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This high-protein hummus with spiced ground meat is a flavor-packed twist on the classic dip—and it doubles as a full meal. Creamy, garlicky hummus gets a major protein boost from cottage cheese, then it’s topped with warmly spiced meat and your favorite garnishes. Grab some pita or fresh veggies, and you’re good to go.
Why You’ll Love It
This is not your average hummus. It’s rich and creamy, thanks to a mix of chickpeas and cottage cheese (or Greek yogurt, if that’s more your thing), and it gets extra satisfying when you spoon that warm, spiced meat on top. It’s perfect for lunch, dinner, or even a protein-heavy snack.
You can serve it with pita, wrap it up in flatbread, or just dig in with a spoon—no judgment here.
Helpful Tips
- If you’ve got time, peeling the chickpeas makes the hummus ultra smooth—but it’s totally fine to skip.
- Don’t skip the ice cubes! It’s a little trick that helps emulsify the hummus and makes it extra fluffy.
- Make a double batch of the hummus and save half for later—it’s perfect as a dip or sandwich spread.
- If you’re serving this for a party or gathering, let guests build their own bowls with pita, olives, cucumber, or even rice.
How to Make High-Protein Hummus
- Start by blending the chickpeas, cottage cheese, tahini, lemon, and spices into a smooth, creamy hummus.
- Cook the ground chicken or lamb with garlic and warm spices until browned and fragrant.
- Spoon the spiced meat over the hummus, then garnish with parsley, toasted nuts, and a drizzle of olive oil.
- Serve it up with warm pita or crisp veggies—and dig in!
Substitutions & Variations
- Swap the chicken for ground turkey, beef, or a plant-based ground meat to keep it vegetarian.
- Use Greek yogurt instead of cottage cheese for a tangier hummus.
- Like things spicy? Add a pinch of cayenne or chili powder to the meat.
- Drizzle with harissa, pomegranate molasses, or a swirl of olive oil before serving for extra flair.
What to Serve With It
This dish is super flexible! Serve it with:
- Warm pita or flatbread
- Crunchy veggie sticks like cucumber, celery, carrots, and bell pepper
- A side salad with lemon vinaigrette
- Couscous or rice if you want to turn it into a full dinner bowl
Leftovers & Storage
- Store the hummus and meat separately in airtight containers in the fridge.
- The hummus keeps for up to 4–5 days.
- The meat will keep for 3–4 days—just reheat it in a skillet or microwave before serving.
- Freezing isn’t ideal due to the dairy in the hummus, but it can work in a pinch!
❓FAQs
Yes! The hummus can be made 2–3 days in advance and stored in the fridge. Just give it a quick stir before serving.
We’ve swapped the usual olive oil or water for cottage cheese or Greek yogurt—both are protein-packed ingredients that boost the nutrition while keeping it creamy and delicious.
Absolutely! It’s a great source of protein and fiber, especially when paired with the spiced meat. Make a batch and portion it out with pita or veggies for quick, filling meals throughout the week.
Both are great options. Cottage cheese gives it a slightly tangier, lighter texture, while Greek yogurt makes it extra creamy. Use whatever you prefer or have in the fridge!
If you make this, we’d love to hear what you think! Leave a quick rating—it helps us out and makes our day too. 😊
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High-protein hummus
Ingredients
For the Hummus:
Spiced Ground Chicken or Lamb:
- ½ pound ground chicken, or lamb
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon, optional, especially nice with lamb
- salt and black pepper, to taste
- Optional garnish: toasted almond nuts, chopped parsley, a pinch of chili flakes
Instructions
- Hummus: Start by draining and rinsing the chickpeas. For extra creamy hummus, you can remove the skins—but it’s totally optional.
- Add the chickpeas to a food processor along with the cottage cheese, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, cumin, and salt. Toss in a couple of ice cubes (this helps make it extra smooth).
- Blend for 3–4 minutes, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed, until the hummus is silky and well combined. Transfer to a bowl.
- Spiced meat: Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken, garlic, and sprinkle in the cumin, paprika, cinnamon (if using), salt, and pepper.
- Cook until the meat is browned and fully cooked through, about 7–8 minutes.
- Serving: Spoon the cooked meat over the hummus. Drizzle with a little olive oil. Garnish with parsley, almond nuts, or a sprinkle of chili flakes if desired.
- Serve with warm pita, flatbread, or crunchy veggies.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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This was amazing! Loved the creamy texture from the cottage cheese, and the spiced ground chicken on top made it a full meal.
That makes our day, Sam! So glad you enjoyed the extra protein boost. 💪
I meal prep this every Sunday now! Super creamy, packed with flavor, and love that it’s higher in protein. Dips and spreads never felt so healthy.
Ben, you’ve made my day! So happy it’s become a weekly staple for you!
Love this! Creamy and filling, and it kept me full for hours. Great with sliced veggies.
Thanks, Matt! Happy to hear it hit both the flavor and nutrition goals!
So creamy and satisfying. I used it as a dip and also spread it on sandwiches—amazing both ways.
Thank you, Chloe! Love how versatile hummus can be.
Extra-creamy hummus with cottage cheese—protein win!
Appreciate it, Noah!