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This Cottage Cheese Breakfast Bowl is made with cottage cheese, nuts and your favorite berries for a quick, protein-packed breakfast. It can be made ahead the night before, and it's easy to customize to your liking!
It's a cottage cheese kind of morning! Eggs may be my go-to breakfast, but I think it's good to switch it up every now and then, especially when I wake up craving something sweet. Of course you can go with oatmeal or pancakes or muffins, but do you ever think to eat cottage cheese for breakfast? ME EITHER, until now. An easy way to switch it up is to add nuts and fruit on top for a delicious, protein-packed breakfast.
Why you'll love this breakfast bowl
- It uses cottage cheese as a base, meaning it's loaded with protein
- It's easy to customize with different fruit and nuts
- It can be prepared the night before
What you'll need:
- Cottage cheese: You can't make a cottage cheese bowl without cottage cheese!
- Nuts: Nuts add a nice crunch to this breakfast bowl. I opted to use walnuts, but you can use whatever kind you have on hand.
- Fruit: I used fresh raspberries, but any kind of berry will work in this recipe
- Cinnamon: This is optional, but cinnamon makes everything better, right?
THAT'S IT! Let's walk through how to actually prep this bowl, and substitutions you can make.
Step-by-step instructions
Honestly, this recipe is super easy. But, I'm going to walk you through a few different ingredient options if you don't want to follow the recipe exactly as written.
Step 1: Choose your nuts. I opted to use a combination of almonds and walnuts, but any kind of nut will work in this recipe. If you're allergic to nuts or just don't like them, you could use old fashioned oats or nut-free granola instead.
Step 2: Choose your fruit. Again, most any fruits will do, but I like to think berries pair really well with nuts and cottage cheese. Plus, who doesn't enjoy berries with breakfast? If it's wintertime and berries aren't in season, try a banana instead! Bananas are good all year round if you ask me.
Step 3: Add the cottage cheese. This step doesn't really need explaining, but you're going to need cottage cheese for this cottage cheese bowl (obviously...). If you have yet to hop on the cottage cheese train because of the texture, just know that I get it. Really, I do. The texture kept me from trying it for quite some time, but I eventually got over it and thank goodness I did. It's so good! You can opt for low fat, 2% or 4% depending on your preference.
Expert Tips
- Other toppings: shredded coconut, nut butter and/or chia seeds
- Unsure of what kind of cottage cheese to buy? Opt for a brand with no added sugar. Simply check the ingredients and compare brands.
Can I make this recipe ahead of time?
You can! Simply prep it, place it in the refrigerator and you'll be good to go in the morning.
Related recipes:
If you made this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and star rating below!
Cottage Cheese Breakfast Bowl
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup almonds
- 1/4 cup walnuts
- 3/4 cup cottage cheese
- 1/2 cup raspberries
- 1/8 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a bowl and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
UPDATE NOTE: This post was originally published in May 2014. It was updated with new text in May 2020.
Anamika @ Supplement Crunch says
These look absolutely incredible! cottage cheese breakfast bowl is my favorite combination of flavors!
Jessica @FitnessEquipmentsLab says
Hello Erin, Can I substitute the pomegranate for another maybe strawberries and the hazelnut for maybe almonds? I dont have either of those.
Erin says
Yes you can! I bet that'll be delicious
Judy says
Any calorie estimate for this recipe?
Helen says
Hey Erin,
Your photos look amazing. I was just looking for the easy-to-make breakfast ideas and I am so glad that I came across with this post. I like all three of its ingredients separately and they must be delicious together too.
Now I will share it to my Facebook page of Single Moms.
Megan says
I am very much like a lot of others - I have only ever had savory items with cottage cheese (Doritos being one of my favs 😉 ). I'm at work - I have cottage cheese and frozen raspberries in my fridge - wondering how well they pair together. A quick Google search and your website came to the rescue. I didn't have any almonds or walnuts, but I did have a cinnamon/sugar shaker. I may have added a tiny bit of honey, too. It's great! Thanks for helping me fix a sweet snack craving with nutritious pairings! 🙂
Erin says
This makes me SO happy!! Glad you found my recipe 🙂
Cynthia says
I love cottage cheese< thanks for the cinnamon idea! Try it with watermelon chunks, it's delicious!
GinaLola says
My favorite snack is cottage cheese with green grapes... YUM!!!
Cassie says
Cottage cheese 4eva. How could people hate it when it was considered a weird 80s diet food? It's so good, you can eat it sweet or savory.. so many possibilities!!
