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 into a classy ingredient recently, and fortuitously 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 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 need to admit Alex wasn’t on board with my thought 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!
Leap 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 an ordinary cheese sauce. Listed here are just a few notes on the substances:
- Brief pasta: Any kind of quick 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 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 strong.
- Milk of alternative: Use no matter milk you have got available. We sometimes 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 combo! The paprika is optionally available however helps to make a extra vibrant coloration.
Suggestions for mixing the sauce
Making mac and cheese with cottage cheese is so easy: all you need 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, ensure to toss it with a little bit of olive oil or it can 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 typical blender and meals processor can work right here as nicely. A small blender can work relying on its dimension capability.
Bake it for much more taste!
This cottage cheese mac and cheese is prepared in simply 20 minutes if you happen to cook dinner the pasta, then toss it along with the blended sauce. We go for this feature for fast weeknight dinners.
You probably 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.
Notice for serving a crowd
This recipe works nicely 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 accordance with Healthline, this cheese is a wholesome choice when in comparison with different sorts 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 day by 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 important or a aspect? To us it’s normally a important dish: however this cottage cheese spin works both approach! I really like this one both approach, as a fast weeknight meal or baked up in a giant pan as a aspect for entertaining. When you’re consuming it as a 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 essential.
A number of extra cottage cheese recipes we love
We love cottage cheese! You may make killer pancakes, scrumptious breakfast bowls, toast, scrambled eggs, and all the things 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…
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 quick 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 (optionally available, for coloration)
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- Convey a massive pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and boil till al dente (examine 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 essential.
- Serve instantly, or enable it to sit down 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 essential.
Notes
*This recipe is simple to double for a crowd, then place in a 9 x 13 pan and bake for quarter-hour at 350°F .
- Class: Major dish
- Technique: Stovetop
- Delicacies: Vegetarian
- Weight-reduction plan: Vegetarian
Key phrases: Cottage cheese mac and cheese, mac and cheese with cottage cheese
