These rich and creamy cottage cheese mashed potatoes are buttery, garlicky and so flavorful . They’re higher protein than your standard mashed potatoes and perfect for anything from busy weeknights to a side for your holiday dinner.

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Why you’ll love them

Garlic, butter, potatoes…. is there anything better? This mashed potatoes recipe is full of classic flavors that your entire family will love, making it the perfect side dish for your favorite meal.

Not only are they delicious, but they have a bit more nutrition folded in too. Instead of needing to use a bunch of heavy cream to get a rich texture, cottage cheese is the secret ingredient that gives these potatoes a creamy consistency and a higher protein content.

This cottage cheese recipe is definitely one of my favorites. Believe it or not, cottage cheese is actually a pretty popular potato addition, and they make them a slightly more nutritious mashed potatoes option. Don’t miss my other Cottage Cheese Recipes too!

Cottage cheese has a creamy texture and mild flavor that makes it super versatile and perfect for recipes like this. Plus, it gives these potatoes a boost of protein! Just one serving of these mashed potatoes has a whopping 10 grams of protein!

These are just as delicious as traditional mashed potatoes and a bit of a lighter option.

These mashed potatoes are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser and absolute must-try!

Ingredients you’ll need

These mashed potatoes are made from simple ingredients! Here’s what you need:

• Yukon gold potatoes: My favorite potatoes for mashed potatoes are Yukon gold yellow potatoes, but you can sub in any potatoes you like. Russet potatoes or red potatoes work great too.
• Cottage cheese: This recipe calls for a whole cup of cottage cheese. I like to use whole-milk cottage cheese for the creamiest potatoes. Good Culture is the absolute best in my opinion.
• Parmesan cheese: Parmesan cheese adds a salty cheesiness that is just so yummy in these potatoes. You can sub in any other cheese that you like if you prefer or omit this, but I love the extra flavor it gives!
• Garlic cloves: You’re going to quickly sauté the garlic for these potatoes but you can also use roasted garlic or sub in garlic powder if you need to. Garlic is an absolute must for me in mashed potatoes- I just love the amazing flavor it offers.
• Butter: Yes, we’re using real butter here! Because these potatoes are so flavorful, you don’t need quite as much as other mashed potatoes recipes. I prefer salted over unsalted butter, but you can always use unsalted and then add as much salt as you like.
• Milk: Whole milk or 2% milk will yield the creamiest potatoes, but you can use any type of milk that you like. You can also use heavy cream. If you need a plant-based milk like almond milk or soy milk it will work but will have a different flavor and creaminess.
• Sour cream: I like adding sour cream just to add a bit of tanginess to these potatoes.
• Salt & black pepper: Everyone’s a little different, so make sure your taste testing so you can add exactly how much salt and pepper you and your family prefer.
• Fresh chives: Chives are optional, but they’re one of my favorite additions to potatoes. You can also top your potatoes with any other fresh herbs you like, like rosemary or thyme.

How to make cottage cheese mashed potatoes

1. First, wash the potatoes thoroughly and peel them. Cube them into large, uniform chunks (they don’t need to be perfect).
2. Bring a large pot of cold water to a boil and then add potatoes. Cook in a gentle boil until fork-tender, about 15 minutes.

3. While the potatoes are boiling, blend the cottage cheese. You can use an immersion blender to blend them directly in the container, or use a table-top blender.

4. In a small sauté pan, melt 2 tbsp butter and sauté garlic for 1-2 minutes.
5. Next, when the potatoes are cooked, drain them well and add to a large mixing bowl. Mash with a potato masher. If you don’t have a potato masher you can also use a hand mixer or smash with a whisk.

6. Next stir in the sour cream, parmesan cheese, milk, salt, pepper and blended cottage cheese mixture. Combine well and add any additional salt and pepper to your preference. If you prefer a thinner mashed potato consistency, add a splash of milk until you get your desired consistency.

7. Transfer to a serving bowl and drizzle with a little butter before serving. Garnish with chives and enjoy!

How to store

Store leftover mashed potatoes in an airtight container for up to 5 days and then reheat when you need them.

Recipe tips

• Blend your cottage cheese first! Blending cottage cheese completely gets rid of the curds. If you leave the cottage cheese as is, you’ll be able to see the cottage cheese curds when it’s mixed.
• Don’t skip the butter :). You can sub in another fat like olive oil if you want to keep these a little healthier, but these mashed potatoes don’t call for much butter in comparison to most mashed potatoes recipes, and it adds so much flavor.
• Use full-fat cottage cheese and at least 2% milk. Fat-free cottage cheese and fat-free milk unfortunately doesn’t give the same amount of creaminess and will produce a different results.

Variations

• Top with all of your favorite mashed potatoes toppings like melted butter, sour cream and bacon bits.
• Use Greek yogurt instead of cottage cheese for potatoes with a different
• Add a scoop of cream cheese for an even richer, creamier flavor addition.
• If you prefer ultra-smooth potatoes, use a food processor or hand mixer.

Kitchen tools for this recipe

• Potato masher
• Immersion blender
• Food processor

Love this recipe? Make sure to give it a 5-star rating below and tag me on Instagram @the.balanced.nutritionist!

Recipes to serve with your potatoes:

• Arugula Pear Salad with Toasted Pecans & Feta Cheese
• Air Fryer Broccoli and Feta (under 10 minutes!)
• Crispy Feta Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic
• Perfectly Cooked Thin Sliced Chicken Breast (Air Fryer Recipe)
• Smashed Broccoli Parmesan
• Maple Balsamic Brussel Sprouts (Stove-Top)