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dipping a tortilla chip in a bowl of protein queso
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4.55 from 22 votes

High Protein Cottage Cheese Queso

A blended cottage cheese queso with extra lean taco beef, peppers and onions, and a homemade salsa fresca.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Servings: 12 Servings
Calories: 240kcal
Author: Mason Woodruff

Ingredients

  • 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
  • 1 medium White Onion diced
  • 2 Poblano or Green Bell Peppers diced
  • 2 Roma Tomatoes diced
  • 1-2 handfuls Cilantro chopped (optional)
  • Juice of 1 Lime
  • 1 pound Extra Lean Ground Beef
  • 1 packet Taco Seasoning
  • 1 cup Chicken Broth

For the Cheese Sauce

  • 32 oz Low Fat 2% Cottage Cheese
  • 8 oz Pepper Jack Cheese grated or chopped into small pieces
  • 1 cup Whole Milk*

Instructions

  • Dice the onion and peppers and place about 1/4 of each in a separate bowl. Add the diced tomatoes, lime juice, cilantro, and a pinch of salt to the bowl and place in the refrigerator for garnishing the finished queso.
  • Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large pot, Dutch oven, or braising pan. (You can also cook the veggies and beef in a skillet and transfer everything to a slow cooker.)
  • Add the remaining onion and peppers along with a pinch of salt to the pot and cook for 6-8 minutes until the veggies being to soften. Add the ground beef and break it apart to fully cook.
  • To the cooked ground beef and veggies, add the taco seasoning and chicken broth. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer while preparing the cheese blend.
  • Add the cottage cheese, pepper jack, and milk to a food processor or blender. Blend on a low to medium speed for 1-2 minutes until completely smooth.
  • Once most of the liquid has cooked off the beef and veggies, turn the heat to low and add the cheese to the pot with the beef mixture. Stir to evenly incorporate. Gently simmer until the queso is warmed throughout and thickens slightly, about 5 minutes or so.
  • Garnish with the pico de gallo and serve with your choice of chips or veggies.

Video

Notes

*Using whole milk helps prevent curdling and a broken sauce. If you're using skim milk, be careful not to add the cheese sauce to a very hot pan.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 240kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 11g