High-protein vegetarian recipes using cottage cheese
Cottage cheese has an image problem. For decades, it sat next to celery sticks on depressing diet plates, looking like something you’d eat only if you were punishing yourself.
But here’s the thing: a single cup packs around 28 grams of protein. That’s more than most Greek yogurts, more than two eggs, and way more than that expensive protein powder collecting dust in your cabinet. The texture is versatile, the flavor is mild enough to disappear into almost anything, and it’s ridiculously affordable.
Time to give cottage cheese the respect it deserves.
1) Cottage cheese scramble with herbs and sun-dried tomatoes
Scrambled eggs are fine. Scrambled eggs with cottage cheese folded in? That’s a different breakfast entirely.
The cottage cheese melts into the eggs as they cook, creating this creamy, almost custard-like texture that regular scrambles can’t touch. Add chopped sun-dried tomatoes for sweetness and chew, plus fresh herbs like chives or dill at the end.
The key is adding the cottage cheese when the eggs are still slightly wet. Let everything finish cooking together so the curds soften but don’t completely disappear. You want pockets of creaminess throughout. Serve on toast or stuff into a warm tortilla.
Either way, you’re looking at close to 35 grams of protein before you’ve even left the house.
2) Blended cottage cheese pasta sauce
This one sounds weird until you try it. Blend cottage cheese until completely smooth, and you’ve got a protein-rich base for pasta sauce that rivals any cream-based option.
I like adding roasted garlic, a squeeze of lemon, salt, and a handful of fresh basil before blending. Toss it with hot pasta and some pasta water to loosen things up. The heat from the noodles warms the sauce without cooking it, keeping everything silky.
Throw in some sautéed mushrooms or wilted spinach if you want bulk. The sauce itself is neutral enough to work with almost any vegetable you have around. One serving gives you a solid 20-plus grams of protein from the sauce alone, before you even count whatever else you add.
3) Savory cottage cheese bowl with everything bagel seasoning
Sometimes the best recipes are barely recipes at all.
Take a bowl of cottage cheese. Top it with sliced cucumber, cherry tomatoes, a drizzle of olive oil, and a generous shake of everything bagel seasoning. That’s it. Five minutes, minimal cleanup, and you’ve got a lunch that actually keeps you full.
The everything bagel seasoning is doing heavy lifting here. Those dried onion and garlic flakes, the sesame seeds, the salt. It transforms plain cottage cheese into something you actually crave. Add sliced avocado if you want healthy fats, or some pickled onions for acid.
This works as a snack, a light lunch, or a side dish when you need extra protein at dinner.
4) Cottage cheese stuffed peppers
Stuffed peppers usually rely on rice or ground meat for bulk. Cottage cheese mixed with cooked quinoa makes a vegetarian filling that’s lighter but still satisfying.
Combine cottage cheese with quinoa, black beans, corn, cumin, and a bit of smoked paprika. Stuff into halved bell peppers and bake until the peppers are tender and the tops get slightly golden. The cottage cheese binds everything together while adding moisture so the filling doesn’t dry out.
These reheat beautifully, which makes them perfect for meal prep. I’ve mentioned this before, but anything that tastes good on day three is worth making in bulk. Top with fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime when serving. Each pepper delivers around 18 grams of protein.
5) Cottage cheese pancakes
Blend cottage cheese with oats, eggs, a touch of vanilla, and a pinch of cinnamon. Pour onto a hot griddle. What comes out is fluffy, slightly tangy, and packed with protein.
These aren’t quite traditional pancakes. They’re denser, more filling, and won’t leave you crashing an hour later. The cottage cheese adds moisture and protein while the oats give structure. No flour needed.
Top with fresh berries and a drizzle of maple syrup, or go savory with a fried egg on top. Either direction works. A stack of three gives you roughly 25 grams of protein, making this a breakfast that actually earns the title of most important meal.
6) Mediterranean cottage cheese dip
Hummus gets all the attention, but blended cottage cheese makes an excellent dip base with way more protein per serving.
Blend cottage cheese with roasted red peppers, a clove of garlic, lemon juice, and a splash of olive oil. Season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of cumin. The result is creamy, slightly smoky, and perfect with raw vegetables or warm pita.
You can also go the herb route. Blend with fresh dill, parsley, and a little lemon zest for something brighter. Either version works as a spread for sandwiches or wraps too. Keep a batch in the fridge for when you need a quick snack that won’t derail your protein goals.
7) Cottage cheese overnight oats
Overnight oats are convenient but often lack staying power. Adding cottage cheese fixes that problem completely.
Mix rolled oats with cottage cheese, your milk of choice, chia seeds, and a bit of honey or maple syrup. Let it sit overnight. By morning, you’ve got a thick, creamy breakfast with a protein count that rivals a full cooked meal.
The cottage cheese adds tang that pairs well with fresh fruit. Berries, sliced banana, or diced apple all work. Throw in some nuts or seeds for crunch. This is the kind of breakfast you can grab from the fridge and eat on the way out the door, which matters more than most people admit.
The bottom line
Cottage cheese deserves better than its reputation. It’s cheap, it’s versatile, and it delivers protein in quantities that most vegetarian foods can’t match.
Start with one of these recipes and see how it fits into your routine. The blended pasta sauce is a good entry point if you’re skeptical. Once you realize cottage cheese can disappear into dishes while boosting protein content, you’ll start finding uses for it everywhere.
That’s the goal. Not to eat cottage cheese plain out of obligation, but to actually enjoy it as part of meals you look forward to eating.
