5 Ways to Cook With Cottage Cheese for More Protein, According to TikTok

Cottage cheese ice cream, you say?

If you’ve been on TikTok lately, you’ve likely seen one or more recipes featuring cottage cheese. Once considered bland and uninteresting, with a lumpy texture that can be quite polarizing, this refrigerator food is now more than ready for its turn in the spotlight. While it’s not exactly clear what is responsible for cottage cheese’s noticeable surge in popularity, TikTok users have gravitated toward the dairy aisle staple for a few reasons.

For starters, cottage cheese is packed with health benefits. More specifically, it’s an excellent source of protein, with just one cup of the stuff containing approximately 25 grams of the muscle-building nutrient. By contrast, the same amount of similar foods, such as Greek yogurt and sour cream, don’t contain nearly as much protein. As you’ll soon see, mildly flavored cottage cheese is also beloved for its versatility, and can be used in everything from ice cream to pasta sauce. And while cottage cheese’s naturally lumpy texture isn’t for everyone, TikTok users have proven that a quick spin in a blender transforms the uneven food into a smooth, silky delight. Just note that when you’re shopping for cottage cheese, versions made with whole milk will yield the richest, creamiest final products.

Keep reading for five genius ways to cook with cottage cheese!

Related:9 Cheeses You Can Eat Even If You're Lactose-Intolerant

Cottage Cheese Ice Cream

Sure, ice cream made with cottage cheese isn’t exactly like digging into a pint of mint chocolate chip, but it is a decidedly healthier alternative to the popular frozen dessert. To make cottage cheese ice cream, simply blend cottage cheese with some of your favorite mix-ins until it boasts an ice cream-like consistency. Then, you can top it with some of your go-tos, such as chocolate chips or cookie crumbles. For example, in the TikTok above, user @feelgoodfoodie blends cottage cheese with frozen strawberries and honey to sweeten the final product. She then tops the mixture with strawberry slices and graham crackers, for even more texture and flavor. 

TikTok user @thetastefuldiet took a slightly different approach, and flavored her ice cream with almond butter and honey. She then mixed in chopped dates, cinnamon, and dark chocolate chips. Lastly, TikToker @erekasfood opted for a banana cream version by blending cottage cheese with banana slices, maple syrup, and vanilla, and mixing in cookies and even more banana slices.

Cottage Cheese Cheesecake

Cheesecake is typically made with ingredients such as cream cheese and/or sour cream, but as TikTok has shown us, the classic American dessert can also be made with cottage cheese. In fact, in the TikTok above, user @lilsipper_official proves you only need three ingredients to whip up a healthier version of the beloved sweet treat. To make cottage cheese cheesecake, all you need to do is blend cottage cheese, an egg, and protein powder, and bake.

For a version that’s a bit more like the real deal, take some tips from TikTok user @theproteinchef. He builds on the previous three-ingredient recipe by adding vanilla extract, a little sugar, and Greek yogurt to the mix, and also makes a delicious crust using graham cracker crumbs and melted butter. To flavor your cheesecake, consider adding cocoa powder or canned pumpkin to the cheesecake batter.

Related:4 Five-Ingredient Desserts Anyone Can Make

Cottage Cheese Dip

Everyone loves dip, and the party snack just got even easier to make thanks to cottage cheese. All you need to do is substitute cottage cheese for sour cream and/ or cream cheese in cream-based dips, such as Caramelized Onion Dip or Artichoke Dip. In the above TikTok, user @joeywellness makes a healthier version of the latter using cottage cheese, minced garlic, lemon, artichoke hearts, tahini, olive oil, salt, and black pepper. Once the dip is blended, you can go ahead and top it with a sprinkle of some of your favorite herbs and spices. 

For an option that makes use of in-season tomatoes, try @kb.rd.nutrition’s dip, which combines sautéed cherry tomatoes with cottage cheese, paprika, and other spices.

Cottage Cheese Pasta

For a pasta sauce that’s elevated yet still easy to make, reach for the cottage cheese. The popular ingredient works in any sauce where you might use cream or a similar ingredient. In the TikTok above, @jakecohen combines cottage cheese with onions, garlic, olive oil, salt, crushed red pepper flakes, tomato paste, and vodka to coat his noodles in a protein-packed vodka sauce.

Hot tip: As TikTokers @feelgoodfoodie and @kitkeenan have proven, you can also use cottage cheese to make creamy tomato sauce and pesto.

Related:TikTok's One-Pot French Onion Pasta Is the Perfect Winter Recipe

Cottage Cheese Toast

Everything is better on toast, and that’s especially true of cottage cheese. Many TikTok users, including @brooklynsbite in the video above, slather mashed avocado on their toast prior to adding a layer of cottage cheese. Then come the toppings, such as chili oil, scallions, and lemon zest. Or, you can follow TikTok user @laurensbalancedbites’ lead and top the toast with fresh tomatoes, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper.

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