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Have you ever wondered, “What can I add to cottage cheese to make it taste better?” Here’s your solution: turn it into a high-protein dip!

This recipe makes an easy appetizer or after-school snack. Serve it with carrot sticks, celery, sliced cucumber, or other veggies you like. After tasting it, no one would guess they are eating a cottage cheese veggie dip. (Seriously.)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Featured Review

“This is utterly delicious!” – Jessica

Cottage cheese dip served with sliced veggies and crackers on a platter.

Cottage Cheese Dip Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Cottage Cheese. This recipe calls for full-fat cottage cheese, made with 4% milkfat, to get the creamiest results. I tend to steer clear of low-fat dairy products, but feel free to experiment with low-fat cottage cheese if that’s what you have.
  • Pantry spices. Using dried spices like dill, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper, this ranch dip comes together in just minutes. If you have fresh herbs on hand, you can certainly add those in! When using fresh dill instead of dried, you’ll want to triple the amount called for to achieve the same flavor. 
  • Lemon juice. Fresh lemon juice adds a hint of tangy flavor and tastes better than using bottled store-bought juice.
  • Jalapenos. If you’re a fan of a slightly spicy ranch, try adding in a tablespoon or more of jarred, pickled jalapenos. (Leave them out if serving kids with milder tastes.)

Feel free to customize this dip by adding fresh basil, chives, cilantro, or parsley. You could even turn it into a Green Goddess Dressing if you like!

cottage cheese, lemon, and dried spices labeled in glass bowls.

How to Make the Best Cottage Cheese Dip Recipe

Step 1:

In a high-speed blender, combine the cottage cheese, lemon juice, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, dill, and black pepper. (Full measurements are in the recipe card below.)

Add two tablespoons of water to help achieve the desired consistency, then secure the lid and blend until the cottage cheese curds break down and appear smooth.

Stop and scrape down the sides of the blender as needed.

cottage cheese and dried herbs blended together.

Step 2:

Depending on how watery your cottage cheese is, you may need to add an additional two tablespoons of water to achieve a whipped consistency. (I usually add a 1/4 cup water in total, which is four tablespoons.)

Taste the dip and make any adjustments, as needed. The flavor will develop even more when you store this in the fridge, so keep that in mind!

To make a jalapeno variation, add 2 to 3 tablespoons of sliced pickled jalapenos and blend again. The more you add, the more tangy and spicy your dip will taste.

Once you’re satisfied with the flavor and consistency, this dip is ready to serve.

sliced jalapenos added to blender and poured into a storage container.

Serving Suggestions for Cottage Cheese Dip

Here are a few ways to serve this dip:

  • Paired with sliced veggies. Carrot sticks, celery, sliced cucumbers, and red bell peppers all taste great with this. You can also add crackers or chips for extra crunch.
  • In a sandwich or wrap. Spread this on your favorite bread or wrap and load up with veggies and protein. It adds creaminess and extra flavor.
  • Over tacos. If you make the jalapeno variation, this dip is a delicious topping for tacos. (Think of it as an alternative to sour cream.)
  • In chicken or tuna salad. Instead of using mayo, drizzle this dip into your next high-protein salad. It’s the perfect way to use up leftover cooked chicken breast, and can be enjoyed as a sandwich or in lettuce wraps.
  • With pizza. You can use this as a white sauce for pizza, or serve it on the side as a delicious dip for your pizza crust.

How to Store Cottage Cheese Dip

Transfer the whipped cottage cheese dip to an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 5 days. The dip will thicken slightly when chilled, so you can add another tablespoon of water later if you’d like to thin out the texture more. 

cottage cheese dip in a brown bowl surrounded by sliced veggies and crackers.

Cottage Cheese Veggie Dip FAQs

Can I swap the cottage cheese for Greek yogurt?

Check out my Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing for a yogurt variation that has already been tested for you. 

Can I make this in a food processor?

Yes, a food processor will work, too, but depending on the size of your machine, you might need to double this recipe to get everything blended evenly. My 12-cup machine doesn’t work well with a small batch like this. 

Is cottage cheese healthy?

Cottage cheese is lower in fat (full-fat is 4% milkfat) than cheddar cheese (33-35% milkfat) and contains 12 grams of protein per half cup. Using it in this recipe makes it easier to eat more veggies, too!

Cottage cheese dip served with sliced veggies and crackers on a platter.

Cottage Cheese Dip Recipe

4.67 from 6 votes
This cottage cheese dip tastes like classic ranch dressing, but it's made without oil and has extra protein in each bite. It's easy to customize (hello, jalapeno ranch!) and takes only minutes to whip up in your blender. 
prep5 mins cook0 mins total5 mins
Servings:5

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 cup cottage cheese (4% milkfat)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon dried dill
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons jarred jalapeno slices (optional; for Jalapeno Ranch)

Instructions

  • In a high-speed blender, combine the cottage cheese, lemon juice, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, dill and black pepper. Add in 2 tablespoons of water, and secure the lid on the blender. Blend until the cottage cheese is smooth, with a whipped consistency.
  • Add 2 more tablespoons of water and blend again for a more runny texture. (I usually add 4 tablespoons of water total, but this will vary based on how watery your cottage cheese is.) Adjust any flavoring as you see fit, but keep in mind the flavor will develop even more when chilled.
  • Jalapeno Ranch variation: Add in the optional 2 to 3 tablespoons of jarred sliced jalapenos, and their juices, and blend again. For a less tangy or spicy flavor, you can start with just 1 tablespoon.
  • Transfer the dip to an airtight container and store it in the fridge. The flavor will develop even more after a few hours! It should keep well in the fridge for up to 5 days. Serve it as a dip with veggies, chips, or crackers, or spread it on sandwiches and tacos. It's also a delicious salad dressing!

Notes

Nutrition information is for roughly a 1/4 cup of dressing, assuming you get 1 1/4 cups total from this recipe. This information is automatically calculated and is just an estimate, not a guarantee.
If you have fresh dill on hand, triple the amount called for in this recipe.
This recipe was tested with full-fat cottage cheese. I have no idea if it will turn out as creamy and delicious with a low-fat or fat-free version, so please let me know if you try it.
Note: My favorite brand of cottage cheese is Good Culture because it’s made with organic and pasture-raised ingredients, but I’ve also tested this recipe with Trader Joe’s full-fat cottage cheese, and it works just as well.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 44kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 365mg | Potassium: 56mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 65IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 0.1mg
Course: Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cottage cheese dip

More Recipes to Try

If you try this cottage cheese dip recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below, letting me know how you like it.

Megan Gilmore leaning on her white countertop.

Megan Gilmore

Hi, I’m Megan. A former fast food junkie turned best-selling cookbook author. As a Certified Nutritionist Consultant (CNC), I love to make healthier food using simple ingredients. I test these recipes multiple times in my kitchen to make sure they will turn out perfectly for you.

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Comments

  1. So, so good! I used the garlic from Costco, which tends to be stronger than others, so next time I will cut it in half. I’ve been diluting this dip with water and using it as salad dressing. I know you have a cottage cheese salad dressing recipe, so I’m going to try that next. Thank you, Megan!

  2. Amazing!! I used 2% cottage cheese. It came out creamy and delicious. I added two tablespoons of water and two tablespoons of 2%milk.

  3. Delicious 😋 I used 1% cottage cheese and 1 tbsp of light mayo and 1 tsp of ranch dip mix and 2 tbsp of water and oh my god this is so good

  4. I did not care for the jalepeno in it. It was overpowering and my dip tasted too salty. I would have preferred it to just be dill dip. I did not have lemon juice. That may have changed the outcome.