Description
Creamy cottage cheese mac and cheese delivers comfort with a protein-packed twist. Southern comfort meets nutritious innovation, promising satisfying flavors and wholesome goodness you’ll crave.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces (226 grams) dry pasta (shells or macaroni)
- 1 cup cottage cheese (whole milk)
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup pasta cooking water (reserved)
- 1 ½ tsps kosher salt (plus more for seasoning)
- ½ tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Boil pasta in salted water until al dente, ensuring a tender yet firm texture. Carefully extract and reserve a half cup of starchy cooking liquid before draining.
- Cheese Fusion: Return pasta to the warm pot, gently introducing cottage cheese, cheddar, and garlic powder. Stir continuously to create a smooth, even coating that embraces each pasta piece.
- Sauce Refinement: Allow cheeses to melt completely, transforming into a luxurious sauce. Gradually incorporate reserved pasta water, whisking to achieve a silky, perfectly balanced consistency.
- Flavor Enhancement: Elevate the dish with a sprinkle of smoky paprika, freshly cracked black pepper, or aromatic onion powder. Adjust sauce thickness by adding small amounts of reserved liquid or milk until reaching desired creaminess.
- Serving: Plate immediately while steaming hot, ensuring maximum flavor intensity and optimal sauce distribution.
Notes
- Pasta Water Magic: Reserved starchy liquid acts as a secret weapon, helping create a silky, smooth sauce by binding cheese and adding depth.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Low heat is crucial to prevent cheese from breaking or becoming grainy, ensuring a luxurious, creamy texture.
- Seasoning Boost: Experiment with paprika, black pepper, or onion powder to elevate the basic mac and cheese into a flavor-packed dish.
- Sauce Consistency Trick: Gradually add reserved pasta water or milk to control thickness, achieving the perfect creamy or looser sauce based on preference.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 560 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg