This Cottage Cheese Breakfast Bowl is made with cottage cheese and the toppings of your choice. You can make this savory or sweet, and both ways are a delicious and healthy way to start the day!

It’s a cottage cheese breakfast kind of morning! Eggs may be my go-to breakfast, but I think it’s good to switch it up every now and then.

Of course you can go with savory oatmeal or chickpea pancakes or almond flour blueberry muffins, but do you ever think to eat cottage cheese for breakfast? ME EITHER, until now.

Besides breakfast, this bowl makes an excellent afternoon snack (similar to a smoothie!). 

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 toppings, and can be made savory or sweet
• It can be prepared the night before so breakfast is ready when you wake up in the morning! 

Ingredient notes:

• Cottage cheese: You can’t make a cottage cheese bowl without cottage cheese! I prefer full fat, and I love Good Culture brand cottage cheese. 
• Sweet version: Want to opt for something on the sweet side but still healthy? Try adding nuts (I like walnuts), fresh berries (like raspberries or strawberries) and a pinch of cinnamon to add a little sweetness and more flavor to the bowl. 
• Savory version: Craving something savory when you wake up? Top your bowl with sliced cucumber, tomatoes and a hard boiled egg for added protein.

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.

Sweet bowl:

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!

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…). You can opt for low fat, 2% or 4% depending on your preference.

Savory bowl:

Step 1: Choose your vegetables. Again, this bowl is very easy to customize, but I used sliced cucumber, tomatoes and avocado, then sprinkled everything with chopped chives and black pepper.

Step 2: Assemble the bowl. Scoop the cottage cheese into a bowl, then add all of your toppings and dig in! 

Expert Tips

• Unsure of what kind of cottage cheese to buy? Opt for a brand with no added sugar. Simply check the ingredients and compare brands (I personally like Good Culture). 
• More “sweet” topping ideas: shredded coconut, sliced apple, chia seeds and/or a drizzle of nut butter. 
• More “savory” topping ideas: a soft boiled egg, everything bagel seasoning, and/or green onion.

Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

You can! Simply prep this cottage cheese breakfast, place it in the refrigerator and you’ll be good to go in the morning.

What if I hate the texture of cottage cheese?

You’re not alone! While I personally don’t mind it, I know many people aren’t a fan (kind of like chia pudding). If you don’t love the texture but still want to reap the nutrition from it, try adding cottage cheese on top of toast, and then adding a few extra toppings as well.

What are the nutritional benefits?

First of all, it’s an excellent source of calcium, and full of vitamin B12 as well. And, as I’ve mentioned, it’s a good source of protein, which will help keep you full throughout the morning.

Related recipes:

• Nectarine and Blueberry Chia Pudding
• Quinoa Breakfast Bowl
• Frozen Peanut Butter Cottage Cheese Pie

If you made this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and star rating below!

UPDATE NOTE: This post was originally published in May 2014. It was updated with new text in January 2022.