High Protein Cottage Cheese Oatmeal
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Published Apr 12, 2019, Updated Jun 12, 2023
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Looking to add protein to your morning bowl of oats? Try adding cottage cheese to your oats. It makes them extra creamy and adds a huge boost of protein!
Oatmeal, oatmeal, oatmeal. Obviously I’m a HUGE oatmeal fan, but we need to have a little chat. Do you ever eat oatmeal for breakfast and then are starving two hours later? That is what we need to chat about.
Oatmeal on it’s own doesn’t have much protein in it and unless you’re making it with milk instead of water, not much fat either. So you’re essentially eating a bowl of carbohydrates. I’m not knocking carbs at all (I love carbs!), but what I am knocking is not eating a balanced meal that will keep you feeling full for hours. The perfect formula? Healthy fats, carbohydrates and lean protein.
How to Make High Protein Oatmeal?
There are a few different ways that I like to add protein to oatmeal and I’m working on a full blog post covering all of them, but for today’s recipe we’re focusing on cottage cheese!
How To Make Cottage Cheese Oatmeal
Adding cottage cheese to your morning oats is so easy! You can cook your oatmeal however you would like (stovetop or microwave) and then simply stir in cottage cheese after cooking!
For this particular recipe, I made my base stovetop oatmeal recipe with rolled oats, banana, sea salt and water. Heat over medium-high heat until liquid has been absorbed and the texture is the way you like your oats. Remove the oatmeal from the heat and stir in the cottage cheese. Start with just a 1/4 cup and add more if you’d like. It does slightly change the flavor, but it also makes the oatmeal extra creamy. I love it!
One tip: don’t add the cottage cheese before cooking your oats. The consistency gets weird! It’s much better stirred in after the oats have cooked.
What Type of Cottage Cheese to Use?
The type of cottage cheese you use is up to personal preference. I personally like to use organic dairy products free from antibiotics and hormones (like rbST). If you’re looking for good organic cottage cheese brands I recommend Organic Valley and Nancy’s. I also like Friendship Diaries no salt added, small curd 1% cottage cheese (in the red container). Cottage cheese tends to be really high in sodium so I like that this variety is a little lower than your typical brands. Unfortunately, this brand isn’t organic.
Once you’ve added the cottage cheese to your oatmeal, simply finish things off by transferring the oats to a bowl and add your favorite toppings. This is where you’ll want to think about adding those healthy fats in. For this bowl I used a drizzle of peanut butter, flaxseed, sliced almonds and coconut flakes to add those healthy fats!
More Oatmeal Recipes
- Protein Baked Oatmeal
- Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
- Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal
- Salted Caramel Oatmeal
- Banana Bread Oatmeal
- Birthday Cake Baked Oatmeal
Be sure to check out all of my oatmeal recipes as well as all of the protein recipes here on EBF!
Cottage Cheese Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup old fashioned oats
- 1/2 banana, sliced (optional)*
- pinch of sea salt
- 1 1/4 cup water, milk or a blend of both
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon + 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, optional
- 1/4 cup cottage cheese + more if you’d like
Instructions
- Add oats, banana slices and sea salt to a pot. Add water/milk and stir to combine. Add cinnamon and vanilla, if using. Heat over medium-high heat for 8-10 minutes or until all the liquid has been absorbed. Be sure to stir the oats several times while cooking to make sure the banana slices melt into the oats. You’ll know the oatmeal is done when all the liquid is absorbed and the oats are thick and fluffy.
- Remove oats from the heat and stir in cottage cheese. Start with 1/4 cup and add more if you’d like. Transfer oats to a bowl and top with your favorite oatmeal toppings. I used flaxseed, peanut butter, banana slices, almond slices and coconut flakes.
Notes
- You don’t have to cook the oats with a banana, but I like the sweetness it adds. Instead of the banana you could add another natural sweetener to sweeten the oats. Some options: maple syrup, honey, coconut sugar or even stevia.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
So creamy and kept me full💕
So glad you enjoyed this recipe, Claudia! Thanks for the review 🙂
I’ve been looking for a healthy/protein packed breakfast that doesn’t require a lot of cooking or prep… this is it! The best one I’ve found! The sweetness of the cottage cheese is so subtle and delicious. I love.
Ah yay! This makes me so happy to hear! So glad you enjoyed this oatmeal, Chloe! Thanks for the review!
This is brilliant! Some days I’m so tired of eggs but want a protein filled breakfast. I would have never thought to add cottage cheese to my oatmeal but it makes sense. Thanks!!
So glad you enjoyed this oatmeal, Nitya! Thanks for trying it out and coming back to leave a review. It means the world to me!
I, too, was looking to “up” my oatmeal game since I basically rotate between oats, yogurt and cottage cheese for weekday breakfast. I’ve never heard/read of people liking the combo of oats and cottage cheese so imagine my surprise when Google had no shortage of positive opinions and recipes. ;). I made your recipe as written the 1st time and even tho it didn’t take long, I like to dump and run. The 2nd time, I microwaved quick oats, unsweet vanilla almond milk and flax seeds for 2 minutes and then mixed in cottage cheese, shredded coconut and acai puree. I see this being a new part of my rotation! As you said, the possible addition(s) are endless and, at least for myself, I can eat this hot or cold! Thank you for posting your recipe!!
Woo!! So glad you enjoyed this recipe, Pam! Thanks for trying it out and coming back to leave a review. I really appreciate it!
This was very good and so filling.
I didn’t have any bananas when I made this, added local honey, which helps with my allergies, for my sweetener. This will definitely be a go to for breakfast.
Yay!! Happy to hear you enjoyed this recipe, Peggy. Thanks so much for trying it out and coming back to leave a review. I really appreciate it!
Interesting, I have never tried this.
Let me know how it turns out if you do, Mary!
I LOVE cottage cheese in my oatmeal!! I also chop (and cook) up some Fuji apple, cinnamon & 0 calorie brown sugar. I leave some in a container in the refrig to add to my morning oats & cottage cheese. A bonus topping is toasted Walnuts. Oh my! Tastes like dessert and I look forward to it every day!!
I couldn’t agree more, Cindi! I am so happy that you have enjoyed this recipe and have added a twist of your own, sounds delicious. Thank you for coming back and leaving a review + star rating, I really appreciate it!
My favorite way to make oatmeal!!! Cottage cheese, who knew?!?!
I’m so glad you loved this recipe, Janie. Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a review. I so appreciate it!
How is this just 12 grams protein,my cottage cheese is 13 per 1/2 cup and oatmeal has some protein,I’d use fairlife milk has a fair amount of protein. Just not understanding Please explain
Hi Jacquie – This recipe only calls for 1/4 cup of cottage cheese (~ 6 1/2grams of protein) + the oats. Depending on the milk you choose to use, there could be more or less protein. If you give this a try, I’d love to hear how this recipe works for you.
This recipe made enough for 2 people. it took a little longer to thicken up than I wanted. Added the toasted almonds and coconut and drzzled with melted Kirkland mixed nut butter. Also drizzled a little Lakanto sugar free cinnamon maple syrup.
Had already portioned another serving out to cook after this but ended up adding the liquid and 1/2 banana to the 1/2 cup oatmeal and refrigerated it until tomorrow.
We were very full with this tasty breakfast.
Sounds absolutely amazing, Beverly! I am so glad you’re loving this recipe and it turned out great for you. It might take a bit longer depending on the temp and type of pot you use. Thank you for coming back and sharing your review & star rating, I really appreciate it!