Creamy Mashed Potatoes with Cottage Cheese

Name: Creamy Mashed Potatoes with Cottage Cheese
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 45 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2.5 pounds russet potatoes; 3 tablespoons salted butter; 1 cup whole milk cottage cheese; 2 tablespoons full-fat sour cream; 2 tablespoons whole milk; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; Optional - fresh herbs for garnish

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe·5 from 1 review

They're the same irresistibly creamy mashed potatoes you love, except with an entire cup of protein-rich cottage cheese! Serve mashed potatoes with cottage cheese at your next holiday meal for an even more satisfying and nutritious way to enjoy this staple side dish.

Mashed potatoes with cottage cheese in a brown serving dish, with a wooden spoon. A yellow napkin is in the bottom left corner and a butter dish is in the top left. The potatoes are garnished with chives.

Adding cottage cheese to mashed potatoes enhances the creaminess and boosts the protein content, making these mashed potatoes a much healthier way to enjoy an otherwise indulgent side dish.

Not only that, but the added butter is significantly decreased. And if you've ever made mashed potatoes the traditional way, then you know how much butter is usually added to a regular recipe! IYKYK.

Don't get me wrong, I still like to enjoy these ultra-rich red skin mashed potatoes with cream cheese from time to time. But sometimes, a lighter option, like these mashed potatoes with cottage cheese, a baked potato (no foil), or mashed potato squash, is nice too.

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Why you'll love this recipe
Ingredients
How to make mashed potatoes with cottage cheese
Potato mashing 101
Expert tips
Mashed potato mix-ins
How to store and reheat
What to serve with cottage cheese mashed potatoes
Frequently asked questions
Potato recipes you'll also like
Creamy Mashed Potatoes with Cottage Cheese
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Why you'll love this recipe

Flavor - A small amount of melted butter provides just the right amount of richness, and seasonings are added to taste.
Texture - Cottage cheese and sour cream work hand-in-hand to create a cohesive, creamy mixture that transforms the fluffy mashed potatoes into a rich and smooth dish.
Easy - While the potatoes are cooking, prepare the blended cottage cheese mixture, then just combine it with the potatoes once they're done. Easy peasy!
Healthy(er) - With a fraction of the butter and an entire cup of high-protein cottage cheese, these mashed potatoes with cottage cheese are much more nutritious than a classic recipe.

Ingredients

Russet potatoes - For the best light and fluffy texture, you want a lot of starch and just a little moisture. Russet potatoes are the ideal choice, but if you can't find them, Yukon golds are okay too.
Cottage cheese - Full-fat, whole-milk cottage cheese is the way to go. The extra fat is needed for creaminess.
Sour cream - Just a touch is added for tang and to help the cottage cheese blend more smoothly.
Melted butter - Even though the butter is cut down significantly, a small amount is included for richness.
Seasonings - For flavor! I always use kosher salt.
Milk - To thin out the cottage cheese sauce for easy blending.
Fresh herbs - I like to add a sprinkling of fresh parsley, chives, or green onions to the finished dish. This is optional but totally worth it if you have any on hand.

How to make mashed potatoes with cottage cheese

Recipe rundown

Peel, chop, and boil the potatoes.
Blend the cottage cheese mixture.
Mash the cooked potatoes.
Mix the mashed potatoes with the cottage cheese, then serve, and enjoy!

Step-by-step instructions

Cooked russet potatoes in a glass bowl with a striped napkin in the top right corner.

Step 1: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Peel the potatoes and chop them into large chunks. Then, add the potatoes to the boiling water and cook until fork-tender, about 15 minutes.

Blended cottage cheese mixture in a glass measuring cup with a striped napkin in the top right corner.

Step 2: Meanwhile, melt the butter in the microwave and then add the cottage cheese, sour cream, milk, and seasonings to the melted butter. Use an immersion blender to blend the cottage cheese mixture until smooth.

Mashed (riced) russet potatoes in a glass bowl, with a striped napkin in the top right corner and a potato ricer in the top left corner.

