Cottage Cheese Bowl Two Ways
Versatile, protein-packed, and feel-good fuel, this cottage cheese bowl is a staple. This ‘recipe’ takes a humble bowl of cottage cheese and transforms it into two irresistible versions—one savory and one sweet—perfect for any time of the day.
Erica’s Thoughts
I know I know, how predictable to be just as obsessed with cottage cheese as everyone else on the internet right now. But truly, cottage cheese is such a powerful, nutrient-packed food, how could you not be a fan of cottage cheese? And with its versatility, it’s easy to transform it into a meal that suits whatever you’re craving.
Sometimes, I want a bowl of crunchy veggies but not a salad. Enter our savory version, which combines creamy cottage cheese and an egg for protein, fresh veggies for a pop of color and nutrition, bagel seasoning for flavor, olive oil and avocado for healthy fats, and roasted pistachios for crunch. Thanks to the combo of protein, fat, and dietary fiber, this bowl keeps me full and satisfied for a loooong while. Each bowl boasts about 26 grams of protein, which you can amp up by increasing the amount of cottage cheese or adding extra toppings.
During the afternoon slump or as a post strength training snack, I’ve been reaching for the sweet version, which is cottage cheese, fresh berries, crispy granola, and a drizzle of honey. I think I’m old because the lactose and/or milk protein in Greek yogurt hurts my stomach sometimes so I get my yogurt bowl fix by swapping out the yogurt for cottage cheese. There is just as much protein (more depending on the brand!) and calcium as Greek yogurt, so it’s a win.
I’m always excited to mix and match my favorite toppings to suit my mood, and this method makes it super easy! Sweet version for a filling breakfast and savory version for a quick lunch, anyone? 😉😋
What You’ll Need to Make Easy Cottage Cheese Bowls
Savory Bowl
Cottage Cheese: cottage cheese is a fresh, soft cheese made from curdled milk, known for its mild tangy flavor and high protein content. My favorite cottage cheese is the Good Culture whole milk cottage cheese. You can use fat-free cottage cheese or low fat cottage cheese if preferred.
Avocado: avocado adds rich, buttery texture, 4g dietary fiber and about 8g heart-healthy fat.
Hard-Boiled Egg: this is optional, but I love a medium egg in my cottage cheese bowl.
Cherry Tomatoes: cherry tomatoes provide a burst of sweetness and juiciness.
Persian Cucumber: adds crunch to the bowl and is a nice contrast with cottage cheese.
Sweet Bell Pepper: diced for color and a hint of natural sweetness.
Roasted Pistachios: finely chopped for a nutty crunch. You can find roasted pistachios in the produce section with the other salad toppers or in the nuts/seeds aisle.
Bagel Seasoning: everything but the bagel seasoning is a flavorful finishing touch. I get mine from Trader Joe’s but most grocery stores will carry a comparable product in the spice aisle.
Garnish: optional balsamic glaze or olive oil!
Sweet Bowl
Peanut Butter: peanut butter adds a rich, nutty twist. I love to use natural peanut butter where the only ingredients are peanuts and salt. You could also use almond butter, cashew butter or sunflower seed butter.
Fruit: choose your journey! I love banana slices and raspberries.
Granola: homemade granola is elite but any granola you love will work.
Garnish: hemp hearts, toasted coconut, and a drizzle of honey to take it over the top.
Variation Ideas
- Extra Fiber: add a sprinkle of chia seeds or ground flaxseed to either bowl for an extra boost of fiber.
- Seasonal Twist: swap the berries in the sweet bowl for seasonal fruits like peaches, mangoes, pomegranate arils, apple or pear.
- Spice It Up: if you like things spicy, add a dash of hot sauce, red pepper flakes or sriracha to the savory bowl.
- Nut Variations: use any nuts or seeds you like- cashews, almonds, pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds are all delish.
- Pizza Version: Add your favorite pizza toppings like pepperoni, pizza sauce, olives, red bell pepper, red onion and Parmesan cheese for a cottage cheese pizza bowl.
