Today I am sharing a recipe I grew up with, a staple in my grandparents’ home, especially in the summer – Cottage Cheese Salad. Light, refreshing and healthy too!
GRANDMA’S COTTAGE CHEESE SALAD
Cottage cheese loaded with veggies and seasoned to taste. Perfect for a hot summer day and a great way to use all those garden vegetables. This wonderful salad takes just minutes to make and is so versatile, simple to adapt to your taste. Light. healthy, refreshing…absolutely delicious!
Read rave reviews from people who tried this recipe on Pinterest!
Pictured above is the classic version I grew up with. Cottage cheese with fresh tomatoes, cucumber, onion with salt and pepper to taste.
This is great with your favorite seasonings too. Often I’ll add Italian or Greek seasonings. There are no rules. Add what you like and adjust the amounts.
I love adding a splash of balsamic vinaigrette. If you’re in the mood for something with a kick, try adding a few dashes of Tabasco or hot sauce.
PINNABLE IMAGE
Grandma’s Cottage Cheese Salad
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Adapt amounts below to your preference
Ingredients
- 16 ounces cottage cheese (1%, 2% or 4%)
- 1/2 to 1 cup tomatoes – cut in bit size pieces, seeded if you like (use your favorite tomatoes – plum, cherry, romamo, fresh from the garden)
- 1/4 cup onion (less or more) -vidalia, any sweet onion, red onion, green onion (use your favorite)
- 1/2 large cucumber (or more), peeled, cut in bite size pieces, seeded if you like. English cucumbers are great with this salad
- salt & pepper to taste
Directions
In a medium size bowl, add cottage cheese and veggies – mix well. Season with salt and pepper. Serve chilled. Enjoy!
Optional
- your favorite seasonings (Greek, Italian are great)
- Tabasco, hot sauce
- fresh lemon juice
- any veggies you like – radishes, carrots, peppers and more
- sliced olives
- pepperoncini
- add a splash of vinaigrette or your favorite Italian or Greek dressing
- Serve with a side of your favorite crackers. I love wheat thins and using the salad as a dip. So good!
TIP
Try fruit cocktail. My friend/roommate in college loved cottage cheese topped with fruit cocktail – that was a staple in our apartment! So good.
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Cheers!

My grandparents ALSO served this with nearly EVERY MEAL especially during summer months! After they passed, I wanted to kick myself for all the times I wouldn’t eat it as a kid! I make it myself now, occasionally, as my husband suffers health issues that deny him onions, any fruit or veg with a skin, husk, hull or seed, thus no tomatoes! I DO have a question for you, my grandmother ALWAYS made a kinda sweet & sour dressing for lettuce based salads! I adored it, but have NEVER found a recipe for it (and wasn’t smart enough to get it from her before she passed.). I know there was oil, vinegar and sugar involved, but no clue as to amounts or what, of any other ingredients were used. Do you by any chance have a similar sounding recipe that you could share? I know this dressing was NOT “creamy” to sight, but rather “clear.”. Thanks!
I’m crazy about cottage cheese, and have been known to add all sorts of ingredients into it, depending on what I have on hand. I usually mix equal amounts of cottage cheese & Greek yogurt together, beforehand. Hey, & I also LOVE Daisy low fat! Instead of using a vinegarette, I sometimes use ‘light’ Ranch or Blue Cheese dressing….YUM!
I love cottage cheese salad with tomatoes and cucumbers. I thought I was the only one. I’m a grandmother but none of my grandchildren like cottage cheese. 😩Linda
I’m a simple gal and enjoy cottage cheese with some Italian dressing added. I’m certainly going to try this!