Blended Cottage Cheese is a great option for a high-protein breakfast or snack, edpecially if you're not into the chunky texture of cottage cheese curds. Using only one ingredient, I will show you how to turn plain old cottage cheese into velvety and luscious base that can be used as a substitute for cream cheese, yogurt or sour cream.
Though cottage cheese is definitely having a moment right now, I have been a legit cottage cheese fan since the 1990's. Growing up in Poland, we used to eat cottage cheese for breakfast quite a lot, either on its own or topped with tomatoes, cucumbers, chopped onion and fresh herbs with a side of crusty sourdough bread.
This savory cottage cheese breakfast bowl is still one of my go-tos when it comes to easy, high-protein breakfasts. Sometimes I throw in some sliced avocado or a hard boiled egg to it, too.
I realize though that despite cottage cheese's high protein content and nice salty and slightly tangy flavor, the texture (aka "the curds") is the most controversial part. Many people find the chunkiness of cottage cheese weird and unpleasant.
If that's you, you came to the right place! Using just one ingredient (cottage cheese) and a food processor, you can turn chunky cheese into smooth and creamy versatile ingredient that can be served on its own, as a dip, as a breakfast bowl or as a healthy substitute for other dairy.
Try blended cottage cheese in this healthy Cottage Cheese Egg Salad without mayo.
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Why blend cottage cheese
- It's a great option if you're not a fan of curds
- Blending makes it spreadable - great alternative to cream cheese on bagels and toast
- Great as healthy breakfast or high-protein snack
- Once you blend it, cottage cheese can be used as a substitute for other dairy, such as Greek yogurt, skyr or sour cream
- Blended cottage cheese makes a great base for healthy dips or even ice cream!
Ingredient Notes
This recipe only uses one ingredient: cottage cheese. My favorite brand of cottage cheese to use is Good Culture (I buy the lactose free version) but any type of cottage cheese, large or small curd, will work. Full fat cottage cheese (whole milk cottage cheese) will give you the creamy texture and smooth consistency. Stay away from fat-free cottage cheese for this recipe.
See recipe card for full information on ingredients and substitutions.
How to make blended cottage cheese
Step 1: Place one cup of cottage cheese in the bowl of a food processor (Images 1 & 2). A small food processor or a mini chopper will work well for this amount of cheese.
Step 2: Process for 30 seconds. Open the lid and scrape the sides of the food processor with a silicone spatula or a spoon. Process again and repeat scraping the sides until you reach smooth and creamy consistency without any curds (Images 3 & 4).
Step 3: Transfer the blended cottage cheese into a bowl and serve with your favorite toppings.
How to store it
Blended cottage cheese can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Serving suggestions: sweet and savory
My 2 favorite way to serve blended cottage cheese are as a dip for veggies or as cottage cheese breakfast bowl.
To serve as a veggie dip, transfer the blended cottage cheese to a small bowl or ramekin, drizzle it with a little olive oil, sprinkle with freshly cracked black pepper (or red pepper flakes if you prefer) and fresh chopped dill. Serve surrounded by cut up vegetables, such as cucumbers, peppers, carrots, celery and cherry tomatoes. You can also add some crackers or pita chips for a more substantial meal.
For a sweet breakfast bowl, top blended cream cheese with fresh berries - I used blueberries and raspberries, drizzle with honey or pure maple syrup and sprinkle with cinnamon. If you prefer, swap the fruit for strawberries, bananas, kiwis, peaches, blackberries or whatever you like. You can also add some crunch with chopped nuts or seeds. The possibilities are endless!
Other ways to use blended cottage cheese
- In place of cream cheese - cream cheese is delicious but also pretty high in fat. You can easily swap it for blended cottage cheese, especially on bagels topped with smoked salmon. Try it instead of cream cheese in my Smoked Salmon Charcuterie Board.
- On toast - cottage cheese toast is the new avocado toast and I'm not mad about it! Just spread some blended cottage cheese on your favorite toasted bread and top with fresh fruit, preserve or make it savory with thickly sliced tomato, salt and pepper.
- As a substitute for sour cream - works especially on nachos and tacos. Try it with my low-carb Mini Pepper Nachos.
- In smoothies - blended cottage cheese is a great alternative for yogurt in smoothies and smoothie bowls!
- In place of ricotta cheese - works great in lasagne or casseroles.
- As a dip - can be served on its own (like in my photos) but if you prefer, mix it with some ranch seasoning for a healthy ranch dip.
- In soups and chilis - want to add some creaminess to a soup but don't feel like cream cheese? Use blended cottage cheese instead? Use it in my Crockpot Green Chicken Chili!
- Cottage cheese ice cream - mix it with honey and freeze (refer to Tik Tok for numerous tutorials) OR just blend cottage cheese with frozen fruit such as mangos or strawberries for the fastest and healthiest ice cream (or nice cream).
Flavor options
Another great thing about blended cottage cheese recipe is that you can flavor it however you want and enjoy on its own or use as a base for other recipes. Here are some flavor combinations:
- Chocolate - mix in unsweetened cocoa powder and maple syrup or honey
- Peanut butter - add some peanut butter and honey or PB powder for a low-fat version
- Vanilla - vanilla extract + honey
- Strawberry cheesecake - chop up some strawberries and mix them in with ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract and 1 teaspoon maple syrup (or more). You can also top it with crushed graham crackers.
- Cookie dough - mix in some almond butter butter, vanilla protein powder and chocolate chips. Yum!
Recipe FAQs
Food processor works the best to achieve super smooth, silky consistency but if you don't have one, you can also make it using an immersion blender. Place the cottage cheese in a deep medium bowl and blend until smooth. A high-speed blender such as Vitamix will also do the job.
Essentially yes. By blending cottage cheese air is whipped into it, creating a fluffy and airy texture. The longer you blend, the fluffier your cottage cheese will become.
Cottage cheese is not typically categorized as a "superfood" but is considered a healthy food due to its nutritional value. It's a rich source of high-quality protein, calcium for bone health, and it comes in low-fat options. Some varieties may contain probiotics for gut health, and its versatility allows for a wide range of culinary uses. While cottage cheese offers several health benefits, it's important to maintain a balanced diet with a variety of nutrient-rich foods to support overall well-being.
Cottage cheese is generally considered a healthier choice than cream cheese due to its higher protein content, lower fat options, and calcium-rich profile, making it suitable for those looking to boost protein intake or manage fat consumption. In contrast, cream cheese is notably higher in fat, lower in protein, and calorie-dense.
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Recipe
Blended Cottage Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 cup cottage cheese
Instructions
- Place a cup of cottage cheese in a food processor or a high-speed blender. Small food processor works great.
- Process until smooth, stopping the food processor and scraping the sides, as needed.
- Transfer blended cottage cheese into a bowl and serve with your favorite toppings, sweet or savory.
Oscar
The creamy texture and versatility of blended cottage cheese make it a fantastic addition to both sweet and savory dishes. I’m excited to explore all the creative ways I can incorporate it into my meals. Thanks for sharing this unique and healthy recipe!
Elizabeth
Such a great snack idea! Thanks for sharing!
Melinda
Great idea! Blended cottage cheese is a tasty change of pace from overnight oats or even yogurt for breakfast. I topped it with sweetened applesauce and a dash of cinnamon. Delicious!
nancy
this recipe for blended cottage cheese is really delicious. I love the added protein
Tina
I'm not a fan of cottage cheese texture, so this blended version is the perfect solution for me! thanks so much for this recipe.