Food trends are one factor that can have a big impact on ingredient costs. It’s all about the laws of supply and demand. If the demand is low but supply is relatively stable, the cost will come down. And do you know what food isn’t exactly trendy right now? Cottage cheese. It may not be a popular food, but it is extremely versatile and an excellent source of inexpensive protein. So I’m going to try to make it popular again. 😂 Starting with these meal prep friendly Cottage Cheese Breakfast Bowls.
Six Ways to Eat Cottage Cheese for Breakfast
How to Meal Prep Your Cottage Cheese Breakfast Bowls
I made one each of the six different flavors for the photos in this post, but you’ll probably get the most out of your time and money if you prepare four of one flavor at a time. That way you don’t have to buy several different ingredients for each one, or have partial leftover ingredients like a ½ banana, cucumber, or apple. Use the whole piece of fruit and make more than one bowl at a time.
If you’re concerned about the apple and banana getting brown, you can opt to chop those fresh daily. Personally, I’d rather do it all at once and just not worry about the appearance later. Brown does not mean it’s spoiled, only that it has been exposed to oxygen.
Prepared cottage cheese breakfast bowls will be good in the refrigerator for about four days.
What Meal Prep Containers Do You Use?
I’m slowly transitioning from plastic Ziploc containers to glass. The Ziploc containers are inexpensive, convenient (lightweight), dishwasher and freezer safe, and a great option if you’re on a budget. Glass containers are great because they are extremely durable, are also dishwasher and freezer safe (oven safe, too!), they last a lifetime, and therefore reduce waste. The glass containers in the photos are part of a 26 piece set made by Anchor Hocking, and can be found in my Amazon Shop. I also love Pyrex glass meal prep containers.
Customize the Cost and Nutritional Content of Your Breakfast Bowls
I wanted to show you a variety of ways to use cottage cheese in a breakfast bowl so you could see that not only does it pair with many different flavors, but you can also make the bowls to match your price point and nutritional needs. This happens to be the first post on Budget Bytes to include nutritional content (we’ll be adding to the rest of the site starting this week!), so you can see how the different bowls compare. All of the stats below were calculated using 2% fat cottage cheese.
Are you ready to see all these awesome flavors? Yes, I’m calling cottage cheese awesome.
How to Make Cottage Cheese Breakfast Bowls
Apple Cinnamon:
This Apple Cinnamon flavored Cottage Cheese Breakfast Bowl is probably the best flavor for cottage cheese newbies to try. It’s not scary at all. It’s a lot like a yogurt parfait, but with a slightly different texture! And honestly, with all the texture from the apples and walnuts, you’re not going to notice the texture of the cottage cheese at all.
If you’re concerned about your apples browning, either chop them fresh each day, or sprinkle a little lemon juice on them just after chopping.
Apple Cinnamon Cottage Cheese Breakfast Bowl
Servings 1Ingredients
- 1/2 cup 2% cottage cheese ($0.27)
- 1/2 apple, chopped ($0.25)
- 1 Tbsp chopped walnuts ($0.08)
- 1 Tbsp maple syrup ($0.30)
- 1 pinch cinnamon ($0.02)
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a bowl or container. Enjoy immediately, or refrigerate in an air-tight container up to four days.
See how we calculate recipe costs here.
Nutrition
Have you tried this recipe?Mention @budgetbytes or tag #budgetbytes on Instagram!Video
Peanut Butter and Jelly:
This flavor may be a little more experimental for some. If you think of cottage cheese as being a lot like yogurt, that might help you imagine how this combo tastes. Cottage cheese is like yogurt, minus the acidity, so it actually tastes creamier. It goes great with both sweet (jam) and savory (PB) flavors. The oats in this bowl will soak up the moisture as it’s stored, just like overnight oats, but you can also eat it immediately with the oats still dry. Banana would also be a great addition to this bowl!
Peanut Butter and Jelly Cottage Cheese Breakfast Bowl
Servings 1Ingredients
- 1/2 cup cottage cheese ($0.27)
- 1/4 cup rolled oats ($0.04)
- 1 Tbsp jam (any flavor) ($0.05)
- 1 Tbsp peanut butter ($0.08)
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a bowl or container. Enjoy immediately or refrigerate in an air-tight container up to four days.
See how we calculate recipe costs here.
Nutrition
Have you tried this recipe?Mention @budgetbytes or tag #budgetbytes on Instagram!The Savory Bowl:
If you’re a savory breakfast lover, like me, you’ll LOVE this one. Tons of fresh crunchy vegetables, an extra dose of protein with the hard boiled egg, and a little cracked black pepper for good measure. It’s simple, delicious, and honestly, good any time of the day!
Savory Cottage Cheese Breakfast Bowl
Servings 1Ingredients
- 1 large hard boiled egg ($0.23)
- 1/2 cup cottage cheese ($0.27)
- 6 grape tomatoes ($0.47)
- 6 slices cucumber ($0.22)
- 1 pinch freshly cracked black pepper ($0.02)
Instructions
- Add one inch of water in a small sauce pot, place a lid on top, and bring the water up to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, carefully add the egg using either tongs or a slotted spoon. Replace the lid and let the egg steam for 12 minutes. After 12 minutes, turn off the heat and use the tongs or slotted spoon to transfer the egg to a bowl of ice water. Peal the egg once it is cool enough to handle. (If meal prepping these bowls, peel the eggs daily.)
- Add the cottage cheese, tomatoes (sliced or whole), sliced cucumber, peeled egg, and some black pepper to a bowl. Enjoy immediately or refrigerate in an air-tight container up to four days.
See how we calculate recipe costs here.
Nutrition
Have you tried this recipe?Mention @budgetbytes or tag #budgetbytes on Instagram!Blueberry Almond:
This simple bowl is sure to be a hit with its familiar breakfast flavors. Again, this cottage cheese breakfast bowl is a lot like a yogurt parfait, but with cottage cheese swapped out for the yogurt. The little bit of honey drizzled on top makes the bowl so 👌👌👌. It almost tastes a little like blueberry cheesecake!
Blueberry Almond Cottage Cheese Breakfast Bowl
Servings 1Ingredients
- 1/2 cup cottage cheese ($0.27)
- 1/8 tsp vanilla extract (optional) ($0.03)
- 1/4 cup frozen blueberries ($0.37)
- 2 Tbsp sliced almonds ($0.25)
- 1 tsp honey ($0.04)
Instructions
- Add the vanilla extract to the cottage cheese and stir to combine. Top the cottage cheese with the blueberries, almonds, and honey. Enjoy immediately or refrigerate in an air-tight container up to four days.
See how we calculate recipe costs here.
Nutrition
Have you tried this recipe?Mention @budgetbytes or tag #budgetbytes on Instagram!The Tropical Bowl:
This one is a little like ambrosia salad, minus the icky stuff like marshmallows and maraschino cherries. Haha! The creamy cottage cheese pairs so nicely with the sweet tropical fruit, it’s like they were made for each other! I suggest using canned pineapple tidbits for this bowl, since canning destroys the enzyme bromelain, which can interact with the dairy and make it taste bitter. Just make sure to get pineapple canned in juice, not syrup.
Tropical Cottage Cheese Breakfast Bowl
Servings 1Ingredients
- 1/2 cup cottage cheese ($0.27)
- 1/2 cup canned pineapple tidbits, drained ($0.10)
- 1 Tbsp shredded coconut ($0.02)
- 1/4 banana, sliced ($0.05)
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients in a bowl. Refrigerate the bowl in an air-tight container for up to four days.
See how we calculate recipe costs here.
