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Posted on 08/31/2026 3:22:23 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
If you like snacking on cheddar or grating Parm over your pasta because they’re delicious, it might surprise you to learn that they also can help you reach your protein goals. Because they’re made from milk, all cheeses contain casein and whey proteins that make them a good source of protein.
While they might not be as protein-dense as some dairy sources like Greek yogurt or other protein-containing foods like chicken and beef, “the protein sources in cheese provide all nine essential amino acids, making it a complete protein food,” says Giana DiMaria, a registered dietitian and instructor of medicine at New York Medical College.
Protein is more than just a trendy nutrient. It helps muscles grow, is important for bone health, and makes meals and snacks more satisfying. In one study, having a high-protein cheese snack helped people eat less later in the day. The current U.S. Dietary Guidelines recommend 1.2 to 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of bodyweight, though individual needs vary based on activity levels and other factors.
Cheese’s nutritional perks go beyond protein. Lindsay Malone, a registered dietitian nutritionist and instructor of nutrition at Case Western Reserve University, explains that it’s an excellent source of calcium to support muscle and bone health.
While cheese in general is no protein slouch, Malone calls out a trend of higher-protein cheeses made with ultra-filtered milk, such as Kraft’s Big Cheese Snack Protein, and says we may see more on store shelves soon. Though we didn’t include these new cheeses in the list below, they often pack quite a bit of muscle-supporting protein and are something to keep an eye out for if you’re looking for a higher boost.
For now, we used USDA nutrition data to pull the protein content for typical servings of popular cheeses. For hard cheeses, that’s 1 ounce, and for scoopable cheeses, about 1/2 cup. While more cheese means more protein, it also comes with extra sodium, saturated fat, and calories. Stick to reasonable portion sizes and get your protein from a variety of sources.
Whether you’re trying to max out your gains, eat more satisfying snacks, or just up your intake of this important nutrient, here are the highest-protein cheeses, ranked by registered dietitians.
We are blessed with the ability to raise a beef steer on an 18 month rotation. We usually keep half, then sell the other two quarters, which cuts down on the cost. Grass fed, mostly; we have a pasture that we also rent out to dairy Heifers, so the steer is usually adopted by the ‘Mama Wanna-bee’s’ and they take good care of him all spring, summer and fall.
Getting him back into the barn for the winter is the hard part - he’s pretty wild and independent by then, though we make sure to visit him during the summer with a grain bucket. ;) He is fed grains and hay all winter. Usually heads for, ‘The Spa’ in March. Angus/Holstein mix. We get a deal on them from Farmer Dan who rents our pasture, but at market a beef steer is running up to $1K these days! (We get ours for $7-800) We’ll get the next steer calf come October.
This last steer ended up costing us about $4/pound for any and all cuts. Beau keeps meticulous records on this to make sure we’re still ahead of the curve.
Raising meat chickens is going to be our next adventure. Well, more for US than for THEM in the end, LOL!
I can’t afford cheese
High Five on the Tillamook Cheddar! We also like the ‘Seriously Sharp’ white cheddar from some place in Vermont, and I actually have some white cheddar in the fridge from New York State of all places. Aldi purchase.
I don’t mind supporting the folks in UPSTATE New York. Very pretty countryside, much like Wisconsin. :)
It took TWENTY posts to get to a ‘cutting the cheese’ joke?
FReepers are slipping, LOL!
Good for you! Thanks for the details. I should point out, I am available for adoption, you know.
Hit the local Food Pantry. The boxes we fill every week almost always have some cheese in them. ;)
It’s nothing fancy. Just a 2 lb. block of Cheddar I bought at Walmart.
I’ll adopt, but only if you’re willing to start every day at Zero-Dark-Thirty and end it at about 10pm.
BUT, you get every THIRD Sunday off like every other Hired Hand around here...and your butt had BETTER be in a church pew for the morning hours of THAT day.
You have no excuse - you’re up at Zero-Dark-Thirty on a Sunday Off, anyway! ;)
Two Pounds of Cheddar at a time? I like the cut of your jib!
I like cottage cheese. My daughter grew up hating it. Her husband hated it too. Then they had to buy some for a recipe and tried it. Hey Mikey, she likes it. So does he.
I’m also a huge fan of long term aged cheddar. I prefer at least four years. It’s sharp and has a bite that will draw blood.
I’ve had as much as eighteen year old cheddar.
Raising meat chickens? You mean there are meatless chickens?
OK, I clean up pretty good, too. I promise not to skeer the womenfolk and horses. Honest Injun!
Ah, Robusto.
Those were the days.
“I’ve had as much as eighteen year old cheddar.”
Jealous! When Beau and I were dating, he bought me 7-year aged cheddar - I thought I had died and gone to heaven and that I’d better hitch my wagon to this Farm Boy immediately, LOL!
He also bought me my own splitting maul (his was way too heavy for me) and a $37 dollar 7-pound organic chicken (we treated it like a Turkey for Christmas Dinner) and he took me to a farm that showed us how to make yarn from the sheep shearing to the final roving and spinning. Wow! Now THAT is a DATE to turn a girl’s head! (Well, a Country Girl. A City Girl would’ve bailed well beforehand, LOL!)
He STILL won’t let me get a milk cow, though. Having grown up on a dairy farm he INSISTS that he is, ‘saving me from myself’ - which he probably is. ;)
But, Dang! I still want a milk cow! Even just a mini-Jersey or two! I could make my own cheese and butter. How awesome would that be?
*SIGH*
As a kid, I was sent to a relative’s farm when my mom was ill. I got to watch some hand milking, complete with directing some toward a kitten. The kitten liked it.
LOL!
.
You can’t have a barn without cats!
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