How to Turn a Tub of Cottage Cheese Into 4 Dinners With Over 15 Grams of Protein

Cottage cheese has reputation as one of those old-school, bland diet foods; but the truth is, this dairy ingredient is both underrated and utterly delicious in many different recipes.

"Cottage cheese is a dense source of protein with nearly 13 grams in a half cup-serving," says Cara Harbstreet, RD of Street Smart Nutrition. "It also provides the same nutrients found in milk like calcium, phosphorus, selenium, vitamin B12 and riboflavin." And while you can enjoy it on its own, it's a low-calorie, protein-rich way to add creaminess to any dish.

That's why we're here to give a new perspective on the fresh cheese. With that much protein and a mild flavor profile, adding it into your favorite recipes can make them more filling, creamy and even decadent.

Try these four cottage cheese recipes for a well-balanced dinner with over 15 grams of protein.

• ‌Calories:‌ 149.2 calories
• ‌Protein:‌ 15.7 grams

This budget-friendly, DIY sushi bowl is the perfect way to eat cottage cheese. "Even though cottage cheese serves as the base of this bowl, don't be afraid to include rice if you like a chewier texture," Harbstreet says. You can also add additional produce like avocado for healthy fats and shredded carrots for a pop of color and crunch.

Although this recipe calls for imitation crab, you can swap it for steamed Alaskan crab meat for a lean protein option.

• ‌Calories:‌ 446 calories
• ‌Protein:‌ 37.6 grams

They key to enjoying salads without growing weary of them is switching up your ingredients and flavors. "This combination of ingredients including nuts, seeds, cottage cheese and lentils covers the major foods groups and provides a variety of nutrients, tastes and textures," Harbstreet says. If you don't have lentils, she says that you can swap for other dense grains like wheat berries, farro or brown rice.

• ‌Calories:‌ 329 calories
• ‌Protein:‌ 27 grams

When you're cooking plant-based meals, you want to make sure to use an ingredient or two that gives you a boost of protein so you stay fuller for longer. In this meal, cottage cheese adds protein without relying on meat, Harbstreet says. Plus, asparagus is a healthy vegetable choice since it's a source of prebiotics, which supports gut health.

• ‌Calories:‌ 275 calories
• ‌Protein:‌ 32 grams

Most of us don't eat enough fruits and vegetables, so incorporating them into the main element of your meal, like these stuffed peppers do, can help you get more produce, Harbstret says. Stuffing your favorite flavors into a pepper dome is easy and works for a variety of diets including gluten-free, low-carb and Whole30.

This recipe uses cottage cheese to bump up the creaminess of these Italian-inspired peppers and lean ground turkey as the meat. In just one pepper, you can expect a whopping 32 grams of protein, so you know you'll be satisfied for hours to come.