- Cottage cheese is super popular right now because it’s high-protein and versatile.
- One brand, Good Culture, stands out as the best for its creaminess and simple ingredients.
- Cottage cheese can be used in creative ways to make dips, breakfast, smoothies and more.
Cottage cheese is wildly popular, and with good reason. It’s the darling of social media health and nutrition influencers, with many creating viral TikTok videos incorporating cottage cheese into everything from scrambled eggs and pasta sauce, to edible cookie dough or queso dip. This fresh cheese is delicious and incredibly versatile, sure, but its popularity largely stems from its high protein, with many varieties packing more than 12 grams of protein per serving. It’s a $1.75 billion industry that has surged in recent years, with a nearly 20% increase year-over-year in 2025.
“Cottage cheese is having more than a moment; it’s having a renaissance, which is likely connected to the popularity of protein,” says Katie Brown, Ed.D., RDN, FAND, FASN, president of the National Dairy Council. “Americans consistently say they want more protein—in fact, 70% of respondents in the latest IFIC Food & Health Survey ranked it as their top priority. Cottage cheese is a protein-rich dairy food, providing up to a whopping 24 grams of protein per cup.”
When you’re standing in front of the display case in the dairy aisle, which of the many brands is the best? We posed that question to four chefs and food professionals to get their take on the best cottage cheese on the market. While they tout the firm yet creamy texture of their top pick, their favorite aspect is actually its simplicity.
Courtesy of Brand
Why Chefs Love Good Culture Cottage Cheese
The chefs and pros we spoke with all agreed: The best brand of cottage cheese is Good Culture. What exactly sets this brand apart from the competition? Good Culture uses simple ingredients and lacks the extras, like gums and other stabilizers, found in some brands.
“Good Culture is my favorite cottage cheese,” says Joe Nierstedt, chef at Katsubō in North Charleston, South Carolina. “It’s clean, creamy and has a great texture without excess salt or gums.”
Mimi Council, a food blogger and former bake shop owner, agrees that Good Culture’s minimal ingredient list makes it special. “Many cottage cheeses have something like locust bean gum, xanthan gum, carrageenan—even some organic brands,” she explains. “I love the minimal ingredients here.”
According to the company’s website, the founder explored changing his diet for his health and that included cultured dairy. Good Culture now produces a variety of dairy products, including sour cream and cream cheese, all of which contain live and active cultures, along with simple ingredients like milk, cream and sea salt.
Of course, the simple list of ingredients isn’t enough to set this cottage cheese brand apart from others. “Good Culture is so creamy and tangy, with a rich texture,” says Shawna Clark, a recipe developer and food blogger. “I use cottage cheese in so many ways, I love it.”
“My favorite brand of cottage cheese is the Good Culture low fat,” says Chelsea Christian, chef de cuisine at Slightly North of Broad in Charleston. “It’s a more firm cottage cheese and it’s made with simple ingredients. I have trouble finding it most of the time, but it’s a really good day when I do.”
You can find Good Culture products in many grocery stores like Whole Foods Market, Kroger, Publix, Walmart and Target.
Honorable Mentions
If, like Christian, you too have a hard time finding Good Culture in a store near you, there are some other great options. Council says Nancy’s Organic Cottage Cheese is an excellent choice. It also has very minimal, simple ingredients, just like Good Culture. Clark adds that another one of her favorite brands of cottage cheese is the store brand from Trader Joe’s. She likes it for its lighter, yet deliciously smooth texture.
How Chefs Use Cottage Cheese
“What I love about cottage cheese is that it brings together two things people are looking for right now: real nourishment and real versatility,” Brown says. “Cottage cheese is one of those whole foods that quietly does everything well—it delivers high-quality protein plus calcium, vitamin B12 and other essential nutrients, and it’s also incredibly easy to enjoy in so many different ways.”
Cottage cheese’s creamy texture and lightly tangy, yet mellow flavor make it ideal in savory and even sweet applications. You can use it as a yogurt replacement, adding fresh berries or a drizzle of honey, or turn it into a high-protein snack by stuffing it into mini bell peppers. Of course, it’s delicious spread onto toast for a healthy, high-protein start to your day. But don’t stop there. Take some recommendations from the chefs and food experts on their favorite ways to enjoy cottage cheese.
- Make a dip. Cottage cheese can often be used in place of sour cream, yogurt or mayonnaise for a dip. “I use it blended into dips,” Nierstedt says. “It tastes fresh, and it works well in both savory and sweet dishes.”
- Blend into smoothies. “I use it in smoothies, which I think is really underrated, as it’s similar to yogurt where it will add creaminess and extra protein and it won’t alter the flavor,” Council explains. “And, because you’re blending it in the blender, it gets really smooth and just adds creaminess. You can add it as a boost into any smoothie.”
- Serve for breakfast. “I usually throw it in eggs, on toast or on the side of a dish,” says Christian. Or, you can take a tip from Clark and use it in your quiche or even muffins. “Cottage cheese is such a versatile ingredient to get creative with, whether in sweet or savory dishes,” Clark says.
- Substitute for sour cream when baking. You can use it in place of sour cream when baking, Council says. Blend it with a bit of lemon juice, and you have a sour cream replacement that works great in cakes, cupcakes and muffin recipes. “The lemon juice gives it that little bit of tang that sour cream has, and blending it will ensure a smooth texture in your cake, but you can get the added protein.”
The Bottom Line
Our chefs and food experts all agree: The best cottage cheese uses simple ingredients to create a creamy and rich, yet light and tangy treat. The Good Culture brand achieves just that, using basic ingredients like milk, cream and sea salt. Plus, it includes live and active cultures, which could help with gut health.
It’s worth seeking out, even if it’s not always on the shelf at your regular grocery store. Chefs love using it as a high-protein boost for smoothies, dips and sauces. You can also blend it as a replacement for sour cream and mayonnaise, and it’s a great addition to baked goods like muffins or cakes.
