Description
Creamy cottage cheese mac and cheese elevates classic comfort food with protein-packed goodness. Secret ingredients blend seamlessly to create a healthier, irresistible twist you’ll crave from first delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins and Cheeses:
- 1 cup cottage cheese (whole milk)
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
Main Carbohydrate:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) dry pasta (shells or macaroni)
Seasonings and Liquids:
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup pasta cooking water (reserved)
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt (plus more for seasoning)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Submerge pasta in generously salted water, cooking until tender with a slight bite, reserving a half cup of starchy liquid before straining.
- Transfer drained pasta back to the cooking vessel, activating low heat to gently warm the base.
- Incorporate cottage cheese, cheddar, and garlic powder into the pasta, continuously stirring to create a silky, uniform coating.
- Allow the cheeses to melt completely, transforming into a luxurious, velvety sauce that envelops each pasta curve.
- Introduce reserved pasta water incrementally, whisking to smooth out the texture and enhance sauce consistency.
- Elevate the flavor profile by sprinkling additional seasonings like smoky paprika, freshly cracked black pepper, or aromatic onion powder.
- For an ultra-creamy experience, adjust sauce thickness by introducing small splashes of reserved liquid or milk until reaching desired richness.
- Plate immediately while piping hot, ensuring maximum flavor and optimal sauce flow.
Notes
- Boost protein content with cottage cheese, offering a healthier twist on classic mac and cheese.
- Reserve pasta water before draining, which helps create a silky, smooth sauce with perfect consistency.
- Low heat is crucial for preventing cheese from breaking and ensuring a creamy, uniform texture.
- Customize flavor profile by experimenting with different spices like paprika, black pepper, or onion powder.
- Keep extra pasta water or milk on hand to adjust sauce thickness and prevent dryness.
- Serve immediately to enjoy the optimal creamy texture and melted cheese experience.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 396
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg