01 - Preheat oven to 355°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - Place cottage cheese in a fine-mesh strainer and press gently to remove excess liquid.
03 - Transfer drained cottage cheese to a mixing bowl. Stir in garlic powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt until evenly distributed.
04 - Drop heaping teaspoons of mixture onto prepared baking sheets, spacing about 1 inch apart. Flatten each mound lightly with spoon back to form thin rounds.
05 - Sprinkle with chopped chives and/or Parmesan cheese if using.
06 - Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until chips are golden and crisp at edges. Rotate trays halfway through for even cooking.
07 - Let chips cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer carefully to wire rack to cool completely.
08 - Serve immediately or store in airtight container for up to 2 days.