Step 3: When the potatoes are done cooking, mash them to your preferred texture. I like to use a potato ricer!

Mashed potatoes mixed with the cottage cheese mixture with a striped napkin in the top right corner and a potato ricer in the top left corner.

Step 4: Pour the blended cottage cheese into the mashed potatoes and mix until well combined.

Step 5: Garnish with fresh herbs, serve immediately, and enjoy!

Potato mashing 101

The way you mash your potatoes makes a big difference in the texture of the finished dish. Here's how to achieve your desired consistency:

Smooth and creamy - An immersion blender is perfect for achieving seriously smooth and creamy mashed potatoes. Just be careful not to over-blend, as excessive blending can release too much starch and lead to gummy potatoes.
Chunky and lumpy - If you like a chewy bite, use a potato masher.
Fluffy and silky - A potato ricer produces mashed potatoes that are both smooth and fluffy. It gently breaks them down, ensuring they're completely lump-free without resulting in a gummy texture.

Expert tips

Peel and chop the potatoes into evenly sized chunks, so they cook evenly. Halves and quarters are fine. You don't need to (and shouldn't) dice them.
Don't overcook the potatoes. Let them simmer until fork-tender but not falling apart.
Blend the cottage cheese mixture until smooth. Cottage cheese doesn't exactly melt, so if it's not blended, you'll end up with unappetizing, grainy chunks in your cottage cheese mashed potatoes.
Don't overmix the mashed potatoes and cottage cheese mixture. Overmixing can result in dense, gummy potatoes. Gentle folding or stirring is key.

Mashed potato mix-ins

Mix-ins and flavor variations can take a humble bowl of mashed potatoes from basic to bold! Whether you’re adding fresh herbs, roasted garlic, or a sprinkle of cheddar cheese, these simple additions can really take the flavor over the top!

Fresh herbs - Not just a garnish, fresh herbs like parsley, chives, and sage pack a powerful punch when it comes to flavor.
More cheese - These mashed potatoes with cottage cheese don't necessarily need more cheese, but if you ask me, the more cheese, the better! Try mixing in cheddar, gruyere, or parmesan.
Savory additions - You really can't go wrong with roasted garlic, crispy bacon pieces, or browned butter.

How to store and reheat

How to store: Allow the mashed potatoes with cottage cheese to fully cool, then transfer them to an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
How to reheat: Leftover mashed potatoes can be reheated on the stove or in the microwave. To reheat on the stove, gently warm them over low heat until warmed through. If needed, you can stir in a splash of milk to bring them back to a creamy texture.

What to serve with cottage cheese mashed potatoes

You'll be hard-pressed to find a main dish that doesn't pair well with this mashed potatoes with cottage cheese recipe. My all-time favorite way to serve mashed potatoes is with a couple of saucy, balsamic chicken thighs on top. But these main dish recipes are great options, too:

Thanksgiving Meatballs with Gravy
Whole Roast Chicken with Garlic Butter
Cheeseburger Meatloaf
Blackened Pork Chops
Cast Iron Pork Tenderloin

Frequently asked questions

What are the best potatoes for mashed potatoes?

When preparing mashed potatoes, starchy varieties are best, such as russet, Idaho, or Yukon golds. Starchy potatoes are low in moisture, allowing them to easily absorb mashed potato mix-ins like cottage cheese, milk, or butter. And as far as texture, they stay fluffy when mashed, making them very unlikely to become soupy, grainy, or gummy.

Do I have to whip the cottage cheese first?

Yes, whipping cottage cheese before stirring it into mashed potatoes is very necessary. Cottage cheese doesn't melt well. So, if you don't whip or blend it first, you will taste the lumpy curds.

How many potatoes per person for mashed potatoes?

A serving size of mashed potatoes is equal to about one cup, give or take. Or, a half pound of raw potatoes per person. Of course, this depends on your appetite and what you're serving your cottage cheese mashed potatoes with.