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 out to be a classy ingredient recently, and fortuitously right here at A Couple Cooks Alex and I’ve at all times 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 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 components 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 effectively. It really works just like a roux in a regular cheese sauce. Listed here are just a few notes on the components:

• Quick pasta: Any sort of quick noodles work for mac and cheese, with the usual being macaroni. We used cavatappi right here. 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 for the reason that taste isn’t as sturdy.
• Milk of alternative: 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 combination! The paprika is non-obligatory however helps to make a extra vibrant shade.

Suggestions for mixing the sauce

Making mac and cheese with cottage cheese is so easy: all it’s important to do is prepare dinner the pasta to al dente and mix the sauce whereas the pasta is cooking. You must 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 that to toss it with a little bit of olive oil or it is 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 just a few seconds. A normal 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 when you prepare dinner the pasta, then toss it along with the blended sauce. We go for this selection for fast weeknight dinners.

If 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.

Word for serving a crowd

This recipe works effectively doubled for serving a crowd. You should utilize the 2x button within the recipe under to shortly double the portions. Utilizing 1 pound of pasta, you may 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 kinds 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 every 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 primary or a aspect? To us it’s normally a primary dish: however this cottage cheese spin works both manner! I really like this one both manner, as a fast weeknight meal or baked up in a giant pan as a aspect for entertaining. Should you’re consuming it as a primary dish, listed below are just a few 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 essential. 

Just a few extra cottage cheese recipes we love

We love cottage cheese! You may make killer pancakes, scrumptious breakfast bowls, toast, scrambled eggs, and all the pieces in between. Listed here are just a few favourite recipes to get began:

01

Cottage Cheese Pancakes

This cottage cheese pancakes recipe is the most effective 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 just a few 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…

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