Arman @ thebigmansworld says
LOVe cottage cheese and often go the breakfast bowl route myself! The sweet and salty combination is awesome- try adding cocoa powder to it with the raspberries and chopped nuts- amazing.
Erin says
Oh wow--you my friend are genius and I WILL be giving that a try.
Jan @ Sprouts n Squats says
Your photos look beautiful. However i've tried to love sweet cottage cheese dishes and I just don't :/ I've always associated it with being both savoury and with a really gross diet I went on as a teenager which scared me away from it. I tried it again 6 months ago but it just wasn't for me, I'd swap it for greek yoghurt 😉
Erin says
Hhaha that's fineeeee you eat your yogurt and I'll eat my cottage cheese 🙂
Denise says
Try blending it, it comes out smooth and creamy. Or try blending it with Greek yogurt to tang it up
Lex says
yes! LOVE cottage cheese!
GiGi Eats Celebrities says
Cottage cheese always used to freak me out when I was younger, however, I think it was because I didn't like CHUNKY things... That being said, I feel like I would like it now, but alas, I cannot eat it 🙁
Hilary says
I LOVE cottage cheese! I actually like the texture too it seems like just having some texture versus greek yogurt makes me feel full longer!
Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health says
The texture of cottage cheese actually doesn't weird me out. Just using the word "curd" gets me. BUT this look absolutely scrumptious! I could definitely enjoy a bow for breakfast.
I hope the problems with avocado egg toast aren't too serious! 🙁
Liz @ Carpe Diem and Run says
I love cottage cheese mixed with apple butter! 😀
Paige@FitNotFad says
I LOVE cottage cheese so much...one of my fav foods! I usually eat it mixed with peas. Try it I promise it's good! Oh and I always get 1%...2 is too creamy and low fat is gross.
Erin says
No way.. that sounds so weird but I want to try it now.
lindsay says
this looks great! i love those combos. And nice touch with the cinnamon!
Kelly @ Living Music Happy says
I LOVE cottage cheese, so I think it always gets a bad rap too. Can't wait to try this!
Alisha @ Alisha's Appetite says
YUM. I haven't had cottage cheese in forever!
Sam @ Better With Sprinkles says
Mmm...cottage cheese. Definitely a favourite of mine! This looks perfect for a quick breakfast.
Ang @ Nutty for Life says
Girlfrannnn your pics are seriously looking amazing.
I'm not a big fan of cottage cheese mixed with anything but Cassie told me it's because I'm doing it wrong and need to get unsalted cottage cheese. I have yet to find it, but I'm going to give it a chance. Then maybe I'll make this!
Erin says
Thanks Ang! And ya ya you gotta just keep trying different brands/kinds until you find the right one!
Davida @ The Healthy Maven says
I'm down with cottage cheese. That was until like last year. Along with raspberries...as you know 😉
Ursula @ Northern Ambitions says
I think cottage cheese is a yah but I've never had it with fruit. my mom is always trying to convince me to give it a go, but in my head cottage cheese is savory and should be eaten with olive (yum,) cucumbers and tomatoes. Maybe I should venture to try it with raspberry though...
Amy @ Long Drive Journey says
Ahhh I just can't get myself to try cottage cheese! It looks like yogurt when it's gone bad, haha. Maybe if you were to hide it in an otherwise delicious dish like this and then I could try it and love it, I wouldn't have the problem!
Holly @ EatGreatBEGreat says
I have cottage cheese at home right now and some frozen berries in the freezer, so I totally need make one of these. It looks SO yummy!
Amanda @ .running with spoons. says
ADORE cottage cheese, but unfortunately my stomach doesn't always feel the same way. But I eat it anyways 😆
Tina Muir says
This looks wonderful Erin! Cottage cheese is a definitely yay for me! I am always eating it for a nutritious snack in between meals! Now I have a brand new way to enjoy it 🙂
Miss Polkadot says
Maybe I'm odd but I actually like the texture of cottage cheese. It might be the child in me thinking it's fun to eat... Either way this sounds pretty good. Minus the walnuts I could see this be a great breakfast - or snack because I can't seem to break up with oats for my first meal of the day. I also agree 2% [or 2,4 % because Germany has odd numbers there] is the way to go. Fatfree/ very low-fat cottage cheese is... nasty.
Jessie says
Ugh... why can't I like cottage cheese? I have tried numerous brands, and nope just can't stomach it. Such a tragedy! Especially since this breakfast/snack idea sounds and looks delicious.
Erin says
Haha you're not the only one girl and I am the same way with yogurt--I wannnnt to like it but I don't.