This cottage cheese mac and cheese is a protein-packed, scrumptious twist on the basic consolation meals that’s surprisingly satisfying! It’s straightforward to whip up this creamy spin in a blender.

Cottage cheese has turn into a classy ingredient these days, and fortunately 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 thought 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 have to admit Alex wasn’t on board with my thought for this recipe at first, however as soon as he tasted it he turned a believer. We hope you’ll like it simply as a lot as we do!

Soar to the recipe—now.

The 7 elements 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 greatest so as to add a little bit of cornstarch to the combo to assist the sauce thicken up properly, in any other case it has much less physique and doesn’t coat the noodles as effectively. It really works just like a roux in a normal cheese sauce. Listed below are a couple of notes on the elements:

• Brief pasta: Any kind of brief noodles work for mac and cheese, with the usual being macaroni. We used cavatappi right here which add a enjoyable vibe. Different shapes that work effectively 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 isn’t as sturdy.
• Milk of selection: Use no matter milk you’ve got readily available. We usually use 2% milk, however complete milk works too!
• Cornstarch: This helps to thicken the sauce and add a silky physique, just 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 combo! The paprika is elective however helps to make a extra vibrant shade.

Ideas for mixing the sauce

Making mac and cheese with cottage cheese is so easy: all you need to do is prepare 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, be certain to toss it with a little bit of olive oil or it would stick with the pan.

We use a excessive pace blender for our blended recipes, which blends the sauce right into a creamy texture in a couple of seconds. A regular blender and meals processor can work right here as effectively. A small blender can work relying on its measurement capability.

Bake it for much more taste!

This cottage cheese mac and cheese is prepared in simply 20 minutes for those who prepare dinner the pasta, then toss it along with the blended sauce. We go for this selection for fast weeknight dinners.

In case you 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.

Be aware for serving a crowd

This recipe works effectively doubled for serving a crowd. You should utilize the 2x button within the recipe beneath to rapidly double the portions. Utilizing 1 pound of pasta, you possibly can 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 response to Healthline, this cheese is a wholesome choice when in comparison with different forms of cheeses. Listed below 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 protein, over half your day by day want. Impressively, the protein accounts for over 70% of the energy.
• It’s additionally filled with vitamins like B nutritional vitamins, calcium, phosphorus, and selenium.

Fast methods to make it a meal

Is mac and cheese a principal or a facet? To us it’s normally a principal dish: however this cottage cheese spin works both means! I really like this one both means, as a fast weeknight meal or baked up in a giant pan as a facet for entertaining. In the event you’re consuming it as a principal dish, listed here 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. 

Just a few extra cottage cheese recipes we love

We love cottage cheese! You can also make killer pancakes, scrumptious breakfast bowls, toast, scrambled eggs, and all the pieces in between. Listed below are a couple of favourite recipes to get began:

01

Cottage Cheese Pancakes

This cottage cheese pancakes recipe is the very best genius trick! It makes a protein packed pancake that tastes like French…

02

Cottage Cheese Dip

This cottage cheese dip tastes similar to ranch dip, however 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 straightforward breakfast! High them with berries or apple, cinnamon and a…

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