Cottage Cheese Mac and Cheese – A Couple Cooks

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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 change into a stylish ingredient recently, and by chance 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 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 need to admit Alex wasn’t on board with my concept for this recipe at first, however as soon as he tasted it he turned a believer. We hope you’ll adore it simply as a lot as we do!

Soar to the recipe—now.

The 7 components you want for cottage cheese mac and cheese

You may 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 combo to assist the sauce thicken up properly, in any other case it has much less physique and doesn’t coat the noodles as properly. It really works much like a roux in a regular cheese sauce. Listed below are just a few notes on the components:

Brief pasta: Any sort of quick 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 properly 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 is just not as sturdy.
Milk of selection: Use no matter milk you’ve got readily available. We sometimes use 2% milk, however complete milk works too!
Cornstarch: This helps to thicken the sauce and add a silky physique, much 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 optionally available however helps to make a extra vibrant colour.

Ideas for mixing the sauce

Making mac and cheese with cottage cheese is so easy: all it’s a must to do is cook 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 sure to toss it with a little bit of olive oil or it is going to keep on with the pan.

We use a excessive velocity blender for our blended recipes, which blends the sauce right into a creamy texture in just a few seconds. An ordinary blender and meals processor can work right here as properly. 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 should you cook dinner the pasta, then toss it along with the blended sauce. We go for this feature for fast weeknight dinners.

When you’ve got 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.

Notice for serving a crowd

This recipe works properly doubled for serving a crowd. You should use the 2x button within the recipe under 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 varieties of cheeses. Listed below are among 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 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 fundamental or a facet? To us it’s often a fundamental dish: however this cottage cheese spin works both means! I like this one both means, as a fast weeknight meal or baked up in an enormous pan as a facet for entertaining. For those who’re consuming it as a fundamental 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 needed.

A couple of extra cottage cheese recipes we love

We love cottage cheese! You can also make killer pancakes, scrumptious breakfast bowls, toast, scrambled eggs, and every part in between. Listed below are just a few favourite recipes to get began:

Description

8 ounces quick pasta*
1 cup 4% milkfat cottage cheese
¾ cup milk of selection (we used 2%)
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon paprika (optionally available, for colour)
¼ teaspoon kosher salt

Begin a giant pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and boil till al dente (test a couple of minutes earlier than the bundle 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 needed.
Serve instantly, or permit it to take a seat for a couple of minutes to soak up the sauce flavors (it’s also possible to 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 needed.