture over the bottom of prepared pan. Spoon ziti and cheese mixture into pan. Pour the remaining sauce mixture over the top. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for about 30 minutes.
Macaroni and Cheese Recipe
Prep Time:
Cook Time:
Yield: 6 servings
This is my mom’s recipe for making macaroni and cheese. The cottage cheese helps to make the dish a little lighter and healthier. This is a quick and easy version of macaroni and cheese that doesn’t require making a cheese sauce.
Ingredients
8 ounces elbow macaroni, uncooked
2 tablespoons butter, melted
2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 cups cottage cheese
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
Recipe Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a medium baking dish with cooking spray and set aside. Cook macaroni according to package directions until firm, but don’t overcook. Drain macaroni and set aside.
In a large bowl, combine macaroni, butter, cheddar cheese, and black pepper. Place cottage cheese and milk in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Pour this over macaroni mixture and mix thoroughly.
Pour entire mixture into baking dish. In a small bowl, combine bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle on top of the macaroni. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until hot in the center. Serve warm.
Easy Lasagna with Cottage Cheese
Easy Lasagna Recipe
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Bake Time: 45 minutes
Yield: 6 to 8 servings
Mom always made lasagna with cottage cheese instead of ricotta and this is how I still prefer it. (Turn up your nose if you must it’s actually very good, especially if it’s what you grew up eating!) For texture closer to ricotta, buzz the cottage cheese in blender or food processor for a few seconds to make it creamier.
This easy lasagna is a great make ahead dish that also freezes well. When I make lasagna, I like to put together an extra pan for the freezer. It’s so great to have food in the freezer that’s ready and waiting for you when you need it.
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 28 ounce jars prepared marinara sauce
2 beaten eggs
24 ounces cottage cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
3 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese
12 no-boil lasagna noodles
Recipe Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13-inch pan with nonstick cooking spray.
Brown ground beef in a skillet over medium heat until no longer pink. Add salt and marinara sauce. Stir to combine and then set aside.
In a medium bowl mix beaten eggs, cottage cheese, Parmesan cheese, basil, garlic powder, onion powder, and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.
Starting with the sauce, layer the sauce, noodles, and cheese mixture in a 9×13 inch baking dish. (Noodles will not completely cover sauce – they swell as they cook.) Repeat layers twice. Top with remaining 2 cups of mozzarella cheese.
Bake for 40-45 minutes or until brown and bubbly. Let stand for 15 minutes before serving so that it firms up and is easier to cut.
Cottage Cheese Recipes – Desserts
Cottage Cheese Pie Recipe
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Bake Time: 50 minutes
Yield: One 9-inch pie
Yummy Cottage Cheese Pie
This is cottage cheese pie is like cottage cheese cheesecake only easier, since you don’t need to fiddle with a spring form pan.
You bake it in a regular old pie plate that you line with a graham cracker crust. If you are feeling especially lazy, go ahead and use one of those already prepared graham cracker crusts, like the one by Arrowhead Mills that is organic and trans-fat free.
This yummy wholesome dessert is great plain or topped with fruit.
Ingredients
For the Crust:
1 1/2 cups finely crushed graham cracker crumbs
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter, melted
For the Filling:
2 cups cottage cheese
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup light cream
3 eggs, well beaten
2 tablespoons butter, melted
Grated rind of 1 lemon
Juice of 1 lemon
Recipe Instructions
Preheat oven to 350.
Make the crust. Mix together the crumbs, sugar, and butter in a bowl. Set aside 1/2 cup of the crumb mixture for the top of the pie. Press the remaining crumbs evenly into an 8 or 9-inch pie pan and refrigerate while you prepare the filling.
Place all the ingredients in a blender or food processor until smooth and well mixed. Alternatively you can beat in a bowl with an electric mixer, but the end result will not be quite as smooth.
Pour the mixture into the prepared pie pan and sprinkle with the reserved crumbs. Bake in the preheated 350F oven for 40-50 minutes, until a knife comes out clean. Remove from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool completely. Then chill in the refrigerator for several hours before serving.
Do you have a favorite way to eat cottage cheese? I would love to hear about it.
