8 Best Cottage Cheese Substitutes

by John Staughton (BASc, BFA) last updated -

There are moments in the kitchen where a cottage cheese substitute is necessary, and fortunately, there are plenty of options to choose from that won’t mess up your meal.

Cottage Cheese Substitute

The best cottage cheese substitutes are plain unsweetened yogurt, part-skim ricotta cheese, egg whites, mashed tofu, lean meat, and reduced-fat hard cheese, among others.

Yogurt

There are quite a few substances that deliver the sour, fermented taste of cottage cheese, such as yogurt, sour cream or fromage blanc. In some cases, you can even use mayonnaise to replace cottage cheese. Be sure to eliminate any vinegar or lemon from the recipe when using sour cream or yogurt, since they will already be more astringent than cottage cheese. [1]

Part-skim Ricotta Cheese

In terms of texture and nutrient content, ricotta cheese does have a higher fat content, but it can easily pass for cottage cheese in most recipes. That being said, if you are trying to maintain a healthy diet or cut down on fat intake, ricotta cheese shouldn’t be used. [2]

A white plate of cottage cheese on a white wooden table

Make your dish scrumptious with cottage cheese. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Egg Whites

When it comes to protein, egg whites are quite similar to cottage cheese, making an ideal substitute, if you are eating cottage cheese purely for its nutritional value. Many of the uses of cottage cheese in breakfast recipes can easily be replaced with egg whites. [3]

Mashed Tofu

Due to their similar protein content, some people use tofu squares in place of cottage cheese. If you mash up tofu, it will also take on a similar consistency to cottage cheese, depending on how you plan to use it. You may want mild-flavored, semi-firm tofu cakes for this. [4]

Reduced-fat Hard Cheese

There are far fewer calories in hard cheese than in cottage cheese, albeit a lower concentration of protein. As a topping for breakfast sandwiches or toast, using reduced-fat cheese is certainly the healthier option as a cottage cheese substitute.

A white tray of fresh uncooked sliced fish and a plate of fresh uncooked chicken breast on a wooden table

Whenever you run out of cottage cheese, fish and chicken breast are two things you could use as substitutes. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Poultry

Many people seek out cottage cheese for its protein content, but basic chicken breasts are also a simple and easy way to boost your protein levels throughout the day and are more versatile in your meals.

Lean Meat

A turkey sandwich will deliver as much protein as a cottage cheese and fruit bowl, so if you don’t have any cottage cheese handy, lean meats like turkey make for a great replacement. [5]

Fish

Tuna, salmon, or other easy-to-eat fish can provide plenty of protein in any meal of the day. Making a tuna salad sandwich or having a salmon filet is a great option if you’ve run out of protein-dense cottage cheese.

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About the Author

John Staughton is a traveling writer, editor, publisher and photographer with English and Integrative Biology degrees from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana (USA). He co-founded the literary journal, Sheriff Nottingham, and now serves as the Content Director for Stain’d Arts, a non-profit based in Denver, Colorado. On a perpetual journey towards the idea of home, he uses words to educate, inspire, uplift and evolve.

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