Cottage Cheese Queso

This viral 3-ingredient Cottage Cheese Queso tastes so cheesy and delicious that you won’t guess it’s low calorie and packed with 20 grams of protein! You can microwave, bake or air fry it, before dipping in tortillas or nachos.

Cottage cheese pizza crust, cottage cheese cheesecake, cottage cheese flatbread and cottage cheese cookie dough. Out of all TikTok viral cottage cheese recipes I tried, this queso dip is my current obsession. We’ve been having it as a mid-afternoon snack and for our movie nights for a hot minute–because you should know, my girlfriend and I are huge Mexican food aficionados.

It tastes just as good as restaurant-style queso dips–cheesy and full of flavors, spicy up to the point. I promise, this thing is so A-D-D-I-C-T-I-V-E that you can’t stop dipping in chips. But thankfully it’s healthy and with good macros–low calorie, low fat, keto-friendly and, best of all, a serving packs over 20 grams of protein.

Why you will love this recipe

• Quick and easy – Making protein queso at home requires just 3 ingredients and 5 minutes of your day. Plus, you can microwave, bake, air fry or cook it on the stove.
• Healthy and diet-friendly – Forget dips loaded with calories, saturated fats and artificial nasties. This viral queso is healthy, low calorie, weight watcher friendly, keto, and has over 20 grams of protein per serving–no mayo, no cream.
• Cheesy and tasty – It tastes just as good as a Mexican restaurant dish, cheesy and melty with a touch of spiciness. Since we’re going to blend cottage cheese with shredded cheese and taco seasonings, you won’t feel neither its taste nor its clumpy texture.
• Customizable and versatile – From toppings to adjusting spiciness with hot sauce or jalapeños, the ways to make this dip are as endless as the serving ideas. It tastes delicious with tortillas, tacos, nachos and crudités platters.

Ingredients and substitutes

This easy cottage cheese queso recipe requires just 3 ingredients. Here are more details, along with tips and substitutes–precise quantities can be found in the recipe card at the bottom.

• Cottage cheese – For the best taste and texture I recommend 4% or whole milk cottage cheese, but feel free to use nonfat options (small curd or large curd). As an alternative replace with lactose-free or dairy-free cottage cheese, or full fat plain Greek yogurt.
• Shredded cheese – This recipe uses pepper jack cheese, freshly shredded at home from the block. You can replace with a Mexican cheese blend, Monterrey jack, shredded cheddar or nutritional yeast, if dairy-free.
• Taco seasoning – Use store-bought taco seasoning (low sodium recommended) or make your own with 1/4 tsp chili powder, 1/4 tsp ground cumin, 1/8 tsp garlic powder, and 1/8 tsp smoked paprika, adjusting with cayenne or red pepper flakes for more spiciness. Some people like using fajita seasoning instead of taco seasoning.

How to make cottage cheese queso

You can find the printable recipe at the end of this blog post, but for now here’s an overview with step-by-step pictures.

1. Step 1 – Blend. Add to a food processor or a high speed blender cottage cheese. Blend on high for 30 seconds to 1 minute, until it reaches a smooth and creamy texture. If necessary, scrape down sides with the help of a spatula.
2. Step 2 – Mix. Transfer blended cottage cheese to a microwave-safe bowl, then mix with shredded cheese and taco seasoning until combined. As an alternative, blend all ingredients together. 
3. Step 3 – Heat. Place the cottage cheese mixture in the microwave and microwave in 15-20 seconds intervals until warm and melty–it should take 1 to 1 ½ minutes in total. Do not overheat it, or it will separate.
4. Step 4 – Enjoy. Serve warm with your favorite toppings and tortilla chips or veggies.

Variations and toppings

• Low calorie – Use nonfat cottage cheese and fat reduced shredded cheese to cut down on calories while still keeping it high in protein. If adding toppings, be mindful about fats and carbs.
• Vegan – Swap the cottage cheese for my homemade dairy-free cottage cheese and use plant-based shredded cheese or nutritional yeast. If you fancy some toppings, go for chopped vegan sausage, crispy baked tofu, or ground Beyond Meat.
• Extra creamy – Blend all ingredients together, instead of mixing whipped cottage cheese with shredded cheese in a bowl. This trick will take out any stringy texture of shredded cheese.
• Spicy – Add chopped jalapeños, hot sauce, tabasco, or a dash of cayenne pepper. If you’d like a spicier dip, use spicy shredded cheese.
• Meaty – Top with cooked ground beef, ground turkey or chorizo for a more protein and taste.
• Topping Ideas – Get creative with Pico de Gallo, homemade salsa, black beans, extra cheese, fresh herbs like cilantro, roasted corn, or creamy avocado.

Serving ideas

• Dipping – Dip in some air fryer tortilla chips, Sun Chips, pita chips, or classic tortilla chips for a macro-friendly snack.
• Flatbread and sandwiches –  Spread queso over cottage cheese flatbread or add it to your sandwich together with a protein, lettuce and sliced tomatoes.
• Loaded meals – Drizzle over a baked sweet potato, stuff inside a breakfast burrito or chicken quesadilla. It tastes delicious also on top of rice bowls and, Matteo’s hidden gem, mixed with pasta.
• Mexican night – Use as a topping for tacos or loaded nachos, and enjoy with a cheesy Mexican street corn dip or Mexican street corn salad, and air fryer corn on the cob. Perfect to celebrate Cinco de Mayo!

Make ahead and storage

This cottage cheese queso is best enjoyed fresh but can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. When ready to eat, reheat in the microwave for 15-20 seconds, stirring in between to bring back its creamy consistency.

Freezing is not ideal as the cheese may change texture, becoming grainy after thawing. However, if you do need a longer storage, use full-fat cottage cheese and freeze in an airtight freezer-safe container for up to 1 month. Let it thaw in the fridge overnight and stir well before microwaving.

Nutritional values and calories

This recipe makes 2 servings. Here are the approximated nutritional values, calculated for one serving and for a dip made with 4% fat cottage cheese. Keep in mind that nutritional values may vary depending on the fat percentage of the cottage cheese and shredded cheese used, or additional toppings. For precise macros, I recommend calculating your own based on specific ingredients used.

• 🔥 Calories – 207 kcal
• 🍖 Protein – 20.9 grams
• 🍞 Carbohydrates – 4.4 grams
• 🧀 Fats – 12.5 grams

More healthy snacks and appetizers

• Cottage cheese pizza crust
• Cottage cheese dip
• Healthy deviled eggs
• Air fryer tortilla chips
• Low calorie carrot fries
• Cottage cheese spinach dip
• Cottage cheese chips