TikTok has been going wild for cottage cheese lately, and there's a lot to love about the trend. For one, cottage cheese is quite good for you, providing nearly 12 grams of protein in a 1/2-cup serving. Not to mention, it's a great source of calcium and B vitamins, and its live and active cultures help support gut health.
Cottage cheese is also a blank canvas waiting to be combined with whatever you'd like, though that's where many people get stuck: wondering what to put in cottage cheese or how to make cottage cheese taste good. Any of these TikTok-approved cottage cheese recipes are a solid option, though you can also start really simple with cottage cheese mix-ins (i.e., toppings to put in cottage cheese).
We're not just talking about canned fruit, or whatever your mom or school cafeteria may have tried to coax you into eating as a kid. With a few easy toppings, you can grace cottage cheese with just about any flavor profile you'd like.
Here's a bevy of ideas on how to make cottage cheese taste good, from sweet and savory to spicy (if you can believe it!). Pile it all together and eat it with a spoon (a "cottage cheese bowl" or "cottage cheese salad"), spread it on bread to make cottage cheese toast, or scoop up your creation with crackers or veggies as a cottage cheese dip. When it comes to the modern-day cottage cheese era, you really can do no wrong.
Savory Cottage Cheese Toppings
Olive oil, salt, and pepper: These classic flavors never disappoint — and you most certainly have them already in your kitchen. Give cottage cheese a drizzle of your best olive oil, flaky sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper.
Caprese: Dice fresh tomatoes and chop basil, drizzle with olive oil and balsamic reduction, and add a dash of salt and pepper to make a "caprese" cottage cheese salad.
Everything bagel: Put your everything-bagel seasoning to good use and dump a bunch on top of your cottage cheese, then scoop it up with seedy bread, crackers, or crunchy celery.
BLT&A: If you're part of the crowd obsessed with turkey bacon, use leftover strips for a BLT-inspired cottage cheese bowl that also includes heart-healthy avocado.
Greek salad: Chopped cucumber, tomatoes, and kalamata olives, plus dill (fresh or dried), salt, and pepper, make a simple but fantastic cottage cheese greek salad.
Smoked salmon: Grab some smoked salmon, and flake it apart until the pieces are small. Mix them into cottage cheese with salt and pepper, top with scallions, and eat with crackers or cucumber slices.
Eggs and scallions: Hard boil, soft boil, or fry an egg, then pop it on top of cottage cheese along with some chopped scallions, salt, pepper, and a drizzle of hot sauce.
Veggies and za'tar: Leftover cooked veggies of any type find a perfect home in this cottage cheese bowl. Pile them on top of your cottage cheese, then top with any fresh herbs you have and a sprinkle of za'atar. Finish off with sunflower seeds for crunch.
Beets and tahini: Beets are about as divisive as cottage cheese is — if you're a lover of both, why not eat them together? Quarter cooked beets, and toss them in with your cottage cheese along with some cooked sweet potato, microgreens, a dollop of tahini, and a squeeze of lemon.
Pesto: If you have an open jar of pesto, add a generous scoop on top of your cottage cheese along with diced cherry tomatoes, pine nuts, and grated parmesan. To make this an even more filling meal, add sliced grilled chicken.
Sweet Cottage Cheese Toppings
Strawberry shortcake: Diced strawberries, vanilla granola, a dash of vanilla extract (stirred in well), and a drizzle of honey or agave complete this simple cottage cheese topping idea.
Fruit and hot honey: Get your hands on a spicy honey (such as Mike's), and try out this combo: top your cottage cheese with blackberries or figs, spicy honey, and crushed walnuts.
Peanut butter and jelly: Whether you have fresh berries on hand or frozen berries that you can defrost, add those to cottage cheese with peanut butter to make a PB&J-inspired cottage cheese bowl.
Apple crumble: Chop an apple and toss it on top of cottage cheese along with some crushed walnuts, toasted oats or granola, and a drizzle of honey. Top it off with a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Nut butter and banana: Halve a banana and cut it into coins, add a dollop of your favorite nut butter, and top with some crunchy granola.
Banana split: You can make full-on cottage cheese ice cream, or you can just flavor your cottage cheese as if it's a big scoop of vanilla. Add banana, caramel or chocolate sauce, some strawberries, and crushed peanuts for a sweet snack or dessert.
Orange and pistachio: This one's perfect for citrus season. Crushed pistachios pair well with slices of orange, a sprinkle of sea salt, and a drizzle of wildflower honey or date syrup.
