🧡High-protein Cottage Cheese Queso

Creamy, cheesy, and guilt-free — yes, please! No processed American cheese here... Ok, so you got me- cottage cheese is processed but at least it has the redeeming qualities of protein, vitamin B and calcium.

There are some days when all you want is something warm, cheesy, and comforting… but you also don’t want to completely derail your healthy habits. (You know those days — when the kids are eating chips and queso, and you’re eyeing the bowl like it personally offended your macros. That’s exactly how this recipe was born. I was craving that gooey, melty Tex-Mex queso flavor, but I also wanted something high in protein and low in regret. Enter: Cottage Cheese Queso — a quick, blender-friendly dip that gives you all the creamy satisfaction of restaurant-style queso, but with a big boost of protein. This recipe is simple enough to whip up between Zoom calls or for an after school snack, and it reheats beautifully for leftovers (if you actually have any left).

Ingredients

• 2 cups of cottage cheese ( I like Costco's huge tub of Daisy cottage cheese)

• 1 cup shredded cheddar (or a Mexican blend)

• 1 tbsp nutritional yeast (optional, for that extra cheesy flavor)

• 3-4 tbsp traditional red salsa or salsa verde (I like the Trader Joes salsa verde)

• 1 tsp chili powder

• 1/2 tsp garlic powder

• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika

• Pinch of salt and pepper

• Optional: jalapeño slices or a dash of hot sauce for heat

Instructions

1. Blend it up:
   Toss everything (except the salsa) into a blender or food processor. Blend until silky smooth — it’ll look almost like a creamy Alfredo sauce.

2. Warm it up:
   Pour your mixture into a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add your salsa, stir, and let it warm for about 3–5 minutes until everything’s melty and cozy.

3. Taste test (the best part):
   Add more spices, hot sauce, or a little extra cheese if you’re feeling fancy.

4. Serve & enjoy:
   Grab your tortilla chips, sliced peppers, or even drizzle this over tacos, eggs, or roasted veggies. It’s amazing as a dip or a creamy sauce.

Why You’ll Love It

• High-protein: Over 10 grams of protein per serving.

• Low-guilt: Creamy without the heavy cream or processed American cheese

• So versatile: Use as dip, drizzle, or meal prep addition.

• Kid-friendly: Even picky eaters won’t know there’s cottage cheese hiding in there!

Nutrition (per ¼ cup serving)

• Calories: ~90

• Protein: 10g

• Fat: 4g

• Carbs: 3g

This high-protein cottage cheese queso proves that comfort food doesn’t have to mean “cheat meal.” It’s creamy, flavorful, and satisfying — a little Southern comfort meets smart nutrition. Because let’s be honest: we deserve dips that love us back. 💪🧡