Description
Creamy Cottage Cheese Mac is a delightful twist on classic comfort food. This dish combines rich cheese, perfectly cooked pasta, and the unique tang of cottage cheese, elevating every bite. It is easy to prepare, perfect for busy weeknights, and versatile enough to incorporate your favorite vegetables or protein.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound elbow macaroni
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups whole milk, warmed
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 4 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
- 1 cup cottage cheese, full-fat
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook the elbow macaroni according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly, to create a roux.
- Gradually whisk in the warmed milk until smooth. Continue to cook, stirring frequently, until the sauce thickens, about 5-7 minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in the dry mustard, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt.
- Add the shredded sharp cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack cheese to the sauce, stirring until melted and smooth.
- Gently fold in the cottage cheese until well combined, creating a creamy mac and cottage cheese sauce.
- Add the cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce and stir to coat evenly.
- Pour the creamy cottage cheese mac into a 9×13 inch baking dish. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese.
- Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20-25 minutes, or until bubbly and golden brown.
- Garnish with fresh chopped parsley before serving your homemade creamy cottage cheese mac.
Notes
- For an extra crispy topping, mix 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs with 2 tablespoons melted butter and sprinkle over the top before baking.
- You can use different types of cheese to customize your creamy macaroni cheese cottage cheese.
- This creamy pasta with cottage cheese can be made ahead of time and reheated. Add a splash of milk when reheating to maintain creaminess.
- To make this a more nutritious mac and cheese with cottage cheese, you can add cooked chicken or steamed broccoli to the mix.
- Leftovers of this cheesy cottage cheese pasta bake can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 90mg