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This creamy Cottage Cheese Smoothie tastes like a rich dessert but packs 27 grams of protein per serving--no powder required!
Just like my Peanut Butter Cup Smoothie, this Cottage Cheese Smoothie leaves the protein powder on the shelf, yet is high in protein, naturally sweetened, and full of calcium. Whether made with strawberries, bananas, or another fruit of your choice, this 5-ingredient Cottage Cheese Smoothie is perfect for a post work-out snack or wholesome breakfast.
Protein-Packed Smoothie Without Protein Powder
I have added cottage cheese to recipes for protein and flavor long before cottage cheese was trendy. Hello Cottage Cheese Pancakes and Instant Pot Egg Bites! But it took me WAY too long to try adding cottage cheese to a smoothie. Greek yogurt, yes! But cottage cheese?
Absolutely, positively, YES!!!
Whether blended up with bananas or strawberries (or any fruit of your choice) cottage cheese gives this smoothie more than just a huge boost of protein. The cottage cheese also makes your smoothie creamy, tangy, and reminiscent of cheesecake. So good!
Happy Cooking! xo Kristen
Recipe Highlights
Ingredients Needed
- Cottage Cheese: Use full-fat, quality cottage cheese. I personally look for a brand that is made without fillers, like Good Culture or Daisy.
- Milk: Any milk you like. Whole milk, skim milk, almond milk, oat milk, soy milk, etc.
- Fruit: Fresh or frozen strawberries, blueberries, bananas, or raspberries are all great options for this cottage cheese smoothie. Use frozen fruit for a thicker smoothie, fresh for a thinner smoothie. Either are delicious.
- To Sweeten: While the fruit will help to sweeten the smoothie naturally, adding maple syrup or honey will help to intensify the sweetness of the fruit and make your smoothie taste like a rich dessert.
- Vanilla Extract: Adding a bit of vanilla will enhance the flavors of this smoothie and make it taste perfectly sweet as well.
How to Make a Cottage Cheese Smoothie
Layer, blend, and serve. Keep in mind it is best to add the milk to the blender first, so everything incorporates nice and evenly. Otherwise, it really is that easy to make a decadent-tasting, protein-rich smoothie.
Get Creative with Your Smoothie
My two favorite versions of cottage cheese smoothie are a Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothie and Banana Pudding Smoothie, but the options are endless.
- Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothie: Use strawberries as your fruit, top with whipped cream, and crushed graham crackers for for a smoothie that really tastes like cheesecake.
- Banana Pudding Smoothie: Use bananas and then dress up the cottage cheese smoothie with freshly whipped cream and vanilla wafer crumbs.
- Add Nut Butter: Add up to 2 tablespoons of peanut butter or almond butter to your smoothie. This is a particularly delicious addition when using bananas in the cottage cheese smoothie.
- Add Chocolate: Drizzle your glass with chocolate syrup, pour in your smoothie and top with additional syrup for a delicious treat.
- Make it Sweeter: Add an additional tablespoon of maple syrup or half a ripe banana.
- Make it Thicker: Don't be tempted to add ice to your smoothie, as that will water it down. Instead use frozen fruit instead of fresh fruit to make a thick, icy version of a cottage cheese smoothie.
More Smoothie Recipes
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Cottage Cheese Smoothie
Ingredients
- ¾ cup milk of choice, + more to thin if needed
- ¾ cup small curd full fat cottage cheese
- ½-1 tablespoon maple syrup, to taste
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup fresh or frozen fruit of choice, (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, mango, banana, etc.)
Instructions
- Add ¾ cup of milk to the blender, followed by ¾ cup small curd full fat cottage cheese, ½-1 tablespoon maple syrup, ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract, and 1 cup fresh or frozen fruit of choice (strawberries, banana chunks, raspberries, blueberries, mango chunks, etc.). Place the lid on the blender and blend until smooth, adding up to ¼ cup additional milk to thin.
- Immediately pour smoothie into serving glass. Top with whipped cream and additional fruit if desired and serve.
Equipment
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This sounds amazing and I can't wait to try it. I'm curious though, in the recipe card description it says there are 17 grams of protein. But in the Nutrition section it says 27 grams. Do you know which it is?
Thank you for pointing out that mistake! It is 27 grams of protein. Fixing now and I hope you enjoy.
This was such a great idea. Started my day with one of these and it was so satisfying.
Love hearing this, Cary!
This is sooooo good! Never thought of this before! Keeping this recipe!
So happy you gave this a try, Sha! And thanks for leaving a review.