- Taco Version: Season ground chicken, ground turkey or ground beef with taco seasoning and pile it on cottage cheese with your favorite taco toppings to make a cottage cheese taco bowl. Serve with tortilla chips.
How to Make an Awesome Cottage Cheese Bowl
Cook your egg to your preference (I love air frying mine at 250°F for about 18 minutes). For best results, let the egg cool completely in an ice bath before peeling.
Arrange cottage cheese in a bowl (or make it straight in the container of cottage cheese), then top with sliced avocado, egg, halved cherry tomatoes, cucumber and diced sweet bell pepper. Finish with chopped roasted pistachios, bagel seasoning, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze and extra virgin olive oil.
For the sweet bowl, begin with a base of cottage cheese in another bowl. Top with a drizzle of natural peanut butter, thinly sliced banana, a handful of berries, and a generous sprinkle of granola. Complete with a sprinkle of toasted coconut, hemp hearts, and a drizzle of honey.
FAQs
Try blending it! Blended cottage cheese, especially with all the toppings, is a lot more palatable for people who don’t love the texture.
I make mine in the air fryer- see recipe notes for exact temp and time. You can prepare the egg however you love it.
The components can be prepped in advance (hard boiled eggs, chopped veggies, granola, chopped fruit, etc), but I recommend assembling the bowl right before serving to maintain the best texture and flavor.
While cottage cheese is the star here, you can experiment with Greek yogurt or ricotta cheese.
Let’s dig in to a protein-packed meal!
If you try and like this recipe please don’t forget to leave a comment and star rating down below! If you love more lifestyle, behind the scenes and ‘eating in real life’ type of content come find me over on Instagram, @itsaflavorfullife, I love connecting with you all there!
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Cottage Cheese Bowl Two Ways
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: varies
- Total Time: 5-10 minutes
- Yield: 1 bowl 1x
- Category: Snack
- Method: Chop + Assemble
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Two amazing ways to enjoy a cottage cheese bowl! Topped with fresh fruit, granola and nut butter for a sweet tooth or packed with veggies and crunch if you’re craving savory.
Ingredients
Savory
- 2/3 cup cottage cheese
- 1/2 avocado, cubed or sliced
- 1 hard boiled egg, quartered
- 5–6 cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
- 1/4 cup cucumber, diced
- 1/4 cup sweet bell pepper, diced
- 1 tablespoon roasted pistachios, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds or bagel seasoning
- drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and/or balsamic glaze
Sweet:
- 2/3 cup cottage cheese
- 1 tablespoon natural peanut butter
- 1/2 banana, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup berries
- 1/4 cup granola
- sprinkle of toasted coconut and hemp hearts
- drizzle of honey
Instructions
- Savory: cook egg(s) to your preference (see note). Season with pinches of salt and black pepper. Arrange cottage cheese in a bowl and top with ½ avocado, peeled and sliced or quartered egg, cherry tomatoes, cucumber and bell pepper. Garnish with chopped pistachios, bagel seasoning and a drizzle of olive oil and/or balsamic glaze.
- Sweet: arrange cottage cheese in a bowl. Top with peanut butter, banana, berries and granola. Garnish with toasted coconut, hemp hearts and a drizzle of honey.
Notes
Egg: I like to pop my egg in the air fryer to ‘hard boil’ it. SO easy. Place your egg(s) in the basket of an air fryer and cook at 250 degrees for 18 minutes for medium (pictured). Add or subtract a 1-2 minutes based on your desired doneness. Alternatively, you can use a fried egg, traditionally boiled egg or even scrambled eggs.
Refer to above blog post for photos, variation ideas and answers to frequently asked questions!
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Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 savory bowl
- Calories: 348
- Sugar: 11.5 g
- Sodium: 536.2 mg
- Fat: 19.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 20.2 g
- Fiber: 5.8 g
- Protein: 25.7 g
- Cholesterol: 204.6 mg
I’ve made both the sweet and savory bowls and they are both DELICIOUS! Balanced, full flavors, great textures, plus nutritious and satisfying! A total winner in my book!
Yaaasssss, love this! Thanks Tessa!