Quick & Easy Cauliflower Tots with Cottage Cheese

I never thought cottage cheese could be turned into crispy tots until my sister showed me this recipe last summer. Growing up, cottage cheese was just that lumpy white stuff my mom put on her morning toast – definitely not something I imagined could become a snack my kids would fight over.

Turns out, ALL YOU NEED is cottage cheese and a handful of basic seasonings to make these incredibly easy tots. No complicated ingredients or fancy cooking skills required. And unlike traditional potato tots that need peeling, boiling, and shredding, these come together in JUST MINUTES.

What Kind of Cauliflower Should I Use?

When shopping for cauliflower, look for heads that are firm and white, without any brown spots or discoloration.

While white cauliflower is the most common variety you’ll find at the grocery store, you could also use purple, orange, or green cauliflower in this recipe – they’ll work just as well and might add an interesting pop of color to your tots.

Fresh cauliflower is ideal, but if you’re in a pinch, frozen cauliflower florets can work too – just make sure to thaw and drain them really well to remove excess moisture.

For the best results, choose a medium-sized head that feels heavy for its size and has tightly packed florets.

Options for Substitutions

This recipe is pretty adaptable and you can make several swaps while still getting tasty results:

• Cottage cheese: While cottage cheese gives these tots their creamy texture, you can use ricotta cheese instead. Just make sure to drain it well first to avoid excess moisture.
• Cauliflower: This is the base of the recipe, but you could try using broccoli or even grated zucchini (just be sure to squeeze out the excess water really well if using zucchini).
• Bread crumbs: Feel free to use panko for extra crunch, or crushed crackers work too. For a gluten-free version, try almond flour or gluten-free bread crumbs.
• Parmesan cheese: You can swap this with romano cheese or asiago. For a dairy-free version, try nutritional yeast – use about half the amount.
• Scallions: Out of scallions? Finely chopped chives or the green parts of leeks work just as well. You can even use finely minced onion in a pinch.
• Egg: The egg helps bind everything together. If you need an egg-free version, try using a flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons water, let sit for 5 minutes).

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking

The biggest challenge when making cauliflower tots is dealing with excess moisture – failing to thoroughly drain your cooked cauliflower will result in mushy tots that won’t hold their shape, so make sure to press out as much water as possible using a clean kitchen towel or cheesecloth.

Another common mistake is overcrowding the baking sheet – leave enough space between each tot to allow hot air to circulate, which helps them crisp up evenly on all sides.

For the crispiest results, flip the tots halfway through baking and consider placing them on a wire rack set inside your baking sheet to allow air circulation underneath.

What to Serve With Cottage Cheese Tots?

Try serving them with ranch dressing, honey mustard, or marinara sauce for dipping – my family always fights over the last drop of sauce.

For a complete meal, pair these tots with a protein like grilled chicken breast or baked fish, plus a simple green salad on the side.

If you’re serving these as an appetizer or snack, they’re perfect alongside other finger foods like chicken wings, raw veggie sticks, or sliced bell peppers.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: These tasty cottage cheese tots will stay good in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. I like to place them in a single layer to keep their shape, or if I need to stack them, I put a piece of parchment paper between layers.

Freeze: These tots are perfect for freezing! After they’ve cooled completely, arrange them on a baking sheet and freeze until solid (about 2 hours). Then transfer them to a freezer bag or container and they’ll keep for up to 3 months. It’s super handy to grab a few whenever you need a quick side dish!

Crisp Up: To get your tots crispy again, pop them in the oven at 375°F for about 10-12 minutes if refrigerated, or 15-20 minutes if frozen. You can also use an air fryer at 375°F for 5-7 minutes – they come out perfectly crispy this way! Avoid microwaving as they’ll get soggy.

 

How to Know When the Cottage Cheese Tots are Done

The best way to tell if your tots are ready is by checking their color and texture – they should be golden brown on the outside and feel firm when gently pressed with a spatula.

Give them a quick peek at the bottom by carefully lifting one with a spatula; you want to see that same golden-brown color on both sides.

If you’re not sure, try breaking one open – the inside should be hot throughout and have a tender, slightly creamy center without any cold spots.

Remember that these tots will firm up a bit more as they cool for a minute or two after coming out of the oven.

Cottage Cheese Tots FAQ

Why is my tot mixture too wet to form into shapes?

This usually happens when the cauliflower isn’t dried properly after cooking. I always make sure to squeeze out as much moisture as possible from the cooked cauliflower using a clean kitchen towel or cheesecloth.

If your mixture is still too wet, you can add a few extra tablespoons of breadcrumbs until it reaches a moldable consistency.

Why aren’t my tots getting crispy in the oven?

The secret to crispy tots is making sure they’re not overcrowded on the baking sheet. I always leave about an inch of space between each tot so the hot air can circulate properly.

If they’re too close together, they’ll steam instead of crisp up. Also, spraying them lightly with cooking oil before baking helps achieve that golden-brown exterior.

Preparation Time	10-15 minutes
Cooking Time	20-25 minutes
Total Time	30-40 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Ingredients

• 1 head of cauliflower
• 1 cup plain cottage cheese
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped scallions
• 1 egg

Step 1: Preheat and Prepare Cauliflower

Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).

While the oven is heating up, either steam or boil cauliflower florets until they are tender, which should take about 5-7 minutes.

Once the cauliflower is cooked, drain it well and let it cool slightly.

Step 2: Mash and Mix Ingredients

In a mixing bowl, mash the cooled cauliflower until it is smooth.

To this mashed cauliflower, add cottage cheese, egg, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.

Mix everything together until it is well combined.

Step 3: Form the Tots

Gradually add breadcrumbs to the cauliflower mixture.

The mixture should be able to hold together but should not be too dry.

Scoop out small portions of the mixture and shape them into tots.

Ensure that they are uniform in size for even baking.

Step 4: Bake the Cauliflower Tots

Place the formed tots on a baking sheet that has been lined with parchment paper.

Bake the tots in your preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crispy.

Step 5: Serve and Enjoy

Once the cauliflower tots are done baking, remove them from the oven.

Let them cool slightly before serving.

Enjoy your crispy, healthy cauliflower tots!