High Protein Crockpot Cottage Cheese Mac and Cheese Recipe
This High Protein Crockpot Cottage Cheese Mac and Cheese is a creamy, comforting dish that combines the richness of cheddar and cottage cheese with tender elbow pasta, all cooked effortlessly in a slow cooker. Perfect for an easy weeknight meal, it delivers a satisfying, protein-packed take on classic mac and cheese without requiring constant attention.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
Mac and Cheese Ingredients
- 10 oz elbow pasta
- 16 oz cottage cheese
- 2.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese (Tillamook recommended)
- 1 stick unsalted butter (Kerrygold recommended)
- 2.5 cups water
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the Slow Cooker: Line your slow cooker with a disposable liner or lightly spray the interior with cooking spray to prevent sticking and ease cleanup.
- Assemble Ingredients: Measure all ingredients into separate bowls: uncooked elbow pasta, cottage cheese, shredded cheddar, butter, and water to have everything ready for quick assembly.
- Layer Ingredients: Add the dry elbow pasta as the bottom layer in the slow cooker. Spread the cottage cheese evenly over the pasta, breaking it up slightly for even distribution. Add slices of butter on top, then sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the layers.
- Season and Add Water: Sprinkle garlic powder and black pepper evenly over the cheese layer. Carefully pour 2.5 cups of water over all ingredients without stirring to maintain the layered structure.
- Cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for 2.5 hours. If not using a liner, stir once halfway through (around 1 hour 15 minutes) to ensure even cooking and prevent sticking.
- Finish and Serve: After cooking, stir the entire mixture to combine the melted cheeses and tender pasta into a creamy sauce. Let rest a couple of minutes, then serve hot directly from the slow cooker or transfer to a serving dish.
Notes
- Using a slow cooker liner greatly reduces cleaning and prevents sticking, eliminating the need to stir during cooking.
- If a liner is not used, be sure to stir once midway through cooking to prevent burning.
- Breaking up cottage cheese before layering helps it distribute evenly during cooking.
- Resisting stirring before cooking is important to maintain the correct water distribution for tender pasta.
- For best flavor, use high-quality cheddar and unsalted butter like Tillamook and Kerrygold.
Keywords: high protein mac and cheese, cottage cheese mac and cheese, crockpot mac and cheese, slow cooker pasta, creamy mac and cheese, healthy comfort food
