These cottage cheese recipes are how I get extra protein into EVERY meal of the day… breakfast, lunch, dinner and even dip night.

I love cottage cheese because it’s tasty, versatile, and protein-packed! With an average of 14 grams of protein per ½ cup serving, it’s one of my go-to ingredients when I’m counting macros. One of my favorite things about it is how it works in both savory and sweet recipes. It’s like MAGIC.

This list started with 8 favorites, and it has grown to 30 recipes. Every single one uses real cottage cheese in the recipe, and if you’ve never cooked with it before, start with the pancakes.

Cottage Cheese Breakfast Recipes

Breakfast is where cottage cheese first won me over. The cottage cheese pancakes are made by blending everything together, and they have 23g of protein per serving. The egg white cups have 30.5g, and the chocolate protein breakfast bake is 200 calories with 21g of protein… chocolate for BREAKFAST, you guys.

For no-cook mornings, a bowl is my go-to. My yogurt and cottage cheese breakfast bowl uses Knudsen’s low-fat cottage cheese (my favorite), and the cottage cheese parfait toast is another easy one to try.

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Stack of cottage cheese pancakes on plate with fork.

Cottage Cheese Pancakes

These fluffy, protein-packed cottage cheese pancakes are soon to be your new favorite breakfast. They’re super easy to make and packed with wholesome ingredients. This recipe is perfect for busy mornings or weekend brunches!
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2
Chocolate protein breakfast bars cut in a 9x13 dish.

Chocolate Protein Breakfast Bake

This Chocolate Protein Breakfast Bake is rich, fudgy, and packed with protein thanks to the egg whites, cottage cheese, and chocolate protein powder. It’s perfect for an easy, meal prep-friendly breakfast or after-dinner sweet treat!
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3
Sheet pan roasted veggie egg bake cooked and sliced on large sheet pan.

Sheet Pan Roasted Veggie Egg Bake

This Sheet Pan Roasted Veggie Egg Bake is a high-protein, meal prep–friendly breakfast made with roasted vegetables, eggs, and feta. It’s easy to make, flavorful, and perfect for busy mornings.
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4
Three egg white cups on plate.

Egg White Cups

These Egg White Cups are perfect for busy mornings, easy snacks, or simple meal prep. They’re loaded with veggies and high in protein, making them a great grab-and-go option that will actually keep you full.
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5
Ham and veggie frittata in oven-safe dish.

Ham And Veggie Frittata

This yummy Ham and Veggie Frittata makes the perfect macro-friendly meal for breakfast, lunch, or even dinner!
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macro-friendly, egg whites, breakfast nachos. www.lillieeatsandtells.com

Quick and Easy Breakfast Nachos

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7
Picture of yogurt and cottage cheese breakfast bowl topped with colorful fruit.

The Best Yogurt and Cottage Cheese Breakfast Bowl

This Yogurt and Cottage Cheese Breakfast Bowl is the perfect breakfast or post-workout meal. It's huge and satisfying, and gives me all the textures and flavors I love. This bowl is the perfect sweet treat, that still has a great balance of macros!
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8
Macro friendly apple crisp yogurt and cottage cheese bowl with toppings.

Apple Crisp Yogurt and Cottage Cheese Bowl

This Apple Crisp Yogurt and Cottage Cheese Bowl is the perfect macro-friendly breakfast or afternoon snack!
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9
meet your macros with a mango smoothie bowl www.lillieeatsandtells.com

Macro-friendly Vanilla Protein Smoothie Bowl

This refreshing Macro-Friendly Vanilla Protein Smoothie Bowl is perfect for piling on your favorite toppings. It is seriously delicious!
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Cottage Cheese Pasta, Lasagna and Creamy Sauces

This is my FAVORITE way to use cottage cheese. Blend it and it turns into a creamy, high-protein sauce. The cottage cheese spaghetti squash marinara blends it right into jarred marinara, and the creamy tomato butternut skillet lasagna has 36g of protein per serving.

Craving lasagna without boiling noodles? The easy lasagna soup has 32.3g of protein, and the chicken marinara gets its creamy layer from cottage cheese and ricotta blended with parmesan, herbs and spinach.

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Cottage Cheese Spaghetti Squash Marinara

You'll love how easy this cozy, macro-friendly Spaghetti Squash Marinara is to make! Pair it with your favorite protein for the BEST weeknight meal.
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healthy recipe www.lillieeatsandtells.com

Chicken Marinara

This chicken marinara recipe is full of all the comforting tastes you want while also being good for you. It's one of the most delicious baked chicken tenderloin recipes you're ever going to find.
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12
A skillet filled with Skillet Zucchini Lasagna, topped with melted cheese and fresh herbs, sits on a wooden table. A wooden spoon lifts a serving, revealing delicious layers of zucchini and savory sauce.