Nutrition
Have you tried this recipe?Mention @budgetbytes or tag #budgetbytes on Instagram!Chocolate Peanut Butter
Yes, you can make chocolate flavored cottage cheese! And I promise, it’s delish!! I added cinnamon granola to my chocolate peanut butter cottage cheese bowl, but you could do any flavor granola, or even plain rolled oats. Sliced banana would also go awesome with this one!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cottage Cheese Breakfast Bowls
Servings 1Ingredients
- 1/2 cup cottage cheese ($0.27)
- 1 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder ($0.02)
- 1 tsp brown sugar ($0.02)
- 1/8 tsp vanilla extract ($0.03)
- 1 Tbsp peanut butter ($0.08)
- 1/4 cup granola ($0.18)
Instructions
- Add the cocoa powder, brown sugar, and vanilla to the cottage cheese and stir to combine. The cocoa may not blend in completely immediately, but it will after it sits a few moments and the powder hydrates.
- Add the flavored cottage cheese to a bowl and top with granola and a drizzle of peanut butter. Enjoy immediately or refrigerate in an air-tight container for up to four days.
See how we calculate recipe costs here.
Nutrition
Have you tried this recipe?Mention @budgetbytes or tag #budgetbytes on Instagram!So how about you? Do you like this slightly unpopular ingredient? If so, share your favorite way to eat cottage cheese in the comments below!
Want more breakfast meal prep? Check out our Breakfast Meal Prep Category!
Do you blend up the cottage cheese to make it smooth or leave it chunky?
We leave it chunky but you could blend if you like!
I’ve got to try these! I’ve been having cottage cheese with apple, walnuts, and cinnamon for years. Also with blueberries or peaches. But I’ve never added oats or pb & jam. I had cottage cheese with pineapple decades ago and found it disgusting, but I may try it again. If I get up the nerve.
I work for Colorado State University’s Extension office and am writing a story about the benefits of high-protein breakfasts. I am hoping to link to this recipe from source.colostate.edu and was wondering if it would be possible to have permission to use one of the (wonderful) photos from this page.
Thanks!
Hi there! That’s fine as long as you don’t publish the entire recipe and link back to the site! :)
I am a cottage cheese convert! Please create more recipes for this underrated powerhouse 😊
I am concerned about the amount of sodium in each of the 6 recipes. Is there a way to reduce the sodium. Otherwise, each looks like an excellent meal for me.
Most of that sodium is coming from the cottage cheese itself. Your best bet is just comparing brands and finding the lowest sodium one you’re comfortable with.
Do you thaw the frozen blueberries before using them? Or just toss them in frozen?
I LOVE the apple cinnamon and the PB&J and I’m planning on trying all the others as well.
Thankyou for sharing. I’m always looking for healthy breakfasts and SNACKS! ( hint, hint)😉
Great idea! I made blueberry walnut, and I cooked the blueberries briefly with monkfruit and a splash of lemon juice to make it like a pie filling. So good!
Cottage cheese, blueberries and chopped pecans (I did not have any almonds). Was amazing!!!!!! Totally satisfying and delicious. Cannot wait to try the PB one next time. Thanks so much for sharing.
Terrific ideas! Thank you!
All are such a hit. Cottage cheese has always been a favorite food because it’s versatile and delicious. Had the ingredients for all of these already so was perfect! The tropical fruit one made a great evening snack when I wanted something sweet but stilly healthy and protein packed. ❤️
Brilliant idea! As someone who doesn’t love super sweet breakfast, this is great. And the blueberry almond bowl was even better than I expected. I can’t wait to try the rest!
These recipes are great for managing my diabetes.
Loved the Blueberry Almond Cottage Cheese Bowl! I used sliced almonds because they’re not as hard as the slivers.
Great ideas, thank you for sharing! I have questions about the PB&J one: Are the rolled oats raw? Or cooked? Or is that a cereal? Looking forward to trying.
You can tell from the photo the oats are uncooked; the write up after the heading says, “The oats in this bowl will soak up the moisture as it’s stored, just like overnight oats, but you can also eat it immediately with the oats still dry.” Hope that helps.
I’m eating the peanut butter, jelly oats. It’s delicious 😋
I’m excited to try some of your creative ideas. My husband and I eat cottage cheese for breakfast frequently, especially in the Summer. We enjoy ours topped with cantaloupe and blueberries or chopped mangoes when they’re in season. My mom likes cottage cheese with pickled beets for lunch.
What kind of granola do you use?
