Tasty Recipes for the Home Cook

Appetizer Light and Healthy

Skinny Taco Dip (with Secret Ingredient)

The secret ingredient for this Skinny Taco Dip is puréed cottage cheese, which is low in fat and calories. With creaminess and layers of salsa, lettuce, and shredded cheese, it’s deliciously light and healthy!

Skinny Taco Dip

I originally created this skinny taco dip recipe for my friend, Melanie, at Reasons to Skip the Housework. I’m finally bringing it back home to share with you!

If you like taco dip but want to eat lighter, this skinny version is for you! It tastes just like the full-fledged taco dip with cream cheese and sour cream, only with a lot less calories and fat. My secret weapon is puréed cottage cheese! It replaces the sour cream and cream cheese combo I usually use in my regular dip. The result is a lighter, healthier option.

Skinny Taco Dip

Do you know that 1/2 cup of low-fat cottage cheese has 80 calories and 2g of fat? For the same size serving, low-fat sour cream contains 160 calories and 10g of fat. And reduced fat cream cheese has 280 calories and 24g of fat. Now, the number of calories and fat may differ slightly from brand to brand, but the truth of the matter is, as you can see, using cottage cheese significantly reduces the calorie and fat count. And believe me, you will not notice anything other than the deliciousness of this dish!  


Skinny Taco Dip (With Puréed Cottage Cheese)

Skinny Taco Dip

To prep the cottage cheese, I place it in a fine mesh sieve and press out the liquid. The solid gets puréed in a blender or food processor. To add just a hint of tang that you would get from using sour cream and cream cheese, I add a squeeze of fresh lime juice. That’s it! She is good to go! Add a little taco seasoning along with layers of salsa, shredded lettuce, and shredded cheese, and you have got yourself a great dip.

You can embellish this dip by adding avocado, jalapeño, olives, or beans (avoid refried to keep it light). But this basic recipe is a pretty darn good place to start. Enjoy with nachos, crackers, or baked pita!

Skinny Taco Dip

Recommended supplies:

These are products I use, or on my wishlist, or are highly rated. (Amazon affiliate links)

  • Use a fine mesh sieve to strain liquid out of cottage cheese and salsa.
  • Silicone spatula for pressing liquid out of cottage cheese and salsa and for spreading.
  • I use this brand of taco seasoning but any will do.
  • 9-inch casserole dish for taco dip.
  • This 8-cup capacity food processor is great for puréing the cottage cheese. It is moderately priced and has very good ratings.

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Skinny Taco Dip (with Secret Ingredient)

Difficulty:BeginnerPrep time: 20 minutesCook time: minutesTotal time: 20 minutesServings:8 Wontons

Description

The secret ingredient for this Skinny Taco Dip is puréed cottage cheese, which is low in fat and calories. With creaminess and layers of salsa, lettuce, and shredded cheese, it’s deliciously light and healthy!

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Pour cottage cheese into a fine mesh sieve. Using a large spoon or spatula, press cottage cheese against the sieve wall to extract liquid. Continue to move the cheese around and press until most of the liquid seems to have worked its way out.
  2. Spoon the solids into the blender or food processor bowl. Add taco seasoning and lime juice. Purée until creamy.
  3. Spread cottage cheese mixture into a 9″ x 9″ square container. Add a layer of drained salsa. Cover with lettuce. Top with cheese. Add scallion and cut tomatoes for garnish, optional.
  4. It can be served immediately but is best chilled. Serve with nachos, crackers, or baked pita bread.

Note:

  • Chilling the dip before serving is not necessary but is recommended. It allows the flavors to meld.
Keywords:Taco Dip, Light and Healthy, Low Fat, Cottage Cheese, Secret Ingredient, Skinny

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14 Comments

  1. Nothing to miss about unnecessary calories and fat, Thao! I love anything Taco related, and this dip looks fantastic – creamy and seriously dreamy! Perfect for game day! Shoot, I'd even eat just this for dinner! Heading over to check out the recipe! Cheers, my dear! xo

  2. What a teaser! Off to see the secret ingredient!

  3. Thanks for heading over, Chey! It definitely is creamy and good for you. Have a great week!! 🙂

  4. It seemed to have worked! 🙂 Thanks for checking it out, Liz!

  5. Figure friendly dip?! Yes! Can't wait to see what the secret ingredient is!

  6. It's an ingredient that I am going to be using more in my dishes. Hope you like it!

  7. Sounds amazing and I love the secret ingredient, I always have some of it in the fridge. 🙂

  8. Thanks, Adina. I think it is an underused ingredient that could be used in so many applications.

  9. You had me at taco. And dip. Looks delicious – I'm heading over to check it out 🙂

  10. What a wonderful way to lighten up a dip. It looks so creamy and good!

  11. Haha! Taco anything is a good thing! Thanks for heading over, Amanda!

  12. Thanks, Christin! Pureed cottage cheese is going to make a believer out of a cottage cheese hater. It is unrecognizably smooth and creamy!

  13. Well, that's super surprising at what the secret ingredient was! I wouldn't have guessed it but it makes sense. Plus I love taco dip and always eat way too much of it, so it's good to have a healthier option 🙂

  14. Cottage cheese is unexpected ingredient but it works so well. Using it in your dip is going to allow you eat way too much without the same consequence of the traditional ingredients.

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