Skillet Zucchini Lasagna

This macro-friendly zucchini lasagna gives all the warm-comforting feels with a healthy twist. Enjoy it with a fresh green salad and some crusty bread for the perfect meal.
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13
Butternut lasagna in metal skillet garnished with fresh basil on wooden board with cubes of butternut squash on board.

Creamy Tomato Butternut Skillet Lasagna

This Creamy Tomato Butternut Skillet Lasagna is perfect for when you’re craving a rich, comforting dish that’s still macro-friendly. This easy weeknight skillet is made with bold flavors, delivers a satisfying portion size, and is a perfect balance of protein, fiber, and low-calorie goodness.
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14
Ground beef and veggie pasta in cast iron skillet with wood spoon.

Ground Beef and Veggie Shell Pasta

This macro-friendly Ground Beef and Veggie Shell Pasta is made with lean ground beef, tender pasta shells, and a medley of sautéed vegetables. It’s a family-friendly meal that comes together in just 30 minutes and is perfect for busy weeknights.
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15

(No Noodle) Easy Lasagna Soup

There’s nothing like sitting down to a big bowl of warm, hearty soup on a cold day! This No Noodle Easy Lasagna Soup has that comfort food feel while also being protein-packed and great for tracking macros.
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16
A skillet filled with creamy tomato shrimp and spinach in a luscious red pepper cauliflower cream sauce, topped with shaved parmesan and herbs, sits on a rustic wooden surface. A wooden spoon rests in the pan, and fresh spinach leaves are nearby.

Shrimp in Red Pepper Cauliflower Cream Sauce

A delicious, macro-friendly one-dish meal
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Baked Ricotta Spaghetti Squash with Shrimp recipe by www.lillieeatsandtellscom.bigscoots-staging.com

Baked Ricotta Spaghetti Squash with Shrimp

This Baked Ricotta Spaghetti Squash with Shrimp is macro friendly, full of flavor, and comes together so easily!
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Cottage Cheese Meatballs, Bakes and Hearty Dinners

Cottage cheese in meatballs? YES. In my cottage cheese meatballs it gets blended with zucchini and seasonings until smooth, and my newest recipe, spinach basil meatballs, has 27g of protein for 173 calories.

Need a big, filling dinner? The skillet Mexican potatoes have 46.5g of protein per serving, and the creamy Rotel chicken bake is only 143 calories.

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Close-up of baked spinach basil meatballs made with lean ground beef and cottage cheese

Spinach Basil Meatballs

These spinach basil meatballs are made with lean ground beef, cottage cheese, fresh spinach, and basil, with 27 grams of protein per serving and no breadcrumbs. An easy, high-protein bite for bowls, pitas, and pizzas!
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19
Cottage cheese meatballs baked in 9x13 baking dish.

Cottage Cheese Meatballs

These Cottage Cheese Meatballs are juicy, tender, and packed with protein! Blended cottage cheese and zucchini keep them incredibly moist while baking, making this an easy weeknight dinner the whole family will love.
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20
Creamy rotel chicken bake cooked in white baking dish with gold spoon.

Creamy Rotel Chicken Bake

This Creamy Rotel Chicken Bake is rich, creamy, and packed with tons of flavor! It’s incredibly easy to throw together and can be enjoyed as a hot, cheesy dip for game day or served over rice, pasta, or veggies for a delicious weeknight dinner.
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21
Two butternut squash, bacon, and caramelized onion flatbreads on a baking sheet.

Butternut Squash, Bacon, and Caramelized Onion Flatbreads

These Butternut Squash, Bacon, and Caramelized Onion Flatbreads are full of your favorite fall flavors. Roasted squash, smoky bacon, and caramelized onions layer onto crisp flatbreads for a delicious meal that’s cozy, flavorful, and still macro-friendly.
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22
Broccoli cheese stuffed potato topped with steamed broccoli, bacon, and sliced chicken, drizzled with creamy herb sauce on a white plate.

Broccoli Cheese Baked Potato

This broccoli cheese baked potato has the crispy skin, melty cheddar, and bacon of a loaded baked potato, and it's still only 393 calories with 22 grams of protein. The perfect easy macro-friendly dinner!
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23
Skillet mexican potatoes cooked in a large skillet and topped with sour cream and avocado.

