Cottage Cheese Dip

September 29, 2025

This creamy cottage cheese dip tastes like ranch but is protein-packed and takes only 5 minutes to make with pantry spices! It’s perfect for parties, snacking, or healthy lunch ideas.

Cottage cheese can be polarizing, but here’s a recipe that proves its versatility: this creamy cottage cheese dip! It tastes like that good old ranch dip: you know, the kind with sour cream and a seasoning packet? But it’s made with this low-calorie, high protein cheese!

I’ll be honest: the first time I suggested blending cottage cheese into a dip, Alex gave me the side-eye. But after one taste straight from the food processor, he blurted out, “Wait, this is incredible!” All you need are a few pantry ingredients to whip up this easy party dip.

Essential ingredients

This cottage cheese dip is ready in 5 minutes with 5 ingredients: all you need is a large food processor! You can also make this in a blender if you like (see below), though the food processor is the best tool for the job. All you have to do is blend the following ingredients until fluffy and smooth. You’ll be amazed at the amount of flavor that come out of these simple ingredients:

Cottage cheese: You can use any type of cottage cheese, including small or large curd. Many brands have different flavor profiles (some can taste more sour than others), so experiment to find a brand you love.
Onion powder, garlic powder, and dried dill: These simply pantry spices make the traditional ranch flavor.
Kosher salt: Using just enough salt makes the flavor pop.

The best equipment for making cottage cheese dip

A food processor is hands-down the best tool for this job. The wide blade gives you that perfectly smooth texture in about a minute. I use my 11-cup food processor, but even a smaller 7-cup model works great. With a blender the cheese can sometimes get stuck at the bottom depending on the power level of your blender.

A blender can work, though: just scrape down often and keep blending until smooth. If necessary, you can add about 1 tablespoon milk or water to try to get it to blend (just don’t add too much or it will become too liquid).

Creative ways to serve cottage cheese dip

This dip is incredibly versatile, which is why it’s become a staple for me and my family! Here are my favorite ways to enjoy it:

Fresh vegetable sticks: carrots, celery, bell peppers, and snap peas are my go-to’s
Pita chips or store-bought pita crisps
Sliced kohlrabi or jicama if you want something different
Any kind of crackers: I especially love it with seeded or gluten-free crackers
Spread it on homemade crostini as an appetizer base
Use it as a sandwich spread in place of mayo
Dollop it over baked potatoes or baked sweet potatoes
Pair it with easy edamame for a protein-packed snack plate

For parties, this dip fits well into spreads for party food or alongside other dip recipes like whipped feta dip or French onion dip. I like to set out a variety of textures: this creamy option, something chunky like salsa, and maybe a warm spinach artichoke dip.

Storage and make-ahead tips

Store this cottage cheese dip in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Often I make this a day ahead when I’m planning healthy snack recipes for the week.

You might notice a little liquid separation on top after refrigeration: just give it a quick stir before serving. I don’t recommend freezing this dip, as the texture can become grainy when thawed.

What makes cottage cheese a healthy choice

Is cottage cheese that much better than a sour cream in a dip? What makes cottage cheese a healthy cheese? According to Healthline, here are some of the benefits of cottage cheese:

It’s a low calorie cheese. A 1-cup serving has just 163 calories.
It’s high in protein. 1 cup has a whopping 28 grams protein, over half your daily need. Protein accounts for over 70% of the calories.
It’s packed with nutrients like B vitamins, calcium, phosphorus, and selenium.

While you’re only eating small quantities as a dip, the amount of protein you get with lower calories does make a difference. It also makes it a nice idea for healthy lunches!

Dietary notes

This cottage cheese dip is vegetarian and gluten-free.