Description
This Creamy Cottage Cheese Mac and Cheese combines tender pasta, fresh broccoli, and shredded chicken in a luscious cheese sauce made with cottage cheese, cheddar, and Parmesan. It’s a healthier twist on classic mac and cheese, featuring a creamy, protein-packed sauce that’s rich in flavor yet comforting and satisfying.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 8 ounces pasta (ziti, elbow, shells, or cavatappi)
- 12 ounces fresh broccoli florets, chopped into small bite-sized pieces
- 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese, freshly shredded, divided
- 1 cup full-fat cottage cheese
- ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup milk (low-fat or full-fat)
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded (about 6 ounces)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta and broccoli: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package directions. When there are 3 to 4 minutes remaining on the pasta cooking time, add the fresh broccoli florets to the pot to cook together with the pasta. Before draining, reserve ½ cup of the pasta cooking water. Drain the pasta and broccoli and set aside.
- Blend the cheese sauce: In a blender, combine the cottage cheese, milk, 1 cup shredded cheddar, grated Parmesan cheese, cornstarch, garlic powder, onion powder, Dijon mustard, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Blend until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy.
- Heat and thicken the sauce: Pour the blended cheese sauce into a large pot or saucepan and warm it over medium-low heat. Stir frequently to prevent the sauce from sticking or burning on the bottom. Cook the sauce for about 5 minutes until it thickens slightly.
- Add remaining cheese: Stir in the remaining ½ cup of shredded cheddar cheese into the sauce until it fully melts and the sauce becomes extra creamy.
- Combine all ingredients: Fold in the cooked shredded chicken, cooked pasta, and broccoli into the thickened cheese sauce. Mix thoroughly to coat everything evenly with the sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if desired.
Notes
- You can substitute the chicken with turkey or omit it for a vegetarian version.
- Use whole milk or 2% milk for a creamier sauce or a low-fat option.
- Reserving pasta water helps loosen the sauce if it becomes too thick.
- To save time, use pre-cooked rotisserie chicken.
- The recipe works well with a variety of pasta shapes; choose your favorite.
- For extra flavor, add a pinch of smoked paprika or cayenne pepper to the sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