Skillet Mexican Potatoes with Ground Beef

These Skillet Mexican Potatoes with Ground Beef are a quick, protein-packed dinner that comes together in just 30 minutes! Made with my Classic Taco Meat, a tender mixture of potatoes, peppers, and onions, and a blend of bold spices. This hearty meal is simple, satisfying, and packs 31 grams of protein per serving.
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Cottage Cheese Lunches, Sides and Dips

Cottage cheese is a great swap in creamy salads and dips. The almost classic cottage cheese chicken salad is 143 calories with 17.9g of protein, and the healthy buffalo chicken dip is my pick for game day.

It works in side dishes too! The healthy scalloped potatoes and the mashed potatoes and cauliflower both use it for that rich, creamy texture.

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A wooden bowl filled with almost classic cottage cheese chicken salad, garnished with green onions and served with two pieces of toasted bread. Parsley, a lemon slice, and a wooden spoon are nearby on a marble surface.

Almost Classic Cottage Cheese Chicken Salad

This Almost Classic Cottage Cheese Chicken Salad is inspired by classic chicken salad but is a lot easier to fit into your daily macros. It's so yummy while still being macro-friendly and easy to make!
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www.lillieeatsandtells.com recipe for romesco chicken salad

Quick and Easy Romesco Chicken Salad

Keep this chicken salad with Romesco sauce in a special place in your fridge for macro-friendly snacking and to have on hand for lunches!
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A bowl of creamy Quick Mexican Chicken Salad with chopped herbs and vegetables, garnished with a lime wedge. Sliced crackers and a green chili pepper are beside the bowl. A spoon is scooping some salad.

Quick Mexican Chicken Salad

This Quick Mexican Chicken Salad is perfect for lunch or a mid-afternoon snack. With lots of protein and veggies, it's great for your macros!
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27
Wild Rice and Kale Salad in a large bowl with a white napkin.

Wild Rice and Kale Salad (Cubby’s Copycat)

I’m obsessed with the Wild Rice and Kale Salad from Cubby’s, and this copycat version lets you enjoy that same flavor-packed goodness right at home, with a macro-friendly twist! It’s made with crunchy kale, hearty toppings, and the most addictive lemon balsamic cilantro dressing that really brings this salad to life! 
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28
Buffalo chicken dip baked in cast iron skillet with spoon.

Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip

If you love classic buffalo chicken dip but want a version that’s lighter, higher in protein, and still game-day worthy, this Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip is it. It’s creamy, spicy, packed with flavor, and super easy to make with a few simple, macro-friendly swaps.
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29
Mashed potatoes and cauliflower garnished with fresh chives in serving bowl.

Mashed Potatoes and Cauliflower

These Mashed Potatoes and Cauliflower are the perfect lighter twist on classic creamy mashed potatoes. They’re buttery, garlicky, and everything you want in a side dish, but lightened up and lighter on your macros.
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30
Stack of healthy scalloped potatoes on cream plate with fork.

Healthy Scalloped Potatoes

Creamy, comforting, and surprisingly light—these Healthy Scalloped Potatoes are the perfect side dish for any meal. Thinly sliced potatoes are layered in a velvety, lightened-up sauce to deliver all the cozy flavors you love without breaking the macro bank!
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How to Cook With Cottage Cheese

A few things I’ve learned from making all of these recipes:

  • Blend it for sauces. A quick spin in the blender makes cottage cheese smooth and creamy. That’s how it goes into the spaghetti squash marinara, the cauliflower mash and the pancake batter.
  • Keep the curds if you like them. For the buffalo chicken dip you can blend the cottage cheese first for a smooth dip. I love the curds, so I skip that step!
  • Use it in lasagna-style dishes. Blended with parmesan, it makes the creamy layer in the skillet lasagnas and the chicken marinara.
  • Stick with low-fat. Almost every recipe here calls for low-fat cottage cheese, and the macros on each recipe card are based on it.
  • Check your label. Protein and sodium vary by brand, so scan the label of the one you buy if you track macros.

Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Modifications

Cottage cheese is gluten-free but obviously not dairy-free. Most of the recipes have their own dairy-free and gluten-free suggestions, and you can also check out my favorite dairy-free products and my go-to gluten-free product list.

Want dinners planned for you? My weekly meal plans are macro-friendly, high-protein and family-friendly, with a new plan every Thursday, a categorized grocery list and every recipe preloaded into MyFitnessPal, Lose It and Macros First, and you can try it free!

Making one of these this week? Tag me on Instagram… I love seeing what you cook!

Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links at no additional cost to you. I may earn a small commission. Read the full privacy policy here.

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About the Author

Hello. My name is Lillie. I’m not a registered dietitian, or a macro coach, or a public figure or culinary genius. I’m a mommy of four who FOUND macro-counting and fell in love with this balanced approach to food.

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