Cottage Cheese Mac and Cheese provides everybody’s favourite consolation meals a more healthy, protein-packed spin! It’s wealthy, creamy, and full of nostalgic vibes in each chunk. This simple stovetop mac is my new favourite strategy to take pleasure in this childhood basic.
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You’ll by no means imagine this creamy mac and cheese is made with cottage cheese!
After mixing cottage cheese into {smooth} Cottage Cheese Queso, I began pondering… what else can I do with this creamy tacky sauce?
Just a few tweaks right here and there and I current to you: cottage cheese mac and cheese!
I really like this recipe as a result of it delivers basic mac and cheese taste like my Immediate Pot Mac and Cheese or Cauliflower “Mac” and Cheese, however with a silky, ultra-smooth sauce that makes the noodles additional creamy and more healthy too.
Right here’s what else makes this recipe a standout:
- Excessive Protein Mac and Cheese. Cottage cheese brings rather more protein to the desk than milk alone. And you’ll increase the protein much more by utilizing a protein pasta!
- Fast and Simple. No roux! No baking! The sauce is made within the blender and every part comes collectively on the stovetop.
- Child-Accepted Taste. The cheddar is the dominant taste right here, providing you with basic mac and cheese vibes. I promise nobody will realize it’s made with cottage cheese!
Key Substances
You’ll discover the complete listing of components within the recipe card beneath, however listed here are some notes to remember.
- Pasta. You need to use complete wheat, chickpea, or conventional pasta. Quick shapes like elbows, rotini, cavatappi, and shells maintain the sauce finest.
- Cottage Cheese. Use low-fat or full-fat (not fat-free!) for a wealthy, creamy sauce.
- Milk. Low-fat or complete milk, not skim.
- Cornstarch. This thickens the sauce with no roux.
- Dijon Mustard. One in all my favourite taste enhancers! This provides depth and curiosity to the sauce.
- Sharp cheddar. White or yellow each work, though I’m keen on white cheddar myself. Shred your individual for a {smooth} soften. (Retailer-bought shreds could make the sauce grainy!)
- Chives. For a recent crowning glory.
Recipe Variations
- Make It Smoky. Swap common paprika for smoked paprika or use smoked cheddar.
- Add Broccoli. Stir in steamed broccoli florets earlier than serving.
- Bacon It Up. Combine in crumbled Air Fryer Bacon.
- Bake It. Switch the cottage cheese mac and cheese to a greased baking dish. Sprinkle extra cheese on high, add some panko stirred with melted butter for a crispy topping when you’d like, and bake at 350ºF for 10 to fifteen minutes, simply to soften the cheese and toast the panko.
What to Serve with Cottage Cheese Mac and Cheese
This creamy protein-packed cottage cheese mac and cheese is prepared in minutes! Tremendous tacky and comfy, however lighter than the basic model.
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- 8 ounces pasta complete wheat, chickpea, or common
- ¾ cup low fats cottage cheese or full fats; don’t use fats free
- ¾ cup low fats milk or complete milk; don’t use skim
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 to 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt plus further to style
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon floor paprika
- 4 ounces sharp cheddar shredded (about 1 cup). I used white cheddar
- For topping: chopped recent chives
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Cook dinner the pasta: Convey a big pot of salted water to a boil and prepare dinner the pasta till al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta cooking water, then drain.
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In the meantime, in a blender or meals processor, mix the cottage cheese, milk, cornstarch, mustard, salt, garlic powder, and paprika till {smooth}.
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Pour into a big, deep skillet, then flip the skillet to medium warmth. Cook dinner, stirring usually, till the sauce is barely thickened, 3 to five minutes; some simmering is ok however don’t let it boil.
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Cut back the warmth to low. Working one small handful at a time, stir within the cheddar (don’t add all of it it as soon as or it could clump), till it is melted and the sauce is {smooth}.
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Add the drained pasta and stir to coat, loosening with a splash of the reserved pasta water as wanted. The sauce needs to be creamy and shiny sauce. Style and modify the seasoning as desired.
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Serve instantly, sprinkled with recent chives as desired.
- TO STORE: Refrigerate leftovers in an hermetic container for as much as 4 days. I don’t advocate freezing protein mac and cheese as a result of the sauce can turn out to be grainy.
- TO REHEAT: Heat gently on the stovetop or within the microwave, including a splash of milk to revive the creaminess.
Serving: 1(of 4)Energy: 385kcalCarbohydrates: 49gProtein: 21gFats: 11gSaturated Fats: 6gPolyunsaturated Fats: 1gMonounsaturated Fats: 2gLdl cholesterol: 32mgSodium: 538mgPotassium: 262mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 451IUVitamin C: 0.01mgCalcium: 295mgIron: 1mg
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