High Protein Mac and Cheese -

Creamy and delicious high protein mac and cheese made with cottage cheese! This recipe tastes JUST like classic mac and cheese and cooks up in 20 minutes. It’s the perfect family-friendly weeknight meal!

I love simple and straight-forward meals that make feeding a family a breeze. If it takes more than 30 minutes, it’s not the vibe. While I regularly make my Turkey Egg Toll in a Bowl, Steak Bites and Potatoes, and Mini Meatloaf on weeknights, lately I’ve been making this high protein cottage cheese mac and cheese on repeat!

In an attempt to up my kids’ protein intake, I started experimenting with macaroni and cheese using high protein hacks. After a lot of testing, using cottage cheese was the clear winner. The flavor is very similar to classic mac and cheese (after all, cottage cheese is cheese), and the end result is incredibly rich and creamy.

While neither of my kids will eat cottage cheese alone, they love it in this mac and cheese! It’s way better than boxed versions, and is super easy make. You can add cooked chicken or sautéed broccoli to make it a meal, or use it as a healthy side dish. Best of all, it’s packed with high quality, complete protein that’s great for muscle health and longevity!

Ingredient Notes

Ingredients in the recipe, including elbows pasta, cottage cheese, cheddar cheese, milk, cornstarch, garlic, sea salt, paprika, and black pepper.

Pasta – Elbow pasta is the classic option for mac and cheese, but shell pasta also works great! This works with gluten free, whole wheat, or chickpea varieties. I personally use Jovial Brown Rice Elbows Pasta.
Cottage cheese – This adds creaminess and a boost of protein! Use low fat or whole milk cottage cheese for the best texture.
Shredded cheddar cheese – Use a freshly shredded mild cheddar cheese for the best flavor.
Milk – Any milk will work in this recipe, including regular or dairy free milk. Make sure to use a plain milk that isn’t sweetened or flavored.
Arrowroot – This helps to thicken the sauce. Arrowroot is often labeled as arrowroot starch or flour. Don’t have any on hand? You can also use cornstarch instead!

Variations

Add protein: For a boost of protein, stir in cooked chicken or sliced hot dogs to your mac and cheese in the pan after cooking. It’s a great way to make it a meal.

Add vegetables: You can easily mix in steamed or sautéed vegetables! Just dice up vegetables into bite sized pieces, and cook them separately before mixing it into your mac and cheese. If you’re a big fan of broccoli and cheese soup, try mixing in sautéed broccoli—it’s SO good!

Give it spice: Like a bit of a kick? Add in cayenne pepper. Start with 1/8 teaspoon and add more to taste!

How to Make High Protein Mac and Cheese

1. Cook: Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.

2. Blend: Add the cottage cheese, shredded cheese, milk, arrowroot, garlic, sea salt, paprika, and ground pepper to a blender. Blend on high until smooth.

The cottage cheese, cheddar cheese, milk, and spices in the blender before and after being blended.

3. Heat: Add the cheese sauce to a large sauté pan and place it over medium low heat. Cook for 4-5 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened slightly. Stir the sauce regularly while cooking to prevent burning.

A pan with the heated cheese sauce and a spoon stirring the sauce.

4. Combine: Add the pasta directly to the pan and stir until combined. Add additional seasoning if desired. Serve and enjoy!

High protein mac and cheese in a sauce pan with cheese sauce mixed in.

Recipe Tips

Stir the cheese sauce. Make sure to stir your cheese sauce regularly while it’s heating. If the cheese gets too hot, it can separate or become stringy or grainy.
Let the pasta cool. Cook the pasta, then set it aside to cool. High heat will cause the cottage cheese to curdle and impact the texture.
Make it creamy. Use 2-4% milkfat cottage cheese for a nice creamy mac and cheese. I prefer to use whole milk cottage cheese
Use freshly grated cheese. While it’s a small extra step, freshly grated cheese will melt and mix easier! To shred the cheese, use the largest grate on a box grater.
Prep ahead. If you’re short on time during the week, cook and drain the pasta up to 48 hours in advance, and store it in an airtight container in the fridge.

FAQs

Why did my cheese sauce turn out grainy?

It’s likely because your cheese got a little overheated. When this happens, the protein clumps together, giving it a grainy texture. To prevent this, make sure to stir your cheese regularly while it’s heating in the pan.

Does the cheese need to be shredded for macaroni and cheese?

Yes, cheese needs to be shredded for macaroni and cheese. This allows it to melt effortlessly without being exposed to high heat.

How do I add more protein to mac and cheese?

The best way to add more protein to mac and cheese is to use cottage cheese in your cheese sauce. It’s creamy and gives it a nice flavor. Cottage cheese has around 26g of protein per cup, so it’s a nice boost! You can also stir in cooked chicken or sliced sausages to make it a meal.

Serving

Mac and cheese made with a high protein twist can be a side or main dish. It’s great as part of a spread for the holidays, or for an easy lunch or snack! If you’d like to serve it as a main dish, here are some great proteins to serve with it:

Storage

Store: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Freeze: Even when it’s made with cottage cheese, mac and cheese can be placed in the freezer for long term storage! The pasta will absorb some of the moisture from the sauce, but it’s still tasty and creamy! Place any leftovers in an airtight freezer-safe storage bag or container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.

Reheat: For individual servings, reheat in the microwave with a splash of milk to help thin the sauce. To reheat a larger portion, place the mac and cheese in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Add 1 tablespoon of milk per cup of high protein mac and cheese to thin the sauce. Stir occasionally until warmed through.

A bowl with a serving of macaroni and cheese and a spoon on a napkin.

More Protein Recipes

Recipe