Julie Clark
Posted:
Cottage Cheese Mac and Cheese
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Ever find yourself in a dinner rut, craving something comforting yet quick to make? Here’s a delicious twist on a classic recipe: Mac and Cheese with Cottage Cheese.
This homemade macaroni is ready in 20 minutes, making it an ideal choice for busy weeknights. With ingredients like sharp cheddar cheese sauce, a touch of garlic salt, and yes, cottage cheese, you’re about to serve a dish that will have everyone asking for seconds. There’s no looking back to the boxed version!
Cottage cheese is the secret to this extra creamy mac and cheese.
Cottage cheese is a great ingredient for comfort food! We use it regularly in these recipes:
- Lasagna Recipe with Cottage Cheese
- Cottage Cheese Bread
- Cottage Cheese Pancakes
- Jello Salad with Cottage Cheese
Cottage cheese is also our secret ingredient in this mac and cheese recipe. It adds a creamy texture but also turns your traditional mac and cheese into a high protein lunch or side dish.
This mac and cheese with cottage cheese is a start for countless meal possibilities. Serve alongside grilled chicken or pulled pork. Toss in steamed broccoli, peas, or spinach. A side of asiago bread or Irish soda bread is a must. And to cut the richness, try a Greek side salad.
You may also love our mac and cheese with Boursin and mac and cheese with white cheddar. And use this as a base to our pulled pork mac and cheese.
Enjoy! -Julie
Ingredients
There are 6 simple ingredients in this high protein mac ‘n cheese:
- Elbow macaroni. Or any other regular pasta shape you’d like.
- Milk. The higher fat the milk, the creamier the mac and cheese will be.
- Cornstarch. This is to thicken the cheese sauce slightly.
- Cottage cheese. 4% milkfat small curd cottage cheese yields the best results. A lower fat cottage cheese will work as well though. If you use small curd cottage cheese, most of the “curds” will melt into the cheese sauce. If you want to ensure your sauce is smooth, blend cottage cheese in a food processor or blender to blend it smooth.
- Sharp cheddar cheese. Rather than pre-shredded cheese, buy a block of sharp cheddar and shred it at home for a creamy mac and cheese.
- Garlic salt. For quick and easy flavor.
✨ See the recipe card for the full recipe and ingredients. ✨
Cottage Cheese Mac and Cheese
Creamy homemade cottage cheese mac and cheese made on the stovetop in 20 minutes. Kid-friendly and packed with protein.
Servings 6
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Ingredients
- 8 ounces elbow macaroni
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch* for thickening
- 12 ounces small curd cottage cheese 4% milkfat
- 12 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese about 3 cups
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, bring 4 cups of water to a boil over high heat. Add the elbow macaroni and boil for 6-7 minutes. It should still be very firm. Drain the macaroni and return it to the pan. 8 ounces elbow macaroni
- In a small bowl, whisk together the milk and cornstarch. Pour this into the cooked pasta. 1 ½ cups whole milk, 2 tablespoons cornstarch*
- Add the cottage cheese, cheddar cheese and garlic salt. 12 ounces small curd cottage cheese, 12 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese, ½ teaspoon garlic salt
- With the pan over medium-low heat, stir constantly until the cheese has completely melted and is smooth (about 5-7 minutes).
Notes
- The original recipe called for 16 ounces of macaroni. I reduced the amount of macaroni to make the dish creamier. You can add up to 8 more ounces of pasta if needed. It’s a great way to make this dish serve more. Please note it won’t be as cheesy though.
- Use arrowroot or tapioca starch if you don’t have cornstarch.
- Whole milk gives the creamiest mac ‘n cheese, but 2% or skim milk will work as well.
- Storing: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Freezing: If you’re planning ahead, this mac and cheese freezes well too. Just thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating, and you’re all set for a quick and comforting meal. This is a creamy sauce, which makes it great for freezing. Reheating: To maintain that creaminess, reheat gently on the stove over medium heat, adding a splash of milk or heavy cream if needed to loosen it up. You can also use the microwave, stirring every minute to ensure even heating.
- Refer to the article above for more tips and tricks.
- The calories shown are based on the recipe serving 6, with 1 serving being ⅙ of the mac and cheese. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. **
Nutrition
Calories: 474kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 74mg | Sodium: 769mg | Potassium: 279mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 746IU | Calcium: 531mg | Iron: 1mg
Make Mac and Cheese with Cottage Cheese in 4 Steps
- In a large saucepan, bring 4 cups of water to a boil over high heat. Add the elbow macaroni and boil for 6-7 minutes. It should still be very firm. Drain the macaroni and return it to the pan.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the milk and cornstarch. Pour this into the macaroni.
- Add the cottage cheese and cheddar cheese.
- With the pan over low heat, stir constantly until the cheese has completely melted and is smooth (about 5-7 minutes).
Recipe Variations
- Pasta Alternatives: For a gluten-free version, swap out the traditional elbow macaroni for chickpea pasta or another gluten-free option. Whole wheat pasta is also an option.
- Cheese Twists:Â While sharp cheddar cheese brings a classic taste to the dish, don’t hesitate to mix in your favorites like mozzarella, ricotta or a bit of Parmesan cheese.
- Seasonings: Looking for a different flavor? Try adding dijon mustard, black pepper, paprika, chipotle powder, onion powder or more garlic powder.
- Crunchy topping: I love an easy mac and cheese with crunchy topping! Place the cooked mac and cheese in a casserole dish sprayed with cooking spray. Sprinkle buttered bread crumbs or cracker crumbs on top of the macaroni. Bake at 350ºF for about 10-15 minutes until the cheese is bubbling and the bread crumbs are golden brown.
- Add protein. Add a pound of cooked and crumbled ground beef for a hamburger mac and cheese.
