Mac & Cottage Cheese Recipe
A creamy and comforting Mac & Cottage Cheese dish featuring tender elbow macaroni combined with a smooth blend of cottage cheese, sharp cheddar, and warming spices, perfect for a quick and satisfying meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 pound elbow macaroni (or pasta of choice)
Cottage Cheese Sauce
- 1 cup whole milk cottage cheese
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon mustard powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 1 cup milk
Cheese
- 3 cups shredded sharp white cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the pasta al dente following the package instructions. Reserve ½ cup of the cooking water before draining the pasta and setting it aside.
- Blend the Sauce Ingredients: In a food processor or blender, combine cottage cheese, cornstarch, salt, black pepper, mustard powder, and paprika. Blend until completely smooth. Add milk and pulse a few times to integrate everything evenly.
- Heat the Cottage Cheese Mixture: Pour the blended cottage cheese sauce back into the pot used for pasta. Heat over medium-high, bringing it to a low boil while whisking continuously until the sauce thickens, about 1 minute.
- Add Cheddar and Pasta Water: Stir in the shredded sharp white cheddar cheese along with ¼ cup of the reserved pasta water. Keep stirring until the cheese has fully melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the cheese sauce and toss thoroughly to coat. Adjust the sauce consistency by adding more reserved pasta water if needed, then serve immediately for best creamy texture.
Notes
- Reserve some pasta cooking water to adjust sauce consistency and help it cling to the pasta better.
- Using whole milk cottage cheese ensures a richer and creamier sauce.
- Blend the cottage cheese well to prevent lumps and create a smooth cheese sauce.
- Mustard powder and paprika add a subtle depth of flavor without overpowering the dish.
- This dish is best served fresh and warm for optimal creaminess.
Keywords: macaroni and cheese, cottage cheese recipe, creamy pasta, easy macaroni, homemade mac and cheese
Find it online: https://zarameals.com/mac-and-cottage-cheese-recipe/
