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Easy Protein Cottage Cheese Mac and Cheese

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This protein cottage cheese mac and cheese packs 22 grams of protein per serving and cooks in under 30 minutes. It is a creamy, flavorful, comforting dish that the whole family will love!

Cheesy cottage cheese Mac and cheese in a white pan with a wood spoon in it and a blue and white towel in front of it.

We love mac and cheese in our house so I am always looking for ways to make it a bit healthier. This new cottage cheese mac and cheese was a hit! Nobody could even tell there was cottage cheese mixed in the cheese sauce. 

The kids loved this butternut squash mac and cheese so I was hoping to achieve a similar cheesy, sneaky result and it was a win! 

This is probably one of the easiest mac and cheese recipes I have made that is ready in under 30 minutes and only requires 7 simple ingredients. It has the best smooth, cheesy, rich, high-protein sauce packed with over 22 grams of protein per serving! Yes!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Versatile—you can easily bulk up this recipe by adding veggies and cooked chicken breast for even more nutrition. 
  • Easy to make – this mac and cheese recipe comes together in under 30 minutes with minimal steps and ingredients. 
  • Protein-packed – 22 grams of protein per serving and it is vegetarian. 
  • Healthy comfort food – a lighter mac and cheese that is comforting but nutritious. 
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What are the benefits of eating cottage cheese?

  • Protein-packed – cottage cheese has over 23 grams of protein and only 200 calories in just one cup.
  • Calcium and phosphorus – it contains about 175 milligrams of calcium and 334 milligrams of phosphorus per serving, which is great for bone support.
  • Helps with weight loss – it is very satiating and high in protein, which keeps you fuller longer, making you want to eat less.
  • Versatile – you can enjoy a bowl of cottage cheese as is, pair it with some honey and fruit, use it to make pizza or flatbread, or use it in this mac and cheese.

Ingredients and Substitutions

Here is a list of the simple, healthy ingredients needed to make this incredible healthy mac and cheese recipe using cottage cheese.

Ingredients for cottage cheese Mac and cheese with labels over each ingredient.
  • Pasta—while any macaroni-type pasta will work in this mac and cheese, I recommend cavatappi or elbows since they are easier to mix into the sauce and also make it look and taste like traditional mac and cheese. I also tried this recipe with gluten-free pasta, and it was equally delicious. 
  • Cottage cheese – I recommend using a full-fat cottage cheese for the creamiest sauce but low-fat cottage will also work. 
  • Sharp cheddar cheese – I used a block of sharp cheddar cheese that I shredded myself. While you can use pre-shredded cheese, I recommend shedding your own since pre-shredded contains non-caking agents that may make your sauce more clumpy rather than smooth. 
  • Milk – 2% milk or you could use non-dairy milk if you need to reduce the dairy in this recipe. 
  • Cornstarch – just a little bit is used to thicken the cheese sauce. 
  • Seasoning – garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper add a nice layer of flavor to the cheesy sauce. 
  • Large Pot and strainer 
  • Blender – to blend the cottage cheese and other sauce ingredients
  • Whisk and wooden spoon

How To Make Cottage Cheese Mac and Cheese

Here is a summary with step-by-step photos of how to make this delicious and simple cottage cheese mac and cheese recipe. Get the complete list of recipe ingredients, instructions, and nutrition in the recipe card located at the bottom of this post.

Blended cottage cheese sauce in blender bottle.

Step 1: Cook the pasta, drain and set aside. Blend the cottage cheese, milk, and seasoning in a blender until smooth.

White round pot with cheesy sauce and shredded cheese in it.

Step 2: Pour the cottage cheese blend into a pan heated to medium-low heat and stir in the cornstarch until it thickens. Then stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until it is fully melted in the sauce.

Round white pot with cheese sauce made from cottage cheese and a pile of cooked noodles in it.

Step 3: Add the cooked noodles to the pan with the cheesy pasta sauce.

White pot filled with Mac and cheese in a cottage cheese sauce with a serving spoon in the pot and a striped towel in front of it.

Step 4: Toss the pasta in the sauce to coat it all.

