Green Chile Cottage Cheese Queso – High Protein

Good news for cheese lovers! You can have your queso and eat it too! High Protein Green Chile Queso is easy, delicious AND nutritious and will become your new favorite not dip for snacking and meals. Heck, you’ll want to pour it on everything!

Most queso (as we know it in the Southern US) is based on processed American cheese, ewwww – kinda a mystery substance. But my recipe high protein queso shared below features cottage cheese as the hero ingredient.

Cottage cheese in queso might sound strange – but it is cheese, right?! It’s blended smooth for a creamy texture and is incorporated with a bit of grated Pepper Jack for a slightly spicy and richer cheese vibe. You stay away artificial ingredients, preservatives and who knows what – plus, there’s lots of protein and not much fat.

Shredded Pepper Jack melts into blended cottage cheese for the perfect medley! Or, try white cheddar!

And, cottage cheese queso is easy to make, with just four ingredients, an approximate 24-oz microwave-safe dish (or a little larger), and a microwave. So, 1) tastes great, 2) lots of protein, 3) less fat and no fake stuff – WIN-WIN-WIN!

Roast and chop your own green chile peppers, or for convenience, use pre-prepped like frozen, jar or canned.

This would be a great appetizer or snack for football game season – bowl games are coming up! Make it at score big compliments!

Lower in fat, but still ooey-gooey, this high protein green chili queso features blended cottage cheese as the hero. Simple to make in the microwave, only 4 ingredients – delicious and nutritious! 100 calories per serving with 11g protein.  A healthy appetizer or topping for your Mexican-inspired meal.

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5 from 5 votes
Lower in fat, but still ooey-gooey, this high protein green chili queso features blended cottage cheese as the hero. Simple to make in the microwave, only 4 ingredients – delicious and nutritious! 100 calories per serving with 11g protein. A healthy appetizer or topping for your Mexican-inspired meal.
Cottage Cheese Queso with Green Chiles

Lower in fat, but stillooey-gooey, this high protein green chili queso features blended cottage cheeseas the hero. Simple to make in the microwave, only 4 ingredients – delicious andnutritious! 100 calories per serving with 11g protein.  A healthy appetizer or topping for your Mexican-inspiredmeal.

Ingredients
  • 2 cups 2% milkfat cottage cheese not drained
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 4 oz chopped green chiles from can or fresh roasted
  • 4 oz fresh grated Pepper Jack cheese
  • Optional: Pico de Gallo for garnish
Instructions
  1. Add cottage cheese to blender and process until smooth, a minute or so.
  2. By hand, stir in the garlic powder and chopped green chilies. If using chiles from a can, pour off and discard and ½ the juices so dip doesn’t become too watery.
  3. Add mixture to a microwave-bowl.
  4. Heat in microwave for about 2 minutes. Remove and stir in the pepper jack cheese, ½ at a time.
  5. Return to microwave and heat an additional 1-2 minutes until heated through and bubbling. Stir again to make sure the pepper jack cheese is incorporated.
  6. If desired, garnish with Pico de Gallo.
  7. Serve warm with chips or baguette slices to dip in. Or, use a drizzle on fajitas, burrito bowls, nachos, etch.
  8. Store leftovers, covered, in fridge for up to 5 days. To reheat, microwave on half-power for 2-3 minutes until able to stir it up. Then, heat again on high for 1-2 minutes until hot and bubbling.
Recipe Notes

Charcuterie Crunch Beef Jerky Trail Mix

Serving a meat and cheese tray is a game day tradition at my parties, and so is setting out big bowl of crunchy-munch snack mix. I’m thinking, why not combine the two dishes, save some time in the making, and streamline the snacking process?!   My Charcuterie Crunch Beef Trail Mix is an all-flavor, no fumble game day snack that is packed with a little protein for the win. Charcuterie Crunch Beef Trail MixRead on to get this beef jerky trail mix recipe featuring lots of yummy finger foods inspired by the likes of proven party food heroes – charcuterie boards, cheese trays and fruit platter! Continue reading