Unfortunately, I don’t remember what I used back then! But we do have a great recipe for granola, if you want it. ;)
All delicious and a great way to keep breakfast fast, low maintenance, but still different enough each day while getting in protein for energy throughout the day. A true life saver
Thank you for sharing these! I’m always looking for new breakfast ideas that are low-carb, and I like cottage cheese for so many reasons! You’ve expanded my appreciation of it!
My favorite way to eat cottage cheese is either with chips (use as dip) I know I’m a weirdo or with pineapple tidbits
My favorite way to eat cottage cheese is either with chips (use as dip) I know I’m a weirdo
Me too. That’s how I grew up eating it. Glad I’m not the only wierdo.😊
I’m always coming back to this post! These bowls have become a regular part of my meal prep rotation. I like that I can buy one container of cottage cheese and do something different with it every day so I don’t get bored. The pb&j and apple cinnamon are my favorites!
The apple cinnamon bowl is my new breakfast fav and takes me all of 3 minutes to assemble. I like to add a pinch of turmeric as well. So yummy.
I had to jump on here and leave a review. I tried the apple walnut and the peanut butter and jelly recipes tonight. I had low expectations With these combos but wanted to give it a shot. Oh my I was pleasantly surprised! They were both delicious! So good, left me wanting more. I’m trying the chocolate one next.
I have to add that the chicken and lime soup has been a staple in my house ever since I found the recipe.
Cottage Cheese with veggies and salt&pepper makes me feel like i’m eating a burrata for breakfast I love it!
We tried the PB & J and the chocolate PB varieties and loved ❤️Both!! Never would’ve thought of cottage cheese for breakfast…nice alternative to overnight oats!!
I eat cottage cheese every day and never tire of it. My favorite is cottage cheese with banana, frozen fruit ,honey, cinnamon and granola. The crab one is different I might try that one. These recipes are great! Thanks for sharing.(
I haven’t eaten cottage cheese since I was little, so I thought I’d try this. Now I realize I don’t eat CC because of the texture. That being said I know it’s so good for you, and I liked the flavor . So I am going to try it again with double the apples and double the walnuts – with the extra crunch I would make these on a regular basis!
Beth;
J just bought a container of 2%cottage cheese today at the grocery store.Then after I ate my supper I found your website and I copied down four of your cottage cheese breakfast recipes,I hope that you don’t mind me doing that Beth.
I am going to make the apple cinnamon flavored cottage cheese breakfast bowl tomorrow morning for breakfast,and I have all of the ingredients to make it at home,and I will let you know how much I love and enjoy eating it ok Beth.
My mom might even try it before I start eating it.
Kim
I hope you enjoy them!
Texture is an issue for a lot of people when it comes to cottage cheese, I’ve noticed. I love the little curds of it all, but for those who don’t, a fantastic way to still enjoy cottage cheese is to whip the cottage cheese, either in a traditional blender, immersion blender, or (my personal favorite) a food processor. You end upo with something smooth, creamy, and a little bit airy – all of the benefits of cottage cheese, none of the traditional texture!
Hey Ann you could try blending with a high speed blender or emersion blender to make it more of a yogurt texture
I love anything in a bowl. Put a plate of whatever fill-in-the-blank in front me of me and I’m like “meh” but put the same thing in a bowl and BAM! I am a happy camper. This includes the ordinary underdog The Cottage Cheese.
I am glad that I found this post about new ways to jazz it up. The apple walnut bowl is so absolutely yummy and I can’t believe I never thought of it before. I mix my diced apple with the cinnamon so it either keeps the apples from browning OR I can’t tell if they do turn because they are coated with cinnamon – either way it’s win for me. I sometiems add the maple sypup (1 tsp) but it really does not need the extra sugar if Honey Crisp or another sweet apple is used; that is just my humble opinion.
In all honesty, I had every intention of trying the other five flavors (and maybe one day I will) but I have actually binged on one combo bowl for 6 weeks @ 3x a week and I have yet to get tired of it.
Didn’t have any frozen blueberries so I’m trying with frozen cherries and toasting my almonds in a little butter.
As a kid my mom always made us macaroni and cottage cheese. Basically exactly how it sounds. Elbow macaroni, butter, cottage cheese, and lots of black pepper. Yum!
My favorite cottage cheese recipe is not something that most people would do. I use 1/2 cup of cottage cheese, 1/4 cup of salted peanuts and two pepperettes, usually the spicier the better. I eat it as a snack often. I am going to do the pb&j one and I know it’ll be fantastic because I love every element!
My latest favorite is 1/2 cup of 2% cottage cheese with a package of Keto Farms nut mix in it. A good, protein-filled breakfast.
These gave me some great ideas, thanks! Local fresh peach salsa also is delicious. Fruit, vegetable, touch of heat, perfect.
I tried the blueberry almond this week and loved it! I didn’t have any honey so drizzled some maple syrup instead. This is a great addition to my breakfast rotation!
I love cottage cheese. My favorite is mixed Berries with honey, dash of cinnamon and sliced almonds or granola on top of cottage cheese. After trying these recipes that may change. I’ve had the apple cinnamon and it is delicious! Thanks for the recipes.
I like cottage cheese with sliced avocado, heirloom tomatoes, red bell pepper, a pinch of thyme, salt & pepper.
Made the apple, walnut cottage bowl, quick, delicious and healthy! Thank you!
I love cottage cheese with salsa, onions and tuna fish. Looks gross, tastes AMAZING
What is the recipe to that?
I have cottage cheese in the fridge right now, I think I’ll try one of these for breakfast tomorrow! My dad always eats cottage cheese on top of triscuit crackers. I used to think he was crazy, but now it’s probably my favorite way to eat it, too!
Made the Apple walnut bowl. Delicious!!! Tried to rate it while I was eating it to slow me down…it didn’t work! 😋 🤗
I like these site because recipes are simple and nutritional.
This for the Savory Bowl: Not a sentence I utter often, but *the cukes are the star of the show here*. And competing with fresh garden tomatoes is no easy feat. The cukes are amazing in this.
I also added red onion and red bell pepper because why not?
Filling and fantastic!
Just made the apple cinnamon bowl…it was awesome!!!
Love LOVE the apple cinnamon one, and the PB&J one is great too!
Add some diced red or green onion to the veggie one and it really ups the flavor. I love cottage cheese so much
I was looking for a way to use cottage cheese and was pleasantly surprised with these. The apple cinnamon bowl is AMAZING. I used canned mandarin oranges for the tropical bowl and it was great too. The only one that tasted a bit weird was the chocolate peanut butter, probably won’t make that again. All over a great low calorie protein source though!
how long does it last in the fridge?
Depends on which bowl you are referring to, but up to 3 days.
Wow, I love that cheese thing.
I like to add green tabasco sauce and Penzey’s Fox Point Seasoning to my cottage cheese. Delicious!
These are such a great idea! My husband and I love the PB&J bowl. I add 1-2 TB of pomegranate seeds in my PB&J bowl, it takes it to the next level.
Wasn’t a huge fan of the pbj but the tropical bowl was yummy! Looking forward to trying all. Thanks for wonderful recipes and fresh ideas!
I’m allergic to cucumbers :( Is there something I could use in place of cucumbers for the savory bowl?
Sliced jicama, or radish? What do you use to substitute for cucumber for other recipes?
I generally try to avoid dairy as it makes me really congested, but I’ve been indulging in dairy a lot lately. I’ll have to try some of these ideas out! I really love cottage cheese, honestly! I enjoy it with just some sliced bottled peaches. Mmm…
I never thought about jazzing up my cottage cheese before, but this has really transformed my breakfast lately. I’ve never really liked the combo of PB and jelly, but PB and honey is amazing. I kind of combined two of the recipes above and did peanut butter, oats, and some chocolate flavored honey I got from the farmer’s market. So good! I’ve also tried the savory option with cucumber and tomato. I added some dill in and LOVE! Thanks for making me branch out.
Thank you for these! I absolutely love cottage cheese but never thought about adding oats or granola or PB and jelly! Simple but brilliant. I used a cherry jam in the PB one and it’s soooo good!
This seems like something I could really enjoy in the summer! Do you think ricotta would also work in place of cottage cheese?
I do love eating ricotta in similar ways to this, although I’ve never tried it with peanut butter. The main differences will be that ricotta is usually more dry and more expensive. ;)
Thank you for your reply! I’m Italian, so ricotta here is probably cheaper (and I only buy it when it’s on sale), and I was looking for easy but healthy overnight breakfasts :)
I tend to mash bananas and peanut butter, and then mix it with raspberries or blueberries if I have some lying around. It’s one of my go-to breakfasts, as it is quick, nutrious, and even on days where my reflux makes me not want to have food (happens sometimes, super annoying) I can still get it down.
So far I’ve made the apple-cinnamon-walnut version, and it’s so delicious. I’ve always liked cottage cheese, but never really had a way to fit it into my routine. This may become a staple. It was so easy to make ahead. I tossed the chopped apple with a little lemon juice to avoid browning. Thank you for such a great idea!
So far I have tried the savory vegetable and PB&J versions, and really like both, but especially the veggie and boiled egg one. It is really feeling and feels like a great start to the day. Sweet breakfast isn’t always good for me so I appreciate the inclusion of a savory version.
I would have never thought to do this. Straight genius! I’ve got to try these now. I’m tired of my go-to breakfast lately so these would be a good change. Love the new addition of nutritional facts too, thank you for that.
I made the tropical one this morning with unsweetened coconut, pineapple, mango, and I added a drizzle of honey and it was just divine! Great idea for breakfasts!
Hooray!
Thank you for these posts! I have a large carton of cottage cheese that I got for another purpose and never used! I need to use it up. Looks like breakfast for the next several days has been figured out.
Happy to help Julia!
Recently my husband was placed on a LOW SODIUM diet — and I found a wonderful way to use cottage cheese, which we both have always eaten (it’s a great addition to lasagna, btw!) . Preparing to scramble eggs in the morning, incorporate a tablespoon or two of cottage cheese when whisking 1-2 eggs. It keeps the eggs moist, adds a little sodium and lots of additional protein. He has really become a fan of these soft, moist and flavorful scrambled eggs on his low-sodium diet. I jazz mine a bit with spices, green onions, tomatoes, etc — foods he cannot yet tolerate. Cottage Cheese is a food workhorse that deserves more appreciation!
Great tip Alice!
I tried this after reading Alice’s comment and the addition of cottage cheese really does make some of the best scrambled eggs I’ve ever had.
Wow, after Christmas, I had leftover Roasted Cranberry Apple Relish and cottage cheese in the frig. I made it into a cottage cheese bowl breakfast. It was yummy. I will have to make other flavors now!
I’m coming over! That sounds amazing.
Hey, I’m totally on board with the non-trendy cottage cheese :) I’ve also used it as a substitute for creamy salad dressings, so I’ve got a request – are you able to create some inexpensive creamy lower-fat salad dressings with cottage cheese?
Also, I would love to see the sugar content in the nutrition information. Both total sugars and added sugars would be AWESOME.
Thanks!
I love the dressing idea! Will do, thanks!
these look awesome, especially the apple walnut one. I’ve never cared for straight up cottage cheese, but I’ve been mixing it with my scrambled egg and i love it like that. Also, Aldi’s full fat cottage cheese is by far my favorite and its cheap too. And as for glass containers, I’ve had great luck finding them at the thrift store – everytime I find one, I recycle one plastic storage container in my cabinet.
Oh I haven’t added an egg! I’ll have to try that.
My favorite cottage cheese breakfast is to drizzle good olive oil over it, add fresh ground black pepper (coarsely ground), some kalamata olives and some warmed pita or bread.
Oh yes savory and simple!
I saw this post and got a tub of cottage cheese right away. I had only had it with fruit (think diet option at a breakfast restaurant) and I was never a fan of cottage cheese. This post inspired me to try it again with my favorite flavors. I have to say, I’m eating it right now with tomatoes, avocados and everything bagel seasoning, and it is phenomenal. Thank you!
