Why is cottage cheese so popular on TikTok right now?

Supermarkets are selling out

TikTok’s latest trending health food is a dairy product you probably overlook at the supermarket. Here’s why it’s worth adding a tub to your next cart, according to a nutritionist.

For the past two weeks, all I’ve been able to think about is the viral sweet potato mince bowl making the rounds on TikTok. Creators have been posting their interpretations of the 5-ingredient recipe, drizzling hot honey over the high-protein and low-effort combo of minced beef, fresh avocado and cottage cheese. 

Current trend aside, the hot honey sweet potato bowl isn’t the only cottage cheese recipe to go viral on TikTok, with the platform boasting 86 million videos dedicated to healthy hacks featuring the dairy staple. 

Whether it’s the fact that cottage cheese was never something my parents stocked in the fridge growing up or the curdled milk texture, I’ve never been one to add a tub of the creamy product into my shopping cart. 

But after watching people assemble their hot-honey bowls, praising the dairy staple for its protein-rich constitution, I’ve never wanted cottage cheese more. 

So, is this regular old dairy product really the superfood TikTok is making it out to be, or is cottage cheese’s comeback just another TikTok trend we should probably just scroll past?

@chelseasmessyapron

Have you seen these viral high-protein beef bowls? They’ve got taco-seasoned ground beef, creamy cottage cheese, perfectly roasted sweet potatoes, and fresh avocado—all topped with a drizzle of hot honey for the perfect sweet-spicy kick. 🍯🔥 I was blown away by how well this combo works together! It’s so good and super filling. Have you tried it yet?!

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What are the health benefits of cottage cheese?

According to nutritionist Solaine Douglas, cottage cheese’s comeback as a star ingredient on social media is hardly surprising, given the dairy product’s versatility and taste. 

“One of the main reasons cottage cheese is having such a moment is due to its macronutrient profile and versatile use in recipes,” she says. “Cottage cheese is high in protein and relatively low in calories making it a popular choice for people who are actively wanting to meet certain protein or calorie requirements.” 

The maximum recommended serving of cottage cheese – one cup – contains approximately 163 calories, 28g protein, 2.3g fat and 6.2g carbohydrates, “It’s also fairly high in micronutrients like calcium, b-vitamins and selenium which can help to support energy levels, bone health and metabolism.” 

“If cottage cheese agrees with you it can be a great addition to support satiety and blood sugar control,” notes the nutritionist, who says those with an intolerance to casein (a protein naturally occurring in dairy products) should probably abstain from trying the viral TikTok recipes. 

Cottage cheese is high in protein and relatively low in calories. Image: Instagram/@eightforestlane

While the nutritionist agrees that cottage cheese is packed full of health-boosting nutrients and can be used in a variety of recipes, it’s important to not get swept up in TikTok trends when it comes to how we fill our plates each day. 

“What we hopefully know by now is that there is no one magic solution on its own. Cottage cheese is totally fine to include as part of a balanced diet including vegetables, fruits, meats, eggs, nuts and whole grains,” she says. “If cottage cheese isn’t your thing, it’s still 100 per cent possible to meet all your nutritional requirements.”

Like any food, too much of a good thing does indeed exist when it comes to cottage cheese, with the nutritionist recommending we monitor our intake in order to reap the benefits of the dairy product.

“For most people, 1/3 to 1 cup of cottage cheese is a great serving size, depending on the individual health goals,” clarifies Douglas. “Including it daily as part of an overall balanced diet is fine however it is important to make sure it’s not displacing other foods and nutrients.”

Cottage cheese is having a moment due to its macronutrient profile and versatile use in recipes. Image: Pexels

How to incorporate cottage cheese into your diet

Some of Douglas’ favourite ways to squeeze cottage cheese into her diet to complement other sources of important nutrients are adding it to dips such as guacamole, blending it into pasta sources, including it with egg-based breakfasts such as the humble eggs on toast or using it in sweet and savoury baked goods. 

In addition to adding cottage cheese to our favourite sweet and savoury meals, the nutritionist says we should aim to get in a variety of different protein sources each week to ensure we are getting a variety of micronutrients such as iron, zinc, B vitamins, selenium and iodine. 

“Ultimately, if you like cottage cheese it’s fine to include it as part of your diet,” says Douglas, “But we know to be true about food fads is that balance is the real superfood.” 

Originally published as Why is cottage cheese so popular on TikTok right now?