Homemade cottage cheese queso is the perfect protein-packed dip for nachos or game day snacks! Blended cottage cheese is the perfect creamy base, while the salsa and cheddar cheese give that classic cheesy flavor. Plus, it comes together in the microwave, so it’s faster, easier, cheaper, and healthier than most recipes. What’s not to love?
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High Protein Cottage Cheese Queso
There is truly nothing like queso in the world – molten, tangy, and cheesy in all the best ways! It’s essential at any game day party, but most traditional queso recipes are heavily processed or loaded with fat from lots of cheese, cream cheese, and more.
This healthier alternative uses low-fat cottage cheese, salsa, and real cheddar cheese for a rich, creamy texture that hits the spot without nearly as many calories or fat. Plus, it contains 10 grams of protein per serving, so it’s a healthier way to snack, too!
For more cottage cheese dips, you’ll also want to try this Ranch Dressing with Cottage Cheese!
Why We Love This Cottage Cheese Queso Recipe
- Made with just a handful of super simple ingredients
- Makes the best dip for your favorite tortilla chips, spreading over nachos, dipping raw veggies, and more
- Easy savory high protein snack (that isn’t string cheese or jerky)
- Ready in just a few minutes!
- Totally customizable with different spices and add-ins
- Formulated by a Registered Dietitian to be packed with protein, calcium, and vitamin D
Ingredient Notes
- 1% cottage cheese: Even low fat cottage cheese ends up super rich and creamy after blending! No need to use to the full-fat stuff.
- Salsa: Choose your favorite salsa or try some mild green canned chiles, depending on what you’re feeling.
- Reduced sodium taco seasoning: To reduce your sodium intake, use my homemade taco seasoning or use store-bought.
- Lime juice (optional): This isn’t required, but I love the balance of a little acidity with the creamy cheeses.
- Shredded cheddar cheese: This adds that classic cheese flavor while the cottage cheese provides creaminess.
- Optional toppings: Garnish the warm queso with fresh cilantro, red onion, cherry tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, hot sauce, red pepper flakes, pico de gallo, bacon bits, additional shredded cheese, or anything else that sounds good.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Add cottage cheese, salsa and taco seasoning to a blender or food processor and blend together until smooth. Taste and add lime juice, if desired.
- Add cottage cheese mixture to a microwave safe bowl, mix in the shredded cheese and microwave in 30 second increments until cheese is melted. It took mine about 60-90 seconds.
- Serve warm with toppings of choice and tortilla chips, fresh veggies or drizzled over tacos
Keep scrolling to the recipe card below for the full printable recipe!
Expert Tips
- Shred your own cheese. Pre-shredded cheese in grocery stores often includes anti-caking agents to keep the individual pieces separated. These can affect how the cheese melts. For the best, richest cheese flavor, use real shredded cheese you shred at home.
- For faster shredding: Use the grater blade on your food processor to shred your cheese quickly and easily.
- Reheat as needed: As it cools, the dip becomes thicker and less creamy, so you may need to warm it up again if it starts to lose some creaminess.
Recipe FAQs
Absolutely! I elected to use low fat or even fat-free cottage cheese because it’s slightly easier to blend. It also reduces the amount of fat and calories in this cottage cheese dip recipe, making it a little less indulgent. However, if you prefer full-fat cottage cheese or need the extra fat in any way, you can use that instead. Just remember that the nutritional information will no longer be accurate.
I do find that cheddar has the most classic cheese flavor and really makes this high protein queso dip taste like traditional queso. But, you can use white cheddar or any other type of high quality melting cheese with a rich flavor.
Lime juice adds a wonderfully fresh, bright flavor that balances the rich, heaviness of the cheese, and also thins out the mixture. It’s entirely optional, though!
Storage Guidelines
To refrigerate: Store leftover queso in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
To reheat: I recommend warming it either in a microwave safe bowl or heating it over low heat in a saucepan on the stove until smooth and creamy.
I do not recommend freezing the mixture, as the blended cottage cheese mixture may split and become grainy after thawing and reheating.
Serving Suggestions
Just like regular store-bought queso, this cheesy dip can be served in many different ways.
Of course, it’s a must for dipping tortilla chips, but we also love it with raw veggies, like celery sticks, carrot sticks, cherry tomatoes, and mini bell peppers.
It’s also a delicious topping for burrito bowls, rice bowls, tacos, or served with these beef supreme nachos or sweet potato taco boats. You can even spread some over your morning scrambled eggs or breakfast burrito for a decadently creamy and cheesy topping. So good!
Recipe Variations
- Heat it up: I kept this version less spicy to accommodate younger eaters, but you can absolutely crank up the heat if you want! Use spicy green chiles or salsa, add some cayenne pepper, or even a few shakes of hot sauce.
- Keep warm: If you want to serve queso at a party, it can help to keep it in a crockpot on low heat. Stir occasionally to keep it all incorporated.
- Play with different cheeses: The cottage cheese is really the bulk of the queso and the cheddar adds that distinct cheese flavor. You can really go wild here! As long as the cheese melts well, you can use it. Try pepper jack cheese, Mexican cheese blend, etc.
More Cottage Cheese Recipes
- Cottage Cheese Protein Pudding
- Cottage Cheese Protein Bagels
- Cottage Cheese Egg Salad
- Cottage Cheese Egg White Bites
- 3-Ingredient Cottage Cheese Waffles
- Egg White Breakfast Casserole
Did you make this recipe? Scroll down to leave a star rating and review!
Cottage Cheese Queso Dip Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup 1% cottage cheese
- 1/3 cup salsa or mild green canned chiles
- 1 tablespoon reduced sodium taco seasoning (homemade or store-bought)
- 1 teaspoon lime juice (optional)
- 1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Optional Toppings
- Cilantro
- Red onion
- Cherry tomatoes
- Jalapeno peppers
- Hot sauce
- Red pepper flakes
- Additional shredded cheese
Instructions
- Add cottage cheese, salsa and taco seasoning to a blender or food processor and blend together until smooth. Taste and add lime juice if desired.
- Add cottage cheese mixture to a microwave safe bowl, mix in the shredded cheese and microwave in 30 second increments until cheese is melted. It took mine about 60-90 seconds.
- Serve warm with toppings of choice and tortilla chips, fresh veggies or drizzled over tacos.
Notes
- Shred your own cheese. Pre-shredded cheese in grocery stores often includes anti-caking agents to keep the individual pieces separated. These can affect how the cheese melts. For the best, richest cheese flavor, use real shredded cheese you shred at home.
- For faster shredding: Use the grater blade on your food processor to shred your cheese quickly and easily.
- Reheat as needed: As it cools, the dip becomes thicker and less creamy, so you may need to warm it up again if it starts to lose some creaminess.
- Nutritional info: The nutritional information is based on about 1/4 cup of queso.
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