27 Protein-Packed Cottage Cheese Recipes

Looking for new ways to boost your protein intake without relying on boring protein powders? Enter: cottage cheese recipes, an easy way to add protein to your diet without too many calories. 

Whether you want to amp up your breakfasts, add variation to your dinners or sneak in some extra protein into kid-friendly snacks, this versatile ingredient is easy to mix into meals. Let’s explore some delicious and easy cottage cheese recipes the whole family will love.

1. Cottage cheese pancakes with berry compote

Category: Breakfast

These fluffy cottage cheese breakfast recipes are a nutritious twist on a beloved classic. Made with protein-rich cottage cheese, these pancakes are moist and tender. Top with a fresh berry compote for a naturally sweet, antioxidant-packed finish.

2. Cottage cheese dip with garlic and onion

Category: Snacks and appetizers

This creamy cottage cheese dip combines garlic and onion for a savory flavor punch, perfect for serving with veggies, chips or as a spread. It’s a quick, high-protein snack ideal for parties or healthy snacking anytime.

3. Cottage cheese lasagna

Category: Dinner

A lighter take on traditional lasagna, this version layers tender pasta sheets with a rich cottage cheese filling. It’s a hearty dish that packs a protein punch while being vegetarian-friendly, making it ideal for family dinners or potlucks.

4. High-protein tomato soup with cottage cheese

Category: Dinner

Need comforting cottage cheese recipes for cold nights? This cozy tomato soup gets a protein boost from blended cottage cheese, which adds creaminess without overpowering the flavor. It’s an easy, nutritious dinner option that pairs perfectly with crusty bread or a perfect grilled cheese.

5. Chilled cottage cheese taco queso dip

Category: Snack/Appetizer

This creamy cottage cheese taco queso dip combines taco seasoning with shredded cheese and cottage cheese for a high-protein, flavorful dip. Serve with tortilla chips or veggie sticks for a crowd-pleasing dish for game days or parties.

6. Cottage cheese buffalo chicken dip

Category: Snack/Appetizer

This spicy, creamy buffalo chicken dip features cottage cheese for added protein. It’s the perfect Super Bowl recipe and a healthier, high-protein twist on classic buffalo dip. Enjoy it with chips, veggies or pita.

7. Cottage cheese bread

Category: Breakfast

This cottage cheese bread is a soft, moist loaf that helps you sneak extra protein into your morning meal. With a tender crumb and crusty exterior, it’s perfect for toast or sandwiches. Try it and make your breakfast more satisfying without the added calories. Pair it with avocado slices or your favorite breakfast meats for a hearty start.

8. Tuna and cottage cheese baked potato

Category: Lunch

This baked potato is topped with a savory mix of tuna and cottage cheese, creating a filling, nutritious meal. The cottage cheese adds creaminess and extra protein, turning a simple baked potato into a filling, balanced dish for busy weeknights. For added flavor, finish it off with a dollop of sour cream, shredded cheese or fresh herbs. 

9. Cottage cheese stuffed pierogies

Category: Snack/Appetizer

These homemade pierogies are filled with a creamy cottage cheese mixture, offering soft, tender dumplings packed with protein. Perfect boiled or fried, they provide a savory bite that makes for a satisfying snack or main course.

10. Cottage cheese and pepper open sandwich

Category: Lunch

This open-faced sandwich is one of the many cottage cheese recipes that work well for a light lunch. It combines creamy cheese with crisp red bell peppers on toasted bread. It’s a quick, nutritious meal that’s rich in protein and perfect for brunches.

11. Cottage cheese mac

Category: Dinner

This creamy cottage cheese mac offers a nutritious twist on a classic comfort dish. Blending cottage cheese into the sauce creates a rich, velvety texture that’s lower in fat but packed with flavor. Perfect for kids and adults alike, this dish delivers homemade comfort with a nutritious boost.

12. Noodle kugel

Category: Dessert

This traditional Jewish noodle kugel features cottage cheese for added protein and a creamy, custardy texture. It’s sweet, satisfying and pairs beautifully with brisket or served as a dessert topped with fruit or whipped cream.

13. Gnudi

Category: Dinner

These soft, pillowy gnudi use cottage cheese for a high-protein, budget-friendly twist on Italian ravioli filling. Gently simmered until tender, they pair perfectly with marinara, sage butter, or basil pesto for a satisfying meal.

14. Cottage cheese stuffed shells

Category: Dinner

These stuffed shells feature a creamy cottage cheese and spinach filling, baked in marinara and topped with mozzarella. They’re a hearty, protein-packed dinner that’s sure to please both kids and adults.

15. Cottage cheese baked ziti

Category: Dinner

This baked ziti swaps ricotta for cottage cheese, creating a rich, creamy sauce with extra protein. Baked to golden perfection, it’s a comforting, crowd-pleasing dish that’s easy to prepare and perfect for family dinners.

16. Cottage cheese protein waffles

Category: Breakfast

These high-protein cottage cheese waffles are perfect for busy mornings. Made with cottage cheese, oats and eggs, they pack a nutritious punch and are great for breakfast meal prep. Freeze and reheat in the toaster for a quick, satisfying start to your day.

17. Tomato cottage cheese caprese bowl

Category: Lunch

This colorful bowl combines ripe tomatoes, fresh basil, and cottage cheese for a satisfying, high-protein meal. Drizzled with olive oil and balsamic glaze, it’s perfect for a light lunch or snack and a flavorful way to enjoy cottage cheese in a savory, fresh dish.

18. Salmon rarebit

Category: Lunch

Salmon rarebit is a savory, high-protein dish featuring flaky salmon topped with a cheesy, creamy sauce made with cottage cheese. It’s a quick, light lunch that highlights how cottage cheese can elevate seafood recipes.

19. High-protein scrambled eggs

Category: Breakfast

Add cottage cheese to your scrambled eggs to create a fluffy, high-protein breakfast. This is one of the simplest cottage cheese recipes that takes only minutes to prepare. The cottage cheese enriches the eggs with extra moisture and protein, making your breakfast more nourishing and delicious.

20. Dill pickle cottage cheese egg salad

Category: Lunch

This egg salad combines chopped hard-boiled eggs, cottage cheese and crunchy dill pickles for a protein-packed lunch. It’s light, creamy and easy to make ahead. If you’re looking for something light to keep you energized throughout the day, this is it!

21. Cottage cheese fritters

Category: Breakfast

These cottage cheese fritters are quick, crispy bites made with creamy cottage cheese, fresh herbs, cherry tomatoes and Parmesan. Perfect for a protein-packed breakfast or lunch, they’re easy to whip up and serve with a simple salad or dipping sauce. Mix in zucchini, carrots or broccoli to sneak in an extra serving of veggies.

22. High-protein cottage cheese egg white muffins

Category: Breakfast

These egg white muffins are loaded with cottage cheese, egg whites, vegetables and turkey bacon. They’re ideal for a nutritious on-the-go breakfast during busy mornings and easy to reheat throughout the week.

23. Cottage cheese tropical smoothie

Category: Breakfast

This tropical drink is one of our favorite smoothie recipes that combines cottage cheese, frozen mango, pineapple and a splash of almond milk for a creamy, protein-rich smoothie. It’s refreshingly sweet, perfect for breakfast or a midday snack and easy to customize with your favorite fruits.

24. Strawberry cottage cheese ice cream bars 

Category: Dessert

These strawberry crunch ice cream bars are one of our favorite cottage cheese dessert recipes. Made with a graham cracker crust, cottage cheese ice cream and a crunchy topping of crushed Oreos and freeze-dried strawberries, they’re a delicious, protein-packed dessert for warm days.

25. Lemon blueberry cottage cheese ice cream

Category: Dessert

Looking for more cottage cheese ice cream recipes? This bright and tangy ice cream blends cottage cheese with fresh lemon and blueberries for a creamy, protein-rich frozen dessert. It’s a refreshing way to satisfy your sweet tooth while adding extra protein to your day.

26. Cottage cheese cheesecake

Category: Dessert

This light cottage cheese cheesecake offers all the creamy goodness of traditional cheesecake but with more protein. Made with cottage cheese, Greek yogurt and a graham cracker crust, it’s easy to prepare and perfect for a healthier twist on a classic dessert.

27. Cottage cheese banana pudding

Category: Dessert

This quick and easy pudding combines cottage cheese, ripe bananas, vanilla and maple syrup for a creamy, protein-rich treat. It's a healthy twist on classic banana pudding and perfect for a healthy snack or light dessert, especially for kids.

Tips for using cottage cheese

You can easily incorporate cottage cheese into a variety of recipes. Consider these helpful tips to get the most out of your high-protein cottage cheese recipes:

• Blending: If you dislike the curds, you can blend the cottage cheese for a creamier texture. This technique is especially useful in dips, sauces and desserts.
• Fat content: Cottage cheese comes in different fat percentages (fat-free, low-fat, full-fat). Choose based on your dietary preferences. Higher fat content generally yields a creamier result.
• Seasoning: Cottage cheese is a great blank canvas. Experiment with herbs, spices, fruit, sweets or savory toppings to customize it to your taste.

Ingredients to swap for cottage cheese

Cottage cheese is a versatile substitute for many ingredients. You can use it in place of the following to add more protein to your dishes.

• Silken tofu: Make higher protein recipes with cottage cheese by replacing 1 cup of silken tofu with 1 cup of cheese to add creaminess to smoothies, dips and sauces.
• Sour cream: Use cottage cheese as a sour cream substitute to create higher protein dressings, dips or baked dishes. Replace every cup of sour cream with 1 cup of cottage cheese.
• Greek yogurt: Substitute 1 cup of Greek yogurt with 1 cup of cottage cheese to increase protein in breakfast bowls, smoothies and parfaits, with a slightly chunkier texture.
• Cream cheese: Replace 1 cup of cream cheese with 1 cup of cottage cheese in spreads and dips for a lighter, high-protein option with a softer texture.
• Ricotta cheese: Substitute 1 cup of cottage cheese with 1 cup of ricotta to boost protein in dips, stuffed shells and lasagna without sacrificing creaminess.
• Heavy cream: Use 1 cup of blended cottage cheese for every cup of heavy cream to make higher-protein sauces, soups and creamy stews.
• Mayonnaise: Replace every cup of mayonnaise with 1 cup of cottage cheese for a lighter, higher-protein version of classic deli salads like tuna salad, chicken salad and egg salad.
• Milk: To create thicker smoothies or creamy sauces, use one-half cup of blended cottage cheese and one-half cup of water for every cup of milk.

Get creative with cottage cheese options from Instacart

Adding more protein to your meals doesn’t mean you have to rely solely on meat products and artificial powders. These cottage cheese recipes show how simple and tasty it can be to boost your protein intake.

Ready to try them for yourself? Order cottage cheese and other ingredients through Instacart to elevate your home cooking with flavorful dishes.

Looking for more protein-packed recipes? Try one of these easy high-protein meals that will keep you full all day!