Cottage Cheese Salad
4/1/2026
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This protein-packed cottage cheese salad features bright and light flavors, perfect for any occasion. Topped with crunchy sunflower seeds, colorful veggies, and fresh herbs, enjoy this salad with a fork as-is, or serve dip-style with crackers, pretzels, or sliced vegetables. I often turn to this recipe during the warm summer months when the last thing I want to do is spend all day in the kitchen!
Recipe Highlights
This is not your grandma’s cottage cheese Jell-o mold salad! This is an entirely different take on cottage cheese salad featuring light, bright, and fresh flavors. It’s:
- Fresh + flavorful
- Packed with protein
- Easy to make (no cooking required)
- Ready in less than 10 minutes
- Great for workday lunches
- Beautiful to serve for small gatherings
Ingredients You’ll Need
Cottage cheese is the base of this salad – use 2% or 4% cottage cheese for a wonderfully rich and creamy texture. Top it with these bright and colorful ingredients:
- Cucumbers sliced into half moons
- Halved cherry tomatoes
- Fresh english peas
- Chopped fresh dill
- Minced red onion
- Minced green onion
- Sunflower seeds
For an extra burst of flavor, drizzle fresh lemon juice on top of the salad and sprinkle with salt and pepper. One taste of this salad and you’ll see why I’m hooked!
How to Make Cottage Cheese Salad
This 5-minute salad couldn’t be easier to whip up:
- Spread the cottage cheese in an even layer on a large plate or serving platter. This is the base layer for all of the crunchy, colorful toppings.
- Top with veggies and seeds. These add delightful texture and flavor!
- Drizzle with lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.
- Enjoy chilled with a fork or as a dip with pretzels, crackers, and sliced vegetables.
Serving Suggestions
Enjoy this salad on its own for a simple lunch or serve it dip-style (I’ve been dipping everything I can find in this cheesy salad!). Some of my favorite things to dip in cottage cheese salad are:
- Toasted slices of French bread
- Crackers or pretzels
- Tortilla chips
- Pita or naan bread
- Sliced veggies (a few of my go-to’s are carrots, celery, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, pea pods, mini sweet peppers)
Variations to Try
Easily make this cottage cheese salad your own with any of these tasty variations:
- Place a layer of greens (arugula, spring mix, or spinach) on the plate before spreading the cottage cheese for a more traditional salad.
- Instead of 2% cottage cheese, use your favorite variety.
- Use mini tomato “sprinkles” from Trader Joe’s or any other kind of tomato – just be sure to cut them into bite-sized pieces before adding to the salad.
- Replace the red onion with white or yellow onion.
- Use your favorite fresh herbs – a great way to use up any herbs from your garden!
- Add chickpeas or cannellini beans for even more protein.
- Instead of sunflower seeds, try pumpkin seeds or chopped almonds, pecans, or walnuts.
Storage Instructions
This salad is best enjoyed immediately after assembling. If you do want to make this ahead of time, assemble the salad as directed, but don’t mix it (keep the toppings as a layer on top of the cottage cheese). Place in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
FAQ
No, cottage cheese is the base of this salad. I don’t recommend a substitute for it.
This recipe is a savory twist on cottage cheese salad. For a little extra sweetness, add a sprinkle of dried cherries/cranberries or add a few blueberries or halved grapes. And, for a truly sweet cottage cheese bowl, try my recipe for cottage cheese breakfast bowls!
Cottage Cheese Salad
Ingredients
- 2 cups 2% cottage cheese
- 1/2 cup cucumbers, sliced into half moons
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/3 cup fresh english peas
- 2 tablespoons red onion, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
- 2 tablespoons green onion, minced
- 2 tablespoons sunflower seeds
- 1.5 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Use a spatula to spread the cottage cheese onto the bottom of a large plate or serving platter.
- Evenly sprinkle all of the vegetables on top of the cottage cheese.
- Drizzle with lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.
- Serve with crackers, fresh veggies, or simply a fork.
Tips & Notes
- Storage instructions: This salad is best enjoyed immediately after assembling. If you do want to make this ahead of time, assemble the salad as directed, but don’t mix it. Place in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Thanks for sharing! Does it keep long?
It’s best made and served immediately, but if youโre meal prepping or saving for later, we recommend keeping the fresh ingredients on top of the cottage cheese layer.By avoiding mixing the fresh ingredients into the cottage cheese layer, you will keep the gorgeous look of this salad and avoid the dairy separating from the moisture from the veggies. It will keep in the fridge for up to 48 hours — hope this helps!
This looks so good! What a great combination of flavors!
It’s so yummy!