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
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
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
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
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
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
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!
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!