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Craving a side dish that’s not only delicious but also packed with protein? These cottage cheese mashed potatoes are the perfect blend of fluffy and creamy, offering a healthier take on classic mashed potatoes. Growing up, Ella always loved mashed potatoes, so I created a version that keeps the rich buttery flavor but adds a healthy option by incorporating protein-rich cottage cheese. The result is a lighter, more nutritious side dish that’s perfect for any occasion!
Whether you’re preparing for a holiday feast, Thanksgiving dinner, or just a cozy weeknight meal, these mashed potatoes are sure to impress. Trust me, once you try these cottage cheese mashed potatoes, they’ll quickly become a family favorite, and everyone will be asking for seconds!
Table of Contents
- Why You Will Love These Mashed Potatoes With Cottage Cheese
- What Are Cottage Cheese Mashed Potatoes?
- Ingredients Needed
- How To Make Cottage Cheese Mashed Potatoes
- Serving Suggestions
- Expert Tips
- Storage Instructions
- How To Reheat Mashed Potatoes
- Variations
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Recipes To Try Next!
- COTTAGE CHEESE MASHED POTATOES Recipe
Why You Will Love These Mashed Potatoes With Cottage Cheese
- They’re irresistibly fluffy and creamy.
- The cottage cheese is whipped for a smooth, velvety texture.
- Cottage cheese adds a boost of protein and creaminess to these mashed potatoes.
- Each bite is packed with flavor from fresh garlic cloves and a hint of onion powder.
- These mashed potatoes are lightened up! There’s no heavy cream in this recipe! Also, we used less butter than many traditional versions.
What Are Cottage Cheese Mashed Potatoes?
Cottage cheese mashed potatoes are creamy mashed potatoes with the addition of cottage cheese. The cottage cheese is whipped, which adds a smooth, rich texture and boost of protein! There is no heavy cream needed! This healthier version is just as indulgent as traditional mashed potatoes!
Ingredients Needed
- Potatoes: Use three pounds of Yukon gold potatoes. They are perfect for this dish as they are creamy and fluffy.
- Garlic: Use five to six garlic cloves for this recipe. Boil the garlic cloves with the potatoes.
- Cottage Cheese: Whip the cottage cheese in a blender or food processor until smooth. You can use fat-free, low-fat, or full-fat cottage cheese.
- Butter: Add butter or light butter for richness and creaminess.
- Milk: The milk helps adjust the consistency, making the potatoes soft and creamy.
- Onion Powder: Add onion powder for incredible flavor.
- Salt and Pepper: Season with salt and pepper.
How To Make Cottage Cheese Mashed Potatoes
Step 1: Peel the potatoes. Then, cut them into even-sized pieces.
Also, peel the garlic cloves and cut each end off.
Step 2: As an option, add the chopped potatoes to a large bowl of cold water. Let them soak for 20-30 minutes to remove some starch.
Once done, drain the potatoes.
Step 3: Add the chopped potatoes and garlic cloves to a large pot filled with cold water. Add about one tablespoon of salt to the water. Bring everything to a boil.
Once boiling, cook for 15-20 minutes, until the potatoes are fork-tender.
Step 4: Once cooked, drain the potatoes and garlic in a colander.
Step 5: While the potatoes are draining, whip the cottage cheese in a blender or food processor until smooth and creamy.
Step 6: In the same pot, add the light butter and milk. Melt the butter over low heat.
Step 7: Add the drained potatoes and garlic back to the pot with the milk and butter. Also, add the onion powder, salt, and pepper.
Next, mash until smooth using a potato masher.
Step 8: Once mashed, gently fold in the whipped cottage cheese until fully combined, being careful not to over-mix to keep the potatoes light and fluffy.
Then, taste, adjust the seasoning as necessary, serve, and enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
These cottage cheese mashed potatoes are perfect for holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas! They are also great for weeknight dinners or any special occasion. Whether you make a big feast or a cozy meal, these mashed potatoes are sure to impress! Here are some of our favorite ways to serve them.
- Thanksgiving Feast: These cottage cheese mashed potatoes are the ultimate addition to a Thanksgiving feast! We like to top them with fresh chives, parsley, or a pat of butter for extra richness and color. Serve them alongside our turkey stuffing meatballs, cranberry sauce, mac and cheese, and pumpkin pie!
- Meatloaf: Serve these mashed potatoes with our Italian turkey meatloaf!
- Chicken: Serve these mashed potatoes with grilled chicken or our slow cooker chicken and gravy for a high-protein meal.
- Caramelized Onions: Top these mashed potatoes with caramelized onions and mushrooms for a sweet and savory addition that brings depth to the dish and pairs well with the creamy texture.
- Vegetables: These mashed potatoes go well with roasted brussels sprouts, air fryer carrots, and air fryer green beans.
Expert Tips
- Boil The Garlic: Boiling the garlic cloves with the potatoes gives a subtle garlic flavor. For a stronger garlic flavor, you could roast the garlic separately and mash it in at the end.
- Salt the Water: When boiling the potatoes, add about 1 tablespoon of salt to the water. This helps season them as they cook, ensuring flavorful mashed potatoes.
- Soak The Potatoes: You can soak the peeled and chopped potatoes in a bowl of cold water for about 20 minutes before boiling them to remove some starches. This helps make your mashed potatoes more fluffy.
