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 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 concept 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 concept for this recipe at first, however as soon as he tasted it he grew to become a believer. We hope you’ll like it simply as a lot as we do!
Bounce to the recipe—now.
The 7 substances 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 nicely. It really works just like a roux in a typical cheese sauce. Listed below are just a few notes on the substances:
- Quick pasta: Any kind of brief noodles work for mac and cheese, with the usual being macaroni. We used cavatappi right here. Different shapes that work nicely are shells, penne, rigatoni, and spirals.
- Cottage cheese: We suggest 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 shouldn’t be as strong.
- Milk of alternative: Use no matter milk you may have available. We sometimes use 2% milk, however entire 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 non-obligatory 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 must 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, ensure that to toss it with a little bit of olive oil or it is going to persist 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 nicely. 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 if you happen to prepare dinner the pasta, then toss it along with the blended sauce. We go for this selection for fast weeknight dinners.
When 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.
Observe for serving a crowd
This recipe works nicely doubled for serving a crowd. You should use the 2x button within the recipe beneath to rapidly 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? Based on 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 of protein, over half your each day want. Impressively, the protein accounts for over 70% of the energy.
- It’s additionally full of vitamins like B nutritional vitamins, calcium, phosphorus, and selenium.
Fast methods to make it a meal
Is mac and cheese a most important or a aspect? To us it’s often a most important dish: however this cottage cheese spin works both approach! I like this one both approach, as a fast weeknight meal or baked up in an enormous pan as a aspect for entertaining. If you happen to’re consuming it as a most important 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 mandatory.
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 every little thing in between. Listed below 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 straightforward breakfast! High them with berries or apple, cinnamon and a…
Description
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.
- 8 ounces brief pasta*
- 1 cup 4% milkfat cottage cheese
- ¾ cup milk of alternative (we used 2%)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon paprika (non-obligatory, for shade)
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- Carry a massive pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and boil till al dente (verify a couple of minutes earlier than the package deal directions point out). Drain the pasta.
- In the meantime, in a blender, mix the cottage cheese, milk, cornstarch, shredded cheddar cheese, garlic powder, paprika, and kosher salt. Pour the cheese combination right into a skillet and warmth for five minutes, till thickened. As soon as it’s thickened, take away from the warmth till the pasta finishes.
- When the sauce is completed, add the cooked and drained pasta. Stir to mix. Style and add a pinch of salt if mandatory.
- Serve instantly, or enable it to take a seat for a couple of minutes to soak up the sauce flavors (you may also switch to a baking dish and bake for quarter-hour at 350°F for much more taste). If desired, high with seasoned panko or breadcrumbs for a crunchy topping. Leftovers last as long as 3 days refrigerated; reheat gently on the stovetop and add a splash of milk or pinch of salt if mandatory.
Notes
*This recipe is straightforward to double for a crowd, then place in a 9 x 13 pan and bake for quarter-hour at 350°F .
- Class: Important dish
- Methodology: Stovetop
- Delicacies: Vegetarian
- Weight loss plan: Vegetarian
Key phrases: Cottage cheese mac and cheese, mac and cheese with cottage cheese
