Undeniably Dairy: Simple, protein-packed dinners and snacks start with cottage cheese

With the new school year approaching, many families are looking for ways to stay organized, especially at mealtimes. Dairy foods can make meals and snacks nutritious and satisfying. Protein-rich cottage cheese is especially versatile: It can bring together a one-pot meal in minutes or take center stage in sweet and savory snacks.

Cottage cheese adds valuable nutrition to meals. Each half-cup serving contains 12 to 14 grams of high-quality protein, which supports muscle growth and repair, and promotes a sense of fullness after meals. As a dairy food, cottage cheese provides many of the same essential nutrients found in milk, including calcium and phosphorus for strong bones, and B vitamins for metabolism support and nerve health.

The combination of high-quality protein, essential nutrients and culinary possibilities has inspired home cooks to rethink cottage cheese in exciting new ways. Creative cottage cheese recipes have taken social media by storm. Simply search online for cottage cheese recipes, and an extensive list will pop up.

While cottage cheese has long been a favorite paired with fruit, like peaches or pineapple, today’s recipes take it in a new direction by simply blending the cheese. This approach creates a smooth base for frozen treats, smoothie bowls, pancakes, pasta sauces and dips, while traditional cottage cheese adds creamy texture and protein to casseroles and lasagna. Baked into crispy cheese chips, it also makes a satisfying, high-protein snack.

Those viral recipe videos are not just generating views — they’re inspiring shoppers to add cottage cheese to their grocery cart. The surge of new cottage cheese recipes, plus a growing consumer demand for higher protein foods, has fueled a 19% increase in cottage cheese sales in the last year, resulting in more than $2 billion in sales, according to Circana, a market research company.

As busy school routines return, cottage cheese makes it easy to prepare satisfying meals and snacks without sacrificing nutrition. Whether you’re preparing a quick weeknight dinner or looking for a satisfying afternoon snack, cottage cheese is an easy way to add high-quality protein and important nutrients to everyday meals.

Creamy Cottage Cheese Chicken & Rice Bake

For busy weeknights, this creamy cottage cheese chicken and rice bake offers a well-rounded meal in one pan. Cottage cheese helps bind the ingredients together while adding a creamy texture and satisfying flavor.

Servings: 6 to 8

Ingredients

1 cup cottage cheese

1 cup instant brown rice

1/2 cup chicken broth

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1/2 teaspoon dried basil

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

2 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped

1 cup mushrooms, roughly chopped

2 cups cooked chicken, shredded

1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes

1 cup mozzarella cheese

Procedure

Preheat oven to 375 degrees and lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish.

In a large bowl, add the cottage cheese, rice, broth, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, basil and oregano. Stir to combine.

Add the spinach, mushrooms, chicken and tomatoes to the cheese and rice mixture. Gently mix until the vegetables and chicken are well-distributed throughout. Pour the mixture into the baking dish. Smooth out the mixture and make sure the tomatoes are evenly distributed throughout the casserole. Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese on top.

Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until the casserole is hot and bubbly. Let sit for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.