Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly coat it with cooking spray.

If the cottage cheese looks very wet, gently pat it with paper towels to remove excess moisture.

In a medium bowl, stir together the cottage cheese and panko breadcrumbs until the mixture is evenly combined and sticky.

Let the mixture rest for 3 to 5 minutes so the breadcrumbs can absorb some moisture and the mixture can thicken.

Scoop about 1 tablespoon of the mixture and roll it gently between your hands, then shape it into a short cylinder to resemble a tot.

Place each shaped tot on the prepared baking sheet, leaving a little space between them. Repeat until all the mixture is used.

Bake for 15 minutes, then carefully flip each tot with a spatula.

Continue baking for 10 to 15 minutes, until the tots are golden brown and crisp on the outside.

Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the tots cool for 3 to 5 minutes before serving.