Jalapeño Cheddar Chicken Tenders are Winning Munchdown

The stomachs of football fans everywhere are getting ready to rumble – it’s almost Super Bowl Sunday. Whether you are rooting for the Philadelphia Eagles or the New England Patriots, or just tuned in for the commercials, GOOD FINGER FOOD is one thing we can all agree on. My recipe for Jalapeno Cheddar Chicken Tenders with Ranch Dip is a favorite at all gridiron gatherings – and is likely to be gone sometime between kick off and half time.  Good reason to make a double batch!

Jalapeno Cheddar Chicken Tenders

Read on to get the yummy details and full recipe (that I originally created for Litehouse Foods): Continue reading

Best Healthy Beef Recipes for Game Day

The main dishes and snacks served at your big football party are equally as (if not more) important than the action served up on the gridiron. Beef up any game day grub plan with my highlight reel of hearty yet healthy recipes that are so meaty and so marvelous, I just had to share them again! Better make a double-batch of all these Best Healthy Beef Recipes for Game Day, they are a sure bet to be gone by half-time.

Continue reading

Kick the Fall Allergy Crud, Stay in the Game with #MinuteClinic

Living in warm climate has its advantages and disadvantages when it comes to running and exercising outdoors. I really love the fact that it’s nearly November and it’s in the 80s, sunny and breezy– but with that beautiful weather comes an extended fall allergy season. Fall is the worst season for allergies sufferers; there are more allergy triggers than any other time of the year. Typically, weed pollens (like the 17 varieties of ragweed) and mold spores peak in the autumn months as do other irritants like dust mites (yuck). This pesky problem is nothing to sneeze – or, actually it is!  Austin Sunset in October / Middle School Football

Sniffing and snuffing in the stands puts a damper on watching my kid’s football games, and I know my boys don’t like to be out there on the gridiron feeling all gunked up.    Thank goodness we have a MinuteClinic at the corner of our neighborhood to help make a quick diagnosis between cold, flu and allergies and to provide the treatments needed to stay in the game.

text to mom about allergies and minuteclinic

Seasonal fall allergies can even take a toll on my indoor workouts – for example, we open the garage doors on both sides of my CrossFit gym to get the air circulating. When the air starts circulating, the allergens get their groove on. But, it’s too hot to close the doors with no gym air-conditioning, so we all suffer and #UseAllTheTissues until swinging by MinuteClinic for relief. minute-clinic-allergy-gym

Practical tips can help reduce allergies, as well. For example, at home (unlike my gym!) don’t leave windows open during the day and avoid the use of a window fan – both will fast track unwanted pollens and mold spores into your home.  Be mindful to clean and change air filters every three months to lessen the amount of dirt, debris, and allergens that invade your space. Also, shake out pillows, blankets and other bedding between frequent washes and don’t go to sleep after being outdoors without washing your hair (allergens get trapped in there too).

minute clinic waiting room 2

If you or your kids need over-the-counter or prescription medications in your allergy-fighting “toolkit,” MinuteClinic is a convenient solution to get you feeling like a champ again. This walk-in clinic located inside select CVS Pharmacies and Target Stores across the U.S. and the District of Columbia has nurse practitioners and physician assistants who can give you a good look over and recommend the right over-the-counter medications and even write prescriptions when medically appropriate.  Minute Clinic is open 7 days a week with both weekday and evening hours – and, most health care insurance is accepted. Find a MinuteClinic near you!  Also visit Twitter feed or Facebook page.

Also, pick up a J&J coupon book when you visit your nearest MinuteClinic and save up to $40 on brands you can trust!

Do you or your kids have seasonal allergies? Do you have any tips? Do you have a box of tissues in your car right now? Haha! Please share in the comments below – XOXO, Jennifer