- Don’t Over-Mix: Overmixing mashed potatoes can release too much starch, making them dense rather than light and fluffy.
- Heat On Low: Mix the whipped cottage cheese into the mashed potatoes at the end. If you add the cottage cheese over too high of heat, it has the potential to separate, which is why it needs to be added at the end. Also, make sure to reheat these mashed potatoes over low heat so it doesn’t separate.
- Whip The Cottage Cheese: Don’t just add the cottage cheese as is to the mashed potatoes. Whip the cottage cheese in a blender or food processor first so it has a smooth and creamy consistency.
- How To Mash The Potatoes: You can use a potato masher to mash the potatoes for this recipe. Or, for super fluffy potatoes, use a potato ricer.
Storage Instructions
Store leftover cottage cheese mashed potatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
How To Reheat Mashed Potatoes
You can reheat leftover mashed potatoes on the stovetop, in the oven, or in the microwave.
- Stovetop: To reheat these mashed potatoes on the stovetop, add them to a saucepan over low heat. Stir occasionally and add a splash of milk or butter to restore the creaminess if needed. Heat the mashed potatoes over low heat until warmed through, making sure not to over-mix.
- Oven: You can reheat these mashed potatoes in an oven-safe dish covered with foil at 350°F for 20-30 minutes, until warm.
- Microwave: Transfer the mashed potatoes to a microwave-safe dish. If desired, add a splash of milk or butter. Microwave these mashed potatoes in 30-second intervals until warmed through.
Variations
- Potatoes To Use: It’s best to use Yukon gold or Russet potatoes when making mashed potatoes. Since they have a higher starch content, they break down more easily and are less likely to become gummy.
- Add Bacon: Add chopped cooked bacon or turkey bacon for extra flavor.
- Roasted Garlic and Parmesan: Use roasted garlic for a deeper flavor, and mix in grated Parmesan cheese for a slightly nutty, savory taste.
- Cottage Cheese Substitution: If you don’t have cottage cheese, substitute it with 1/2 cup of plain Greek yogurt.
- Use Cauliflower: Substitute half of the potatoes with riced cauliflower or add 12 ounces of riced cauliflower to this recipe for a lighter version that’s lower in carbs yet still creamy and flavorful. Add the riced cauliflower to the pot with the boiling potatoes after 15 minutes of cooking. Then, boil for another 5 minutes, until the potatoes and cauliflower are cooked. After that, drain, and continue with this recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Add Cottage Cheese To Mashed Potatoes?
Yes, you can add cottage cheese to mashed potatoes! Adding whipped cottage cheese makes these mashed potatoes higher in protein without compromising the creamy texture. Plus, it’s a healthy alternative to heavy cream or sour cream, and the result is just as delicious. The cottage cheese isn’t noticeable in this recipe, it tastes like classic mashed potatoes!
Can I Freeze These Mashed Potatoes?
No, don’t freeze these cottage cheese mashed potatoes. Freezing may cause the cottage cheese to separate, resulting in a watery texture. However, you can store leftover mashed potatoes in the fridge for a few days.
More Recipes To Try Next!
- Mashed Potatoes With Cauliflower
- Creamy Potato Soup
- Air Fryer Red Potatoes
- Cheesy Smashed Potatoes Recipe
- Cauliflower Potato Salad
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges
If you try this recipe please be sure to leave us a comment and star rating ★★★★★ letting us know how it turns out for you.
COTTAGE CHEESE MASHED POTATOES
Ingredients
- 3 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 5-6 medium garlic cloves, peeled
- 1 cup cottage cheese, whipped, fat-free, low-fat, or full-fat
- 2-3 tablespoons light butter
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Peel the potatoes. Then, cut them into even-sized pieces, about 1-2 inches in size. Also, peel the garlic cloves and cut each end off.
- As an option, add the chopped potatoes to a large bowl of cold water. Let them soak for 20-30 minutes to remove some starch. Once done, drain the potatoes.
- Add the chopped potatoes and garlic cloves to a large pot filled with cold water. Add about one tablespoon of salt to the water. Bring everything to a boil. Once boiling, cook for 15-20 minutes, until the potatoes are fork-tender.
- Once cooked, drain the potatoes and garlic in a colander, ensuring all excess water is removed.
- While the potatoes are draining, whip the cottage cheese in a blender or food processor until smooth and creamy.
- In the same pot, add the light butter and milk. Melt the butter over low heat.
- Add the drained potatoes and garlic back to the pot with the milk and butter. Also, add the onion powder, salt, and pepper. Next, mash until smooth using a potato masher. For extra fluffiness, use a potato ricer.
- Once mashed, gently fold in the whipped cottage cheese until fully combined, being careful not to over-mix to keep the potatoes light and fluffy. Taste, adjust the seasoning as necessary, serve, and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Storage: You can store leftover cottage cheese mashed potatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
- Heat On Low: Mix the whipped cottage cheese into the mashed potatoes at the end. If you add the cottage cheese over too high of heat, it has the potential to separate, which is why it needs to be added at the end.
- How To Mash Potatoes: You can use a potato masher to mash the potatoes for this recipe. Or, for super fluffy potatoes, use a potato ricer.
- Potatoes: It’s best to use Yukon gold or Russet potatoes when making mashed potatoes.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
