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!
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.