Recipe Variations

  • Add some veggies – cooked peas, steamed broccoli or cauliflower would be great additions to this mac and cheese for added fiber and nutrition. 
  • Change up the cheese – use Gouda, mild cheddar, or Colby Jack.
  • Add more protein – add cooked chicken breast, tuna, or shrimp for even more protein. 
  • Make it a baked mac and cheese – transfer the mac and cheese to a baking pan, top with more shredded cheese and crushed butter crackers or breadcrumbs, and bake at 375 for 10-15 minutes until golden. 
  • Add some frozen riced cauliflower to the sauce for a boost of veggies and nutrients that nobody will be able to tell are added. 
  • Make it gluten-free – use gluten-free chickpea pasta – we love Banza pasta!
Round bowl of cheesy pasta with a gold fork next to it and another bowl of it behind it.

Expert tips and tricks for the best results

  • Cook the pasta 1-2 minutes less than the package instructions since it will cook more in the sauce.
  • Shred your cheese – shredding your own cheese allows the cheese to melt better since pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents that make it more clumpy when it melts. 
  • Blend the cheese mixture well for the best smooth, creamy sauce.

Ways to serve cottage cheese mac and cheese

This mac and cheese is great on its own but here are some other dishes to serve with it. 

How To Store Mac and Cheese

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave with a paper towel on top of the bowl for 30-60 seconds or in a pot on the stovetop with a splash of milk added to loosen up the cheese sauce.

Cheesy Mac and cheese spirals in a white pan with a spoon in the pan.

FAQs

Can you make mac and cheese with cottage cheese?

Yes, you can! By blending the cottage cheese with a bit of milk and some spices then stirring it in a pot with some shredded cheddar cheese, you get the creamiest sauce ever. Then just toss in the cooked pasta and it is the best higher protein mac and cheese.

Is this mac and cheese recipe gluten-free?

If you use gluten-free pasta then this recipe is fully gluten-free.

How Much Protein Is In Cottage Cheese?

There is over 20 grams of protein in 1 cup of cottage cheese. Which is pretty amazing!

How Do You Make Mac and Chese Creamy?

Blending milk with some cheese (like cottage cheese) then stirring in some shredded cheese allows the sauce to become super creamy and delicious.

More High-Protein Recipes

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

Did you try this protein cottage cheese mac and cheese recipe? If you did, then please leave a rating and comment below. I would love to hear how yours turned out.

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Easy Protein Cottage Cheese Mac and Cheese

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  • Author: Amy Estes
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 5–6 servings 1x
  • Diet: Vegetarian
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Description

This protein cottage cheese mac and cheese comes together in under 30 minutes and packs over 22 grams of protein per serving! It is perfectly creamy and delicious for a quick meal the whole family will love!

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 ounces cooked macaroni pasta
  • 1 cup cottage cheese – I recommend full-fat cottage cheese
  • 1 cup 2% or whole milk
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta 1-2 minutes less than the package instructions, then drain (do not rinse) and set aside. 
  2. Add the cottage cheese, milk, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper to a high-speed blender and blend until smooth (about 20 seconds). 
  3. Heat a large pot or skillet to medium heat, and add the cheese sauce to the pan. Stir in the cornstarch and whisk or stir the sauce until it starts to thicken (about 2-3 minutes). Then stir in the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheese until it is fully melted. 
  4. Taste the sauce and add salt and pepper  if needed then stir in the cooked pasta noodles. Coat the noodles well in the sauce so they are all nice and cheesy. 
  5. Serve hot and enjoy!

Notes

  • Cook he pasta 1-2 minutes less than the package instructions. Drain the pasta but do not rinse it in water. 
  • Shredd your own cheese since pre-shredded cheese tends to have non-caking agents in it that cause clumping when melted. 
  • Blend the cottage cheese mixture well for the smoothest cheese sauce. 
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat portions in the microwave or stovetop with a splash of milk until heated through. 
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Category: Main dishes
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tina

    5 Stars! This was fantastic. Hard to believe that it did not contain butter and that it was high in protein. I used chickpea pasta to add even more protein! I followed your recipe as written except I added dried mustard and used Gruyere cheese in place of cheddar. The sauce separated at first but after whisking quite a while, it came together perfectly. I also prepped it early in the day, placed it in a small casserole dish added breadcrumbs, sprayed the top of the crumbs lightly with olive oil spray and reheated in the oven when time to eat. Amazing dish.

    Reply

  3. Lori

    This protein mac & cheese was out of this world! Thank you for creating this amazing recipe! My kids absolutely loved it!!!!

    Reply

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