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!
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.