If 2024 taught us something, it’s that cottage cheese is formally again—and it’d even be right here to remain. After a steep decline (in 2015, NPR declared yogurt the reigning dairy champ), curds and whey has reclaimed its spot as a fridge staple, rising from its Seventies glory days, based on a brand new article in WSJ.
So if it appears like all of the sudden everyone seems to be spooning cottage cheese on their toasts, mixing it with their eggs, or consuming it straight, that’s as a result of they’re. Even Jennifer Garner is utilizing it on her Fake Cooking Present. Due to a slew of viral Tik Toks and types like Good Tradition, which has practically doubled its income since 2023, the once-hated dairy product has seen an plain resurgence.
Whether or not you have been driving the cottage cheese wave all 12 months, or are newly vowing to embrace it, we’ve obtained loads of recipes—candy, savory, and really scrumptious—to encourage you. Suppose past scrambled eggs: from strawberry cottage cheese pancakes to tikka masala naan pizzas, these 17 concepts are easy, satisfying, and, due to the cottage cheese, full of a bit extra protein than you would possibly count on, if that’s your factor.
In case you can’t get previous the tang or texture, ease in with some raspberry crescent cookies or chorizo cornbread the place you’ll barely discover the style. Cottage cheese additionally occurs to make an awesome ricotta swap for these lasagna and stuffed pasta nights.
1. Cottage Cheese Pancakes
Not a pancake individual? This recipe would possibly change your thoughts. The cottage cheese provides a creamy, custard-like texture that’s like having strawberry cheesecake for breakfast.
2. Avocado Toast
Consider this as a dressed-up open-face sandwich relatively than simply an avocado toast. It’s particularly nice with summer-ripe tomatoes, however even low season, the watercress and lemon zest give it a recent and flavorful style all 12 months lengthy.
3. Orange Greens with Home made Cottage Cheese
Cottage cheese isn’t only for breakfast—it’s a secret dinner weapon as effectively. This cozy facet dish layers winter squash, candy potatoes, or yams with dollops of a lemony cottage cheese, all topped with vinegar-honey drizzle.
4. Cottage Cheese & Chive Rolls
Very similar to the pancakes, these dinner rolls get a lift in texture and tacky richness from the cottage cheese. Smooth, pillowy, and full of chives, it’s primarily the right dinner roll.
5. Noodle Kugel with Caramelized Onions
A casserole you’ll truly need to eat, plus it’s tremendous simple to make and holds up nice within the fridge. A lot of the prep is spent letting the onions caramelize. After that, the bottom will get blended up and blended proper into the baking dish.
6. Lentil Salad with Roasted Tomatoes
One other method to ease into cottage cheese? High it on this heat lentil and tomato salad. It provides a pleasant creaminess and distinction to the garlic and thyme breadcrumb topping.
7. Ham & Cheese Egg Muffins
These ham & cheese egg muffins are a meal prepper’s dream: simple to make for the week forward and naturally full of protein. Plus, they’re a lifesaver for non-morning individuals who don’t have time to whip up breakfast daily.
8. Spanakopita
Spanakopita is manner simpler to make than you suppose, particularly with store-bought phyllo dough and frozen spinach. A beneficiant quantity of eggs and dairy create the creamiest filling for a flaky, surprisingly high-protein appetizer.
9. Roasted Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothie
In case you’re skeptical about cottage cheese in a smoothie, we get it—however belief us. As soon as once more, strawberry is the right taste to include cottage cheese with out it being too overpowering. And when blended, it turns right into a easy, yogurt-like base that works with nearly each smoothie.
10. Berry Cottage Cheese Skillet Cake
Very similar to buttermilk or yogurt, the cottage cheese on this berry skillet cake provides a wealthy taste and retains it further moist. It’s an awesome weeknight deal with, however between the fruit, eggs, and cottage cheese, you may completely name it a breakfast cake, too.
11. Roasted Veggie Lasagna
You may simply swap cottage cheese for ricotta in most lasagnas, however this veggie model does it for you. It’s lighter than your typical baked pasta, loaded with onions, mushrooms, zucchini, and loads of freshly grated parm.
12. Tikka Masala Naan Pizza
Shake up your pizza evening with this tikka masala twist. The naan makes for a straightforward prep and avoids any potential yeast mishaps. Simply layer on the sauce, crimson onion, chickpeas, squash, and naturally, some dollops of cottage cheese.
13. Crescent Jam & Cheese Cookies
One other baked good that will get a lift from cottage cheese. Whereas the recipe requires whipping up a batch of do-it-yourself dough, the ingredient checklist is straightforward, and the filling works with any jam you’ve obtained readily available.
14. Cornbread with Chorizo
Whilst you can’t actually go flawed with a field combine, this recipe is a good way to stage up your cornbread recreation with spicy chorizo, recent corn, and a full pint of cottage cheese—so no leftovers within the fridge.
15. Breakfast Casserole with Bacon & Veggies
One other nice make-ahead breakfast for busy weeks or a home stuffed with visitors. The cottage cheese isn’t tremendous noticeable—it merely stretches the eggs. Plus, it’s a straightforward method to clear out the fridge and deplete any leftover veggies.
16. Scorching Clam Dip with a Toasted Almond Crust
While you’re searching for a intelligent manner to make use of up that half-empty pint of cottage cheese you’ve got hanging round, this dip solutions the decision, and the almond panko breadcrumb topping on this recipe takes it up a notch.
17. Omelet with Whipped Ricotta
This omelet requires both whipped ricotta or cottage cheese, or you may mix each when you’re nonetheless not satisfied. High with any type of tender inexperienced, a splash of vinegar, and a drizzle of olive oil for the right stability of flavors.
