Your morning bowl of oatmeal gets a protein boost, thanks to cottage cheese! These rich and creamy oats are so satisfying and you can make them in just 5 minutes!

cottage cheese

Oatmeal is one of my go-to breakfasts, but I’ve been trying to make an effort to eat more protein. A serving of rolled oats has about 5g of protein and I usually top my bowl with some peanut butter or almond butter for another 5g of protein. But I wanted to see if I could bump it up a little more, since I often eat my oatmeal after a workout. I loved cottage cheese in my overnight oats so I thought, why not add it to my regular oatmeal? It turned out great!

Why I Love This Recipe

  • This oatmeal is packed with protein!
  • You can make this quickly in the microwave
  • It’s filling and delicious!

Ingredients & Substitutions

  • Rolled oats: Also known as old-fashioned oats, these oats have a hearty, chewy texture. You can also use instant oats. Do not use steel-cut oats as they take much longer to cook.
  • Cottage cheese: I used 4% milk fat cottage cheese but 2% works well, too.
  • Honey or maple syrup: Feel free to substitute with any sweetener you like.
  • Vanilla extract: A splash of vanilla extract adds a little sweetness but you can skip it if you don’t have it.
  • Toppings: I added fresh fruit, a drizzle of peanut butter, and chia seeds but you can use any topping you like.

Tips for Making Oatmeal in the Microwave

I like to make my oatmeal in the microwave because it’s fast and easy! Here are my tips for making oatmeal in the microwave:

  • Use a very large bowl as oatmeal will expand rapidly while cooking. To be safe, I use a bowl that holds about 6 cups when cooking 1/2 cup of oats.
  • You’ll want to add about one cup of water for every 1/2 cup of rolled oats.
  • Microwave for 2 1/2-3 minutes on 70% power. You may need to adjust slightly based on your microwave. You can avoid the oatmeal boiling over by not cooking at full power.
  • After 2 1/2 minutes, use oven mitts to remove the oats from the microwave and stir. Let it sit for a couple of minutes to let it thicken.
  • If the oatmeal is still runny, microwave for another 30 seconds for a thicker consistency.

How to Make Oatmeal with Cottage Cheese

How do you add protein to oatmeal?

For this recipe, I added cottage cheese to give this oatmeal a protein boost. But there are other ways you can increase the protein! Add half a scoop of your favorite vanilla protein powder to the mix. Adjust the sweetener to taste. Or you can add a tablespoon of flaxseeds or chia seeds for a boost of protein and fiber.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can I make oatmeal without cottage cheese? Yes! Try my blueberry oatmeal for a recipe without any cottage cheese.
  • Can I make these into overnight oats? Yep! Try my Cottage Cheese Overnight Oats recipe.
  • Can I make my oats on the stovetop? Yes, just follow the directions on the package as cooking times vary by type.
  • Are oats healthy? Oats are a whole grain which means they’re a good source of fiber and protein. They’re a great option for a healthy breakfast!
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Cottage Cheese Oatmeal

Cottage Cheese Oatmeal

  • Author: Liz Thomson
  • Prep Time: 2 minutes
  • Cook Time: 3 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 1 bowl 1x
  • Category: Breakfast
  • Method: Microwave
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

Your morning bowl of oatmeal gets a boost of protein thanks to cottage cheese! These rich and creamy oats are so satisfying and you can make them in just 5 minutes!


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1/2 cup rolled oats
  • 1 cup water or almond milk
  • 1/4 cup cottage cheese
  • Sweetener to taste

Instructions

  1. Add the oats and water to a very large bowl.  (The oatmeal will bubble while cooking so I use a bowl that holds about 5 cups when I’m cooking 1/2 cup of oats.)
  2. Microwave for 2 1/2-3 minutes on 70% power. You may need to adjust slightly based on your microwave. By not cooking at full power, you can avoid the oatmeal boiling over.
  3. After 2 1/2 minutes, use oven mitts to carefully remove the oats from the microwave and stir. Let it sit for a couple of minutes to let it thicken.
  4. Stir in the cottage cheese and any sweetener.
  5. Top with desired toppings.

Notes

I normally add salt to my oatmeal but since cottage cheese is typically salted, I don’t add any additional salt.