Description
This High Protein Crockpot Cottage Cheese Mac And Cheese is a creamy, cozy, easy dinner that turns classic comfort food into a protein-packed slow cooker meal. Made with tender elbow macaroni, blended cottage cheese, cheddar, Monterey Jack, Greek yogurt, and simple seasonings, it is perfect for quick dinner ideas, meal prep, family food ideas, and anyone craving an easy recipe with a rich cheesy sauce.
Ingredients
16 ounces elbow macaroni
2 cups cottage cheese
2 cups whole milk
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
1. Blend the cottage cheese and milk until completely smooth.
2. Grease the inside of a 4- to 6-quart crockpot.
3. Add the uncooked elbow macaroni to the crockpot.
4. Stir in garlic powder, onion powder, ground mustard, paprika, salt, and black pepper.
5. Pour the blended cottage cheese mixture over the pasta.
6. Add butter, cheddar cheese, and Monterey Jack cheese, then stir well.
7. Cover and cook on low for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, stirring after the first hour and again near the end.
8. When the pasta is tender, stir in the Greek yogurt.
9. Add a splash of warm milk if the sauce is too thick.
10. Taste, adjust seasoning, garnish with parsley, and serve warm.
Notes
Use freshly shredded cheese for the smoothest, creamiest sauce.
Blend the cottage cheese fully before adding it to the crockpot so the sauce turns silky instead of grainy.
Start checking the pasta around 90 minutes because slow cookers vary and macaroni can overcook quickly.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 525
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 760mg
- Fat: 23g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 68mg
Keywords: high protein crockpot cottage cheese mac and cheese, slow cooker mac and cheese, easy dinner, protein-packed dinner, comfort food, meal prep pasta, dinner ideas, easy recipe