Cottage Cheese Oatmeal

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!

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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