This is great Laurie! I like it savory too and never thought I would!
I’ve always liked cottage cheese, but rarely buy it anymore. Since my breakfasts lately have been whatever bakery item I buy at the drive-thru, this is an inspiring post to eating healthier and more budget-conscious in 2020. Looking forward to giving many of these a try.
You can do it Mary!
I love your recipes! If I remember right last January you did a vegetarian month. I was hoping you were going to do Veganuary this year. I’m trying it and hope to be able to commit to being vegan long term in order to lessen my impact on the planet. I would love to see you do a vegan month since your vegan recipes are so good! Honestly, they’re more appetizing than a lot of the recipes in the vegan cookbooks I’m reading. :)
I’ve always loved cottage cheese, but pretty much given it single garnish treatment, pineapple, tomatoes, or cranberry sauce–don’t knock this one until you try it–having been my go to selections. I’m definitely going to try the apple/walnut/cinnamon (sans maple), blueberry/almond, and pineapple/coconut/banana combos soon. I don’t usually enjoy sweets for breakfast, but fruit and cottage cheese is only “semi-sweet.” For lunch, I like tomatoes/cucumber/dill–sort of like tzatziki.
Thanks Janet!
These are great suggestions. In warmer weather, I usually rely on smoothies for breakfast, but when it’s chilly, I find those make me shiver. I’ve fallen back to a not-so-healthy reliance on coffee and english muffins. Thanks!
Enjoy Pat!
Were some of these flavour pairings proposed by anyone other than the stuff at Budget Bytes, I’d be mighty skeptical even though i LOVE cottage cheese. I am excited for this week’s breakfasts now. Thanks so much.
Let us know what you think!
Thank you for this great list of ideas. I happen to love cottage cheese but I get tired of eating it just plain. I never thought to jazz it up the way you did. Thank you!
Glad to hear it Tina!
LOL!! I have been eating cottage cheese and fruit for breakfast for quite a while now! Occasionally, I opt for some cold cereal (not kid kind!), oatmeal with blueberries or other variations, overnight oats or traditional breakfasts of bacon and eggs. I try to steer clear of pancakes, donuts, etc.
I appreciate these new ‘takes’ on cottage cheese and am looking forward to trying all of them!! Thanks!!!
Thanks Carolyn!
Thanks for the ideas! Also, I found the texture of cottage cheese just a little odd for me so I whipped the whole container of cottage cheese in my blender and it was amazing for me!
Yes someone else mentioned that! I’ll have to try!
I make a similar savory (veggie) bowl with plain greek yogurt. I love to sprinkle it with Everything Bagel Seasoning (originally a Trader Joe’s thing, now available at several grocery chains including Aldi).
That seasoning is EVERYTHING! (pun intended)
That savoury bowl needs a splash of balsamic vinegar on top to be absolute perfection. I have never tried avocado with cottage cheese but I’m going to go buy one today. Thank you for the idea!
Oops, that was cucumber, not avocado. I will give it a try — both ways.
Ooh yes maybe a little balsamic reduction? YUM!
Doesn’t pineapple have an enzyme that breaks down dairy and makes it bitter? Only a concern if you’re mean prepping, of course
Yes, it has bromelain in it. I suggest using canned pineapple for prepping ahead as the heat from the canning process breaks the enzyme down. Fresh or frozen pineapple will make it bitter!
I left a long comment explaining this, but I don’t see it posted.
Thanks Claire!
Yes you are right! We’ll update.
I love these ideas and I love cottage cheese! One of my go-to snacks is cottage cheese with some fresh dill (I buy a large bag and freeze it), a sprinkle of garlic salt, and some cracked black pepper. Smash it together with a fork and it’s a great dip for cucumber slices, celery, tomato wedges, or whatever is on hand. It also goes great with plain tuna and crackers for a quick lunch, and of course it’s fabulous with some wavy chips, but we won’t talk about that. Thanks, Beth and team, for all of the cost-cutting and recipe ideas. You’re my go-to when planning meals!
