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Cottage Cheese Taco Shells
The protein taco shell that ate TikTok this summer.
WORTH ITLegitimately good protein delivery - just don't expect a corn tortilla.
tested 2026-07 Rack-draping is what separates a taco from a sad fold - don't skip the second bake.
Ingredients
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- For the shells
- 1 cup (225g) full-fat cottage cheese
- 4 large egg whites (or 2 whole eggs)
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/4 tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt
- For the filling
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 Tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 3/4 tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt
- 1/3 cup water
- To serve: shredded lettuce, pico de gallo, hot sauce, lime
Instructions
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- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two sheet pans with parchment and mist with oil - these shells stick with intent.
- Blend cottage cheese, egg whites, garlic powder, paprika, and salt until completely smooth, about 30 seconds.
- Pour into six 5-inch rounds, about 1/4 cup each, and spread thin and even with the back of a spoon.
- Bake until set and golden at the edges with no wet shine in the center.
- Meanwhile, cook the filling: heat oil over medium-high, brown the chicken, breaking it up, . Add spices and salt, stir 30 seconds, add water, and simmer until saucy. Chicken should hit 165°F.
- Peel shells off the parchment while warm. To crisp them taco-shaped, drape each over two bars of the oven rack and bake .
- Fill and eat immediately - shells soften as they sit.
Notes
- Full-fat cottage cheese only. Nonfat weeps and turns rubbery.
- Whole eggs make a sturdier, eggier shell; whites keep it lighter and more neutral.
- These are wraps in taco cosplay - flexible when warm, crisp only if you rack-bake them.
When it goes wrong
- Shells stuck → parchment wasn't oiled or peeled cold; grease the paper, peel warm.
- Rubbery → nonfat cottage cheese or unblended lumps; full-fat, blended smooth.
- Cracked when folded → overbaked or filled cold; fill while warm.
- Watery filling → skipped the simmer; cook until the water reduces to a coating.
TikTok cottage cheese wave, summer 2026