Well thank YOU Chelle!
For those with texture issues, or if you just want to try something different, I read an article on The Kitchn about whipping cottage cheese in a food processor or blender. The author spreads it on toast and adds toppings.
What? I’m going to try this ASAP!
I love cottage cheese and have it for breakfast frequently. Can’t wait to try these variations. I also just added overnight oats to my breakfast routine…using the leftover container from my Christmas cookies. Planning to check out your glass containers, my water glasses don’t work that well. LOL Happy New Year!
Oh perfect! Yes time to get their own containers ;)
I’m a huge fan of cottage cheese and love these ideas!
I love to use cottage cheese as both the cheese and dressing on my salads as well. It’s quite a versatile ingredient!
That’s an awesome idea!
Although I usually reserve cottage cheese (and yogurt) for warm weather breakfasts, I’m going to try some of these ideas for cold weather too. I LOVE cottage cheese – always have. I add 1/2 cup to my tuna salad made with one 6 or 7 oz. can of tuna in water – makes it creamy with only a little added mayo.
Instead of honey, I sometimes top my cottage cheese and fruit with a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar. I sometimes add a spoonful of cottage cheese to my beaten large egg when making a scrambled egg breakfast.
I make a baked potato topper with cottage cheese, fresh herbs, green onions, spices, and lemon juice all whizzed in the blender or by an immersion blender which passes for sour cream. You can add some diced jalapeño pepper and salsa for a light lunch or side dish for fish, chicken or other protein.
For a light lunch, mix 1/2 cup cottage cheese with HB 3 or 4 chopped hard boiled eggs, sliced ripe grape tomatoes, chopped green onions, s&p, and serve with crackers, Melba toast or Wasa Crispbread.
Love the potato topper and salsa sidekick ideas, Teresa! Thanks for sharing!
Great suggestions Teresa!
Just one comment about the pineapple: you may want to add this right before you eat it. Pineapple (and some other tropical fruits like kiwi and papaya) have enzymes (bromelain in pineapple) in them that react with dairy. If they sit together for long they create icky, bitter compounds that will ruin the taste of your food. I know that frozen pineapple will do this for sure; I ruined a couple prepped batches of frozen pineapple and greek yogurt this way before I realized what was happening. I don’t think this happens with canned pineapple because of the heat involved in the canning process. The heat breaks down the enzyme and inactivates it.
So, long story short, I suggest using canned pineapple instead of fresh or frozen if you’re making these in advance and keeping them for a few days. If you’re eating it right away you should be fine as it takes a few minutes for the enzymes to create enough bitterness for you to notice.
https://cooking.stackexchange.com/questions/56542/mysterious-bitter-taste-from-tropical-fruits-and-coconut
Oh yes! Great tip, thank you Claire.
These bowls look amazing! My husband would love this!
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
First, thanks so much for adding the nutritional information; even as an estimate, it’s very helpful! As for this set of recipes, I adore it! I do like cottage cheese and often eat it straight as a snack, but these mix-ins are marvelous and make for a more balanced breakfast. Or light lunch. Or evening snack. I plan to send a link to family and friends who might appreciate the simple-but-tasty combinations!
Thank you!
Thank you, thank you for adding nutritional information! And for the ideas…I like cottage cheese but don’t really eat it with anything other than peaches. I’ll definitely give these variations a try.
Thank you for these ideas! I love all of the yogurt recipes but I struggle with the tang of yogurt so this will be a perfect substitution to try!
Yes it’s a great alternative to yogurt.
With grapes!
Yes so delicious!
Thank you Beth for sharing all these great healthy breakfast recipes. It’s Jan 1st and of course, I’m making my New Years resolution to eat healthier this year. I was searching for some good food to eat for breakfast. instead of pastries and donuts. I think this will help curb my sweet cravings =)
You’ve got this Lynn!
I love this post! I love cottage cheese and I agree it is highly under utilized!
Thanks April!
Another great savory option is salsa with cottage cheese! It makes a great dip for veggies or chips.
Oh yes that’s a go to!